Ruedi Müller should have guessed it. Whitsun does not have a good reputation with weather forecasters. No wonder, because after all, the scout camps take place on these days and if you're a real scout, you want to have your carefully constructed drainage channels around the tent tested in practice. And so it was pouring with rain on Whit Saturday when the participants of the "Oldtimer in Obwalden" meeting arrived in Sarnen.
Variety
However, the rather pitiful weather conditions hardly seemed to dampen the diversity that has always characterized the "O-iO". And some participants even decided not to switch to their "bad weather variant" - an O-iO specialty - and came with the vehicle that was registered first. That's a good thing!
Fine classics and bread-and-butter cars
The streets of Sarnen were filled with classic cars and former bread-and-butter cars.
Whether VW Beetle, Fiat 131 or Datsun Violet - it soon felt like you had stepped back in time in the Obwalden capital.
Good atmosphere despite the rain
The atmosphere was good, even the rain subsided around midday and the sun came out. Cabriolet owners were even starting to consider opening the roof and the garden pubs were in full swing.
Among the strolling guests, Edi von Wyl made his barely audible but all the more visible rounds in his Locomobile Steamcar from 1900.
Although not all the expected participants had arrived - well over 500 vehicles were registered, which was a new record - hardly any of the interested spectators would have missed anything, after all there was still plenty to see. The thirty Chinese students, who came into contact with classic cars for the first time and will certainly never forget them, thought so too.
Some of those who stayed away also had serious reasons beyond the weather. For example, one participant had to report weeks ago that his girlfriend could not come and that he wanted to register another one. Just a few days later, he reported that the fuel pump had given up the ghost and he couldn't come at all. The pump was obviously more difficult to replace than the girlfriend.
A kiss here, a wave there, the relaxed atmosphere in Sarnen was a wonderful opportunity to meet old friends and talk shop about the beautiful vehicles of the past.
Roads like back then
Sarnen has an impressive wealth of old houses and some of the streets with the historic vehicles looked almost as they would have done in the fifties or sixties. Back then, however, black and white pictures would have been taken on paper, whereas nowadays, of course, cell phone photographers take digital pictures.
Some of the visitors added to the historical atmosphere by dressing as they did back then. Whether with knickebockers and ski slats or in traditional dress, there were virtually no limits to the imagination.
The Cross Country Mobile
Ruedi Müller also organized a very special local speciality with some CroCos. At the beginning of the 1980s, the pilot series of a sensational off-road vehicle with a Wankel engine and two interlocking sheet steel tubs was built in Kägiswil. The vehicle, which was intended for military use, could even swim and had exceptional off-road capabilities.
After the pilot series, production went to Germany, but the big breakthrough did not come. In Sarnen, two of today's cherished vehicles and their developer Walter F. Strahm could be seen on demo drives. And Ruedi Müller cheerfully explained that it was actually the CroCo that was responsible for the existence of classic cars in Obwalden today, as it was the off-road vehicle that brought him to Obwalden over 30 years ago.
Popular public rides
Once again, the popular public rides through Sarnen were an important part of the program, especially for spectators.
Those who wanted to could be chauffeured through the streets in the surprisingly common Ford Model A, in the BMW Isetta or in one of the magnificent Saurer passenger buses.
Rainy transfer to Seelisberg
Shortly after three o'clock, it was time to set off in the direction of the Seelisberg event center and the heavens opened their floodgates again, making the journey a rather wet affair for some participants, some of whom headed straight home.
Optimal weather conditions in Beromünster
On the second day of the event, the participants met in Beromünster. The weather was now kind and spared the beautiful vehicles from getting wet. The public and vehicle owners were grateful with a large turnout. A successful end to the O-iO.
