For most classic car owners, the active season ends at the latest with the first snowfall and salting by the local authorities. But the winter season also has its charms and a steadily growing number of winter rallies offer drives in snowy regions with the added thrill of the stopwatch.
With which vehicle?
In principle, of course, almost any old vehicle is also suitable for use in winter, with the exception of very racing and circuit-tuned cars. The registration regulations of the individual events provide an initial framework in terms of age; depending on the rally, vehicles dating back to the seventies or eighties are welcome. Not all events allow four-wheel drive vehicles to start, some classify them in special classes.
Pre-war cars are very welcome at most rallies because they add a splash of color that attracts the public, but participating in a rally with a pre-war vehicle poses special challenges.
Whether you want to take part in a winter rally with an open or closed vehicle is primarily a question of your own capacity for suffering. But driving through snow-covered roads in beautiful winter weather can be a lot of fun, especially in an open-top sports car.
Many rally participants own a vehicle that is particularly suitable for use in winter and is especially well protected against salt or ice. Of course, you can also take part in a winter rally in a Bugatti Type 35 or a BMW 507, but a vehicle from the Volvo 122 S, Mini Cooper or Porsche 356 category is usually preferred. But winter exotics such as the MG A, the Triumph TR4, the Maserati Mistral or the Fiat 850 Sport Coupé are also quite successful in the snow.
Organizers often show a preference for cars that are usually associated with the rally classics, e.g. Alpine Renault A 110, Citroën DS, Mini Cooper, Porsche 911, Lancia Fulvia, Lancia Stratos, etc.
What you should never forget: traction is everything in the snow. It's not for nothing that the Mini Cooper and the Alpine A 110 won the Monte Carlo Rally several times - a drive axle loaded by the engine simply pulls or pushes better.
How to prepare?
Anyone who thinks they can simply enter their classic or vintage car in a winter event and finish in the top field will soon be wrong. A winter rally requires sensible equipment and preparation of the vehicle. Of course, the typical rally paraphernalia should be on board that you would also have with you on a summer rally, i.e. stopwatches, tools, emergency spare parts and the like.
In addition, however, a limited slip differential proves to be a valuable aid at a winter event and, of course, snow chains (or hemp ropes) and studded tires must be included if they are permitted by the regulations and road legislation.
Cautious rally participants also equip their vehicle with easily accessible towing hooks and fit enough headlights to be able to see well enough in the event of an inspection. The battery and alternator should also be able to cope with the additional challenges. A heated windshield, such as that offered by the Alpine A110, can prove very practical in winter.
If you love your car, protect it completely with Dinitrol or a similar rust inhibitor, which is sprayed right into the last cavities. In addition, a complete and thorough cleaning after the event is of course essential for a long life of the classic car.
Carry spades and tools in the car that can help you out of a predicament if you get stuck in the snow. In addition, warm and dry clothes should always be available, but this is probably a matter of course.
Which rally?
Once you have a suitable vehicle and the preparations under control, you need to decide on one of the many rallies on offer. The orientation of the event, the area covered and the overall route, the travel distance and duration of the event as well as other personal preferences can be the deciding factors. And while some rallies feature tubular stages, others only have overall target times to achieve. To each his own.
The reports on past events referenced in the table below will give you an impression of the various events.
Sport or fun?
If you want to win and see taking part in a winter rally as a sporting challenge, you will prepare carefully and work hard at the event itself. The specified average speed of 49 km/h may seem harmless on paper, but on a snow-covered or icy route combined with bends, uphill and downhill gradients, this average can quickly turn into a strenuous race that demands everything from the driver and vehicle.
However, not everyone wants to achieve top sporting performance; for some, it's simply about having fun and the camaraderie that develops almost automatically at winter rallies. You can take your foot off the gas, warm up over a coffee in a restaurant or help a colleague out of a jam, because fractions of a second aren't everything.
A selection of winter rallies 2014
The following list shows some of the rallies and rally-like events organized in winter 2014.
The registration deadlines correspond to the dates stated on the websites, so it may be worth enquiring after the deadline if you are interested, as not every rally is fully booked and places may become available due to cancellations.
| Rally (name) | Rally date | Starting point | Comment | Registration deadline | Info | Race report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Planai Classic | January 4 - 5, 2014 | Schladming-Gröbming | up to 1972, max. 52 cars | 15.11.2013 | link | link |
| Winter Rally Styria | January 10 - 11, 2014 | Styria | up to 1986, all-wheel drive cars permitted (handicap) | 1.12.2013 | link | |
| Winter RAID | January 15 - 18, 2014 | St. Moritz | until 1978 | 30.11.2013 | link | link |
| Snow flurries | January 17 - 19, 2014 | Voralberg | up to 1985, all-wheel drive cars allowed (own class) | 1.1.2014 | link | link |
| Rally Monte Carlo Historique | January 22 - 29, 2014 | Monte Carlo | until 1980, participants of the R MC from 1955 to 1980 | 11.11.2013 | link | |
| Legends Winter Classic | January 29 - February 1, 2014 | Allgäu | up to 1986, but youngtimers up to 1992 also eligible to start | 30.11.2013 | link | |
| Winter Trial | February 3 - 8, 2014 | Copenhagen | up to 1976, no four-wheel drive vehicles, 2500 km distance | 15.1.2014 | link | |
| Aflenzer Winter Classic | February 14 - 15, 2014 | Aflenz/Styria | up to 1985, three classes (up to 1949, up to 1979, up to 1985) | 20.12.2013 | link | link |
| Seegefrörne | February 15 - 16, 2014 | Lake Constance | 15.1.2014 | Link |
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