By Tjerk F. Bury, MD

We raced for 36 days, 10 to 12 hours at a time in a vintage car, 9000 miles on mostly unpaved or no roads at all, through 12 countries and 8 time zones, competing with 110 other cars. The Peking to Paris Motor Challenge (P2P) is the oldest, longest, most grueling vintage car race in the world. The race started in 1907 as a challenge by the French newspaper “Le Matin”. Won that year by Italian Prince Scipione Borghese in a red Itala is the reason all Italian Ferrari and Maserati race cars are red. Due to wars etc. the next race was held in 1997 when ERA revived it, with the 7^th edition taking place  in 2019.

Our son Christopher (aerospace engineer) owned a 1972 Datsun 240Z, a suitable car for this race, so we rebuilt it as an endurance rally car and entered the 2019 P2P.

Cars from 36 countries were shipped to Beijing to meet the competitors. The race is run like a stage rally with 4-6 racing time trials and 12-14 check points a day, where every minute early or late incurs a penalty. It takes a very well prepared car, good driver, meticulous navigator and a lot of team work. Spare parts, tools, tent and sleeping bags must all fit in your car as support vehicles are not allowed. For six weeks we battled time, nature, weather, emotions and fatigue. The reward is seeing some stunning scenery in China, the Goby desert, Mongolia, Siberia, Kazakhstan, Russia and Europe. Though it is a competition, participants and organizers form an incredible camaraderie, making lifetime friends. For 36 days and many breakdowns the common goal is to keep the car going and cross the finish line on Place Vendome in Paris. There is no real prize, just bragging rights.

Trust and team work is crucial. Chris must trust my navigation not to make mistakes and get lost and I must trust his high speed racing in sometimes very hazardous conditions. Being meticulous and a little OCD helps.

The race started well for us, before reaching Mongolia we were in third place and soon thereafter moved into second. We stayed there until entering Europe where off-road racing is not allowed and the competition continues on tarmac race tracks. It is hard to compete on tarmac with our 150 HP engine against competitors with 300-450 HP.

The race was won by 86 year old Australian rally legend Gerry Crown and his Navigator Matt

Bryson in a Leyland P76 (3^rd win for them). Second place went to California’s David and Susan Danglard in a factory prepped Porsche 911. Chris and I ended up on the podium with them in 3^rd place overall, less than 6 minutes from the winners, after 36 days and 9000 miles. We had hoped to do well, maybe top 10-15, but not in our wildest dreams did we ever think we would end up on the podium with a beautiful cup. A life changing unforgettable experience teamed up with our son and spending 36 days, with a common goal doing something we both are passionate about.

See the one hour free movie on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SpeP2vZBHaI&ab_channel=herorally

Tjerk Bury MD   
Facebook: P2P240Z
Comments and questions welcome at **Contact Kendall Steinle (ksteinle@assh.org) for information**

Photo credits: Gerard Brown, Tjerk Bury, Chris Bury, Sally Bury