Two events that predominantly featured Citroëns came our attention this week, – one involving a CX in an Australian rally and another – a gathering in downtown Saigon, Vietnam.
The Bangers to Bluff Rally is an annual charity event organized by the Rotary Club of Half Moon Bay, Australia in which a small group of adventurers travel for 13 days on roads less travelled from Auckland to Bluff to raise about $40,000 AUS. The proceeds from the auction went to Multiple Sclerosis NZ and Hopeworks Foundation (a brain injury education trust).
Participants in 12 vehicles left the big smoke on April 10 and arrived in Bluff on Saturday, with the event organizers then taking ownership of the cars and getting them auctioned at a local tavern. They stayed in motels and at holiday parks along the way.
Co-driver Pete Littlewood, left, and driver Sven Hanne originally purchased their 1978 CX car for $400 for the Bangers to Bluff trip, and then repurchased it at an auction held at a local tavern for $500.
Cars entered in the rally had to have been purchased for less than $2,000 and their owners each paid $500 to enter the event. They were also responsible for individually raising money for the charities.
One of the CX owners, Sven Hanne, purchased it back at the auction so he could drive it home to New Plymouth. “We needed a way to get back to Taranaki,” he said, “It was cheaper than an airline ticket.”
Sven also had some emotional attachment to the vehicle which, after doing a lot of work on it in preparation for the journey. (It broke down just once during the rally).
And in Vietnam on April 21, a variety of DS and a Traction Avant, along with some other classic cars, met up in the center of Saigon. It was quite a sight as they gathered in front of the Hotel Continental. Patrons seated in the restaurant patio in front of the hotel took the opportunity to do some wonderful sketches of the D models on display.
Thanks go to Trần Văn Tuấn in Saigon for sending along these lovely pictures!