11th May 1970 50 years ago. Timeline: Montevideo-Buenos Aires Day 4 x restart – 2000 miles from Rio
Daily Mirror London-Mexico World Cup Rally
A not-too-early start thank goodness as we only had to reach the ferry at Colonia by midday some 110miles away. We noticed on the way that Puff was not sounding quite on-song, but knew there will be a British Leyland service point before the next Prime at Saladillo – only some 250 miles driving. The ferry crossing would take 3 hours roughly- gosh the River Plate is vast, and it took longer than crossing the Channel!!
We arrived into BA with a band playing and thousands of people lining the pier to greet us – great excitement in the air with the rally about to get serious. Such a long way still to go. We got police motorcycle escorts through Buenos Aires and again hundreds waved us on our way.
Drove 100 miles to the service point in Saladillo, some 12 miles from the start of the Pampas Prime – first car due away at 2100 so enough time for servicing. This was going to be a 200 mile blast through the huge paddocks of the virtually treeless pampas on domed roads (deep drainage ditches either side). 200 miles in 3 hrs 30m (57.14 mph!). It would be easily cleaned by nearly 20 of the survivors.
Pics x various cine films – stock pics – pics newly discovered
This post is a part of a series of posts in which Bron Burrell recalls her 1970 World Cup Rally. See all Brons posts in this series.