Interesting Model A endurance rally map

[Incognito-A]

Found this online, thought it was interesting.

Does anyone have any info on this event?

[Brad in Germany]

Yeah, it was a 10,000 kilometer long rally (actually 10,170km), in 13 days, around Europe (the Dutch booklet, in your photos, shows the route) sponsored by several of the national automobile clubs from the various countries in Europe (their emblems are shown on the cover of the booklet you show). There were 88 cars that started the rally and 67 that made it to the end.

There were 9 Ford Model A cars entered in the rally (6 cars entered by two teams from Ford and 3 Ford's entered by private individuals). Here, for example, is a photo of the Dutch team who drove this Ford Model A (number 91) and are featured/followed in the booklet you posted:


There were two female drivers who drove Fords in the Rally. and one of them, the German female driver Erika Mann who was driving her 1931 Ford Model A roadster won a first place prize. She was sponsored by the "Automobile Club von Deutschland" (AvD). Here is a photo of Erika in her winning Roadster:

Ford of course wanted to exploit the publicity surrounding the participation and winnings of the various Ford cars.....thus the booklet by Ford that you posted)

....and here is the actual silver platter trophy that Erika Mann won (also shown in the booklet you posted):


Probably the most detailed write up about the rally can be found in the German "Ford Im Bild" magazine, No.7 from 1931.

There was however one really big problem: the winner, Erika Mann, was a lesbian !.......which at the time was socially and politically unacceptable (remember that was the very early days of National Socialism in Germany)....so in the end the information about the rally was pretty much silenced with all participants, sponsors, etc. dropping their association and distancing themselves from that event.

Here's an original full sized wall poster from that rally (which matches the mini one in the booklet you show):

Brad in Maryland

[Incognito-A]

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