THE MAGIC OF THE MONTE

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30946, 30 December 1965, Page 7

THE MAGIC OF THE MONTE

IBy SIMON MARSH] 'J’HE pundits say it’s old hat, that it’s predictable, that the challenge is not what it was . . . but they’ve been saying these things for years.

As far as the manufacturers are concerned, winning the Monte Carlo Rally still brings more spectacular returns that any other event in motor sport. For the last six months the competitions departments of a dozen leading European and American car firms have been thinking of little else but the “Monte” and its unique requirements. A three-car team which sets off on January 14 on the 2600mile trek across Europe to the sun and palm trees of Monaco has probably cost the manufacturer at least £lO,OOO in time, research and preparation. But it’s a highly commercial proposition: for industrialists estimate that a Monte

win is worth at least £1 million in increased business. When Timo Makinen of Finland won last year’s rally, with a Mini-Cooper S, the makers reported an upsurge of sales throughout Europe. For three days and nights the cars of 20 nations will speed over mainly ice-bound roads to the south. Few drivers manage more than 10 hours sleep, tempers fray, spectacular rows take place. A winning team can pick up £2-3000 in prize money and “perks;” for the unsponsored also-rans it will be the most expensive drive of their lives. Only the manufacturers can be sure of being on the winning side, wherever their cars are placed: technicians say that three days of Monte driving will produce at least one fault which can be rectified in the next production models. This year, at least half the 350 competitors will be official works teams. PREPARATION

The preparations made to ensure that works cars—and drivers —are properly equipped for their task, have reached a new level of intensity this year. Months before the event, works teams spend week-ends together driving under the guidance of the team manager. Any new driver goes through a “baptism of fire.” He is taken on to a practice track by the manager and pressed to the very limit of his nerve.

A very common fault is not “reading” the road far enough ahead: a vital drawback when it comes to keeping averages. A skid-pan is used to simulate ice and snow conditions. Sometimes, experienced police drivers have acted as coaches during practice sessions.

Corner-by-corner maps will be compiled by works "scouts” who have driven over the entire course noting every detail.

Navigation notes will be prepared and memorised—by the teams. Last year, a mathematician spent nearly 100 hours with a calculating machine completing schedules for one work’s team. Ironically, although manufacturers spend more time and money on the Monte than on all the other rallies put together, top drivers don’t rate it in the first three winter events. DRIVERS’ VIEWS Stirling Moss’s reaction is a typical one: “doing a Monte Carlo rally does not excite me. In a difficult year it can be interesting. Otherwise, it’s just another rally.” Experts rate the Liege-Rome-Liege rally as the winter’s toughest, with the Alpine rally second and Britain’s R.A.C. event third. Then comes the Monte.

Although the Monte is not a race against competitors, it’s certainly one against the clock. The Automobile Club de Monaco and the 30 motor clubs which co-operate in staging the rally, organise check average and minimum speeds. . This prevents cars building up time on easy stretches in order to cope with icy sections. It means that throughout every mile of the rally, navigators have to make sure that their cars never exceed or fall below the two limits of average speed set for each stage.

Those who complete the route with minimum loss of

marks go on to the final tests which often determine the winner.

A race against the clock can often be more relentless than one against cars, and offers a challenge that few sporting motorists can resist. Th- Monte originally stemmed from a spate of unofficial records set up around 1910 by private motorists travelling from London to Monaco. A lot of rubber has scorched on to the road since the Hon. C. S. Rolls broke the record in his 1906 RollsRoyce by a 37i-hour dash with a mechanic sitting in the exposed back seat among tyres, petrol tins, and roast chickens!

But the mystery, the magic, and the uncertainty of the Monte still remains. I expect that, regardless of commercial pressures, it always will. . . . (To be continued)