Tweed jackets and duffle coats can barely contain the excitement, while photographer’s equipment light the scene as flash bulbs pop, the cacophony drowned by the screams of support from an enthusiastic crowd.
For Jack Harrop though it might as well be silent. His mind is focused on a good start and as soon as the flag fell, he was into his stride.
LEAVING ATHENS JANUARY 17TH 1939
Currie writes: “The road through Athens was lined with thousands of people who only moved from our path when our radiator was almost touching them.” The smooth metalled roads of the city soon deteriorated and after about 30 kilometres they were on the rough leading to the mountains. This worsened into what Currie describes as being more like a cart track. Harrop though was pressing on and maintained break-neck speeds while Currie worried about car failure.
It was a surprise that conditions should be so bad so soon into the rally. As they reached the mountains the pace intensified. Currie again. “We had already passed many cars and I thought Harrop quite mad. Little did I realise that this would go on for four days and nights and that in actual fact – Harrop was driving magnificently, as to have gone slower would only have increased the power of the rocks which crashed against our undershield.”
Heat inside the car was becoming a problem as the undershield allowed no escape and all were quite uncomfortable. Currie felt sick while ‘Mango was feeling quite ill.’ When they reached Larissa to top up with fuel, they discovered they had passed every entrant bar three and were effectively leading the rally as they
