November 7, Jerez de la Frontera, very fine weather: The city, the home and heartland of
Sherry, was invaded by 82 classic cars which came from all around the world ( 22
countries ) to enjoy of the rays of sunshine before the winter. The tidings were not good
as flooding could be clearly seen from the previous weeks intensive rainfall. The
weather had some surprise in store, as we were to experience a tornado, sleet.
monsoon quality rain, ice snow and finally sun again. During the next five days the
caravan of classic automobiles drove through some of the most beautiful countryside
and coastlines of Andalusia, experiencing its past culture and traditions, and some
excellent food specific to the region.
The grid including 19 brands and numerous models of cars had never been so varied
in the two previous years. Fine-sounding models like Alfa Romeo 33/2 Daytona (s/n AR
75033015), Ford GT 40, two Porsche 910, Aston Martin DB 3S (s/n 11) and DB 3S
Coupe (s/n 120), AC Cobra, Ferrari 166 MM (s/n 0040M)and 225 S (s/n 0172 ET),
Jaguar XK 150 and E-types gathered amongst others on the starting line of this third
"Tour de Espana."
More than 150 applications have been received from around the world, but only 82
selected crews took part of this Andalusian tour from 7 to 11 November.
The grid were splitted into two sections as in previous years:
Competition Section: three racetracks (Jerez, Tabernas and Guadix) and ten road
special stages with different degrees of difficulty must been driven in the quickest
possible time - nothing for slowpokes! Sport Section: in this class the most clever and
consistently team will win the trophy.
Wednesday 7 November: Jerez - Cadix
After the administrations affairs in the morning and the following Scruteneering in the
palm fringed "Parque Goyales Hontoria" of Jerez with 28° Celsius the cars started to the
racetrack which is in the outskirts of the city. Here at Jerez the GT 40 of Chiles and
Mountford dominated the whole grid and won the race with the Porsche of
Connor/Sullivan in 2nd place. In the Sport Section the two girl team
Milojkovic/Ljubisavljevic in the Porsche 911 RS were the only competitors to score a
zero driving in agreement and precision. The superb Alfa Romeo 33/2 Daytona of
Franco Meiners suffered a small technical problem and retired. The Ferrari 365 GTB/4
Daytona Competition (s/n 14407) of John Bosch (Holland) could not start suffering a
gear box problem - so he got a lot of penalty time. This situation dropped him into the
last place, a position from which the crew never fully recovered. By the end of the day,
the cars drove down to Cadix, built on a peninsular island. The port of Cadix has open
squares, sailors, alleyways and high turreted houses. It also has a great atmosphere
slightly seedy, definitive in decline but full of mystique. Ist annual carnival in February is
considered to be the best and wildest in Spain. The dinner party was even held at the
Royal Tobacco Manufacture.
Thursday 8 November: Cadix - Antequera - Malaga
The second day has three road special stages on the program. "Alcala de los Gazules"
(SS1=9,5kms), followed by "Ubrique" (SS2=6,1kms) and the famous "El Chorro"
(SS3=6,2kms). Once in the hills and mountains the 1st of the breathtaking views was
experienced. Driving to the Ubrique stage the road corkscrewed around the
mountainside until the snow white vista of Ubrique was clearly visible, spreading along
the valley of the Rio Ubique with the daunting knife-edge crag of the "Cruz de Tajo"
rearing up and dominating. The lunch was given at the Parador in Antequera during all
the classic cars were concisely and geometrically parked inside the "Plaza de Toros" -
the famous bullring of Antequera. This location and also the weather were really
outstanding so it was the photographers paradise. The rally then headed 40km to
Malaga, the smallest of Andalucia´s eight provinces and its most populous. The day
ended with a dinner party at the "Parador del Golf" Malaga where Carlos Monteverde
(BR) and David Franklin (GB) received congratulations driving their Jaguar E-type and
also the Ford GT 40 crew which set the fastest time followed closely by the track
prepared Ferrari 308 Gr. 4 Michelotto of Entremont/Entremont.
Friday 9 November: Malaga- Motril - Roquetas de Mar
The third day has also three road special stages on the program. "Casabermeja"
(SS4=25kms !) followed by "Rigordo" (SS5=5kms) and finally "Motril" (SS6=5kms).The
caravan passed near Colemar, another brilliant white hill town, a center of honey
Production thanks to the rich variety of plants and shrubs. A stop at Motril consisted of a
typical Spanish Paella concoction which the competitors ate outside underneath
temporary white awnings, as the first drops of rain splashed down - a clear warning of
what lay ahead. The day ended nearly in a disaster: a middling tornado supported by
very heavy rain showers and cold temperatures came up and brought us a negative
surprise. The dinner party under the Moroccan "jaima" on the beach was cancelled but
the organizers found an alternative dry and warm place to serve the dinner. The silver
coloured Jaguar E-type of Monteverde/Franklin headed the results with the GT 40
(Chiles/Mountford) following closely, and keeping them very much in their sights with
closely related performances on the stages. In the Sport Section , the Porsche 911 S
(Bohrer/Giminez) led, closely followed by the Mercedes 300 SL driven by
Raposo/Raposo and the well driven Cobra 4,7 of Walduck/Mc Swan in third.
Saturday 10 November: Roquetas de Mar - Cordoba
The fourth day had two racetracks and one road special stage on the program. The
convoy started early in the morning and arrived at the "Circuit of Tabernas" - a great
experience with a series of connected corners and with long and fast sweeping bends.
John Bosch´s enthusiasm wasn't broken so he won the race in his Ferrari 365 GTB/4
Comp.(s/n 14407). Reveled in a great linked series of power slides and definitively was
the master of his Daytona and similar Chiles showed everyone how the slightly more
nimble GT 40 could perform. It was a great driving display with Sullivan (Porsche 911)
and Franklin (E-type) demonstrating equally impressive driving skills. The official route
to the second racetrack of the day must be changed because of snow and lousy
temperatures in the "Sierra de los Filabres", so the cars arrived at the racetrack of
"Guadix" from the South. At Guadix circuit the HWM Ferrari team of Pozner and Aarons
(Ferrari 275 GTB, s/n 09737) scored its first zero together with Walduck (Cobra) and the
Belgian Ferrari team Verbeeck/Van Looy (Ferrari 275 GTB, s/n 07651) and also another
Ferrari team of Argentinean Sucari (s/n 10525), who won the Tour Auto 2001 in the
Sport Section. The Ford GT 40 crew won the race in a superb performance followed by
Daytona racer John Bosch, who never gave up. "Guadix" is a nice track with long
straights in combination with fast curves and a spectacular chicane at the end of the
start and finish line - the competitors enjoyed the track in the sunshine but cold
temperatures. The Ford GT 40 loved these circumstances and won the race in front of
two Ferraris, and an American entered Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2,7 litre. After having a
delicious lunch the competitors left Guadix to reach "Los Frailes (SS7-9kms). The long
stage completed, the rally headed once again for Cordoba and dinner at the Parador de
Cordoba. At the end of the penultimate day the GT 40 was still in the lead challenged by
David Franklin (E-type). The Sport Section showed Bohrer and Gimenez (Porsche 911S)
Sunday 11 November: Cordoba - Cordoba
The final day saw three route special stages. "Trassierra" (SS8=11,5kms), located only
a few kms outside the city of Cordoba, was a very steep and narrow route winding up to
the top. From time to time Cordoba could been seen disappearing in the valley - a very
scenic part of Andalusia. The following two special stages "Los Arenales" (SS9-
9,4kms) and "Villaviciosa" (SS10-6kms) were located in a very wooded area and the
cars had to pass very stony routes before a delicious lunch was served at a "Cortijo"
where a young bull tested the agility and quick reflexes of several young matadors as
they skillfully avoided the noms of the charging charger with their lightening reactions as
competitors looked on under a warm sun and sipped chilled champagne. The last
hundred kilometres back to Cordoba have been completed very quick and so the
remaining 64 cars (which is a total of 78%) reunited in the parc ferme in the center of
Cordoba welcomed by hundreds of Spanish classic car enthusiasts. A visit to the
Mezsquita was optional that evening, the grandest and most beautiful mosque ever
constructed by the Moors. Finally the events finished in Cordoba, a city of considerable
charm, trickling fountains and a profusion of flowers, and a shady oasis of small
squares. The final dinner party and prize giving was presented by the Deputation of
Cordoba at the "Cercle de l´Amitie, a grand imposing empire era building of ornate
marble and glittering chandeliers.
Resume´: The " Tour de Espana" 2001 was a remarkable event in the classic car
calendar: congratulation and thanks to all who helped to make it possible, in particular:
The "Federation Andaluza de Automovolismo", Patrick and Silviane Peter (Paris) and
their crew, Carlos de Miguel and the large number of stewards. The fourth version of the
"Tour de Espana" will be held in mid of October 2002.
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