It took me and Diogo more than a week to recover from the Rally de Guarda. I confess that I have only now managed to gain breath to write a few lines about everything that happened there. And no, it wasn't just because we made the trip to Guarda — round trip, not counting the rally... — behind the wheel of a 1968 Honda S800 . It was, above all, because we were not prepared for what we found in Guarda.
Since 1988, Clube Escape Livre (an organization that needs no introduction…) has organized the Guarda Rally. Rally that is not actually a rally. The name “Rally Banco BIC Guarda 2015” is just a disguise to bring together in the Guard a group of people — or terrorists … — with purposes that go beyond motor racing. But there we go. First the trip…
Lisboa-Guarda in a Honda S800
There are more wild ideas, but going to Guarda in a Honda S800 isn't exactly a sign of sanity. The truth is that the Honda arrived in Guarda in its entirety, it's us that… anyway. I hadn't reached the Carregado area yet and was bending over on the cramped bench to try to get around the discomfort in my spine. About 100 km later he was no longer in pain, perhaps numbed by gasoline vapors and exhaust gases that discreetly invaded the Honda's cabin. The Japanese think of everything…
Speaking of the car, the engine of 800 cm3 and 70 hp behaved with gallantry. The trip was always done at a relatively fast pace, around 90-100 km/h, at around 5000 rpm, to Guarda — not even the climbs of the highest city in the country could do with it. They say this car reaches 160 km/h, we didn't try for obvious reasons.
Arriving in Guarda, it was time to unpack and rest for the next day. Apparently we had survived the experience.
It was six in the morning when the alarm went off. Once the effect of the exhaust gases passed, the pains of the trip settled comfortably in the most uncomfortable places imaginable. I wasn't sure I stayed overnight at the hotel and would say we'd been caught in the middle of a matchup between two football fans a few hours earlier. I know very well who to blame for these pains: the Honda S800.
It was when I opened the bedroom door that my Guard Rally started. The bedroom door was lined with plastic and downstairs, the poor Honda S800 (which my back had learned to hate) was full of stickers and various decorations.
We had no idea that this type of games took place in an event that has been in existence for 27 years and that brings together brand directors, journalists, drivers and another endless number of people connected to the automotive world. People we got used to seeing in other records and here, well… They're normal people like you and me — although we're not very normal.
After having removed all the decorations from the car, we left with enthusiasm for the first special of the Rally, which was nothing more than a tour of the best roads and places in Guarda. Or in other words, another 80 km of sadomasochism behind the wheel of the Honda S800 . Yes, sadomasochism because we were already enjoying suffering… The S800 goes well with mountain roads and that hyper-rotating engine gives tremendous pleasure when explored on challenging roads.
We stopped for lunch and after a pleasant meal, we did a paper rally around the most emblematic places in the city. We reached the end of the day completely blown away. Me and Diogo. Yes, because the Honda S800 was still strong, faithful and beautiful like the city of Guarda. The Honda S800 revealed a fiber that only had a replica in the most experienced participants of this rally. As an illustrious automobile journalist in our square said (the name starts with “Rui” and ends with “Pelejão”): “here the best are usually young people over 60”. And they are. The day came to an end and we had already entered the spirit of the Guarda Rally: conviviality, good mood and car conversations. Laughter and jokes were the only sounds that overrode the roar of the engines.
More than cars or competition, the purposes of Rally da Guarda are different: to be an ambassador for the region; to bring together professionals from the sector, from the most diverse areas; publicize the associated brands; and having participants bring souvenirs. Looking a week away, he got all that and more. Let our backs say...
Sunday, day of all emotions
One more day, one more ride. We woke up with memories scattered around the car, hotel and the like. I later learned that the night before, they even served me a paté with cat food! As in all groups, there is always a group of rebels who engage in the most diverse mischief. The problem with Rally da Guarda is that here this group of rebels - or terrorists, as they insisted on calling the gentleman at the hotel reception - are the rule and not the exception. The matches (in good taste) are a constant, and during the weekend they were extended to the entire city.
I even asked myself: but these older young people don't sleep? They're the worst… After having (once more!) unraveled the Honda S800, we started towards the first and only timed race: a slalom in the center of the city. If it wasn't for a penalty for knocking down a pin, the Razão Automobile team and the Honda S800 had taken an honorable 6th place.
It was the first time we felt the tension of competition in the air. At least for some, namely Francisco Carvalho, the most victorious driver ever in the race. While some participants took the opportunity to decompress, Francisco Carvalho noticed that he was a man with a mission. The constant smile of the weekend had remained at the hotel and we only saw his teeth again after learning that he had won — next year it's us Francisco… stay alert!
Honda S800
The day ended with a lunch where the winners were distinguished, prizes awarded by the organization and where, once again, everyone thanked the responsible for the rally for the excellent rally: the unavoidable Luís Celínio from Clube Escape Livre.
Time to return to Lisbon
We managed to get to Guarda and make the rally. So all that was left was to get home. It was not easy. We divided the route into four stages, two for me, two for Diogo and off we went. We still didn't have half an hour to go and the little Honda S800 started to lose steam. At the same time, a slight burning smell invaded the cabin. The temperature was ok, the levels were all impeccable… but what the hell!
Another 2 km to avoid what happened and we were able to discover the source of the problem. A short circuit in the headlight was robbing the spark plugs of power. The problem was that we had neither pliers nor insulating tape. We got the roadside assistance from the highway concessionaire who lent us a pair of pliers.
The insulating tape was reused from other cables et voilá! No front light but back on the road. The machine lives!!!
Um problema elétrico com direito a fumo obrigou-nos a parar | Será que conseguimos resolver isto? | #honda #s800 #highrevs #revs #rpm #fullthrottle #classic #roadster #red #ralidaguarda #bancobic #60s #roadtrip #ontheroad #hittheroad #rwd #razaoautomovel #portugal Uma foto publicada por Razão Automóvel (@razaoautomovel) a
It was a race against the Sun to Lisbon. We had to arrive before nightfall and we made it. Downwards, all the saints help and we did a cannon from the highest city in the country to the most rutted city in the country: Lisbon.
We took things out of the car, stretched our backs and looked at the Honda S800 with pride: the little machine took it all! We don't even like that. But the promise remains that next year we will return to Rally da Guarda more prepared than ever. The terrorists who haunted the city of Guarda and called for close attacks on our vehicle, food and rooms will have their replica. The Guarda Rally was the perfect disguise to carry out these attacks, but wait because… there will be more to come next year!
Thanks to Clube Escape Livre and the brands that supported the event, as well as to all participants for the fantastic weekend they provided. Now wait for the physiotherapist bill in your mailboxes...
20 Guard Rally - Honda S800
Images: Free Escape Club / NewsMotorSports