Rally Drivers Arrive In Beatle Wigs

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31584, 23 January 1968, Page 12

Rally Drivers Arrive In Beatle Wigs

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter —Copyright) MONTE CARLO. Two Swiss drivers, wearing Beatle wigs to keep their heads warm, led the procession of rally crews who arrived at Monte Carlo yesterday at the end of a two days and three nights drive from eight scattered points in Europe. The Swiss pair, P. Lier and M. Buzzi, in a mud-bespat-tered British Imp, pulled up on the Monte Carlo waterfront on schedule soon after dawn broke. Lier, in his fifth Monte Carlo rally, said: “Everything

went well. We had no problems.” The two Swiss were quickly followed by other Athens starters whose schedule made them the first arrivals. The Athens contingent included two of the rally favourites—the British MiniCoopers of the Finns, T. Makinen and A. Aaltonen, both former winners. Makinen and Aaltonen had so much time in hand that they were able to stop and clean their cars before crossing the finishing line. Makinen said he had some brake trouble on the drive from Athens, but was able to put it, right. About 180 of the original] 200 cars were expected to 1 reach Monte Carlo and qualify; for the first two mountain stages later this week. The mild weather has improved the chances of outright victory going to one of the powerful German Porsche team led by a Briton, V. Elford.