Define Motorsports

1977 Mercedes-Benz 280 E Rally-Marathon London-Sydney (W123)

With sponsorship coming from Singapore Airlines Wylton Dickson’s longest and toughest marathon epic was announced late in 1976.

 ”The Singapore Airlines Rally is being staged to mark the 30th year of the Airline’s history in aviation. It will run from London to Sydney, will cover 3 continents, 30,000 kilometres, 30 check points in 30 days and carries a prize fund of A$30,000. And it will be the longest car rally in history.”

The idea was very simple… to drive a rally route of 30,000 kilometres from one Opera House to another… London’s Covent Garden to the Sydney Opera House.

It began with 12 days on the road through 11 countries from London to Madras before shipping the cars to Malaysia for the stretch down to Singapore… then load the remaining cars on another ship to take them to Perth before a massive round-Australia section.

As the event went along, it would become even more gruelling than originally advertised.

 Shipping problems delayed the Australia restart by two days.

To make the original finish date, that could not be changed, the average speeds were increased and the planned rest halts were ruthlessly cut. Australia would turn out to be 13,200 kilometres in 7 days and 16 hours… a day and night average of 72 kph for 184 hours.

If you want to know more.