PERTH; CHUSAN DOCKS; CARS ON DOCKSIDE; STADIUM; CARS LINE UP; LEADER CLARK IN CAR; CROWD WATCHES; CARS AWAY.




Initials PK/VS/AS/BB



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: DRIVERS IN THE 10,000-MILE (16,000 KMS) LONDON TO SYDNEY CAR MARATHON TODAY (SUNDAY) BEGUN ARRIVING IN THE OUTBREAK SOUTH AUSTRALIAN TOWN OF CEDUNA, AFTER NEGOTIATING A "HORROR STRETCH" ACROSS THE NULLARBOR PLAIN. THEY ENCOUNTERED STRETCHES OF COUNTRY FLOODED BY TORRENTIAL DOWNPOURS, WITH THE ADDITIONAL HAZARD OF KANGAROOS, HEAT AND FLYING STONES. THE AUSTRALIAN HAZARD OF KANGAROOS, HEAT AND FLYING STONES. THE AUSTRALIAN SECTION OF THE MARATHON BEGAN WHEN THE 72 SURVIVING TEAMS LEFT PERTH, AFTER THEIR ARRIVAL FROM BOMBAY IN THE LINER CHUSAN.

WITHIN MINUTES OF THE CHUSAN DOCKING AT FREMANTLE ON FRIDAY (13 DEC.). THE COMPETITORS LEARNED THAT TORRENTIAL RAIN HAD FLOODED PARTS OF THE ROUTE ACROSS THE NULLARBOR PLAIN.

THEIR CARS WERE UNLOADED AND CHECKED CAREFULLY BY OFFICIALS ON THE DOCKSIDE. AN INTERESTED SPECTATOR WAS WARREN MITCHELL, STAR OF THE TELEVISION SERIES "TILL DEATH DO US PART", WHO TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY OF CONGRATULATING THE BRITISH ENTRANTS -- IN PARTICULAR ROGER CLARK, WHO IS LEADING THE FIELD ON POINTS.

AT THE PERTH TROTTING GROUND, THE CARS LINED UP FOR THE START OF THE FINAL LEG OF THE RALLY, SPONSORED BY THE LONDON DAILY EXPRESS AND THE SYDNEY TELEGRAPH.

AFTER ANOTHER CHECK BY OFFICIALS, THE FIRST CAR -- NUMBER 48, DRIVEN BY CLARK -- WAS FLAGGED OUT, CHEERED ON BY A CROWD OF MORE THAN 10,000.

CLARK, WHO HAD LOST ONLY 11 POINTS ON THE STRETCH FROM LONDON TO BOMBAY, WAS FOLLOWED BY THE WEST GERMAN TEAM OF G. STAEPALAERE, THEN IN SECOND PLACE WITH 20 POINTS DOWN.