The 11th Land's End to John o' Groats Reliability and Touring Trial Le Jog passed through South Wales last Saturday evening.
With a new organising team at the helm entries were not as many as in previous years. It was felt that prospective competitors would see how the event went under the new team and then enter next year.
The Le Jog Reliability Trial has become a legend in the rallying world. The object of the event is to drive from Land's End to John o' Groats, a distance of some 1,400 miles in three and a half days, using minor roads. The challenge comes from the elements, navigation, time and regularity tests.
A wonderful camaraderie exists between the competitors, their goal being to capture a gold medal for outstanding performance.
Only 24 gold medals have been awarded in the history of the event. The Touring Trial runs in conjunction with the main event but at a more leisurely pace. With no time penalties or tests the event is nevertheless a challenge.
This year's Le Jog attracted cars ranging from a 1925 Bentley to a 1978 Reliant Scimitar GTE. Welshmen Andrew and Jonathan Davies entered in a 1936 Riley 12/4 Sport hoping to repeat their achievement of winning a gold medal as accomplished in 2003.
To see these older open cars with occupants completely exposed to the elements was a sight to see particularly as it had been very wet for the first part of the route in the afternoon, and it was starting to freeze in the evening.
The cars visited a main control at the Magor service area on the M4 then via Wentwood Forest made their way to Llanfihangel Crucorney to Llanthony Abbey and Three Cocks. From there via Llandrindod Wells and Machynlleth to Chester by 3.30am Sunday morning. The event finished at John o' Groats at 9am on December 6.
The Killarney Historic Rally was last weekend. Forest of Dean crews Eric Davies and Russell Joseph finished 18th overall and second in class in an Austin Mini in the Post-Historic section while Nigel Dutson and Martin Flannery finished 20th overall and third in class in another Mini.
In the Classics section Gareth Lloyd and Ryland James from West Wales won the event outright in a Ford Escort MK2. Next Saturday Clwb Modur Cymru run the Y2K'Five' Road Rally.
Starting at the Brecon Leisure Centre signing on is from 5.30pm. Spectator information will be available at the start.
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