Day 13: Alaska to Mexico Marathon Rally Adventure

Day 13: Alaska to Mexico Rally 2023 - Rest Day Revelry in Walla Walla

Rest days during the Alaska to Mexico Rally offer a welcome break from the road, and Walla Walla proved to be an ideal place to unwind. This charming town had plenty of "distractions" to keep the crews entertained, providing a refreshing change of pace from the daily rally adventures. In a twist of weather fate, today's sun shone brightly from a clear blue sky, allowing us to bask in the warmth of the day. The relaxed atmosphere was palpable, but make no mistake; this wasn't a vacation. With the rally reaching its midpoint, the crews engaged in some intense car maintenance and adjustments in and around the car park.

Over the past few days, Ivan Pusnik and Boris Gruzman encountered an issue with their Saab, which was not hitting full throttle. After trying to diagnose it themselves, they wisely sought the expertise of Jamie Turner. A few minutes under the hood, and Jamie was confident that we'll see the Saab making a remarkable comeback in the results table. As planned, Christopher and Kathleen Grace's Fangio received a new manifold, rejuvenating the crew's enthusiasm for the rest of the Rally. Andrew McAlpine was on the hunt for new hydraulic valve lifters for his Range Rover, while others made their way to local garages for essential oil changes and brake checks.

A special moment was Tim Eades' return to the rally. His Escort had broken down in the Yukon, and after recovery to Whitehorse, the Lone Ranger chose to continue the journey in a Ford Bronco he had originally bought in the '70s. Tim spent two days meticulously restoring the vehicle and then embarked on a 2,000-mile journey to rejoin us. He attests that although it might not be the fastest, the Ford Bronco is an ideal match for the type of roads we're navigating. However, the excitement was tempered by the unfortunate news that Neil and Thomas Smith won't be rejoining the rally. Their "sickly Tiger" has been officially retired, and they've sadly given up hope of catching up.

In a vibrant display of automotive enthusiasm, Walla Walla hosted a classic car show, closing down its Main Street for the event. Among all the highly polished American automobilia on display, one could argue that the hotel car park was an even better place to witness real cars being used for real adventures. Lastly, we'd like to extend our warmest birthday wishes to Stan Gold, with the evening skies over Walla Walla illuminated by a Bat Symbol in his honor—a fitting tribute for this milestone.