Peking to Barton on Sea

Official pictures from event can be viewed here.

30th May

Gathered for the Police briefing, a senior police officer gave the most rudimentary briefing but woe betide any of us who violates Chinese traffic law and gets caught.

31st May

Our driving licences in the end were given to each competitor without taking a test. At last we queued for the coaches provided to take us to the warehouse to collect the cars. Traffic in Beijing seems to nearly gridlock most of the time, drivers pull out with normally no indication and force their way into the traffic lane. The warehouse inside was an amazing site with cars of every shape and make being coaxed into life. Hard to hear the Mercedes engine start with so much noise. At last we were in the sunshine and heading for petrol. In China motorists are mainly served. I suppose cheap labour is the answer to that. Nose to tail traffic all the way back to the Shangri La Hotel, in 38C heat. Arrived back about 16:00 for signing on. Cocktails and dinner later, and tomorrow my car must face scrutiny to obtain our entry pass.

1st June

My old Merc fourth in line for scrutineering and for gaining the certificate required for signing on and finally being admitted for the drive and journey of a lifetime. Quite a sight to such diversity and so many very different cars starting from the 1907 Contal and 1909 White Pullman steam car (this car travelled with a backup crew and carrying water and petrol) to a vast variety of vintage and classic cars. Early Bentleys always great to see. So we are all set to go. The next challenge will be to drive to The Great Wall of China and from there the adventure will begin.

2nd June Day 1

The Greatest Drive on Earth begins for me and my son Marcus today. Left the centre of Beijing at about 6:30 and made our way to The Great Wall the starting point. We arrived at about 7:30 a 75 KM drive. The start was accompanied by dancers in Chinese Traditional dress, some dressed in dragon costumes. Our start time was 9:26, and off we went. Spent our waiting time seeing other competitors leave. Once we left the motorways the roads were in poor condition with pot holes large enough to swallow half a car in places. Driving standards unbelievably poor. Chinese drivers have no concept of queuing, taking turns or letting people in. I will never again complain about pot holes in the New Forest. The schedule was tough, no time for lunch. On a very narrow road which became grid locked a German competitor driving another Mercedes Fintail had to take control of the traffic and even show a driver how to reverse so our cars could pass. After a near miss with a large three wheeled truck that decided to pull out when I was overtaking we eventually arrived at Hohhot. After dinner, and time spent making sure the car is fit for tomorrow I decided to crash out. This is just the first day.

June 3rd Day 2

Start time again 9:26. Our destination will be Erenhot on the Mongolian border. Leaving Hohhot was the usual dilemma with very dense slaw moving traffic. Driving skills are minimal in China, it was an ordeal simply to drive to our first test. The test was a speed test around a bumpy and dusty circuit. After the test we managed to break free of city and drive. We did reasonably well. The long drive to Erenhot was uneventful on the tarmac all the way. Incidentally there are speed cameras everywhere I bet we have gone through a number and gained some points. Hope we have exited, before fines can be applied. The usual reception committee was waiting for us, people everywhere many taking photographs. The drive to Erenhot was steadily climbing all the way and we drove over the Chinese Mongolian Plains, where poor farmers breed horses. Much excitement for tomorrow. I have been told it may take a few hours to get 120 cars over the border into Mongolia. We will need to take Passports, Chinese exit papers and V5 to prove ownership of the car.