Sydney - London Marathon Classic Rally 2014

Starts: 04/12/2014
Ends: 2014-05-11
Sydney to London

Images© and story by Ljubomir Ivanovic, Contact Photographer For Information on Photos of this Event


The London to Sydney Marathon is running again in 2014, called "The Big One" and made a stop in Belgrade, Serbia, from where our photojournalist Ljubomir Ivanovic sends these photos. It last ran in 2004.

The last rally in 2004, ran from London to Sydney, but the 2014 run is in reverse or Sydney to London. According to the events website the change in direction was prompted by an interesting quirk of the Australian import rules. It is against the law to bring into the country "dirty rally cars". However one can assume that it is OK to send 'dirty' cars out of the country.

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Sydney - London Marathon Classic Rally 2014

The first World Marathon Rally called "London Sydney Marathon" was organized by the London Daily Express and the Sydney Daily Telegraph in 1968 and ran from November 24 to December 18 in 1968. The run was a about 16,000 km. The route passed through Yugoslavia, with a control station at the Belgrade, Hotel Metropole. The first competitor arrived on 26 November, 1968, at 22:04 hours.


Prvi Svetski maraton reli (World Marathon Rally) organizovali su londonski Daily Express i sidnejski Daily Telegraph pod nazivom London Sydney Marathon 1968 vožen od 24. novembra do 18. decembra 1968. godine u ukupnoj dužini od oko 16.000 km.

Na svom putu prošli su i kroz Jugoslaviju, kontrolna stanica Beograd, Hotel Metropol, gde je prvi takmičar stigao 26. novembra 1968. u 22.04 časa.

Svi koji su nešto značili u rally svetu uzeli su učešće na ovom takmičanju.

Učestvovali su Ford, Citroen, BLMC, DAF, Moskvich, Porsche,...Od vozača Roger Clark, Paddy Hopkirk, Simo Lampinen, Lucien Bianchi, Sobieslaw Zasada,...Ukupno je startovalo 98 posada.

Drugi Svetski maraton reli (World Marathon Rally) pod nazivom 1970 London to Mexico World Cup Rally vožen je od 19. aprila do 27. maja 1970. godine u ukupnoj dužini od oko 26.000 km. Povod je bilo Svetsko prvenstvo u fudbalu u Meksiku 1970. (1970 FIFA World Cup). Ponovo je sponzor bio londonski Daily Express. I ovoga puta prošli su kroz Jugoslaviju, kontrolna stanica Beograd, Hotel Metropol, gde je prvi takmičar stigao 21. aprila 1970. u 01.30 časova. Učestvovali su Ford, Citroen, BLMC, Porsche, Moskvich, Rolls Royce, Mercedes,...Od vozača Rauno Aaltonen, Tony Fall, Rene Trautmann, Timo Makinen, Hannu Mikkola, Paddy Hopkirk, Innes Ireland,...Ukupno 106 posada. Bio sam oba puta kod Hotela Metropol u Beogradu, a 1970. sam uzimao autograme od vozača.

Takmičenje pod nazivom Sydney - London Classic Marathon Rally 2014 na kome učestvuju istorijska vozila, classic cars, održava se od 12. aprila do 11. maja 2014. Takmičenje je podeljeno na deo koji se vozi u Australiji u dužini od 7.750 km i deo koji se vozi u Evropi u dužini od 6.000 km. Na svom putu kroz Evropu takmičari su prošli kroz zemlje bivše Jugoslavije, Srbiju, Hrvatsku i Sloveniju. U Srbiji kontrolna stanica je bio Beograd, Hotel Metropol, ponovo, prvo vozilo je stiglo 30. aprila 2014. u 12.00 časova.

Ovo takmičenje ima revijalni karakter i održava se kao potsećanje na održane Svetske maraton relije.

Kotizacija za ušesnike koji su vozili samo deo u Australiji iznosila je 25.000 US S, za učesnike koji su vozili samo deo u Evropi takođe 25.000 US S, za one koji su vozili kompletno takmičenje 50.000 US S.

Kako se videlo na kontrolanoj stanici u Beogradu odmah po pristizanju takmičara servisna ekipa preuzima vozilo, pere ga i servisira. Kamionom stižu stvari učesnika i oni se smeštaju u hotel na odmor. Strat je bio 1. maja 2014 u 7.00 časova za prvo vozilo.

U Beograd je stiglo ukupno 19 vozila. Bila je to prilika da se vide istorijska vozila koja su obeležila istoriju rally takmičenja. Pre svega Ford Escort Mk1 RS 1600, jedan od najuspešnijih rally vozila u istoriji. Društvo mu je pravio Ford Escort Mk1 RS 2000. Izvanredni automobili. Tu su i bila nešto novija dva automobila Ford Escort RS 1800.

I dva automobila Porsche 911 Carrera RS, zatim Volvo 123 GT, Volvo 144, Datsun 1600, junak takmičenja Safari Rally. Tu su bila i izvanredni Datsun 240Z i dva automobila Datsun 260Z, takođe junaci takmičenja Safari Rally. Zatim australijski Holden Commodore i Ford Falcon GT i dva automobila Ford Mustang. I jedan Mercedes Benz SL 280 „Pagoda“, nekadašnji istaknuti učesnik rally takmičenja.

Bilo je ovo prilika za prave ljubitelje automobilizma da vide malo, ali odabrano društvo pravih automobilskih legendi, automobile koji su obeležili jednu epohu svetskih rally takmičenja 60' i 70'godina prošlog veka.

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Sydney - London Marathon Classic Rally 2014

All that those that mattered in the rally world took part in this competition. The list included Ford, Citroen, BLMC, DAF, Moskvich, Porsche ... the driver Roger Clark, Paddy Hopkirk, Simo Lampinen, Lucien Bianchi, Sobieslaw time being... A total of 98 crew members has been suggested.

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Sydney - London Marathon Classic Rally 2014

This years event named "Sydney - London Marathon Classic Rally 2014" has historic vehicles and classic cars participating, and is held from 12 April to 11 May in 2014. The competition is divided into sections. One is driving through Australia, a distance of 7,750 km and one part is driving in Europe with a length of 6,000 km. On the one through Europe, contestants will go through the countries of former Yugoslavia, that is, Serbia, Croatia, and Slovenia.

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Sydney - London Marathon Classic Rally 2014

In Serbia, as before the control station is in Belgrade, at the Hotel Metropol, Again, the first vehicle arrived on April 30 in 2014. At 12.00.

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click here Sydney - London Marathon Classic Rally 2014

This Classic Rally has become a show and is held as a Tribute to the World Marathon Rally

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Sydney - London Marathon Classic Rally 2014

The registration fee for entrants who drove only the Australian leg was $25,000 U.S. For participants who drove only the European part also $25,000 U.S. For the total run for the complete contest $50,000 U.S.

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Sydney - London Marathon Classic Rally 2014

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The start out of Belgrade was on May 1, 2014 at 7:00 pm for the first vehicle out of a total of 19 vehicles.

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Sydney - London Marathon Classic Rally 2014

This was a great chance to see historic vehicles that have made a mark in the history of rally competition. First off was the Ford Escort Mk1 RS 1600, one of the most successful rally cars in history. The Company has made the Ford Escort Mk1 RS 2000th Associate cars. Second was a more recent Ford Escort RS 1800s.

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Sydney - London Marathon Classic Rally 2014

Then two Porsche 911 Carrera RS's, followed by; Volvo 123 GT, Volvo 144, Datsun 1600, a strong competition Safari Rally car. There was also an outstanding Datsun 240Z and two Datsun 260Zs, also strong competitors in the Safari Rally. Then the Australian Holden Commodore and a Ford Falcon GT and two Ford Mustangs. Then a Mercedes Benz 280 SL " Pagoda ", the former a prominent participant in the rally competition.

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click here Sydney - London Marathon Classic Rally 2014

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Sydney - London Marathon Classic Rally 2014

This was an opportunity for true fans of Motorsports to see a small, but select group of true automotive legends, the cars that marked the pinnacle in world rally competition back in the 60s and 70s; The golden years of the last century.

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Sydney - London Marathon Classic Rally 2014

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Sydney - London Marathon Classic Rally 2014

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Sydney - London Marathon Classic Rally 2014

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Sydney - London Marathon Classic Rally 2014

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Sydney - London Marathon Classic Rally 2014

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Sydney - London Marathon Classic Rally 2014

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Sydney - London Marathon Classic Rally 2014

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Sydney - London Marathon Classic Rally 2014

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Sydney - London Marathon Classic Rally 2014

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Sydney - London Marathon Classic Rally 2014

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Sydney - London Marathon Classic Rally 2014

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Sydney - London Marathon Classic Rally 2014

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Sydney - London Marathon Classic Rally 2014

Immediately upon arrival at the control station in Belgrade competitor's service team takes the car, washing and servicing it. The teams are taken to their hotel for rest.

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Sydney - London Marathon Classic Rally 2014

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Sydney - London Marathon Classic Rally 2014

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Sydney - London Marathon Classic Rally 2014

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Sydney - London Marathon Classic Rally 2014

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Sydney - London Marathon Classic Rally 2014

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Sydney - London Marathon Classic Rally 2014

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Sydney - London Marathon Classic Rally 2014

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Sydney - London Marathon Classic Rally 2014

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Sydney - London Marathon Classic Rally 2014

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Sydney - London Marathon Classic Rally 2014

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Sydney - London Marathon Classic Rally 2014

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Sydney - London Marathon Classic Rally 2014

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Sydney - London Marathon Classic Rally 2014

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London to Mexico 1970

The other World Marathon Rally called the "1970 London to Mexico World Cup Rally" ran from 19 April to 27 May in 1970, had a total length of about 26,000 km. The occasion was the World Cup in Mexico in 1970. (1970 FIFA World Cup).

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London to Mexico 1970

The sponsor were again the London Daily Express. Once again they passed through Yugoslavia, with control station in Belgrade, at the Hotel Metropole, with the first competitor arriving on April 21 in 1970. At 01.30 hrs.

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London to Mexico 1970

This time the participanting companies were Ford, Citroen, BLMC, Porsche, Moskvich, Rolls Royce, Mercedes... The drivers, Rauno Aaltonen, Tony Fall, Rene Trautmann, Timo Makinen, Hannu Mikkola, Paddy Hopkirk, Innes Ireland,... Total of 106 partisthe sponsorapants.

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London to Mexico 1970

Both times I was at the Hotel Metropol in Belgrade and in 1970, I was taking autographs from drivers.

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London to Mexico 1970

The map book

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London to Mexico 1970

The "Cars" in their day

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