Peking to Paris 2013 Update #11...Marching into Paris

6/ 28/ 2013- As we left Stanley and Brant in the last post, they were in the final day before reaching Paris. This post follows up on that, and includes Stanley's comments after they reach Paris, with an overview of the event.

"Long drive today....or after 30 days on the road they all seem long. Many of the cars are barely operating. Instead of doing the route and special stages they take the motorways directly from hotel to hotel. Not a lot of sport there, but they are desperate to hold their cars together and get to the Paris finish line tomorrow. On the other hand, we had our problems in Mongolia and since the car was fixed in Novosibirsk we've done most all of the stages, transits, etc. Today there were 10 Passage Controls and one Special Stage, a Gymkhana. We did them all."

© Photo courtesy of Tom Miller

 "We crossed the Swiss-French border late this afternoon and it was very easy. The Swiss waived us through and there was no one on the French side to even look at our passports. The highway system in France continues to amaze me; for a long time I have believed that France has the best roads in the world. As soon as you cross the French border you see vineyards everywhere. France continues to produce great wines and they don't all have to come from Burgundy or Bordeaux."

 

"The crews of competitors were almost 'giddy' tonight in the bar. They can taste Paris and can see the end of this ordeal."

Peking to Paris 2013 Update #10

The finish to drawing closer for our team and the early 911 is still running stong. What a difference in the landscape from the start in Peking to now in the Alps. Stanley reports with only two days left in this adventure:

Snow in the Swiss Alps today. Image © Stanley Gold

"Today was another great day. The ride was, in my opinion, the hardest since we left Mongolia."

Peking to Paris 2013 Update #9

The finish for the Peking to Paris adventure is closing in on our team of Stanley Gold and Brant Parsons in their '65 Porsche 911. Here's the latest report from Stanley.

6/26/2013 "The morning started, even before breakfast, with a run up the famous hill climb at Planai. The Stage was 8-km straight up a steep gravel road. After the run, breakfast was served in a rustic ski chalet with spectacular views of the valley and adjoining mountains."

 

"Then we were off on a half dozen mountain runs (20-30 miles straight up and then 20-30 miles straight down). Many of the heavy American cars elected to pass on these exercises as they are treacherous on brakes, transmissions and engines. They missed very beautiful views and homes that dot all of these roads. We even had some strange noises coming from our brakes and Brant is in the garage looking at the problem now."

"It is almost July here in Austria and Switzerland and there is still plenty of snow on the hillsides and passes."

 

Swiss countryside entering from Austria......in late June. Image © Stanley Gold

"The attitude of the crews has changed in the last couple of days. Paris is close and everybody is straining to keep there cars together to reach Paris. The drivers/navigators have become a serious lot. A few crews are still fighting for a podium finish, but for most of us reaching Paris is the prize."

Peking to Paris 2013 Update #8

Let's rejoin our Porsche team of Stanley and Brant on day 26.

6/22/2013 "We left our hotel in Kiev early for the short drive to the Seagull Circuit. This circuit was considerably better than the Belgordo Circuit in Russia. Each car was required to do approximately three laps as fast as the drivers could. Only thing strange about this test was that as we came to the finish line one had to stop the car "astride" the finish line with the front wheels of the car over the line and the rear wheels behind the finish line---failure to do so would cost a penalty point. For the car buffs, this is very similar to a Gymkhana, which is popular at some European events. One of the competitors who is running a '73 Toyota Land Rover has been driving for the last several days without front brakes and when he tried to stop astride the finish line he skidded 50 feet down the track---quite funny."

As we move west the crowds greeting us are getting larger; this was in Lviv.
Image © Stanley Gold

Peking to Paris 2013 Update #7

Stanley and Brant have made it though Russia and here's a little look back from Stanley.

6/18/2013- “Reminiscing about the hardship of Mongolia; the excitement and beauty of Siberia. We are now enduring the hard-slogging, long drives and scenery that all looks the same."

“Russia is big and continues to look more prosperous as we move west, still a sameness that borders on boring. No mountains, no valleys. We see only large plateaus, all growing wheat as far as the eye can see."

Several times a day we have to stop to allow livestock to cross the road; even on major roads. Image © Stanley Gold

Peking to Paris 2013 Update #6

We re-join our team after the car was trucked to the Russian Border and Brant was able to repair the left front strut in Novosibirsk. They are now making their way through Russia with apparently a fine running car. Stanley's report follows.

This is the truck that carried their Porsche from UB to Russia border, 1800km.
 Image © Stanley Gold

Peking to Paris 2013 Update #5

Our guys march on to the Russian border and beyond. Heres' Stanley's words.

"The last three days have been exhilarating, tiring, adventuresome and a little bit frustrating."

 

"After our failure to get an early visa entrance from the Russian Embassy, we decided we would leave UB in time to arrive at the Russian border station of Tashanta early on the morning of June 7 when my visa permitted us to enter Russia."

 

"So we left the Chinggas Khaan Hotel in UB at a few minutes after midnight on June 5, covered in the last post. We had two vehicles; a truck with the Porsche and a Toyota Land Cruiser for Brant and me to ride in. Both vehicles had two drivers and it was our plan to run "Banzai fashion" for 48-straight hours, no stopping except for gas and an occasional meal for the drivers at roadside huts. This meant that Brant and I would sleep in the Land Cruiser for two nights."

 

"The journey covered 1800 km over the worst surfaces I have ever driven. Less than 5% was tarmac. The rest was dirt paths; I do not mean dirt roads. These paths had potholes large enough for a swimming pool. Worst yet was the powdered sand. This sand is like lady's makeup, except it is 5 feet deep. There are no road signs, and after going through several mountain passes, one gets disoriented, even with a compass. Add to that a couple of river crossings, and it's becoming hard work."

Peking to Paris 2013 Update #4

As you may have read in the last post, Stanley Gold's and Brant Parson's 911 had a left front suspension failure during  the Gobi Desert part of the "Peking to Paris Motor Challenge." After considerable effort, they have arranged to truck the car into Russia and implement the repairs and then join back into the event. Here's the latest news from Stanley.

"We left Ulaan Baatar at midnight for a straight 48 hour (non-stop) run to the Russian border. The car is on a flat bed and Brant and I are in a Toyota Land Rover.....all the way on dirt tracks! If everything works out, we'll be at the border on the morning of June 7 when our visas are good."

Image © Stanley Gold

Peking to Paris 2013 Update #3

Heading into the Gobi Desert things have gotten tough. The sand, very deep in places and there are really are no roads to speak of.  They have been able to manage that, along with the sleeping conditions. However they've had a left front suspension failure. I'll let Stanley tell it in his own words. Read on...



Time for a tow out of the sand.

Peking to Paris 2013 Upate #2

The Stanley Gold, Brant Parsons adventure continues...

At 3,000 plus test miles prepping for the Peking to Paris Motor Challenge, Brant commented, "I hope we have not worn out anything in the car!" Well, the time has come to take it to the street or dirt, which ever happens first.

The Porsche 911 was picked up at the port serving the Peking customs containment warehouse with the 100 other competitors cars. Just a side note, Stanley and Brant's car is one of two Porsche 911's in it's class, along with three Porsche 356's and three VW's.

The 100 entrants in the customs warehouse. Stanley and Brant's 911 in the lower left.

Peking to Paris Motor Challenge ...AKA. "Where the Asphalt Ends"

The "great Adventure" for Stanley Gold and Brant Parsons in the Peking to Paris Motor Challenge begins here. Well not really, it started about April, 2012 with the page on "Along for the Ride" at this link: Peking to Paris Build.

What started as an idea, lead to the building of a 1965 911, trips to San Diego's back country for testing and a pre-run rally through Canada into Alaska. But let's step back for a second.

Since the early adventurers first drove from Peking to Paris in 1907, "The Endurance Rally Association" has organized three further editions of this remarkable event, trekking through Inner Mongolia, the Gobi Desert, Russia, Ukraine, Slovakia, Austria, Switzerland, and into Paris, France. With this years event they will enter some of the most inaccessible countries and hostile environments in which to drive a car.

Stanley driving and Brant navigating the 1965 Porsche 911 next to the US/Mexico boarder fence testing in San Diego's back country. Image © Matt Parsons.