Classic cars: the road to Mandalay

Tourists – recently even a few in classic cars – have since been trickling
back to visit the more accessible parts of a mysterious land known largely
from memory, be it the romantic vision of Rudyard Kipling or the raw horror
experienced by veterans of the Second World War, and doubtless more will
follow.

The attraction of an unimaginably ancient and bewilderingly complex country
largely untouched by post-war development hardly needs explanation. But how
will locals react to the arrival of 23 rally crews representing more than a
dozen nations, ranging from two girls in a race-prepared Mk2 Ford Cortina
Lotus to a former manager of the McLaren F1 team and his mother, surely the
world's oldest rally navigator at 96, in a Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud?

Inevitably Myanmar has its share of old-car enthusiasts; indeed for many years
new models were reserved for those close to the military government, so a
wide selection of well-maintained classics, from a 1928 Bentley Le Mans to a
1971 BMW 2800 CS, is sure to attract attention, one way or another. Other
cars taking part will include an Austin Healey 3000 (above), a 1928 Bentley
Le Mans, a Jaguar Mk 2 (below) and two Aston Martin DB6s.

Conceived by the pioneering rally organisation HH Classic Rallies, the
evocatively titled Road to Mandalay Rally will spend no less than three
weeks in Myanmar. It's a relatively relaxed schedule by rally standards,
allowing for cultural exchanges and sightseeing between the road sections
and competitive "regularity" tests on which crews must maintain a
predetermined speed on a challenging, previously unseen course – the
established method by which road rallies test driving and navigation skills
with minimal risk.

Caution is certainly advisable in a country with poorly maintained roads
reportedly frequented by every imaginable form of traffic, from heavy
Chinese trucks to mopeds, bicycles, bullock carts, children and animals, and
the directors of HH Classic Rallies are understandably keen to preserve the
good safety record that distinguishes them from some other rally organisers.

Of course, they also want to honour the trust of the Myanmar authorities;
obtaining the necessary permissions was no small part of planning the event,
never easy when one is breaking new ground.

The rally starts on Tuesday amid the faded colonial grandeur of Yangon, and
takes in a variety of natural and man-made wonders on a circular route of
1,437 miles (2,312km), visiting Taungoo, Naypidaw, Kalaw, Inle Lake,
Pindaya, Mandalay, Maymo, Monywa, Bagan, Mount Popa and Pyay before
returning to Yangon for the finish on Saturday, February 8.

Of course, the participants may expect to encounter Buddhist temples of
unimaginable splendour, floating gardens, elephants, monkeys and a good deal
more, but what unexpected discoveries await them is anybody's guess.

However, you can share the adventure as Telegraph Motoring will be bringing
you regular updates from the event.

More information and updates on the Road to Mandalay event page of the HH
Classic Rallies website, www.hhclassicrallies.com

Follow @TeleMotoring

http://www.information.myanmaronlinecentre.com/classic-cars-the-road-to-mandalay/