"..The roads have improved, the people are friendly, the
women are gorgeous, the Fairmont here in Kiev is top drawer and we have a day
off. we did a few things on the car this morning, and were invited to a press
conference with the Premiers son Victor, a very official type event with about
20 or so press people present, TV cameras rolling a sort of question and answer thing in
Ukrainian with the leaders of our group Phillip and Kim B, 2 other competitors,
Kim and myself and Victor. Well to my surprise I was presented an original
sketch, a car caricature by Victor as a part of the press conference, cameras
rolling, as a birthday present, it was amazing. finished off the afternoon with
an enjoyable walk about city and bunch of laughs back at the bar with some of
our new found friends. Take care for now, love to all of you, talk at you soon."
Kim & Len
Breakfast at the Fairmont
Lens Birthday Present from Rila and Phil
The Generals ..
More goofing around - Days off are always fun
Government Building in Kiev
Statues everywhere in Kiev
Kiev is a booming city
Lots of Churches
The square where the orange revolution started in Kiev
Kiev at night
Outside the Fairmont Hotel - complete with Kim's Commentary
“It has been a frantic day with most crews carrying out checks and servicing – the final section has no further rest-days, this is it now – every day counts, all the way to Paris to arrive on the Saturday 29th June into Place Vendome… come and see the cars, all welcome, the first car expected after 12.30, possibly around 1.0pm.
Outside the Fairmont Grand Hotel there were scenes of feverish activity. In a street around the corner, the Model T Ford had been stripped right down and was looking like a large broken insect. Inside the hotel, the President of the Automobile Federation of Ukraine was staging a press conference – two TV crews and 32 journalists attended, this national motor-club have certainly worked hard on our behalf, and know how to turn up the wick of publicity.
We set off tomorrow with renewed enthusiasm – the noticeboard announces a new trophy for the final Kiev to Paris section, “The European Trophy” – four trophies are at stake here, two for the best placed Classic Car on this section, and two for the best placed Vintageant, it means a car that lost time somewhere along the route, such as Mongolia, gets a “fresh start” with something to aim for on the series of test-sections coming up, the first is a motor racing circuit about an hour out from here.
Between here and Paris there are circuit tests and mountain climbs, with Slovakia, Austria, and Switzerland organising closed-road sections. It means the final results could change quite dramatically from here on, with crews eager to move up the leader board, and at the same time, hang on to their Gold and Silver medals.”
Peking to Paris Rally Report
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