Driving around the world in 80 days in a Mercedes-Benz 190 built in 1956.

The British "Classic Rally Association" ( www.carnet.co.uk/rallyoffice/) is organizing the first ever timed lap of the globe and the longest car-rally ever.

On the 1st of May 2000 forty-three competing teams with classic cars will start their journey around the world from London Tower Bridge. They will drive through the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, China, Alaska, Canada, United States, Morocco, Spain, France and back to the United Kingdom.

Driving more than 30.000 km the teams will experience European mountain roads, the remains of the ancient Silk Route, the Turugart Pass (3752 m), the Taklimakan (="desert of no return"), old gold-digger trails, American highways and the Sahara Desert.

Click the logo above to get to the homepage of the Classic Rally Association, the organizer of the London to Istanbul, London to Peking and the Around the World in 80 Days rally (all events are held simultaneously). If you want to find out about some of the other participants in the world rally, have a look at these websites, which I found. If you know of any more please let me know:

 

 

17 Francesco Ciriminna(I)/Stelios Vartholomeos(GR) 1948 Fiat Millecento Cabrio Mediterranean Lands Team Home Page
22 Raymond Carr(USA)/David Dabbs(GB) 1939 Ford V8 Convertible The Around the World Adventures of Ray Carr
23 Lennox McNeely(CAN)/James Walters(CAN) 1938 Packard Touring Sedan Jim Walters - Around the World in 80 Days
31 Pat Brooks(USA)/Mary Brooks(USA) 1949 Buick Model 59 Woody Wagon Buick Media: Around the World in 80 Days
34 Francois Chervaz(CH)/Shirin Azari(CH) 1953 Citroen 11B Traction Avant www.80days.ch
37 Paul Bessade(F)/ Michel Magnin(F)/Marie Laurent(F) 1942 Pontiac Chieftain Torpedo 6 Le Tour du Monde en Pontiac
40 Joseph Capristano(PT)/Jose Pimentel(PT) 1953 Bentley R-Type José Maria Pimentel Photos (site discontinued)
42 Karl Busch(D)/Sami Busch(D)/Kaya Busch(D) 1956 Mercedes-Benz 190 Ponton That's us!
48 Edwin Suhrbier(USA)/Beverly Suhrbier(USA) 1959 Mercedes 220S Ponton Cabrio Team Suhrbier
53 Dominicus Meeus(NL)/ Johanna Meeus-Jonkers(NL) 1955 Jaguar XK140 Coupe In 80 dagen rond de Wereld
54 The Hon. Barry Weir(GB)/Ronald Brons(NL) 1954 Aston Martin DB2/4 Mk1 Around the World in 80 Days
58 David Hughes(HK)/Tony Sinclair(GB)

1960 Rover 80 Saloon

 Roverrascals
75 Roberto Chiodi(I)/ Maria Rita Degli Esposti(I) 1964 Lancia Flavia Coupe Roberto Chiodi - Giro del Mondo
76 Kevin Clemens(USA)/Mark Rinkel(USA) 1959 Mercedes Benz 220S Ponton The US Mercedes Team Motor Challenge
79 Rick Dyke-Price(GB)/Stuart Onyett(GB) 1959 Austin Healey 3000 MkI Austin Healey Around the World Rally Home Page
83 Peter Hunt(GB)/Ann Hunt(GB) 1962 Austin Healey 3000 MkII Around the World in 80 Days
84

Jean Steinhauser(LU)/Paul Steinhauser(LU)

1964 Porsche 356 T5 Coupe Rally 2000 'Around The World' in 80 days
101 Patrick Brennan(GB)/ Inigo Edsberg(GB)/Tara Lee(GB) 1959 Mercedes Benz 190SL The Marco Polo Project - London to Peking