1 Chronicles

We are a bit put off at the idea of spending £90k on a car so Richard and I start to look around for cheaper alternatives.

As it happens he owns a Willys Jeep, built in 1944, which we think would be ideal for the rally.  The organisers are not so keen as they want cars with more bling, and to make the rally look like its something more exceptional - 4x4s are not really in the spirit of the thing. 

Richard discovered that a Jeep driven by Phil Surtees and John Bayliss actually won the event in 1997: John Bayliss' Blog of the Rally

Later the organisers tell us they are thinking about a separate 4x4 category.

Richard called Bayliss and discovered that he had spent £50,000 on getting the Jeep ready - so our idea of a cut price ride are wide of the mark. He also tells us that Surtees lost three fingers when trialing the Jeep and the brakes failed.  The Jeep idea is dead.