HERO-ERA's 2021 Classic Marathon has come full circle after an intense 2000 km’s through Spain and Portugal, during which the competitors completed an astounding 36 regularities and 5 tests, starting and finishing in Las Caldas Spain. The rally had been led for most of the week by the E-Type of Anderson/Lymn Rose, who were competing in their fourth marathon and were gunning for their first win. However, on day four, a navigational error dropped them out of contention, proving how precise one needs to be to take the win in regularity rally. 

Also eyeing up the top spot were the Godfreys in car 18, whose consistency throughout the week led to tight margins between the times at the top of the leaderboard going into the final day. Their blue MGB had been exemplary all morning on the day they were set to cross the finish line, and by lunchtime it looked like the win was theirs. However, during the post-lunch regularity, disaster struck: a 20-second penalty was added to their time, resulting in just a 10-second lead for Paul Crosby and Andy Pullan in their 911 by the end of the rally. Many might have discounted the No. 1 Porsche, after suspension issues on the second day nearly forced them to retire, but it goes to show that regularity rally really is a marathon not a sprint. Despite the elation at the finish line, a somber tone permeated this edition of the Classic Marathon after the loss of HERO-ERA’s own Marathon Man, Bob Rutherford, in the build up to the event. Rounding off the week, winner Paul Crosby simply said, “This one is for Bob”.

Photos by Will Broadhead / Blue Passion