Just owning a classic car is not enough. Sometimes I want to show it to others. One of the most convenient forms of display is an amateur classic car rally. By “classic” in most countries they mean cars that are not younger than 30 years.
The Russian retro season was opened by the main race of the Committee of Classic Cars of the Russian Automobile Federation “On Seven Hills”.
There is no need to load the suspension and unscrew the motor. This competition is not for speed, but for the accuracy of movement in space. The crew has to overcome a certain route – mostly around the city, not getting lost in the intricacies of lanes and passing time checkpoints in time. Traffic rules are strictly observed. And the participants can be anyone who has a suitable car and wants to spend time in the company of like-minded people.
An exhibition of classic cars at a gas station is a rare sight. The pit stop is planned by the organizers together with the general partner, the company Rosneft, for refueling and a delicious snack.
sources of inspiration
The rally movement of car vintage enthusiasts has acquired such strength that the sports authorities have created a special tournament for them: the RAF Cup (Russian Automobile Federation) in retro rally. It is already its seventh year and now consists of six stages, which will be held in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Tolyatti and Tula.
The program of the season was opened by the main race “On Seven Hills” – with the participation of more than 60 crews. The distance – about 70 km, mainly along Zamoskvorechye, was designed for three hours of leisurely driving. One of the must-visit points is the Rosneft gas station, the main partner of the rally. After a pit stop with refueling with Pulsar brand fuel, the participants were able to appreciate the high performance, which the drivers of the Russian RCRS track racing series have long been known for.
The theme of the route: the corners of Moscow, which inspired Russian and Soviet painters to create canvases.
And the path was not an easy one, as the RAF Cup is the only official and most prestigious classic car rally series in Russia. The year-end winners will be honored at the RAF awards ceremony in the same way as Russia’s champions.
How do you get closer to this peak? Endless driver training, in-depth study of traffic rules and rally regulations, instrument customization. And just create a comfortable atmosphere in the crew. Communication between the pilot and the navigator always brings a smile to the beginners. What is “emphasis”, “hole to the right”, “string”? Where on the road do they see all this? And this is a whole science!
ALL AGES ARE SUCCESSFUL
The power of the engines and the driving schedule in such races does not matter.
RAF Cup regulations only divide cars by age. There are four main points:
- Veteran – cars produced before 1947;
- Classic car – from 1947 to 1969;
- Youngtimer – from 1970 to 1991;
- Super Sport – modified cars produced before 1992.
Of course there are technical subtleties. The result is thus influenced by the age of the car – the older the car, the lower the “correction factor” – the penalty points earned are multiplied by it. And before the start, the expert committee checks the cars for authenticity. Originals without modification are much appreciated! If a later 1981 ZMZ-4022 engine is installed on the 1956 release GAZ-21, the coefficient is calculated based on the age of the unit. If several main components and assemblies do not correspond to the specified model, there are signs of deep modernization or the machine is generally a replica, the highest coefficient is applied.
Amateur status gives concessions and the age structure of the participants. You can act as a navigator from the age of 12. Also, the crew may include a “declared passenger” – with no age restrictions.
List of winners
There are always many winners and prize winners on such flights. The award ceremony sometimes takes longer than the competition itself. So now, in addition to the prizes of the rally “On the Seven Hills”, the RAF Cup and the “tourist” Grand Tour Cup, prizes were awarded to the best family crews, winners in the team and club classification, in total more than a dozen nominations. The absolute winner was the family crew of Anton and Maria Zolotov from Tula. They performed on the 1968 MG Midget.
Rare foreign cars on the retro rally, of course, showstoppers. But the basis of the fleet of combat vehicles is our native Zhiguli, Muscovites and Volga.
“The atmosphere of the Red Square, the huge vaults of Gostiny Dvor made the crew ready for positive emotions. Thousands of spectators, millions of selfies and photos with vintage cars, enthusiastic exclamations from children. The RAF and the Committee of Classic Cars have made one of the main tasks of educating young people in the spirit of love of technology, sport and the preservation of historic examples. We were all united and made friends through this theme. And we are happy to include the same enthusiastic enthusiasts in our family. And to take part in the rally, you only need one thing: desire! Let’s share knowledge and experience.
- 9 entertaining facts about the GAZ-21 here.
- Read how to properly maintain a car in the books of the publishing house “Behind the wheel”.
- “Behind the wheel” can also be read on VKontakte.
For the best safety, even very old cars are useful for occasional walking. For example during a rally.
