Author Topic: 2009 MICRO MARATHON RALLY: Sept 4-12  (Read 4298 times)

motornoter

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2009 MICRO MARATHON RALLY: Sept 4-12
« on: October 03, 2008, 11:55:13 PM »
From the organisers of Liège-Brescia-Liège 2008, described by competitors as “brilliant”, “unforgettable”, “life-changing” and “best rally ever”, comes an all-new event, still in the spirit of that pioneering Liège-Brescia-Liège rally for tiny economy cars run only once in 1958. This is the event competitors asked for at the end of LBL: still tough enough to be a memorable challenge, but slightly shorter days, slightly less complex navigation and a bit more time to enjoy the fascinating places en route.

Micro Marathon will use the Calais-Toulouse motorail to get cars straight to the Pyrenees. Night halts will be in 3-5 star hotels at Lourdes, San Sebastian, Logroño, Alcañiz, Tarragona, Andorra and Carcassonne, covering a
total of around 1400 miles (2250km). The rally is a test of endurance, of navigational skills and of driving skills with special tests on superb kart circuits en route. Competition starts at Toulouse on Saturday morning, September 5 and ends on Friday evening, September 11 with the prizegiving dinner in stunning Carcassonne; Saturday is free to explore the mediaeval citadel.

We have already driven the route and found stunning roads, almost totally free of other traffic, with fabulous mountain scenery, wildlife, mediaeval castles, a Roman amphitheatre, a deserted, bombed-out city from the Spanish Civil War and much more to excite and intrigue competitors. As with LBL, our rallies’ unique feature of photo controls will be well used, including proof that you dipped your toes in both the Atlantic and Mediterranean seas!

The rally is aimed at Microcars of the 1950s and 1960s, and (as on LBL) will be divided into pre/post 1958 categories with classes set at up to 250cc, 350cc, 425cc, 500cc, 600cc and 700cc. In 2008, Fiat 500s and Vespa 400s exuding Italian flair battled with consummate German engineering in the Messerschmitts, Heinkels, BMW Isetta/600/700, Zundapp Janus and NSU, British innovation in the glassfibre/aluminium monocoque Berkeleys, French individuality in the Citroen 2CVs and ultra-rare UMAP, Japanese minimalism in the Subaru 360s, Austrian refinement in the Steyr-Puch and the Australian touch in the super-cute Goggomobil Dart: we hope to attract a similar field for 2009 with the addition of some Spanish microcars and Seats.

The rally is run as a tour on the road, the competitive elements being:
1. Navigation: the challenge of correctly plotting the route on the maps, then accurately navigating it;
2. Endurance: keeping an old, tiny car in perfect running order and driving it to the best of its, and your, ability;
3. Driving tests: fun tests of driving skill on several magnificent, long outdoor kart circuits in Spain.

Included in the entry fee are top hotels throughout and ALL meals, including lunches. There will be a luggage van and expert mechanical back-up, maps will be provided as well as rally plates, side stickers and full route instructions. Final costing is still under way, but we are reasonably confident we can deliver the whole rally including Motorail for approx £2750, maybe £2250 without the Motorail: email us and we will send you regular newsletters, as well as the entry form and regulations as soon as they are published! Take a look at the website too, where you can see photos from LBL 2008 and from the Micro Marathon recce...

THE ORGANISING TEAM for Micro Marathon 2009 is led by
Malcolm McKay
ClassicRallyPress Ltd,
9 Sycamore Leys, Steeple Claydon, MK18 2RH, England
www.classicrallypress.co.uk
Tel 0044 (0)7711 901811
Email LBLrally@aol.com