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A great book about a very unusual "road race"
I happened to see a British television account of this event this past summer on History International. I missed this one when it was happening probably because I was involved in my own journeys. I caught the series in the middle and this book explained in great detail what I'd missed. I think it would be extremely difficult to make this trip even in a new vehicle much less in most of these vehicles---this event was really wacky; it would be like running your 80 year old grandfather in a marathon and taking him out every so often for knee surgery and then back in the race again. The winning team with their modified jeep certainly had the right vehicle for that trip. This account reflects very well the problems of balancing timing and navagation needs of road racing with the sightseeing. Many of the participants had to give up on the race and go along for the ride. The portraits of the racers were well done, particularly Andy Vann and his selfless heroism along the way. He was inspiring. The disdainful winner Phil Surtees, the madman organizers, the papershuffling petty despots along the way, the rivalries among the racers, the culture divide of modern women encountering their enemies in Iran, and the burnout at the end are all here. I really enjoyed this book.
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Genevive, a Hillman Hunter and a 10,000 mile rally.
For those of us with less adventure in our souls than Genny,her story should be read with a mind to the extreme bravery displayed by both the writer and her co-driver on this epic adventure. Why do I raise the subject of bravery in a book report? Perhaps being British and therfore my inate "Britishness" (perhaps it is unfashonable to be a gentleman these days?) makes the reading of some of the report on this book from your side of the Atlantic seem a little harsh. I assumed that the content of the book was of primary importance? It seems that some fellow report writers want to concentrate on writing style and quality of punctuation rather than the text? I implore all who read this book to do so with an open mind considering the achievement of Genny and Linda in the context of travel writing, giving due credit for the superlative historic reference's to the initial running of the Peking to Paris at the turn of the 20th century. I am, and will admit to being somewhat biased in this matter. I witnessed the bravery of the writer and her co-driver fist hand. Following a high speed accident when their car hit a hidden culvert I was the medical officer who attended to Genny and Linda. They refused all but the most basic of medical intervention when lesser persons would have rolled over and quit. Not only did they display admirable bravery and foresight they also demonstrated considerable mechanical ability by repairing the damage to the car themselves! Whithout doubt, Genny is one of the most complete long distance rally competitors. It was a great honour for me to take part in the Peking to Paris as part of the support team, and a great honour to have become aquainted with such a strong and determined lady. Litrary detractors please take note and be mindful of the sacrifices travel writers make for their art.
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Great Subject--Poor Execution
Obert's account of the her trip of "10,000 miles over two continents, four deserts, and the roof of the world in The Peking to Paris Motor Challenge" is both compelling and disappointing. It is compelling in that it would be hard to write about a classic car rally which goes across China, Nepal, India, Pakistan, Iran, Turkey, and on to Paris without it being interesting. It is annoying in that freelance magazine writer Obert doesn't do [much] with the great material. The purpose of the rally is to recreate a 1907 race which was documented by an Italian journalist who rode with Prince Borghese. Obert cribs the interesting bits from that account, but is [doesn't add] in integrating them into her own trip. Ditto for the local history, which appears to be largely...from Lonely Planet and other basic guidebooks. Once certainly learns a great deal of interesting stuff about the rules and manners of rallying. She's good on the car stuff, but weak on the people. The vast number of contestants results in Obert's inability to really give more than a quick character sketch of any. It would have been more interesting if she'd stuck with tracking a few fellow contestants all the way through and gotten more in depth on them. Much of the book is marred by a whiny tone with respect to her driving partner, the race organizers, poor accommodations, food, and especially the wearing of a headscarf when traveling through Iran. All in all, despite Obert's claim to be a big traveler, I didn't get the feeling she really enjoyed the world she drove by, or was making much of an effort to understand it. Indeed, she revels in the rally's arrival in Italy--ah the West! And finally, her attempt to justify the huge expense of the whole undertaking--to her...self and the reader--at the very end is laughable. She...claims, "Our long drive was an act of connection," no, such events are purely about the self. She didn't hear about the rally and think. "Wow, what a great way to connect with less fortunate parts of the world," she thought (as I would) "Wow, how cool would that be to do!" This lack of honesty at the end was the final sour footnote for me to a book which would have benefited from better physical design (it's an ugly book to read), a much more rigorous editor, and a more prepared and perceptive narrator. Certainly the rally comes across as interesting, and Obert's personal achievement is quite an accomplishment, I just wish a better book had come of it.
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