The two-week Baltic Classic Rally 2017 started in Copenhagen on Sunday 28th May. Endurance Rally Association’s inaugural Baltic Classic Rally took entrants through Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland before finishing in Berlin on Saturday 10th June, covering over 4,200 kilometres.
ERA Rally Director Fred Gallagher said: “What a fantastic two weeks of rallying. We have been lucky to use some of the same terrain as the Rally greats as well as enjoying amazing scenery and great company. The Baltic Classic has been a great success and is sure to become a regular fixture in the ERA calendar.”
Vintage Bentleys dominated the Baltic Classic Rally 2017, taking thetop three spots in the Vintageants category. Peking to Paris European Cup winners Bill Cleyndert and Jacqui Norman added to their trophy cabinet, which also includes win of the 2015 Road to Mandalay, after holding their lead from the Copenhagen start to the Berlin finish in the 1925 Bentley 3-4 1/2.
Cleyndert recounted that for him, driving the WRC stages was a real thrill but the entire route was fantastic. Norman added: “It’s been a fabulous rally with some really tough navigation to keep us on our toes. I thought that we’d blown it in the airfield regularity and was very relieved to see that everyone else had as well!”
They were followed by Graham and Marina Goodwin in the 1925 Bentley Super Sports in second place after a tough battle with Lars and Annette Rolner who had to settle for third place, with just 00:12 between them.
In the Classics category, it was the 1972 Datsun 240Z of Belgium’s Rene Declercq and Eric Claeys who claimed the victory, just 00:39 ahead of Gavin and Diana Henderson’s 1965 Porsche 911. Third place went to David and Jo Roberts in the 1968 Triumph TR250.
Declercq said: “Along with winning, the best thing about being on the rally was meeting old friends and making new ones. We will come back next time to defend the victory — in an even faster car.”
A special ‘Spirit of the Rally’ award was presented to the well liked and well-travelled crew of Charles and Nellie Bishop with their Vauxhall 30/98.
The next event on the Endurance Rally Association calendar is another brand new rally, the Blue Train Challenge. Held from 18-22 September 2017, the Blue Train aims to recapture the nostalgic age of travel with a five-day journey of discovery. The event starts from Deauville and finishes in Cannes, with entries still available. Visit EnduroRally.com for more information.
Baltic Classic 2017. Day 06. Jvaskyla – Helsinki, Car 67. Yves Faymonville(B) / Remy Tangeten(B) 1973 Mercedes-Benz 450 SLC
Baltic Classic 2017. Day 06. Jvaskyla – Helsinki, Car 52. Jim Grayson(GB) / Simon Spinks(GB) 1969 Ford Escort
Baltic Classic 2017. Day 14 Szczecin – Berlin, Alan Beardshaw(GB) / Tina Beardshaw(GB) 1965 Aston Martin DB5
Baltic Classic 2017. Day 08. Tallinn – Riga, Car 42. Julian Reddyhough(GB) / Gus Pope(IRL) 1965 Rover P6
Baltic Classic 2017. Day 08. Tallinn – Riga, Car 29. Peter Holmes(GB) / Cliff Clifton(GB) 1959 Volvo PV544 Sport
Baltic Classic 2017. Day 08. Tallinn – Riga, Car 28. Jesse Smaal(NL) / Jack Boers(NL) 1956 Studebaker Power Hawk
Baltic Classic 2017. Day 08. Tallinn – Riga, Car 41. Vincent Duhamel(CAN) / Anne Charron(CAN)
Baltic Classic 2017. Day 08. Tallinn – Riga, Car 71. Lorenz Imhof(CH) / Adrian Bielser(CH) 1974 Rover P6
Baltic Classic 2017. Day 02 Gothenburg – Karlstad, Car 14. Andrew Boland(IRL) / Ann Boland(IRL) 1934 Talbot AV105
Baltic Classic 2017. Day 11. Kaunas – Mikolaiki, Car 75. Ludovic Bois(F) / Julia Colman(GB) 1969 Volvo Amazon
Baltic Classic 2017. Day 02 Gothenburg – Karlstad, Car 03. Roland Frey(CH) / Helen Frey(CH) 1928 Bentley Le Mans Tourer
Baltic Classic 2017. Day 11. Kaunas – Mikolaiki, Car 15. Trevor Finn(GB) / Lorna Hackett(GB) 1974 Jaguar E-Type
Baltic Classic 2017. Day 14 Szczecin – Berlin, Rachel Vestey(AUS) / Owen Turner(GB) 1972 Austin Mini Cooper
Baltic Classic 2017. Day 10. Liepaja – Kaunas, Car 16. Melvin Andrews(USA) / Barry Douglass(USA)1936 – Bentley 4 1/2
Baltic Classic 2017. Day 02 Gothenburg – Karlstad, Car 12. Charles Bishop(GB) / Nellie Bishop(GB)1934 – Lagonda M45
Baltic Classic 2017. Day 10. Liepaja – Kaunas, Car 41. Vincent Duhamel(CAN) / Anne Charron(CAN) 1965 Ford Shelby Mustang GT350
Car 20. John Whitelock(GB) / Nicole Whitelock(GB)1938 – Ford Coupe, Karlstad – Stockholm
Car 17. Dougie Lawson(GB) / Kate Lawson(GB)1936 – Lagonda LG45, Karlstad – Stockholm
Car 69. Steve Robertson(GB) / Julia Robertson(GB)1974 – MG BGT V8, Karlstad – Stockholm
Baltic Classic 2017. Day 05. Turku – Jvaskyla., Car 08. Mark Winkelman(NL) / Victor Silveira da Conceicao(PT) 1932 Plymouth PB3 Coupe
Baltic Classic 2017. Day 05. Turku – Jvaskyla., Car 06. Giselher Stauzebach(D) / Rainer Wolf(D) 1965 Mercedes-Benz 220 SE b
Baltic Classic 2017. Day 01 Copenhagen – Gothenburg., Car 07. Nicholas Phillips(GB) / Barbara Phillips(GB)1932 – Alvis Speed 20
Baltic Classic 2017. Day 08. Tallinn – Riga, Car 52. Jim Grayson(GB) / Simon Spinks(GB)1969 – Ford Escort
Car 18. James Gately(USA) / Tony Brooks(GB)1937 – Cadillac Convertible Sedan, Karlstad – Stockholm
Car 05. Clint Smith(GB) / Dawn Smith(GB)1929 – Bentley Speed Six, Karlstad – Stockholm
Car 15. Trevor Finn(GB) / Lorna Hackett(GB)1974 – Jaguar E-Type, Karlstad – Stockholm
Baltic Classic 2017. Day 05. Turku – Jvaskyla., Car 66. Matthias Bittner(D) / Thomas Bittner(D) – 1974 Saab 96
Baltic Classic 2017. Day 06. Jvaskyla – Helsinki, Car 59. Andreas Pohl(D) / Robert Peil(D) 1970 Mercedes 280 SL
Baltic Classic 2017. Day 01 Copenhagen – Gothenburg., Car 16. Melvin Andrews(USA) / Barry Douglass(USA)1936 Bentley 4 1/2
Baltic Classic 2017. Day 01 Copenhagen – Gothenburg., Car 45. Fredy Niggeler(CH) / Mike Gnani(I) 1965 – Volvo PV544
Baltic Classic 2017. Day 02 Gothenburg – Karlstad, Car 33. Joerg Lemberg(D) / Louis Lemberg(D)1969 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona
Baltic Classic 2017. Day 11. Kaunas – Mikolaiki, Car 72. Edmund Peel(GB) / Sara MacDonald(GB)1977 Porsche 911
Baltic Classic 2017. Day 14 Szczecin – Berlin, Rene Declercq(B) / Eric Claeys (B) 1972 Datsun 240Z
Baltic Classic 2017. Day 14 Szczecin – Berlin, Nicholas Phillips(GB) / Barbara Phillips(GB) 1928 Ford Model A
Baltic Classic 2017. Day 14 Szczecin – Berlin, Dougie Lawson(GB) / Kate Lawson(GB) 1936 Lagonda LG45
Bill Cleyndert(GB) / Jacqui Norman(GB)1925 – Bentley 3-4 1/2
Baltic Classic 2017. Day 14 Szczecin – Berlin, Jan Hradecky(CZ) / Dana Hradecka(CZ) 1974 Porsche 911
Baltic Classic 2017. Day 13 Sopot – Szczecin, Car 01. Bill Cleyndert(GB) / Jacqui Norman(GB)1925 – Bentley 3-4 1/2
Baltic Classic 2017. Day 13 Sopot – Szczecin, Car 09. Graham Goodwin(GB) / Marina Goodwin(GB)1925 – Bentley Super Sports
Baltic Classic 2017. Day 13 Sopot – Szczecin, Car 75. Ludovic Bois(F) / Julia Colman(GB)1969 – Volvo Amazon
Baltic Classic 2017. Day 13 Sopot – Szczecin, Car 04. Anton Gonnissen(B) / Inge Willemen(B)1929 – Bentley Speed 8
Baltic Classic 2017. Day 12. Mikolaiki – Sopot, Car 01. Bill Cleyndert(GB) / Jacqui Norman(GB) 1925 Bentley 3-4 1/2
Baltic Classic 2017. Day 12. Mikolaiki – Sopot, Car 66. Matthias Bittner(D) / Thomas Bittner(D) – 1974 – Saab 96
Baltic Classic 2017. Day 11. Kaunas – Mikolaiki, Car 36. Mike Harrison(GB) / Lorna Harrison(GB)1963 – Volvo PV544
Baltic Classic 2017. Day 11. Kaunas – Mikolaiki, Car 50. David Roberts(GB) / Jo Roberts(GB)1968 – Triumph TR250
Baltic Classic 2017. Day 10. Liepaja – Kaunas, Car 61. Gavin Henderson(GB) / Diana Henderson(GB)1965 – Porsche 911
Baltic Classic 2017. Day 10. Liepaja – Kaunas, Car 63. Roy Stephenson(GB) / Peter Robinson(GB)1971 – Datsun 240Z
Baltic Classic 2017. Day 10. Liepaja – Kaunas, Barry Nash (GB) / Malcolm Lister (GB)1969 Rover P5B
Baltic Classic 2017. Day 10. Liepaja – Kaunas, Car 52. Jim Grayson(GB) / Simon Spinks(GB)1969 – Ford Escort
Baltic Classic 2017. Day 09. Riga – Liepaja, Car 64. Rachel Vestey(AUS) / Owen Turner(GB)1972 – Austin Mini
Baltic Classic 2017. Day 08. Tallinn – Riga, Car 20. John Whitelock(GB) / Nicole Whitelock(GB) 1938 Ford Coupe
Baltic Classic 2017. Day 08. Tallinn – Riga, Car 52. Jim Grayson(GB) / Simon Spinks(GB)1969 – Ford Escort
Baltic Classic 2017. Day 08. Tallinn – Riga, Car 41. Vincent Duhamel(CAN) / Anne Charron(CAN)1965 – Ford 350GT Shelby
Baltic Classic 2017. Day 08. Tallinn – Riga, Car 69. Steve Robertson(GB) / Julia Robertson(GB) 1974 MG BGT V8
Baltic Classic 2017. Day 07. Helsinki – Tallinn
Baltic Classic 2017. Day 06. Jvaskyla – Helsinki, Car 68. David Danglard (USA) / Susan Danglard (USA) 1973 Porsche 911
Baltic Classic 2017. Day 05. Turku – Jvaskyla., Car 02. Lars Rolner(DK) / Annette Rolner(DK)1928 – Bentley 4 1/2
Baltic Classic 2017. Day 05. Turku – Jvaskyla., Car 65. Rene Declercq(B) / Eric Claeys (B) 1972 Datsun 240Z
Baltic Classic 2017. Day 05. Turku – Jvaskyla., Car 61. Gavin Henderson(GB) / Diana Henderson(GB) 1965 Porsche 911
Baltic Classic 2017. Day 05. Turku – Jvaskyla., Car 14. Andrew Boland (IRL) / Ann Boland (IRL)1934 Talbot AV105
Baltic Classic 2017. Day 05. Turku – Jvaskyla., Car 12. Charles Bishop(GB) / Nellie Bishop(GB) 1934 Lagonda M45
Baltic Classic 2017. Day 03, Car 74. Richard Phillipson(GB) / Catherine Phillipson(GB) 1978 Opel Kadett Coupe, Karlstad – Stockholm
Car 58. Adrian Hodgson(GB) / Mark Bramall(GB)1970 – Morris 1800 S, Karlstad – Stockholm, The Baltic Classic 2017. Day 03
Car 19. Peter Gordon(GB) / Griselda Gordon(GB)1937 – Talbot 110, Karlstad – Stockholm, The Baltic Classic 2017. Day 03
Car 08. Mark Winkelman(NL) / Victor Silveira da Conceicao (PT) 1932 Plymouth PB3 Coupe, Karlstad – Stockholm, The Baltic Classic 2017. Day 03
Baltic Classic 2017. Day 02 Gothenburg – Karlstad, Car 28. Jesse Smaal(NL) / Jack Boers(NL) 1956 Studebaker Power Hawk
Baltic Classic 2017. Day 02 Gothenburg – Karlstad, Car 01. Bill Cleyndert (GB) / Jacqui Norman (GB) 1925 Bentley 3-4 1/2
Baltic Classic 2017. Day 01 Copenhagen – Gothenburg., Car 01. Bill Cleyndert (GB) / Jacqui Norman (GB) 1925 Bentley 3-4 1/2
Baltic Classic 2017. Day 01 Copenhagen – Gothenburg., Car 14. Andrew Boland (IRL) / Ann Boland (IRL)1934 Talbot AV105
Baltic Classic 2017. Day 01 Copenhagen – Gothenburg., Car 33. Joerg Lemberg (D) / Petra Lemberg (D) 1971 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona
Baltic Classic 2017. Day 01 Copenhagen – Gothenburg., Car 52. Jim Grayson (GB) / Simon Spinks (GB) 1969 Ford Escort
Baltic Classic 2017. Day 13 Sopot – Szczecin, Car 12. Charles Bishop(GB) / Nellie Bishop(GB)1934 – Lagonda M45
Baltic Classic Rally 2017 – Class Winners
Vintageants – Pre-1932 type cars
Winner: Andrew / Ann Boland, 1934 Talbot AV105
Second: Clint / Dawn Smith, 1929 Bentley Speed 8
Third: Mark Winkelman / Victor Silveira de Conceicao, 1932 Plymouth PB3 Coupe
Vintageants – 1932 to 1948 type cars
Winner: Anton Gonnissen / Inge Willemen, 1929 Bentley Speed 8
Second: James Gately / Tony Brooks, 1937 Cadillac Convertible Sedan
Third: Arthur / Anna Manners, 1933 Lagonda M45
Classics – all 1949 to 1961 type cars and 1962 to 1969 type cars up to 2200cc
Winner: Jim Grayson / Simon Spinks, 1969 Ford Escort
Second: Jesse Smaal / Jack Boers, 1956 Studebaker Power Hawk
Third: Marco Rollinger / Marianne Hengesch, 1957 Lancia Aurelia
Classics – cars of Swedish origin
Winner: Ludovic Bois / Julia Colman, 1969 Volvo Amazon
Second: Claudine Bloom / Andrew Twort, 1965 Volvo Amazon 122
Third: Tim / Matt Wheatley, 1966 Volvo 122S
Classics – 1962 to 1969 type cars over 2200cc and all Porsche 911 under 2000cc
Winner: Jayne / Paul Wignall, 1965 Sunbeam Tiger
Second: Philip Prettejohn / Christopher Strakosch, 1968 MG C GT
Third: Hans Geist / Herbert Pinzolits, 1969 Mercedes-Benz 280 SE
Classics – 1970 to 1975 type cars
Winner: Steve / Julie Robertson, 1974 MGB GT V8
Second: Rachel Vestey / Owen Turner, 1972 Austin Mini
Third: Graham Briggs / Julian Pitts, 1978 Mercedes-Benz 280S
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