On the Whitsun weekend of June 3 and 4, Ruedi Müller once again invited guests to the beautiful Obwalden region to spend two relaxed days with old cars. The "O-iO" event is neither a concours nor a rally, but actually almost more of a social event, except that it is not about nobility or nimbus, but quite simply about classic car enthusiasm. This unites the more than 500 classic car owners who meet up with their cars first in Sarnen and later at other stops along the way.
Once again lucky with the weather, or at least almost
Actually, the sun shines almost without exception when O-iO is announced. Only last year, the weather didn't quite cooperate and in 2017, the weather was ultimately better than feared, even if not all of the program items - the ride along the infamous Älggi-Strasse - could take place as planned. On the other hand, it was so hot again on Sunday afternoon that the planned Belle Epoque dance tea hardly had any participants.
More baby carriages than classic cars?
The O-iO deliberately aims to be a classic car meeting for young and old. Ruedi Müller said that at certain times there were even more baby carriages than old cars in Sarnen. For him, it is a real mission to get the next generation interested in classic cars. "It is these children who will have a say in whether we are still allowed on the road with our old cars in the future," said Müller, who also made sure that politicians also attended the classic car festival.
However, the children were certainly more enthusiastic about the veteran vehicles, especially the very early cars and of course the particularly colorful ones elicited many "jööös" from the more than 180 "kids".
Bread and butter
Anyone looking through the starting list of over 500 vehicles quickly realizes that, in addition to the classics such as the Mercedes-Benz 190 SL, Jaguar E-Type, Porsche 356 or Alfa Romeo Spider, which can actually be found at every classic car event, there is a large number of so-called bread-and-butter cars from the past to be seen in Sarnen and on the O-iO tour. These include the Renault 4CV, the Ford A, the VW Beetle or the Opel Kadett, but increasingly also the VW Golf or the Fiat 500.
Spectators at the roadside show at least as much sympathy for these vehicles as for the glossy exotic cars.
Cafeteria system
Unlike many classic car events, participants can put together the program that suits them best. Participation is possible on Saturday or Sunday or, of course, on both days. You can take part in rides or not. Participation costs are kept as low as possible, e.g. Saturday alone costs only CHF 70.00. As every year, this not only led to a large number of participants, but also to a relaxed atmosphere.
Another special feature of the O-iO is the option of entering a good-weather and a bad-weather classic car, an option that many participants make use of. In view of the unclear weather forecast, however, choosing the "right" car was not so easy.
Attractive for spectators
On Saturday, Sarnen is taken back in time. More than 500 classic cars are parked in the old village center on cordoned-off streets and the guests stroll among the gleaming sheet metal, some of them dressed in historical costumes.
Later in the afternoon there was an excursion, on Sunday the caravan moved from Sarnen to Brienz. Due to the unfavorable weather conditions, both the Älggi route and the Sarnen-Wilen-Giswil route could not be used. Wherever the 200 or so old cars passed through on Sunday, passers-by and spectators gathered at the roadside to watch the action with enthusiasm. This in turn delighted the classic car drivers, who waved enthusiastically. The accompanying fire engine sounded its siren and the old postbuses made a "tüütaatoo".
The old-timer drivers had luck on their side in terms of the weather, as they had barely left Obwalden for the canton of Bern when the heavy clouds let their accumulated water patter onto the ground. And in Brienz the sun was already shining again, so that even lunch could be eaten outside.
Satisfied faces
A successful event came to an end on Sunday evening, and some of the classic car drivers were probably still wet and cold on the drive home.
For organizer Ruedi Müller, however, the impressions that could be made, especially among young people and politicians, are important:
"Both groups are important for us. The politicians are deciding about us now, the kids will give us the thumbs up or thumbs down in ten to twenty years' time and thus decide whether we are still allowed on the road with our classic cars. With memories of our youth, as they develop at the O-iO, the chances are much better that we will be allowed to." Let's hope that Ruedi Müller is right and that his friendly event can be held for a few more years.
