THE INCA TRAIL

the big South American adventure rally

Day 34: Lago Posadas - El Calafate (743km)

The Inca Trail takes to Route 40 for a long drive today: Argentina's remotest major highway, running 5000km along the Andes. Our sections are through seemingly endless pampas, all on fast gravel. Apart from a short detour for the Category B,C,D classics to a mid-way control at the small town of Gobernador Gregores, we drive some 600km of today's route along Route 40. If you want wide open spaces and empty roads, this is the place for you. HERO's Course Opening Car reported travelling just over 260km before meeting the first car travelling in the opposite direction: a Telefonica van, doubtless out on safari to repair an outlying phone.

Today held two of the longest Medal Sections of the event for the classics: a first leg of 226km to Gobernador Gregores, where the Mayor came out to welcome competitors to his Time Control. Then another 175km - long hauls both of them when driving on gravel: constant vigilance is needed to avoid costly mistakes.

Alan Smith was one who suffered. Just outside Gobernador Gregores he let his attention wander, to look at co-driver Willie Caruana's roadbook, and 'the next thing I knew my wheels were on the edge. We just went over into a storm drain - still full of water. We were soaked!'

Undaunted, Willie was determined to get his timecard in to the next Control, and grabbed a lift from a passing local car. He arrived to a hero's welcome in the town square, where he was interviewed by the press. On hearing his story, the mayor arranged for the Jensen C-V8 to be taken to the municipal vehicle workshop and put back to a roadworthy condition - at no charge. It took a while, but the car ran again, and at last they came into El Calafate around midnight.

Further on down the road, John 'we'll just be cruising from now on' Blanckley was clearly enjoying himself fending off Alastair Caldwell's Ferrari. As a result, he's carried out another remodelling job on The Auld Bassoon. As well as being shorter than the Austin works intended back in 1955, it's had a few inches knocked off its height today too. It looks as though it's been stock car racing, with no front or rear screen, and a pretty concave roof line.

Alastair says, 'I think maybe I surprised John when I finally overtook. It's difficult with all that dust. The next thing I knew was that he'd spun a couple of times and then flipped over, barrel rolling onto the roof.'

Crews who came upon the car quickly righted it, checked that John, Tony Davies and Anne Humphreys were all OK, and set about sorting things out. They were taken by how calm the crew were about it all. Anne took out her video camera and began recording the experience. Another one for the record book ...

The car looked a sorry sight parked at El Calafate overnight, but it had been driven slowly in, and John was optimistic about his chances of getting it straight enough to continue towards Ushuaia. There is a day off from rallying tomorrow when most participants will be taking a trip to see one of the world's great glaciers, the Perito Moreno.

But it looks as though John Blanckley in particular will be among those working on their cars again.

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