In 1911 Henri Rougier arrived in Monte Carlo in his Turco Mery for the first round of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge.

One hundred years later the event continues as the Rallye Monte Carlo Historique this year welcoming drivers from Barcelona, Reims, Glasgow, Warsaw and Marrakesh.  The newly opened Blythswood Square Hotel in Glasgow is the old Scottish RAC building and it seemed perfect for the 100th Rallye to have this legendry venue as one of its starting points. Decked in Harris Tweed, the interiors celebrate driving legends such as Jim Clark and allows guests to take a personal look into the history of British and European motor racing with photos and posters, donated by motoring enthusiasts.

As early as 1897 the French Rivera organised sports and automative events and Prince Albert 1st of Monaco promoted his municipality to stage major events and place Monte Carlo firmly on the map of the high society and those who could afford leisurely pursuits.  Two members of the Automobile club de Monaco came up with the idea of organising a European Automobile tour, first as a beauty contest of cars arriving by train, next the idea of actually arriving in the car in which you travelled in ALL the way. It took off with aplomb in 1911, the first Monaco Automobile Rally.

Europe’s high society would travel through each city showing off their elaborate cars. In the early days of the rally,  winners were judged on everything except their driving ability. In 1912 the entrants grew from 20 to 65 and the numbers who finished increased from 18 to 54.  A chap called Nagel in 1912, drove from St Petersburg a distance of 3200km only earned him 9th place. The First World War put a stop to the fun and frolicks and the rally returned in 1924 with 30 applicants. The rally needed to attract a wider range of applicants and in 1925 there were 15 departure cities, raising the stakes of which cars would enter.

Between the wars, the rally was a road of obstacles, from roads that turned to gravel and mud and to ice and snow, automobile manufacturers soon realised there was cause for producing all weather equipment; from sturdier chassis to gearbox’s and to tyre developments, windscreen advancements and storage and weight distribution. In 1929 the rally was once again put on hold until 1949. With over 440 entrants in the 1955 Rally it locked down on restrictions and ideas. Losing some say it’s joue de vivre, however, the true Rally participants have never eased and toady in its centenary year there are 328 entrants with approximately 3 times that number who applied.
As with all anniversaries, this year is special and everyone on board can sense this. Day one the welcoming party at the Port de Monaco:

At arrival in Monte Carlo….
The first day of the 2011 Rallye kicks off as the  crowd wait with Great anticipation at the Port of Monte Carlo to see who is first to arrive.. Many autograph hunters are delighted when Rauno Aaltonen and Helmut Artacker arrive. Aaltonen the European Rally Champion in 1965 in the BMC he drives a Mini Cooper S in this Rallye.   Another spectacle is Erik Comas in the Alpine Renault A110 1973. Comas, who drove in 59 F1 Grand Prix for Ligier & Larrouse and also a driver for Lamborghini. I am excited to see and hear some interesting examples of entries this year.    Number 169, Porsche 911 Carrera RS 1973 Driven by Stig Johnson and Erik Remberg by Classic magazine as the number 1 drivers car. That along with the Mini Cooper S of which there are a variety on this rallye and another in the top drivers car list.

On the road....
After a quick lunch at team restaurant "Virage" on the port, we skipped up to the first special stage up at..... As we drive the snow falls and by the time we reach the first special stage the snow demands we fit the snow chains on the M&S (mud & snow) tyres. The snow chains on the front two tyres of our front wheel drive car (Fiat Brava 90 break horse 1.4 city car).!   These snow chains saved our bacon. Seriously. We had the grip to help us make believe that we could continue upwards round the mountain. Alas a good while later a kind French chap with curly hair in a tractor of a jeep came in the opposite direction to inform us that even he could not fight the depth of the snow along with the downfall.   We turned round and went back. Four hours up the Alpines Maritimes. Needless to say conversation in our car was fraught.   Mud & Snow tyres, winter tyres & snow chains take up our concentration for some of the five hours drive in the reverse direction. With the recent disruption to the UK this year and indeed last, I wonder if Halfords and Kwik Fit ought to start advertising these items specifically the chains, the easiest and cheapest By Lara Platman

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