Collector car enthusiasts taking part in Bespoke Rallies’ recent 19-day, 7-island drive around the Canary archipelago, described by the BBC as “a plucky band of tourists,” witnessed La Palma and the erupting Cumbre Viejo volcano in full flow.
“Never before has such an event taken in all seven of the region’s main islands, hopping between the familiar destinations of Fuerteventura, Lanzarote, Gran Canaria and Tenerife before heading west to the lesser-known haunts of La Palma, El Hierro and La Gomera,” Bespoke Rallies reported as the event ended.
“The highlight of an unforgettable rally was undoubtedly getting up close and personal with La Palma’s active volcano, that has now been erupting for some weeks, and the reactions of some of the doughty participants were encapsulated for posterity by BBC television news.”
“Experiencing the full force of nature at such close quarters is something none of us will ever forget, though I have to admit we weren’t all that sorry to move on once we’d done so,” rally company director John Brigden is quoted in the Bespoke Rallies news release. “We were close enough to be rained on by volcanic ash, but far enough away to be out of danger from the lava flow.”
Bespoke Rallies reports that 18 teams took part, in vehicles as old as a 1923 Bentley and with drivers included Formula 1 and IndyCar engine builder Mario Illien and former McLaren F1 team manager Alastair Caldwell.
“It was wonderful to see a group of classic car enthusiasts back doing what they enjoy most after the restrictions of Covid – ie revelling in each other’s company and enjoying their cars to the full,” Brigden added.
Next up for Bespoke Rallies is the Dakar Enduro scheduled for February 28 to March 20, 2022
