June 15, 2014 will go down in history as the day on which Porsche, Toyota and Audi battled it out for victory at Le Mans. And almost unnoticed by the general public, around 100 classic car drivers also took on a circuit in Lenzerheide on the same day, not to win a race, but to show off the potential of their vehicles.
Audi, Porsche and Toyota
And the date is not the only parallel. In Lenzerheide, just like in Le Mans, Porsche, Toyota and Audi vehicles were at the start on June 15 and 16, 2014.
The brand from Zuffenhausen is traditionally well represented at all historic events. At the Motor Classics in Leznerheide, these included 356 and 911 models as well as an almost modern 968 Clubsport. None of the vehicles present shone with hybrid technology, but they ran without complaint and beguiled the spectators with their characteristic sound.
Toyota was represented with a Corolla, not exactly the company's most sophisticated model, but still. Here, too, there was no hybrid technology, but also no accident.
And Audi? Well, the company from Ingoldstadt provided the race leader and safety car vehicles via its Swiss importer AMAG. You can't win like that, but that's not what it was all about in Lenzerheide. The double victory in Le Mans should make up for it.
Around 100 cars
It was not without reason that the 2014 field of vehicles was reminiscent of last year's, when the Lenzerheide Motor Classics was held for the second time. In fact, the event already enjoys many loyal returners. However, new vehicles are added every year, including a Lancia Delta Integrale HF Evo 16V from 1988 and a Bianchini 002 Monoposto from 1966 in 2014.
In total, around 100 cars came together, which, along with a group of motorcycles, circled the course four times each.
The field of pre-war racing cars was remarkable, even if the Bugatti 37 and the Salmson, which still appeared in the catalog, were missing. The Lenzerheide Motor Classics is actually an ideal event for these cars in particular.
Lenzerheide with a weather advantage
While showers of rain pelted down on the race track in Le Mans on Saturday evening and led to heaps of scrap metal or at least considerable work in the pits, the weather in Lenzerheide remained dry, a little chilly but dry. The temperatures were ideal for the vehicles, and very few had to worry about coolant temperatures that were too hot.
Only the Corso on Friday evening had to be rescheduled slightly due to rain showers, but both Saturday and Sunday were dry and the sun came out again towards the end of the event.
Few breakdowns
In contrast to Le Mans, where both Porsches dropped out or retired due to technical difficulties, most of the participants completed the laps in Lenzerheide without any major problems. There were, of course, some difficulties, and the Lotus Europa, for example, had to be towed away early on Saturday.
Short stints
At Le Mans, a driver's stints are limited to four hours, and a single driver may not drive for more than 14 hours during the entire race. In 1952, Pierre Levegh tried to win the race single-handedly in a Talbot-Lago. He almost succeeded, but in the final hour, he switched gears. It wasn't that tough for the participants in Lenzerheide, as the 20-minute demo runs didn't push anyone to the limits of their fitness.
Voa Principala instead of Hunaudières
Just like the Le Mans racetrack, which enables full throttle sections at top speeds with the "Les Hunaudières" straight, the meandering over the Voa Principaia along the Heidsee allowed the drivers to open their throttle valves. And to demonstrate the full sound power of their four to eight-cylinder engines to the public.
There were also safety car phases in Lenzerheide, and they happened all the time, but unlike at Le Mans, the smoothly driven Audis hardly slowed down the participants.
Nothing to win
Advertised as a demonstration of performance, there were of course no prizes in Lenzerheide, and the Porsche drivers taking part came away empty-handed, just as Neel Jani did at Le Mans. Perhaps as an additional incentive in the future, one could consider having the public vote for the most beautifully roaring sports car or the most impressively accelerating classic car.
But the participants probably don't need this additional "kick"; the almost 100 minutes on the circuit were probably satisfying enough for most of them.
The fact that, unlike the 24-hour race in France, there were no accidents during the weekend was due to the good discipline of the field. So there is no reason why the next edition on June 12-14, 2015 should not be another successful event.
Registered vehicles
The following list contains the registered four-wheeled vehicles including the only three-wheeler.
| Field | Start no. | Make | Type | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 101 | Porsche | 356 Hardtop Coupé | 1961 |
| 1 | 102 | Porsche | 356 A Coupé | 1954 |
| 1 | 103 | Austin Healey | 100 BN 1 | 1953 |
| 1 | 104 | Innocenti | Mini Cooper | 1974 |
| 1 | 105 | Morris | Cooper S | 1967 |
| 1 | 106 | Fiat | 850 TC Nürburgring | 1962 |
| 1 | 107 | Steyr Fiat | 850 TC | 1956 |
| 1 | 108 | Fiat | 850 Sport Coupé | 1972 |
| 1 | 109 | Fiat | 850 Coupé Moretti | 1969 |
| 1 | 110 | Fiat | 500 110 F | 1967 |
| 1 | 111 | Lancia | Flamminia | 1961 |
| 1 | 112 | Pontiac | Roadster | 1929 |
| 1 | 113 | Pontiac | Lemans GTO | 1965 |
| 1 | 114 | Hudson | Hornet | 1952 |
| 1 | 115 | Ford | T Racer | 1918 |
| 1 | 116 | Alfa Romeo | Giulia Sprint GT Veloce | 1968 |
| 2 | 201 | Aschi | GS Monoposto Citroën | 1961 |
| 2 | 202 | Plymouth | Road Runner | 1970 |
| 2 | 203 | Porsche | 911 | 1988 |
| 2 | 204 | Porsche | 911 T 2.2 Coupé | 1969 |
| 2 | 205 | Alfa Romeo | Montreal | 1974 |
| 2 | 206 | Aston Martin | DB 2/4 MK III | 1959 |
| 2 | 207 | Jaguar | D-Type | 1966 |
| 2 | 208 | Austin Healey | 3000 | 1959 |
| 2 | 209 | Volvo | 122 SR | 1965 |
| 2 | 210 | Alfa Romeo | GTV6 2.5 | 1986 |
| 2 | 211 | Alfa Romeo | 1750 GTV | 1970 |
| 2 | 212 | MG | B GT Crowe Hill Race | 1973 |
| 2 | 213 | Porsche | 356 SC | 1964 |
| 2 | 214 | Porsche | 356 Super 90 | 1962 |
| 2 | 215 | Porsche | 356 PRE-A | 1954 |
| 2 | 216 | Porsche | 356 A Speedster T2 | 1958 |
| 2 | 217 | Porsche | 356 B Cabriolet | 1963 |
| 2 | 218 | BMW | 2002 ti | 1974 |
| 2 | 219 | Toyota | Corolla AE 86 | 1984 |
| 3 | 301 | Buick | C8 Racing Car | 1939 |
| 3 | 302 | Alvis | Firefly Special | 1933 |
| 3 | 303 | Alvis | Greenfell | 1932 |
| 3 | 304 | Alvis | Firefly Special | 1933 |
| 3 | 305 | Alvis | Firefly Special | 1932 |
| 3 | 306 | Alvis | Silver Eagle | 1936 |
| 3 | 307 | Lagonda | Rapier | 1934 |
| 3 | 308 | Bugatti | 37 A | 1926 |
| 3 | 309 | MG | TA Special | 1937 |
| 3 | 310 | Lagonda | Rapier with supercharger | 1934 |
| 3 | 311 | Bentley | Special Donington | 1951 |
| 3 | 312 | Riley | TT Racing | 1931 |
| 3 | 313 | Riley | Battleship | 1934 |
| 3 | 314 | Aston Martin | Le Mans | 1933 |
| 3 | 315 | Salmson | Rally Grand Prix | 1934 |
| 3 | 316 | MG | TA Special Q-Type | 1936 |
| 4 | 48 | Morgan | Three Wheeler | 1930 |
| 5 | 501 | Porsche | 968 CS | 1993 |
| 5 | 502 | Renault | 5 Turbo 2 | 1986 |
| 5 | 503 | Triumph | TR 6 | 1972 |
| 5 | 504 | Lotus | Europe S2 size 4 | 1969 |
| 5 | 505 | Ford | Cortina Lotus | 1965 |
| 5 | 506 | Opel | Kadett C GT/E | 1977 |
| 5 | 507 | Opel | Kadett C GT/E 2 | 1978 |
| 5 | 508 | Ferrari | Dino 308 GT 4 | 1975 |
| 5 | 509 | Ferrari | 308 GTB i | 1980 |
| 5 | 510 | BMW | 2000CS | 1966 |
| 5 | 511 | Porsche | 911 SC | 1979 |
| 5 | 512 | Ford Escort | RS 1600i | 1982 |
| 5 | 513 | Triumph | TR 6 | 1971 |
| 5 | 514 | Alfa Romeo | GTA Junior Corsa | 1968 |
| 5 | 515 | Alfa Romeo | Giulia Super 1300 | 1970 |
| 5 | 516 | MG | B GT V8 Sebring | 1975 |
| 5 | 517 | Innocenti | Mini Cooper 1300 | 1973 |
| 5 | 518 | Chevrolet | Corvette | 1986 |
| 5 | 519 | Lotus | Seven S2 | 1968 |
| 6 | 601 | Gebhardt | C2 Le Mans | 1987 |
| 6 | 602 | Ford | Formula Ford 2000 | 1981 |
| 6 | 603 | Bianchini | 002 | 1966 |
| 6 | 604 | Osella | prototype | |
| 6 | 605 | Dangel | 812 | 1971 |
| 6 | 606 | Sturdgess SL | F100 Group 6 | 1969 |
| 6 | 607 | Lotus | 23 Prototype | 1963 |
| 6 | 608 | Crossle | 9S | 1966 |
| 6 | 609 | Shelby | Cobra 427 S/C | 1966 |
| 6 | 610 | AC | Cobra Mk IV | 1977 |
| 6 | 611 | Porsche | RSR IROC | 1973 |
| 6 | 612 | Porsche | Carrera RS Clone | 1982 |
| 6 | 613 | Porsche | Carrera RS | 1973 |
| 6 | 614 | Lamborghini | Gallardo | |
| 6 | 615 | Lancia | Delta HF Int. Evo 16 V | 1988 |
| 6 | 616 | Lancia | Stratos 2.4 Stradale | 1976 |
| 6 | 617 | Jaguar | E Type Lightweigt Low Drag | 1962 |
| 6 | 618 | Mallock | U2 MK8 | 1968 |
| 6 | 619 | Knobel | Self-built monoposto | 1970 |
| 6 | 620 | Porsche | Turbo II | 1992 |
| D | Pontiac | Firebird | 1967 | |
| D | Alfa Romeo | 2000 Spider C | 1980 | |
| D | Austin Healey | Sprite | 1958 | |
| D | Jaguar | E Type S3 V-12 | 1971 | |
| D | Mercedes Benz | 280 TE | 1986 | |
| D | Jaguar | XJS Convertible | 1992 | |
| D | Fiat | Topolino | 1950 | |
| D | Fiat | Dino | 1972 | |
| D | Austin Healey | MKII | 1970 | |
| D | Alfa Romeo | GT1750 Bert. | 1969 | |
| D | VW | Beetle | 1971 | |
| D | Fiat | Topolino | 1945 | |
| D | Alfa Romeo | GTV 1750 | 1979 | |
| D | Volvo | 123 GT | 1969 | |
| D | Chevrolet | Corvette | 1965 | |
| D | Mini | 1974 | ||
| D | Porsche | 1986 | ||
| D | Austin Healey | 3000 Mark 2 | 1963 | |
| D | Ferrari | 400 i | 1983 |
Almost all the vehicles in demonstration fields 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6 can be found in the picture gallery, which contains over 200 photos .
