Monte Carlo Historique 2017 in a 1970 BMW 2002ti

[Nick Moss]

Day 3 was 4 ZRs in the Ardeche, to the west of Valence. Snow is common here, the altitude rising to 1200m, but there is cold land mass for at least 250Km in each direction. The first ZR was Pranles - St Julien du Gua - Antraigues sur Volane 50,64 Km, =147th, 610 points. The first 2.5 km is a series of uphill hairpins, we were 16 secs down at the top of this but pulled back to be within 1 or 2 secs throught the 50 Kms. The winner of this one was just 1 second adrift at the top and dropped just 80 points in all!



ZR7: Burzet - Le Chambon - Dormas, 39,70 Km =140th, 160 points. Wet road with some snow, lots where photographers or spectators throw it on the road.

[Tosh]

Fantastic pics, and what a great experience
I've always fancied it but I'd need to drive as I get car sick something rotten!

[keith fellowes]

Great picture there Nick.
You can see who is doing the work, though. The concentration on Peter's face says it all.

This regularity lark is getting a bit professional these days what with recce, service crews and detailed road books.
Shame about the problems at the start but your subsequent times were pretty damn good for a first crack at regularity and in such esteemed competition

[Mitch]

Superb story well told Nick.. and what a drive! A real automotive adventure.

[Nick Moss]

You can see who is doing the work, though. The concentration on Peter's face says it all.

It's a tough rally. From the morning time control to the final one of the day it's full on. Those that are getting service stop for just 5 minutes between ZRs, we just crack on, concentrating on making up time on the road so that we do the minimum in the dark at the end of the day.

This workrd well on this 3rd day and we completed the final ZRs in daylight and got good results there as well.

ZR8: St Pierre s/Doux - Col du Buisson 22,36 Km =77th 140 points. Dry through forest
ZR9: Lamastre-Gilhoc sur Ormèze-Plats, 36,00 Km, =112th, 200 points

There was a time control in Tournan,



than a short liason back to Valance and the parc ferme there. We had a very pleasant dinner in the nearby Cafe Hugo with the rest of the British driver's team, the IRDC (International Rally Drivers Club).

[Nick Moss]

Day 4 is Valence - Monaco, 3 ZRs and 440 Kms in total.





First ZR of the day was back over the Col de l'Echarasson. ZR10: Col de Gaudissart - Col de l'Echarasson - La Cime-du-Mas, La Cime-du-Mas 17,96 Km =145, 200 points. Most of the snow was now melted but still tough for the first 5 Kms



ZR11: Saint Nazaire le Désert-La Motte Chalancon, 21,60 Km, =79th, 60 points
ZR12: Verclause - Eygalayes, 37,70 Km, 181st, 430 points

[Nick Moss]

This took us back to Monte Carlo where they take the cars over the finish ramp, much easier at 6.00pm than at 02.00. We were now classified as finishers!



The final 2 ZRs are run through the night with 30 second gaps between to cars rather than the usual minute gaps.

ZR13: Lucéram - Lantosque, 26,89 Km, 245th, 6610 points
ZR14: La Bollène Vésubie - Sospel, 34 Km, =191st, 460 points

These are familiar stages on the modern Monte and are treated as a virtual road race. As were still seeded at the back of the field we had a few "Sunday" drivers to content with and we overtook 7 cars on ZR13, losing a lot of time and driving it like a rally stage, pace notes would have been nice. I obviously overdrive the untudded tyres which fell off the cliff in terms of grip at the end.

On the last leg, ZR14, we lost the trip meter as the wheel sender failed. Peter hadn't had much time to write in our target times, so this really was a drive in the dark. We overtook 3 cars on this one but still dropped time! This ZR was cut short by 20 Kms due to road works with a contraflow sytem in Sopspel. I was glad it was shortened, I had overheated the tyres again! They cooled over the top of the Turinini and worked perfectly on the ice that covered the fist 4 or 5 kms on the downhill section.

We arrived back in Monaco, tired, but very satified with my first finish and we pulled up to 235 O/all, well up from our start on day 2 in 316th place.

[Mike]

Well done Nick and Peter, fantastic achievement!

[DustyM]

Great read Nick and well done to you and Peter.

[Tosh]

Really well done and your faces say "let's sign for next year"

[Nick Moss]

The entry fee for this event is 4,500 Euros! Now that sounds a lot, but it does include 3 nights in a 4.5* hotel, the Fairmont, which is over the Loews hairpin



And a wonderful black tie dinner in the Sporting Club. Rauno Aaltonen was invited on stage and given a n award to celebrate his win 50 years previuosly (he beat Vic Elford in a 911). They the invited Willy Cave up onto the stage. Willy first competed on the Monte in 1955, the week I was born. He was 90 on the first Sunday of the rally. He got a standing ovation when he was awarded this by Rauno, just to celebrate his achievements over the years.



He entered in a London Taxi in 1961 with Peter Dimmock and Tony Brooks



He is still competing and was up to around 45th position this year before an problem took them out of the rally.

[kvinyl]

Loving this thread and it's updates, really feels like I'm along for the ride

[Tosh]

So is that Viper or Conda green? No, not the BMW...

[majordad]

Thanks for a most entertaining report. Seems an event worth doing. Well done !

[moggy]

Awesome adventure. Well done guys. Thanks for taking the time to write it all down for us to read Nick