Monte Carlo Historique 2014
The results of the 34th Monte Carlo Rally held in January 1964, have now been the much-recounted stuff of motoring folklore; Paddy Hopkirk, Henry Liddon and the British Motor Corporation putting British engineering and innovation firmly in the centre of the world stage. Fast forward almost exactly half-a-century to the Automobile Club de Monaco's Rallye Monte Carlo Historique - 22nd/29th January and the entry shows over 300 competitors leaving from the rally's five starting points, including 21 British crews.
Appropriately, The International Rally Drivers Club, founded in 1931 as The Monte Carlo British Competitors Club, features prominently among the many teams entered with nine crews listing the IRDC for their team entry.
Among these crews and starting from Barcelona in car number one, the Morris Mini Cooper S, is ex circuit-racer Andrew McAlpine co-driven by the redoubtable ex-works champion co-driver Fred Gallagher and, starting from Reims is current IRDC Secretary Tony Graham, co-driving for his brother Steve in the debut event for his newly-built Lancia Fulvia 1600 HF, car number 78.
Also entered under the IRDC banner from the Glasgow start is the Rick Pearson/Stuart Pringle Lancia Fulvia 1300S, car 226. Stuart is the general secretary of the Silverstone-based British Racing Drivers Club. Worthy of a mention too among the British contingent are Alastair Vine and Willy Cave competing in Alastair's well-known pristine red and white ex works Austin Cooper S. Octogenarian Cave is an ex BMC works co-driver of great repute, probably with more Monte Carlo rallys under his belt than any other person.
When the starting flags fall at the five starting venues, IRDC website readers can follow the action via:- www.retro-speed.co.uk as editor-in-chief and IRDC committee member Peter Baker, ably co-driven by Dave Williamson, follows the action across the Alps and into the picturesque principality by taking part in the Ecosse-Monaco Tour in their classic guards-red Porsche 924.
Organised by the Caledonian Classic and Historic Motorsport Club and run in conjunction with the 2014 Rallye Monte Carlo Historique, both events depart Glasgow's Paisley start-line from 18.00hrs on January 23rd and arrive, 2,700 kilometers later, in Monaco Wednesday January 29th. The Tour is preceded on January 22nd by a Grand Gala Dinner at Blythswood Hotel with 1964 Rally Monte Carlo winner Paddy Hopkirk, accompanied by ex-Rootes works Hillman Imp driver, Rosemary Smith as joint guests of honour.
IRDC Entries
No.............Driver & Co-Driver............Car.................Start
1 Andrew McAlpine / Fred Gallagher Morris Cooper S Barcelona
9 Xerxes Matten / James Aquilina Datsun 240Z Glasgow
55 Gorden Glen / David Glen Volvo 122S Glasgow
78 Steve Graham / Tony Graham Lancia Fulvia 1600 HF Reims
194 Peter Humphrey / Graham Couser Volvo PV 544 Reims
197 Simon Tate / Simon Brown Lancia Fulvia 1600 Stockholm
198 Malcomb Oswald / Victor Juhasz Riley 1.5 Glasgow
226 Rick Pearson / Stuart Pringle Lancia Fulvia 1300S Glasgow
299 Joel Wykeham / David Brown Fiat 127 Reims
19th January, 2014