Johnny Tipler

Most recent mission: to cover the R.A.C. Roger Albert Clark Rally for 911 & Porsche World Magazine. So on 2nd December cameraboy Antony Fraser and I travelled to Helmsley, Yorkshire, aboard a Porsche 997 Turbo (courtesy Porsche GB) and signed on at Duncombe Park. Dozens of Escorts but only four Porsches. OK…

Touched base with John Hawkins at Specialist Cars Malton, then a hike into the depths of  Dalby Forest Woodyard to catch the cars churning the forestry tracks in the night: sound and fury and very little sight due to dazzling batteries of lights and pitch darkness. A welcome curry in Pickering to thaw out, then back to the bosom of the Mallyan Spout Hotel, Goathland for the night. More forest stages next day, and finally some circuit action at Croft (bitterly cold), then up to Bedlington for the night. More curry. Rally action shifted west to Dumfries, with blizzards up Eskdalemuir and watersplashes at Dumfries. Snow in Kielder Forest on Monday gifted some action shots in the white stuff, and finally to Carlisle for the finish. Gwyndaf Evans won, having led all weekend, while two 911s finished, 11th and 14th. Seems Ford kit has evolved over the years to a greater extent than 911′s, at this level of comps anyway.

Back in the UK – and now it’s time to write up the Mexican adventure for a number of magazines. Meanwhile, all thanks to our sponsors: Michelin Tyres, Motul lubricants, Adrian Flux Insurance, Journey Latin America, Duel Motorsports, Porscheshop, Highgate House, Paul Stephens and Quicksilver Exhausts.

So we did it! Finished La Carrera Panamericana, 95th but no way last, ahead of several illustrious regulars in more potent machinery. Potency was distinctly absent on the super-fast La Bufa stage, final leg of the event, the 914’s 2.0-litre flat-four reduced to plodding mode and us its anxious nursemaids. Progress was so leisurely Sarah didn’t have to call the corners so she could take pics instead. Even so, get those interminable drop-offs! Gearshifts akin to stirring porridge, and the clutch almost fried on the run-in to Zacatecas, we had to argue with the transit police not to put us on a trailer at one point as we paused to let it cool off, but they did lead us downtown to the finish. And again the heroes’ welcome awaited at the Arches. Dinner with the Jaguar boys at the Emporio, then a swift change and into the melee of the Procession – mescal fuelled Mexican merriment, dancing in the street. And finally, the presentation dinner in the magnificent bull-ring heart of the Fiesta Americana. Fabulous event, the cars, the camaraderie, the awesome road stages, spectacular scenery, friendly people. We’ll be back for sure!

Day 5:

Car on a trailer after return run up through Mil Cumbres due to serious oil emissions.

Oil leak apparently fixed at service – probably caused by high pressure blowing it out through crankcase breathers at very high revs (we have high lift cams so it can take it to a certain extent). Too much of a hammering in 2nd and 3rd over Mil Cumbres, yesterday and back again today?
Dinner at Santa Fe hotel, Guanajuato – an amazing city, maze of tunnels, winding streets, fab architecture, street life. To Aguascalientes tomorrow.

Yesterday (Day 4) was from Queretaro to Morelia. After a promising start everything ground to a halt when a Dutch Mustang hit a local sedan head on on a fast left on a speed stage. Sure, they’d cancelled the stage beforehand, but we were sent off on it as if it was a live one, so it could have happened to any of us. It looked bad, but we heard all involved were OK, amazingly. Next stage was cancelled as a result, which took us to the two daunting Mil Cumbres stages, high in pine forest mountains. It’s always talked up, but for good reason as there are long drop off to cliff edge and forest. Absolutely awesome roads to drive, incessant bends, mostly banked, coming quickly one after another. Means what it says: a thousand corners. As usual Sarah Bennett-Baggs called the numbers and I chucked it into the turn accordingly. Thrilling stuff. Warm reception in Morelia zocalo, and, much later, some serious drinking with the English Jaguar boys underneath the arches.