Por
primera vez , incluyó a participantes españoles – Juan Espinosa de los Monteros
y Jose Manuel Rodríguez Bautista (última foto), junto con los equipos igualmente debutantes
de Portugal, de Hong Kong y
Suiza.
Con este incremento en el número de países participantes, se vio la necesidad
de restringir la participación a un equipo por país, así que un total de 7
equipos internacionales tomaron parte en el evento. La participación del equipo
portugués era especialmente significativa, habida cuenta del territorio en que
se iba a celebrar la prueba. En efecto, las primeras referencias históricas
sobre el Congo fueron suministradas en el siglo XV por marinos portugueses.
El
6 de abril en
Kinshasa, capital de Zaire, se dieron cita los equipos seleccionados para
iniciar un recorrido que, tras quince días y mas de 2.000 kms, habria de
conducirles hasta Kinsangani, hacia el norte del país. Después
de 2 días de camino fácil cubrieron 220 millas y alcanzaron Bandunu sin
incidentes. El equipo de Hong Kong lo celebro invitando
al resto de la expedición a un festín de pollo.
Los winches poco pudieron hacer así que hubo que usar las hachas y las sierras. A la vez se recibía un mensaje de socorro del camión que transportaba el combustible de la expedición. Estaba atrapado en el barro 30 kms detrás. 3 vehículos acudieron al rescate, 6 horas de recorrido retrocediendo el camino. Las 12 toneladas de carga eran imposibles de rescatar con los winches, así que se optó por vaciar el camión para rescatarlo. Después de rescatarlo hubo que volver a cargarlo. Los hombres estaban desechos. Y encima había que alcanzar a la expedición de nuevo. Debido a que la expedición se encontro con varios árboles gigantes bloqueando el camino, toda la expedición conectó de nuevo varias horas después.
Para el décimo día las condiciones se endurecieron según entraban en la jungla en la zona de Mai-Ndombe. Hubo varios cruces de rios, algunos se vadearon mientras que otros hubo que construir puentes y en otros pasando sobre troncos resbaladizos.
Además de hacer frente a dicho cúmulo de dificultades, pudieron
observar de cerca de una de las etnias más representativas de la zona: los
pigmeos. Y así mismo escucharon los peculiares sonidos de algunas de las
numerosas lenguas bantúes, cuyos nombres encierran por si solos una poderosa
capacidad de sugerencia: el kiluba, el lingala, el kikongo…..
En el aspecto competitivo, la suerte no favoreció al equipo italiano, cuyos
integrantes se desplazaron al corazón de Africa pletóricos de moral y en
magníficas condiciones físicas, dispuestos a revalidar el titulo que su país
había conquistado tan brillantemente en la edición anterior. Al tercer día de
viaje, cuando estaban a punto de finalizar las pruebas especiales, en las que
los italianos se encontraban magníficamente situados, se incendio su vehículo y
la victoria fue a parar al equipo Holandés formado por Henk Bont y Franz Heij,
quienes supieron extraer el máximo rendimiento de sus posibilidades con una
inteligente actuación, mezcla de prudencia y tenacidad. El motivo del incendio
del vehículo fue un hornillo de gasolina, que tres periodistas italianos usaron
para cocinar sobre el capot caliente del vehículo. No hubo extintor capaz de
apagar las llamaradas del Land Rover y en un momento se transformo en una
antorcha. El tanque de combustible explotó incendiando todo el interior y a
continuación quemo los 140 litros de diesel que estaban en los tanques de
reserva. Hubo que repartir provisiones, material y ropa de todos los equipos
para el equipo italiano que lo perdió todo.
Otro de los días, cuando las provisiones llegaron desde
Kinshasa en avión, la expedición tuvo que trabajar duro sobre el terreno. La
pista era demasiado corta y el avión no podía despegar. Hubo que ampliar la
pista, cortando árboles y aplanando tierra hasta que el piloto pudo
despegar.
Una vez más, sin embargo, brilló por encima de todo el
verdadero espíritu del Camel Trophy, tal como se desprende de las palabras con
que uno de los participantes españoles, Espinosa de los Monteros, resumia la
experiencia zaireña: <<lo vivido en estas dos semanas ha sido una aventura
plena y gratificante. Nunca olvidare las jornadas de diez horas de conducción,
abriéndonos camino, a veces, a golpe de machete; el cruce de los rios por
puentes formados tan solo por dos listones; las noches en poblados donde hacia
lustros que no veían a ningún extranjero; el ambiente de compañerismo compartido
con aventureros de autentica talla, y un sinfín de experiencias mas….>>.
Parece ser que nuestro compatriota Espinosa de los Monteros, no solo vivió la
aventura tal y como comentaba, sino que la vivio a su propia manera y eso causo
grandes disputas entre los 2 españoles. Las desavenencias vinieron por su forma
de vida durante el desarrollo de la prueba.
Los 2 médicos del Camel Trophy fueron de gran
ayuda no solo a los participantes, sino a las gentes del Zaire, que recibieron
en unas cuantas aldeas pequeñas, medicamentos y ayuda medica. Amigablemente se
les llamaba “Hot docs” o también Quack 1 y Quack 2.
Camel Trophy - Zaire '83 fue Ganado por el equipo
Holandés formado por Henk Bont y Franz Heij.
Video resumen en Inglés:
TEXTO ADICIONAL. REPORTAJE EN INGLES.
For the 1981 and 1982 Camel Trophies Range Rovers were used
(with Series IIIs as support), and from then on Land Rover became a major player
and sponsor of the event and its vehicles were used exclusively. For the 1983
event Series IIIs were used exclusively, and that is what concerns us
here.
For the 1983 the Camel Trophy came to Zaire in central Africa
for a course that ran between Kinshasa and Kisangani. The competitors travelled
in 88-inch Station Wagons whilst journalists and support crews used 109-inch
models. Both types were standard mechanically and bodywork-wise powered by the
2.25 diesel engine and were fully kitted out with roof-racks, winches, bridging
ladders, steering guards, jerry-can mounts and additional lighting, as well as
cooking and camping equipment and supplies. Rather bizarrely, considering the
off-road nature of the event, Fairey free-wheel hubs were fitted to the the
vehicles. Each 88-inch carried 1 team of 2 people.
For 1983 there were 7 teams, with entrants from Germany,
Holland, Hong Kong, Portugal, Switzerland, Spain and Italy.
The Camel Trophies of 1982-1997 are a thing of legend in the
Land Rover community- these grueling challenges pitted men and machines into the
toughest off-road country in the world in a race to complete a route and
complete a series of challenges. The vehicles used on the Trophy are now worth
considerably sums on the private market. Many still wear their original
transfers, badges and advertising stickers, as well as the dents, dings and
scrapes in the paintwork and attract interest and respect wherever they go. They
are easy to spot as they all are painted the distinctive Sand Glow Yellow of the
Camel Cigarette company.
The Camel company began a re-branding exercise in the 1970s
with a collection of outdoor leisurewear and equipment. This emphasis on outdoor
activity and exploration strengthened so that in 1980 a contest sponsored by
Camel was organised. In this competitors drove Jeeps through the Amazon jungle
in a race against the clock. Along the way they had to complete grueling
off-road tasks such as bridging chasms or fording deep rivers, as well as some
projects related to the area, such as setting up a scientific research post deep
in the rainforest. Teams were arranged by country and Points were awarded for
completing the off-road tasks, the overall time taken on each leg of the 2-week
course and team skills.
For the 1981 and 1982 Camel Trophies Range Rovers were used
(with Series IIIs as support), and from then on Land Rover became a major player
and sponsor of the event and its vehicles were used exclusively. For the 1983
event Series IIIs were used exclusively, and that is what concerns us
here.
For the 1983 the Camel Trophy came to Zaire in central Africa
for a course that ran between Kinshasa and Kisangani. The competitors travelled
in 88-inch Station Wagons whilst journalists and support crews used 109-inch
models. Both types were standard mechanically and bodywork-wise powered by the
2.25 diesel engine and were fully kitted out with roof-racks, winches, bridging
ladders, steering guards, jerry-can mounts and additional lighting, as well as
cooking and camping equipment and supplies. Rather bizarrely, considering the
off-road nature of the event, Fairey free-wheel hubs were fitted to the the
vehicles. Each 88-inch carried 1 team of 2 people.
For 1983 there were 7 teams, with entrants from Germany,
Holland, Hong Kong, Portugal, Switzerland, Spain and Italy.
The route ran for 730 miles through jungle and savannah, mainly
along rough logging tracks, with lots of river crossings. There were some
sections of tarmac road, and some 'bush-whacking' on no roads at all. The
conditions on the route were an average temperature of 45 degrees, 95% humidity
and 3 inches of rainfall a day!
The convoy of 11 vehicles left Kinshasa on the 6th April and
headed East. After 2 days of easy dirt-track convoy driving they had covered 220
miles and reached Bandunu without incident. The Hong Kong team celebrate by
offering the other team members to join them in a chicken-feast- that is,
freshly be-headed chickens! This seems to have helped break the ice
somewhat......
By the 10th the off-roading got serious as the Series IIIs
entered the Mai-Ndombe area of swampy jungle. There were several
river-crossings. Some were made by wading, some by bridge building and some by
inching across on slippery logs.
The next day drama descended. Some Italian journalists destroy
their 109 when they knock over their oil-stove which they were using inside the
rear of the vehicle to keep out of the rain. The stove set alight to their
on-board fuel supply almost instantly destroying the 109 due to the jerry-cans
of fuel strapped to the sides. The fireball actually caused the roof panel to
fly off the Land Rover to a height of several feet. Luckily all those in the
vehicle survived with minor burns- they had run as fast as they could the second
the stove toppled. The other vehicles winched the wreck to level ground and the
engine was actually started, but the fried electrics gave way and the vehicle
was abandoned.
The convoy continued to wade through door-deep
mud pits as they crossed the marshy plain. The mechanical winches saw frequent
use. In 6 hours 40 miles was covered on the 12th. With the vehicles running low
on diesel the competitors pushed through 6 hours into the night to reach the
re-fuel point, only to find that the fuel transporter is stuck in mud 14 miles
away. 3 88-inches spend another 6 hours ferrying the barrels of diesel from the
stricken tanker to the camp- this racks up more team-skill points!
The 14th was a day of off-road challenges to
acquire some more points. Bonnet-deep, fast flowing rivers were forded, winch
cables became zip-wires and generally more mudplugging was undertaken. The Land
Rovers haven't missed a beat so far and the competitors are fast becoming
experts in the use of the 4WD system and winching. By now the Trophy was
crossing the Equator in the midst of roadless jungle- the 109s were frequently
getting left behind as the 88s squeezed through gaps in the trees as a path was
cut through the forest.
On the 16th there were more re-supply dramas. Having
successfully made their way out of the jungle. Land Rovers and axes were used to
lengthen a runway to allow the plane carrying the much needed food and fuel to
land!
The 17th was a 'special task' day- the teams have to ferry the
support doctors around the local villages offering basic check-ups and
medicines.
Finally, the Series IIIs regain some rough dirt-tracks and
(with a fair bit of air getting under the wheels) manage 103 miles in a day- a
record average on the Camel Trophy (the Borneo event in 1985 managed 2 miles a
day once!).
The 20th saw the competitors crossing some savannah-style
terrain with tall, dense grass and corrugations. It hits 60 degrees inside the
Land Rovers- and that's with the Safari roof. The engines still go strong and
the Italian co-driver even manages to fall asleep in a diesel Series III
ploughing over rough ground at 30 mph- surely a unique occurrence.
On the 22nd, 16 days after leaving the Zaire capital, the muddy
collection of vehicles reach Kisangani. They have spent the early morning
setting up a wildlife monitoring post by headlights. Apart from one 109
undergoing ordeal by fire, all the Land Rovers returned fully operational, once
again proving the vehicle's toughness and reliability over the toughest
conditions the world has to offer.
The Dutch team (Henk Bont and Frank Heij) were the overall
winners, with Portugal and Hong Kong as runners-up.
Rogaría por favor, corregir urgentemente en este artículo comentarios peyorativos, inciertos y sin fundamento sobre D. Juan Espinosa de los Monteros.
ResponderEliminarMuchas gracias.
Gracias por comentar. Este artículo esta basado en otros artìculos de la época y paginas que han desaparecido. Efectivamente hubo cierta polémica en su dia con la actuación de ciertas personas del equipo. El problema es encontrar documentos que acrediten que los hechos descritos, se produjeron. Como esa parte no está clara, se va a sacar hasta que se compruebe de nuevo si la polémica fué cierta. De ser así, se volverá a valorar el reintegrar el parrafo suprimido ya que no aporta nada al relato especificar que hechos se produjeron y en su dia ya se tomarian las medidas acordes a las normas de la época si es que era procedente o nó tomarlas.
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