End of the Earth via Satellite

Rally Report on Day 19 - Punta Arenas to Rio Grande
Fred Fangio regrets that this evening in Rio Grande, he finds himself in a town that apparently has no internet connection, making it currently impossible to bring you the latest news and pictures from the Vintage Cape Horn rally. We will publish the latest story as soon as normal communications are resumed. Meanwhile the results pages have been updated via a satellite connection.

Leslie and Rand managed to get a small post through:

View from our hotel room across the Magallanes Straits

Pier into which our ship crashed several years ago. Evil wind got it. Blowing and howling now as we pack up for the ferry crossing to Porvenir and three medal runs. Rio Grande, home of world famous giant brown trout tonight. Friends with a fishing lodge will meet us across the border.

What a Difference a Day Makes

Chuck woke me this morning, at 5:30, to tell me it was raining. Did I need to know just then?
Snow on the mountains.  Thanks to his good work, we had a much improved exit from the park. A fuel truck had appeared Sunday, with pricey fuel. We did not partake, thanks to foresight, and a large on-board fuel tank.
Certainly our visit to Torres Del Paine and Hotel Explora Patagonia has been the top stop of journey. Most of us ended our hikes and horse rides in the Piscina with champagne, beer and tall tales. We swam in the warm pool, then, after baking like lobsters in a steam room, jumped off the dock into a very icy lake.  Could you hear our screams? The sunny lake side hot tubs bubbled over, with happy racers.  Chuck opted for a well deserved massage.
I was surprised to see lady slippers and orchids thriving in this bleak landscape. We walked quite close to guanacos, grazing or posing on rocks, unconcerned by humans because they cannot be tamed.
The Explora dining room hangs over a waterfall and the cliff opposite, holds a giant condor nest with much activity. Do put this place on your map.
Back to the journey. First control, tiny Cafe Patagonia, could not contain our mob, ran out of soup, chairs, and probably patience. Clint shared his steak sandwich with us and the officials told us to just head to the race circuit.  Autodromo turned out to be a decent Tarmac track, with thoughtfully placed pot holes, gators and a dead stop chicane..even Monkey loved it.  Bill Shields' steering tie rods broke on the course, concluding with his race-car in a unique toes out position at the chicane. We did well.  Clint came one second faster on the three lap trial, possibly due to our added weight of that shared sandwich.  Sneaky devil. Great fun.
Now a fine hotel with a view of the cruise ship pier into which the Prince Albert crashed several years ago, with us aboard. Did I mention wind?  And more wind?  And cold?  The open car crews looked like a Blue Man Group reunion, upon arrival.
We take a 7am ferry in the morning, so I better get down to the bar now, for personal refueling.

Torres del Paine, A World Biosphere Reserve

By Gerard Brown

By Gerard Brown, Day 17, Torres del Paine

Some reverse shock mount psychology, keeps Fang running 'smoothly'.

photo by Gerard Brown, Day 16 Photos

Domingo near Heaven, hangovers included

Undaunted by the residual effects of plentiful free Chilean wine, our group stormed out early Sunday morning fitted with walking sticks and riding gear for activities unrelated to cars.  Chuck, however, toils away under Fang as Clint Smith lurks about hoping for the worst. Clint and Trevor in número 23,  a similar 38 coupe, are gaining on us and racing well. Clint suggested we switch cars after the event for a test ride.  Can't wait till he experiences Fang's very special steering.  Our park exit, rerouted by a landslide, will add an additional 100 plus km to our day tomorrow with no fuel stops. The entire rally could coast to a halt.  Last time we saw a station was in Argentina. Barren and beautiful.  Danny and Michael got a medal last night and Team Bardhal moved into first in team contest.

View from our room at Explora Patagonia Hotel

Gravel tracks take their toll. One hundred km on washboard, with no back shocks, blurred my vision of rallying. Only an all inclusive, dynamite hotel, could ease the pain. Warm pool, alternating with stunning dips in the icy lake, raucous dinner over the falls and a morning slot in the garage, improved our mood considerably.

Explora Patagonia Hotel

Chuck ready for another day under Fang

Glacier Day

Photo by Gerard Brown - more photos here: http://bitly.com/1jYudqq

Latitude's Everything

Off across the desert we flew, or tried to. Violent headwinds and a car designed like a speed brake made the going slow until we tagged along behind a team support truck . Closely behind, about a foot. Fang's relaxed steering kept Chuck busy, busy and me plastered against the other window to warn of oncoming vehicles. Tossing about like a cork in a blender and stuck to a pickup at 140 km

sure made the turns invigorating. Great fun.

A kindly fuel truck met the teams halfway from nowhere and even gave us sandwiches. After hours of gravel and not much else the peaks of Torres del Paine appeared.

Lunch break, sorta, near a lake

50 liters of free fuel with a smile and a sandwich too

Waiting for Danny, by the River

Just a silly millimeter more