Ordeal in the Alps

Added: 2026-06-01

[00:00:03][music] [music] [music] >> The shades of night were falling fast as through an Alpine village passed a Sunbeam Rapier in the Monte Carlo Rally, the first of the annual series of international [music] rallies held throughout the year.

[00:00:30]Events that provide not only sport for those that crew the cars, but valuable technical data for those that make them in their endless quest for a better, a safer, a faster car.

[00:00:41]Over every sort of surface on the roads of Europe, Scandinavia, and the Balkans, in every sort of weather, Sunbeams [music] are seen under the most exacting conditions.

[00:00:51]Here in this mid-winter classic, the Rapier was the first British car for the third year running.

[00:00:56]But this is no winter's tale. It is one of summer sunshine on the Coupe des Alpes, the Alpine Rally.

[00:01:04]>> [music] >> A team of five Sunbeam Rapiers and also a Sunbeam Alpine were amongst the 66 starters on the 21st in the series of the Coupe des Alpes, France's contribution to the European Rally Championship.

[00:01:18]An entry that made up in quality what it lacked in quantity. Four factory entries had been received from Great Britain, France, and Sweden, Italy, and Germany.

[00:01:27]>> [music] >> The start, as usual, was from the French seaport of Marseille, where at 9:30 on the morning of June the 27th, the crowds had gathered to watch the cars away on the first stage of the rally to Chamonix, 1,070 miles away.

[00:01:52]First off is Alec Bedser in his Mini Minor.

[00:02:00]>> Tommy Wisdom, with two Alpine cups to his credit, sets off in sprightly fashion in search of a third.

[00:02:06]The commentator announces that Peter Harper's Rapier is about to start.

[00:02:18]Followed by Nancy Mitchell, former ladies European champion with her Rapier.

[00:02:23]Then Mary Handley Page sets out upon the rally for which her Sunbeam Alpine was named.

[00:02:31]Most rallies give you an easy section over which to warm up, but not so the Alpine. For within 15 mi of leaving Marseille, competitors were faced with the first of seven speed tests, a timed climb of the Sainte-Baume Massif.

[00:02:46]5.2 mi of twisting uphill work, which the organizers hopefully announced a penalty for those who got up in less than 7 minutes.

[00:02:54]But even the fastest, an Alfa Romeo, took 8 and a quarter minutes, so no one lost any marks for going up too fast.

[00:03:13]Nancy Mitchell races happily to the top in high spirits. But not so this Alpha, whose driver's definitely down in the dumps.

[00:03:24]Peter Harper, Jimmy Ray, and their Sunbeam Rapier are followed by Peter Harper in his.

[00:03:33]And behind rally champion Coltelloni's Citroën comes the Swiss-driven Rapier of Li A and Henry.

[00:03:45]From Sainte-Baume, the route led inland over quiet secondary roads, on which the set average of 33 mph came as a welcome breather as the entry made its way to Mont Ventoux, a classic hill climb whose 13 and a half miles wind upward through the thickly wooded slopes to its rugged peak of rock.

[00:04:06]First, the cars must cross the River Durance at Cavaillon. Its bridge a familiar sight to rally drivers.

[00:04:13]>> [music] >> Rally regulations this year favored the larger cars and drivers of the smaller machines could only hope that their larger, faster rivals would be penalized en route. But either way, on the road or off, it's no good letting the grass grow under your feet.

[00:04:37]Mohamed like, the Rapier's [music] press on to the distant and proverbial mountain.

[00:04:47]Now with Mont Ventoux behind them, the road leads northwest to Italy through typical Alpine scenery and villages in whose narrow streets the inevitable bus is but one of many hazards.

[00:04:58]>> [music] >> Over the dusty, loose surface roads, the Sunbeam Alpine shows its paces to advantage towards the Col de la Bonette-Restefond where the Lageneste's Alpha weaves its way over the narrow gravel roads.

[00:05:17]With Wood and Wilkinson's Rapier close behind.

[00:05:22]Followed by Peter Harper, number 35.

[00:05:28]Engier's Volvo kicks up quite a dust.

[00:05:34]One after another, car succeeds car as the winding dusty road leads high into the French Alps.

[00:05:40]No less than 20 mountain passes lie ahead of the competitors.

[00:05:54]>> Paddy Hopkirk, twice an Alpine Cup winner, takes his car up the Col de Turini. And Peter Harper follows suit.

[00:06:01]With Mary Handley Page and Tish Ozanne in the Sunbeam Alpine following on.

[00:06:10]Rarely seen in rallies, a Swiss-entered Ferrari roars up with a Zephyr close behind.

[00:06:16]Then Fox and Howarth in their Jaguar.

[00:06:21]>> [music] >> As the corners tighten up, so too does the scheduled average speed as the narrow ribbon of road unfolds its treacherous way through the high passes of the Alps. [music] The silent, snow-capped peaks serve to accentuate the drama played out beneath them as the cars press on towards Italy and the night.

[00:06:43]Headlamps glimmer like the bright glow-worms as the rally leads on to Monza for another speed test over three laps of that famous circuit.

[00:06:55]After Monza, the route led eastward to the Dolomites and over the infamous passes of the Vivione and the Gavia, both to be climbed at a higher average than ever before.

[00:07:05]Here, Peter Harper sets out to assail the Gavia.

[00:07:09]And behind him races Blomqvist's Renault.

[00:07:14]>> [music] >> On the higher reaches, the surface was loose and slippery and the mountain mist obscures the view for those who don't like heights.

[00:07:25]>> [music] >> If getting up the Gavia has its moments, >> [music] >> driving down is not exactly without them either if the scheduled 30 mph average is to be maintained.

[00:07:40]On to the at Biella.

[00:07:44]Travel broadens the mind and it's very good exercise, too.

[00:07:57]Small groups of onlookers gather along the route to watch the progress of the cars as they press on through small Italian villages in their headlong race against the clock.

[00:08:18]Driven hard by experienced drivers over ordinary as well as extraordinary roads, international rallies like the Alpine provide a wealth of information to design and development engineers.

[00:08:29]Benefits that do not rest on outright victory alone, but merely in participation.

[00:08:34]Suspension, for instance, is a case in point.

[00:08:37]And here is Paddy Hopkirk's radio.

[00:08:40]Cornering with effortless ease.

[00:08:42]And with sufficient power to make a molehill out of this or any other mountain.

[00:08:55]Another tough section from Graglia over the Crocesera ends at the Borgo Franco control and competitors rush off to stamp their cards.

[00:09:14]The Triumph and Mary Handley Page's Alpine both have time in hand.

[00:09:21]So, Desirée ends takes her time in both senses of the word before climbing back into the seat to set off for the Grand Saint Bernard Pass.

[00:09:39]>> [screaming] >> A long, tough climb, its upper reaches clothed in snow, a whiteout to match the girls' white Alpine.

[00:09:48]>> [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] >> Its summit veiled in cloud, the San Bernard, which has driven dogs to drink, leads onto the Swiss-Italian frontier.

[00:10:28]>> [music] [music] [music] >> One of the works Ford Zephyrs arrives.

[00:10:50]>> [music] >> And another of the Austin-Healey team.

[00:10:55]Customs formalities over, the road leads downwards out of the clouds.

[00:11:02]>> [music] >> The Ferrari's headlamps blaze a trail for the Zephyr close behind, and there's no time to stop for tea as the rally makes its way through the mountain villages. [music] >> [music] [music] [music] >> The weary drivers press on to the finish of the first half of the rally at Chamonix for a much [music] needed and well-earned rest of 17 hours or so.

[00:11:53]The Rapier's and the Alpine, too, rest in the shadow of Mont Blanc. Some of the 49 survivors of the 66 who started out nearly 1,100 miles before on the first stage of their ordeal by Alp.

[00:12:11]With 37 mountain passes to surmount in 24 hours, the second half of the Alpine Rally, though shorter, proved much tougher than the first half.

[00:12:20]From Chamonix, the route led southwest through the beautiful country of the Haute Savoie around Lake Annecy.

[00:12:27]>> [music] >> The Rapier's in line ahead glitter in the sunshine as led by Paddy Hopkirk, the team players follow the leader over the winding Alpine roads.

[00:12:41]>> [music] >> Behind them, the Swiss drivers Heinrich and Lie thrust their Rapier harried by a Porsche.

[00:12:58]Whilst a Mercedes 300 SL thunders on its massive way.

[00:13:02]And in the distance, the Rapier's turn and twist as they eat up the 780 miles that comprise the second stage from Chamonix to Cannes.

[00:13:14]Paddy Hopkirk, winner of his class in 1959, leads Peter Harper, who won his class in 1958, both on Sunbeams.

[00:13:22]They enjoy a private duel for the 1960 class award, which Harper went on to win.

[00:13:29]>> [music] [music] >> Nancy Mitchell brings her Rapier into front and X, whilst Swiss teammate Li A wrestles with the time machine before beating a dignified retreat.

[00:13:49]A Triumph arrives.

[00:13:53]Then Tish Ozanne clocks in and out and the Alpine is away with Mary Handley Page at the wheel.

[00:14:12]Peter Jopp and Jimmy Ray press on in that well-known regardless style towards the first of the five special tests at Cha Rousses between Saint Michel and Val d'Isère and Val Cenis and Col du Lautaret.

[00:14:23]And on over the Col du Lautaret towards D through typical rally country for hour after hour.

[00:14:29]>> [music] >> The sun has gone and the dusk begins to wrap the mountains in its dim caress.

[00:14:35]Only the road is never-ending as through the quiet countryside exhaust notes rise and fall as the Rapiers ride their hectic course.

[00:14:46]>> [music] >> Inside the cars it's nice and warm, but baby it's cold outside.

[00:14:58]The Sunbeam Alpine disappears into the dusk as the route leads on to D. [music] The mountains merge with the darkness of night and the cars race on over the Col du Glandon, the Col du Lautaret and the Col du Galibier at an average of 60 km/h before dawn brings another speed test over the Col du Lautaret for the 45 cars still running.

[00:15:17]>> [music] [music] [music] >> Then onto the Col des Banettes, where the final special test over 10 miles to its summit was great fun for the shepherds and for the sheep as well, who knew all about Bo-Peep's rhyme about rally drivers, "Leave them alone and they'll come home wagging their tails behind them."

[00:15:51]And with 5 hours to home and the finish at Cannes, the Rapier's press on wagging their tails on the loose gravel surface of the summit.

[00:16:22]A German Porsche and a French Citroen raise the dust as the cars take the winding descent the other side.

[00:16:29]Difficult country over which to hold the rally average of close on 40 miles an hour.

[00:16:34]>> [music] [music] [music] >> The task is made no easier by such hazards as road repairs on route, although these roads could do with some repairs.

[00:17:00]>> [music] [music] [music] [music] >> Nancy Mitchell takes her Rapier past a Volvo.

[00:17:30]And an admiring crowd watch Peter Jopp and Jimmy Ray stop to take on fuel.

[00:17:40]Excuse me.

[00:17:44]Jopp and Ray's Sunbeam gets away just ahead of Varley's Porsche who has Attali's Alpha on his heels.

[00:17:56]The Alpine is waved on by an enthusiastic gendarme.

[00:18:00]As through village streets, over sunlit tree-lined roads, the Sunbeams cover the final few of the 1800 [music] rugged miles over the mountains of France and Italy, the lead at last to the welcome sign, Cannes, that marks the finish of the 1960 Alpine Rally.

[00:18:17]>> [music] >> And 40 only of the 66 cars that started reached the finish, and all six of the Sunbeams made it in one of the severest Alpine rallies on record.

[00:18:28]Crowds watch the cars come in. Paddy Hopkirk's Rapier.

[00:18:34]Peter Harper who wins his class.

[00:18:38]The Alpine finds a shady spot.

[00:18:42]And Pat Moss, a bubbly one.

[00:18:47]One by one, they park.

[00:18:53]It's all over bar the shouting and the prize giving.

[00:18:57]Once again, the Sunbeams gain their share. For the five works entered Sunbeams finished first, second, third, and fifth and sixth in their class.

[00:19:06]Their sixth class victory since the war in that most rugged of all rallies, the Alpine.

[00:19:12]>> [music] >> Nancy Mitchell takes second place in the ladies cup with her Rapier, and Mary Handley Page is third with the Alpine.

[00:19:24]And as the cars line up in the sunshine with their victorious crews, let's leave it to the photographer whose signal sums it up far better than words can do.

[00:19:33]>> [music] [music]