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The Regularity this morning posed as many challenges as we expected, based on our experience of earlier years. After 1,2 km out of 33km total, we took an early turn and as luck has it, not only was this the wrong road, but I hit a bit of soft snow taking the first turn and ended up back end first in a meadow with deep snow. Even Silverado’s 210 horses had to surrender to the forces of snow and gravity and we were officially stuck!

As we started digging ourselves out of the ditch a farmer showed up out of nowhere on a small tractor and he was kind enough to take the other end of our tow-rope (There is a God). The adventure cost us 15-20 minutes and that meant the Regularity was a fail. We did drive the whole route of course, but with significant penalties.

We continued to struggle all day with the route and I suppose this was our off-day in the rally. The finish was set in a small castle called Hellbrunn on the Austrian border. Traditionally Jagertee and Gluhwein are served upon arrival and we were welcomed by the organizer with congratulations on the completion of the rally and then it was off to join our friends for the warm refreshments.

The attraction of events like these is the atmosphere amongst participants who enter and finish this adventure. The friends we had registered with all had their share of individual challenges during the week. Aloys and Dick with their alternator, Cooper and Rene with their Targa’s grip, Kenneth and Philippe with their little accident, Fer and Lode with some of the map systems and Joost and I with our off this morning. It’s terrific input for the banter at the end of the day. We are now huddled in a small pub in Bad Reichenhall, hopeful for some bar food ahead of the prize giving dinner.

I’d like to thank my friends on this rally and the organizers for a great week, full of driving challenges. Special thanks go to Joost Cohen, my co-driver for giving it everything this week and fretting over every single turn on the maps. We’ve come a long way buddy!!!

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