Limburgia Tropheum

[Peter van Es]

As some of you know, I was navigating the Limburgia Tropheum Rally this weekend. This is a classic car Regularity rally, meaning that you need to drive at a certain, very precise set speed, accurately to the second, whilst plotting the course, and navigating it, and looking out for checkpoints. The first day starts at 08:00 and finishes around 20:00 after around three hours of driving in the dark on unlit, unpaved roads in Belgium.

Exactly a year ago this same rally was the restart of my navigating career with my driver, Jan van Doorn, and his Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint GT (no, not a Pagoda).... and yesterday we came in 2nd, and we are really proud of that accomplishment. I'll be writing up this rally as a description of how classic car rallying works in Europe, for the next issue of PW.

Peter

[zoegrlh]

Congratulations Peter.  I will be looking forward to reading your article.  Did some of the same rallys here in the US. in my younger days.
Bob Hyatt
Williamsburg, VA.

[Dash808]

Very cool!  Congrats Peter.  Do they allow you to use GPS?

[66andBlue]

Way to go Peter! First place next year? 

[114015]

Congratulations from me too, Peter !  Very well done.

Please, will next year's Alsace tour be the same?

I am afraid my 114 sedan will be too slow for it

(although M180 is quite overhauled now).

Achim

[Peter van Es]

No, GPS's not allowed, nor even electronic calculators. So speed calculations all using tables! A GPS wouldn't help you much (except for when you're really lost... but then you are out of a chance of winning anyway).

Speeds are "brisk". Not illegal. But it's all on tiny backroads and some unpaved paths.

And the Alsace event will have fun driving, but more of the scenic variety... yes, some navigating is involved but it won't be strenuous and competition will not feature in it.

Peter

[Iconic]

Peter,
This sound very much like the TSD (Time Speed Distance) rallies I did a few years ago on snow and ice covered unpaved roads in Michigan, USA.
Ours was over an 8 hour period into the night as well. Son of Snow Drift rally.
Even at "legal" speeds, it was like an off road rally due to the snow and ice.
I was the driver. My friend Neil was the navigator.
We took 1st place in the novice class the first year and not  any place the second year (not in Novice class).
We drove my all wheel drive Audi A4 Station Wagon with a set of Bridgestone Blizzaks on it.
WHAT A BLAST. I'm on the left (as you are looking at the picture). Check out the mud on my car.
Thanks for the memories and CONGRATULATIONS.
Mark

[Peter van Es]

They are indeed similar to TSD's, but with (as I understand it) different kinds of map based navigation than in a TSD. However, we're not allowed to use fancy new 4 wheel drive equipment like an Audi Quattro... ours has to be pre-1972 and original (i.e. you need to have a Fia passport for the car which means that it is original, with only in-period modifications.. . even driving lamps need to be in-period).

See picture... look familiar? It's my car, but I'm navigating...

Peter

[Iconic]

Looks like you have the best of both worlds going for you there ... a rally and a Pagoda 
By the way, there are different classes in TSD Rallies. The top ones have full blown computers and wheel speed measuring (I believe). I was in the lower class where all you could use was your stock speedometer, a stopwatch, pencil, paper, and maybe a calculator (I don't remember, I was the driver).
That is fantastic. Using a car for what it was intended !!!
That is the way it should be.
Mark

[rob walker]

Congratulations Peter. I did the Limburgia Rally some 25 years ago when it was a closed road stage event with some pretty quick Grp 4 cars. The roads were superb!