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Estonians in 1929 Monte Carlo Rally


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#1 Aspelund

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Posted 25 February 2011 - 10:56

Hi!

I have a question about 1929 Monte Carlo Rally, actually about partisipation of Estonian car in this race.

One book has a short story by a man called Kaarel Karu, who was a co-driver in Renault, that participated in 1929 Monte Carlo Rally. By his words he started from Riga and drove until Monte Carlo, actually finishing here. No position was given, but he said that local Renault gave them and another team in Renault a money prize. Sadly I don't know the name of the owner or the driver of Estonian car.

Another Estonian driver Johanson got stuck in the snow and aborted the race in Poland.

From another source I have info, that no one from Riga got to finish.

So can someone shed a light in this matter?

With best wishes,
Tarmo

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#2 Vitesse2

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Posted 25 February 2011 - 11:34

Only 24 cars reached Monte Carlo within the time limit: none of them had started from Riga (source: Automobil Revue 1929 #8, p3). The weather in Eastern Europe in 1929 was pretty bad - the previous issue of AR commented on it, pointing out it was particularly poor for Riga and Athens starters - and the biggest groups of finishers were from Berlin, Helsingborg (4 each) and John O'Groats (5). There were no finishers from Athens either, just two from Bucharest and only one from Warsaw.

Of course, that doesn't mean this car didn't get to Monte Carlo eventually: but if it did, it was out of time and not eligible for the final tests.

#3 Bauble

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Posted 25 February 2011 - 15:41

Many years ago I read a book by Muarice Gatsonides (I'm reasonably sure) which had a fair amount about pre war Monte's and it was very well written and quite absorbing. I am 100% sure of only one thing .............. some one will have the title, publisher, colour of the jacket, number of pages etc. up here before the day is out.

bauble.

#4 Vitesse2

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Posted 25 February 2011 - 16:17

Many years ago I read a book by Muarice Gatsonides (I'm reasonably sure) which had a fair amount about pre war Monte's and it was very well written and quite absorbing. I am 100% sure of only one thing .............. some one will have the title, publisher, colour of the jacket, number of pages etc. up here before the day is out.

bauble.

"Never Ending Race"? Or are you perhaps thinking of "Rallies and Trials" by Sammy Davis? I just dug it out and he says that the weather was so bad that starters heading from the west couldn't actually reach Riga and turned back, starting from Berlin instead. He mentions both Donald Healey and Mrs Bruce in this regard: I don't have "Nine Lives Plus", but perhaps Mrs Bruce wrote something about it in there?

#5 Fred Gallagher

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Posted 25 February 2011 - 16:32

Details of this era are quite hard to find....

The entry list I have (from The Autocar, January 11th 1929) doesn't list any Renaults as starting from Riga.

There is an L.Skarbek Tiuchowski in a 3180cc machine starting from Lwow in Poland with number 58, and a 1473 example of G.Capriel starting from Bucharest.

Fred

#6 Vitesse2

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Posted 25 February 2011 - 17:47

Details of this era are quite hard to find....

Fred

I can let you have the list of finishers if you need it :)

#7 Fred Gallagher

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Posted 25 February 2011 - 18:06

I can let you have the list of finishers if you need it :)


Yes please!

#8 Vitesse2

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Posted 25 February 2011 - 22:33

Yes please!

PM sent :)

#9 Tim Murray

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Posted 25 February 2011 - 22:44

This site may be of interest:

http://rallyemonteca...unblog.fr/1929/