Gavin Green, Journalist
Gavin Green, former editor of Car, tells us about competing in the London to Sydney Marathon with his late father.
“It was special because I was with my old man who I knew probably wouldn’t be around for much longer and we had a really meaningful month together.”
“I’ve never known anyone who took more pleasure in ridiculously long drives than my father. I think he drove around or through Australia 36 times which must be some sort of record.
In 1968 and 1977 he did the London-Sydney Marathon rally. And when the 25th anniversary of the first event came round he was keen to take part.
He was essentially dying of cancer at the time. He already had prostate cancer, and then it got into his bones. So hanging over us was the fact that he probably wouldn’t live much longer. When he asked me to join him, of course I said yes.
The deal was he would raise the sponsorship and I would find a car. You had to use a type of car that was available in 1968. We couldn’t get an Austin 1800, which was the car he drove in 1968, but Ford was sponsoring the event by providing support cars and the PR boss, Harry Calton, offered to source and prepare an Escort Mexico for us.
The first London-Sydney Marathon was almost like a road race. Virtually non-stop from London to Bombay and then by boat to Perth and a race to Sydney. But of course that wasn’t practical in 1993. So, instead it was a series of special stages linked by transport stages. It more or less followed the original route with the major exceptions of Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan, which were all too dangerous or difficult. So to bypass those three countries the organisers arranged a huge Antonov cargo plane to fly all the cars from Ankara, Turkey to Delhi, India and then Bombay to Perth where we would pick up the original route again. The whole thing lasted 30 days.
We agreed that I would drive the tarmac stages, as I was racing cars at the time, and my dad – the ex-rally driver – would drive the gravel stages. The Mexico was just a delightful car, so easy car to throw around. I don't think I'll ever drive a car that is so manoeuvrable and responsive on loose surfaces.
The first stage was in Kent. It was on gravel but we agreed that I’d drive it. We got held up by two Russians going slowly in a Moskvitch showering us in dust and rocks. The following stage in Belgium was on tarmac and we caught the them again in about two to three minutes. I blipped my horn and flashed my lights but they wouldn’t get out of the way. We had a big roo bar on the front of the Escort so I basically rammed them up the arse and they got the message and quickly moved over!
So after that it became easier. I did the driving through Europe on tarmac. We went through Belgium, France, Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey, then flew to India.
When we arrived in Perth, as agreed, my dad took over driving on the special stages, which in Australia were all on loose surfaces. And to be honest with you, he was clearly very rusty. And I would have gone faster, without any doubt.
His friend Patrick Vanson who he also raced against in 1968 came over, clapped him on the shoulders and said “You must understand, your son is now a better driver than you, Evan”
So I drove again for the next three or four days. When we got to the Flinders Ranges my dad said, “I know this road really well, it's exactly the same stage we ran in the original London-Sydney, let me drive this one.” The Flinders Ranges were also probably his favourite part of Australia.
And he drove, really, really well. Much better than I would have done on those roads. I had always taken great pride in the fact that he was successful as a rally driver when I was a boy. Sometimes I’d go and watch but I never rode with him during a rally because I was too small. So actually being with him in the car when he was driving so well, and really enjoying himself, that was very special.
He drove to the end of the rally and I had to fly straight home to be there for the birth of my son Sebastian, who arrived – on time – two weeks later.
My dad died in early 1996. What I loved about that event was it was a hell of a long drive through incredible parts of the world, that you normally don't get a chance to drive through. Places like India and the Australian outback. I really loved the car, the Mexico is one of my favourites, but mostly it was special because I was with my old man who I knew probably wouldn't be around for much longer and we had a really meaningful month together.
My dad was the one who pushed us to do this because I think he knew it would be a very special experience and was wise enough to see that it would have a lasting impact on me.”
