THE STORY OF 2005
The successful concept of starting the Tulpenrallye abroad continues. Course setters Adrie Brugmans and Jaap Daamen discover during their summer vacation that St. Nectaire is a suitable starting location. The village is situated in a beautiful rally area, although the facilities are somewhat limited. The 169 participants who appear at the start are warmly welcomed on Sunday at the cocktail party held at the Mercure hotel. On Monday morning around half past seven, some cars have ice on the roof and windows. It’s -1 degree Celsius. The day promises to be beautiful. Saint-Nectaire is located at 950 meters altitude, and after just 4 kilometers, the first roads start to climb uphill. Further along, the route passes by the cave dwellings of Jonas.
Obtaining permits to drive the Tulpenrallye on public roads in France is a time-consuming process for the organizers and is becoming increasingly challenging. To demonstrate to the authorities that the organization takes the government’s requirements seriously, a speed check with a laser gun is conducted for the first time along the way. This proves to be effective. Several offenders are penalized, and all other participants are warned.
The routes in the first few days lead through the Auvergne and Ardèche, impressing participants with their stunning scenery. New regions also bring new overnight stops. Participants stay in Vals-les-Bains, Vichy, Avallon, and Compiègne. In Avallon, the police conduct an unannounced speed check in the evening. All participants adhere perfectly to the speed limit. On Friday, participants stay in Ghent, Belgium, and the route on the final day again passes through Zeeland before finishing in Noordwijk. En route to the finish, an unexpected regularity test with unique regulations takes place on the island of Tholen.
At the finish in the parking lot of Grand Hotel “Huis ter Duin,” there is more public interest than ever before. Under a radiant sun and with winds at Force 5, participants are welcomed with Moët & Chandon champagne, La Tulipe wine, tulips, and herring with Corenwyn. All of this is accompanied by the cheerful musical backdrop of a performance by the “Big Band Bollenstreek.”
Bert Dolk and Erwin Berkhof, with their Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint from 1959, claim victory in this Tulpenrallye, just like in 2004. In an exciting battle over six days between May 8 and 14, covering over 2300 kilometers, they outsmart the competition. Although their lead diminishes noticeably on the final day, they prove to be the strongest throughout the event. For driver Bert Dolk, this is the fourth victory in a Tulpenrallye, equaling the record set by John Bosch in the ’80s. For navigator Erwin Berkhof, this is the second victory in the Tulpenrallye. The Tour class is won by Sijbrand and Taco van der Mast, also driving an Alfa Romeo Giulietta from 1959.
