Review: McKlein desktop calendar

11th December 2011

By Anthony Peacock

For those determined to soak up some rallying every minute of the day – including those tedious times when you're at work – help is at hand in the form of the McKlein desktop rally calendar. It won't come as an enormous surprise to learn that this product does more or less what it says on the box, by providing a calendar that sits on the top of your desk.

Following this astounding revelation, we can now move on to the far more interesting topic of what exactly is in it. The big calendars have 25 images in them, but while this one is significantly smaller, it features no fewer than 55 examples of McKlein's finest work. The photographs are both modern and historic, featuring the people, places and cars that make rallying so special.

The variety of images is staggering, but what they all have in common is the fact that they are not quite what you were expecting: appropriately enough for a company that has redefined the rules when it comes to rally photography. The art in each image is evident, perfectly capturing the spirit of what the sport is all about. Many of the photographs have never been seen before, adding a unique perspective to this year's events as well as those of the past.

The whole calendar fits inside a case that is about as big as a CD box, enabling you to personalise your rallying experience to suit your day. Does your mission for the day require hard charging, uncompromised adrenaline? Just look for Francois Delecour. Maybe you're having a more relaxed experience: bits of filing and so forth? Then a Spanish sunset over a mountainside is the thing. Perhaps you need to let off some steam? A fire-breathing Audi Quattro image is the only realistic choice. Or you just want to underline the fact that you're simply the best at everything you do in the workplace? Say that with a photo of Sebastien Loeb.

There's a brand new picture for every two weeks of the year. In fact, you might spend so long fiddling with your photographs that you neglect to do any work at all. The desktop calendar costs €9.95 or £8.99 and it's available as always from the Rallywebshop: McKlein's official outlet. Visit http://www.rallywebshop.com or call +44 (0)20 81 33 0605 in the UK or +49 (0)2203-9242570 in Germany.