[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/blog\/rally-rounds-inaugural-trans-himalayan-adventure\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/blog\/rally-rounds-inaugural-trans-himalayan-adventure\/","headline":"Rally Round’s Inaugural Trans-Himalayan Adventure","name":"Rally Round’s Inaugural Trans-Himalayan Adventure","description":"Vintage Rolls-Royces, Bentleys and Studebakers are most often seen in the confines of a classic car show, spending their days basking in warm sunshine on school playing fields, village greens and race tracks. If you’re lucky, you might even glimpse these classic cars being driven along winding country lanes on a peaceful Sunday afternoon. It’s fair to say that you probably wouldn’t expect to spot one of these stately motors winding its way across the demanding high-altitude roads of the […]","datePublished":"2019-05-31","dateModified":"2019-05-31","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/author\/isabelle-lawrence\/#Person","name":"Isabelle Lawrence","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/author\/isabelle-lawrence\/","identifier":30,"description":"Max Wheeler is a leading motoring journalist and classic car specialist at Smart Motoring, renowned for his sharp insight and infectious passion for all things automotive. With years of experience covering motoring news, supercars, and the enduring legacy of classic cars, Max brings stories to life with style and authority. Whether it\u2019s the roar of a Lamborghini, the elegance of an Aston Martin DB5, or the cultural impact of vintage motoring icons, he delivers expert commentary that inspires enthusiasts and collectors alike. Dedicated to celebrating the heritage and future of driving, Max Wheeler is your trusted voice for classic car news and beyond.","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8d331506e3c530b5ec4930c30a01ed8cc29b0537227573ae5da98f559e681401?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8d331506e3c530b5ec4930c30a01ed8cc29b0537227573ae5da98f559e681401?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Smart Motoring","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/smart-motoring_news_logo_g-e1765846726493.webp","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/smart-motoring_news_logo_g-e1765846726493.webp","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Rally-Round-Feature.jpg","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Rally-Round-Feature.jpg","height":520,"width":1200},"url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/blog\/rally-rounds-inaugural-trans-himalayan-adventure\/","about":["BLOG","CLASSIC CARS","LATEST CAR NEWS"],"wordCount":502,"keywords":["classic cars","Himalayas","Rally Round"],"articleBody":"Vintage Rolls-Royces, Bentleys and Studebakersare most often seen in the confines of a classic car show, spending their daysbasking in warm sunshine on school playing fields, village greens and racetracks. If you’re lucky, you might even glimpse theseclassic cars being driven along winding country lanes on a peaceful Sundayafternoon.It’s fair to say that you probably wouldn’t expect to spot one of thesestately motors winding its way across the demanding high-altitude roads of theHimalayas.But if you find yourself in downtown Kathmanduon May 10th, you might just be fortunate enough to see a troupe of classicvehicles cross the finishing line after completing the arduous 3,350-milecourse of the inaugural Trans-Himalayan Adventure.The brainchild of the experts at internationalrally organiser Rally Round, the four-week quest begins in Chengdu – thecapital of China’s Sichuan province – on Saturday (April 20th). Leaving the Chinese megacity, the contestantswill pilot their mismatched selection of mostly decades-old cars on a journeythat passes through Tibet en route to the Nepalese capital. Those that last the distance will call at themystical ancient city of Lhasa, the lost Tibetan kingdom of Guge, Mount Kailash– considered to be sacred by Bons, Buddhists, Hindus and Jains – and thedaunting Everest Base Camp.This isn’t the first time a classic car rallyhas headed to the Himalayas. Other events – including the 2015 Thunder DragonRally, also organised by Rally Round – have tackled the southern foothills, butnone has attempted to cross the entire range from north to south. Rallydirector Liz Wenman admits the task at hand is “not for thefaint-hearted”.The demands of such a lengthy route acrosssuch challenging terrain would present a headache to a driver behind the wheelof a brand-new 4×4, let alone a classic car better suited to gently traversingCotswold villages than mountain passes.Among the plucky vintage motors set to takepart in the rally are three Rolls-Royces – a 1925 40\/50 Silver Ghost, and two25\/30 models, one from 1938 and the other a 1937 Coupe. They will – hopefully –be joined on the starting line by a 1925 Bentley Super Sports, a 1927 NashRoadster, and a pair of Alvis 4.3s.There’s also an eclectic selection of morerecent classics, ranging from a 1952 Studebaker Champion to a 1970 Mercedes280SL Roadster. There are even some four-wheel drives in the mix, the oldest ofwhich is a 1979 Range Rover.As if the main route wasn’t taxing enough,some of the rally party will be continuing their journey at Kathmandu, headingonward to Pokhara in Nepal before crossing the border into India and making forVaranasi, the final destination. “We have kept the entries limited due tothe intense nature of the terrain as we head for the plateau of the Himalayas.This will be an unforgettable adventure for all involved,” said Ms Wenman.“Along the way we will experienceunimaginably beautiful landscapes, rare wildlife and amazing cultural sites,ranging from ancient ruins to stunning temples and monasteries.”"},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Blog","item":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/blog\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Rally Round’s Inaugural Trans-Himalayan Adventure","item":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/blog\/rally-rounds-inaugural-trans-himalayan-adventure\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]