I never did realise how big Penny is until I was driving next to her today as an onlooker. Arica to Iquique was a minor drive of 380k’s with a small hill climb at the halfway point. After our test, Peter Little in the Bentley 4.5 was nice enough to let me drive the remainder of the day. He noted that I had said I loved his Bentley so I jumped in with him, and Dad finally got to have a drive of his own car with Louise as his temp navigator. The Bentley was purely astonishing to drive, where the Vauxhall has some slop in the steering box, the bentley was tight and responsive. Where Penny charges up a hill with gusto, the Bentley soars up overtaking lane like a hot knife through butter. Don’t get me wrong, Penny is still my favorite rally car, but the Bentley was just magic in every way!
The drive today took us through more nothingness. Not a single bit of flora anywhere except the absolute middle of an ancient dray riverbed or the seaweed wofting about the waves on the pacific. Nothing to report apart from dipping down and up valley’s with nothing at the top and nothing at the bottom. Almost as deep as the Grand Canyon but this place has more sand over everything opposed to exposed sedimentary rock. There was so much nothingness today that nothing really actually happened, apart from my Bentley drive. More rocks, more sand, more sunburnt faces of the non-sun-smart. More traffic police on the roads actually. But I work on a fantastic principal, If I wave at them, then the policemen are too busy waving back to target their radar on me. Effective technique don’t you think?
South America still surprises me. I had no idea Chile was so brutally arid. Tomorrow we go to the driest desert on Earth! I actually thought this was a desert here, can’t begin to think what that place will be like. Maybe Iquique is a quagmire in comparison. Time will tell.
James
Charlie B
What’s this? Bentley envy from a Vauxhall owner? Come on James, we all know Walter Owen Bentley copied the best ideas from Laurence Henry Pomeroy. I bet your Dad would not have had such seditious thoughts. Keep up the good work for rally Vauxhalls and keep the blog going, we love it! Charlie and Nellie
julie
Just loving your report James. SO..you aren’t too fussed on nothing… I LOVE the deserts and nothing… so you obviously didn’t get that from me. What an amazing landscape!!! Looking forward to seeing more of your pics. Still wishing i was in your back seat ! Love mum xxx
Patrick & Christine
We love your blog. We will be following you closely. What an impressive challenge, we know that you guys can cope with any sitaution. Have a great time and give our love to Tracy and Lloyd.
Lot’of Love,
Patrick and Christine
Tubby
James James James, what’s this with you driving the green monster, that will set the tongues wagging – another new experience for you and for Max as well as he had to stay awake and drive Penny…..a great read every day – keep your flutes polished and good luck to the finish………Tubby.
Corina H
i wonder if that technique will work for yoy in aus? haha love it! x