THE INCA TRAIL

the big South American adventure rally

Cars swept out of Rio on Saturday morning, off at last on their 25,000km adventure. First away was the lovely 1929 Chrysler Model 25, flagged off by the Government Secretary of the City of Rio. Driver Richard Newman was glad the last few days were over: "We've kept breaking down. I checked everything. It turned out it was the condenser." Leaving the spectacular start point at the far end of Copacabana Fort, with its perfect view of the Sugar Loaf mountain, crews drove around the bay, then headed up into the mountains. After lunch at Uba, the routes for older cars, classics and 4x4s split, as they headed into the province of Minas Gerais. This was where several classic entrants had problems ­ and the majority lost their hopes of a Gold medal as early as Day 1. The 107 km Medal Section on a gravel road was tougher than anyone expected, and those who chose to drive gently and save their cars for the remaining 54 days fell well behind the 55km/h schedule. Provisional results showed that only 14 crews still held their chance of Gold by the end of the day. But it was worse for some crews, including the Course Car of Peter Rushforth and Stuart Wood. Their battery became dislodged as they headed along in front of the rally, aiming to set up the Medal Section finish control in the centre of a village. The battery shorted out against the underside of the bonnet, two cells were completely destroyed, and the short circuit set fire to the engine compartment. After extinguishing the flames, they could go no further, so set up their control on the spot, 2km short of the village. Other cars came to grief here, too, including the Volvo of David Inns / Pamela Wallis, which had a fire caused perhaps by the fan cutting into a fuel line. They came in very late at the end of Saturday, but with plenty of work to do to get going again. José Capristano was unlucky enough to hole his fuel tank, putting him out of contention on Day 2 until it's sorted. The 4x4s, meanwhile, and the oldest category of classics, had an easier time ­ though one of the 4x4s has already worn through one set of shock absorbers. Day Two is a gentler one altogether ­ time for those with car problems to sort them without losing too much ground on the rest.	First car away from Copacabana Fort: the 1929 Chrysler Model 75 of Richard Newman / Robert O'Hara.
	Peter Rushforth with dead battery practises for Worlds' Strongest Man contest
	Alastair Caldwell's Ferrari 330GT is flagged away
Wedding Bells Congratulations to Simon Gaul and Gae Exton, who are here on their honeymoon. They got married just before the event started. And we will be celebrating another wedding soon if all goes according to plan. Rita Shelly and Mike Knox will marry in Rio on 30 November: they confirmed the final arrangements with the local registrar just before leaving Rio.
	Classics and 4x4s swept along Botafogo Bay en route to the first day's challenge