In which Sid and Doris visit a very small part of quite a big island to finish the Islands of Japan rally.
It is possible to drive onto the north of Kyushu. Instead RtG have decided to use a ferry for maximum charm. At the ferry port there is time to examine this one man kamikaze torpedo cum submarine. It would be a very cost effective weapon. One man and a small submarine for much damage to a US aircraft carrier. It is the certainty of the one death rather than the lottery of so much military survival that seems abhorrent.
And then the ferry where there are large spaces for customers to stretch out on the carpet (shoeless) for a little sleep. And Sid joins Lorna on the floor.
This is a transition day to Beppu. The hotel is on the outskirts of a town that is known for its 150 volcanically fuelled onsens, more than in any other resort. Doris goes to the hotel onsen while the washing goes round and Sid goes to the sweeps’ tail gate party.
The penultimate day of competition will be the sort out day with a test at Ipponkungi on a biggish track where the game is to drive quickly, while also reading four code boards correctly. More correct than quick in our case but not a failed test.
The regularities have generally not required much navigation. Doris explained to Sid that he must pay no attention to any other cars he might see on roads nearby. Trust the trip. And other sage sayings that got lost in the moment. The first in class position was gone.
In the afternoon the hard, hot climb up to the still-live Aso volcano that looks over the very large caldera that is witness to previous eruptions. A caldera is a sink hole formed when the remains of a volcano subside into the space vacated by magma when a volcano erupts. At Aso these were once lakes but now form solid enough ground for agriculture, highways and railways.
The final day’s tests and regularities should leave everyone feeling happy and be far enough from the finish arch for the results to be processed, ensuring the final positions are known.
One test is held at the Honda Safety and Riding Plaza which is on the grounds of one of the motorbike factories. Appropriately there are two charming Hondas in the car park.
This is an S660 Honda kei supercar, mid turbo engined (660cc), rear wheel drive, targa topped, baby NSX. Very cool.
And here a CRX Del Sol, also a targa, with about 170 bhp from the 1600 VTEC.
It’s based on a Civic, so front wheel drive even though it has mid-engined looks, and as you can see absolutely dwarfs the kei people carrier behind it.
The other test is at Autopolis, a 2.9 mile track which was built at the peak of the Tokyo market bubble opening in 1990 with the intention of hosting Grand Prix (which it never has, partly because there are not enough hotels nearby). The promoter went bust and the track became owned by the builders.
We are on a smaller circuit which still has plenty of room for the bigger cars to stretch out. It is not yet as atmospheric a visit as Reims Gueux.
After one more regularity it is down to Fukuoka, the Hilton Sea Hawk and the finish. Here below Graham and Marina with the Bentley Super Sports 5.3, the winners of the pre-war class.
Sid, Doris and Teal have finished fifth overall and third in the post war class. As people said, The Mini’s doing really well.
Teal is straight into the container and on his way home while S and D will have a break at the Sarojin in Khao Lak.
Well done, indeed.