Sunday 16 June 2013

DAY 3, A DAY OF REST FOR CENTENARY ALPINE TRIAL PARTICIPANTS

The birthplace of Mozart provided a perfect location today for the first rest day of the Centenary Alpine Trial. The 47 Silver Ghosts on the Trial enjoyed some welcome fettling time, whilst the fleet of accompanying 2013 Rolls-Royce Ghosts – undoubtedly the most luxurious support cars in history – provided transfers for drivers and passengers as they wafted around the historic city of Salzburg.

An enchanting gala dinner at Schloss Hellbrunn culminated in drama. Following a tour of the Castle's water gardens – participants were about to be treated to an outside opera performance when the heavens opened spectacularly.

Cue 150 20-Ghost Club members dashing to their open top cars in a scene more akin to a Le Mans start than the graceful egress into one's Rolls-Royce.

All was forgotten with a swift drink in the bar before driver's headed off to bed in preparation for what promises to be an unforgettable run to Lienz.

Tomorrow the Trial starts again in earnest, with the challenging 230 km journey including two major passes, the Radstadter Tauern Pass and the infamous Katschberg Pass. This forms part of the original 1913 Alpenfahrt journey taken on Monday 23 June 1913, when the 418 km from Salzburg to Innsbruck was covered in just a single day.

To whet your appetite, we include a photo of the 1913 Radley car as it lead the 2013 Centenary Alpine Trial into Salzburg, just as it did 100 years ago.



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