China4C: Stains of honour... (update: 1929 Phantom II !)

• 
• 
• 
• 

Lean back and relax when you read this - we will be somewhere on our dusty jaunt from Beijing and Shanghai for the Classic Car Car Challenge China. Earlier we proposed to you the oldest competitor in the 2014 Beijing - Shanghai rally: a fine 1929 Rolls-Royce Pantom I Sports Saloon by Parkward. Upon closer inspection at the start we found the car to be in perfect fettle and up to anything what a gentleman driver would plan to use it for. Now maybe slightly more dusty than an appearance at Oxford Street would demand for, but apart from that it appears to be in spotless condition. But it also seems that the princely motorcar is a very well choice of transport for this event. The Belgian owner and his spouse cruise effortless over steep and winding mountain roads, along fast mainroads and through the crazy busy Chinese city traffic. 

Now, taking part in a sports event - and certainly in China - will bring you in circumstances unforeseen from time to time. Yesterday a sudden break up of the road resulted in manoeuvring the cars over a very much unpaved area with several nasty potholes. The elegant Sport Saloon picked up an unpleasant blemish in the course of taking a very deep bump, leaving its track to touch a parked tricycle. A small dent and scratch were left at the off side front wing. This was the only incident on a harsh rallying day with 350 km along demanding roads. We were most happy to learn that all competing cars arrived safely at the superb hotel in Jinan. And the Parkward R-R - that's taking a deserved rest for the night as well.

(Text and picture Joris Bergsma)    

Ajoutez un commentaire...