Two days at Schloss Dyck, the most culturally and historically significant moated castle in the Rhineland, are really necessary in order to enjoy the huge range on offer at the German Goodwood, the "Classic Days", in peace and quiet.
There is so much on offer at different venues that you have to keep to a schedule in order not to miss anything important.
Lots of activity on the circuit
The circuit is open from 9 a.m. in the morning until 5 p.m. in the late afternoon. There is practically non-stop activity on the track. There are alternating races and special runs. The 2011 edition was dedicated to the 50th anniversary of the death of the German racing count Wolfgang Graf Berghe von Trips.
Traffic on the Schlosspark circuit is strictly monitored, which leaves the cars and drivers very little room for maneuver. Two minutes per lap, which covers around 2.8 km, may be undercut by a maximum of 15 seconds; faster vehicles are immediately excluded.
Dutchman Kees im Rene Bonnet said that the course could be lapped in 1:47 at a normal, brisk pace. So a rather leisurely pace is the order of the day, which of course does not create optimal conditions for certain racing cars. The low temperatures proved to be an advantage for the high-powered engines. Nevertheless, all types of vehicles can be driven on a closed circuit, from Formula Junior to Indy cars and CanAm cars.
Concours d'Elegance and fashion shows
Fashion shows take place between the races and various elegance competitions for exclusive and beautiful individual creations are held throughout the day.
Vintage car wealth in the parking lots
The parking lots are full of historic vehicles, with many clubs bringing significant parts of their stock to the Schlosspark. There is something for everyone. From the Ford 17M to the Talbot Sport with Maserati engine and special bodywork, everything was there this year.
Culinary delights are not neglected
Culinary delights are served at the various catering stands. After your meal, you can have your espresso, cappuccino or latte macchiato freshly prepared from a 3-wheeled Piaggio, a Topolino or even a historic hearse.
With historic clothes and paraphernalia
What is compulsory at Goodwood is recommended at Dyck - the right clothing to match the car. Many even bring along various historical paraphernalia such as transistor radios, crockery, cameras or film cameras.
As if from another time
During the Classic Days, the beautiful castle grounds are transformed into a fairytale era. Many of the buildings have already been renovated, while the rest are still under construction. The "Classic Days" contribute a large proportion of the expensive restoration costs each year. This shows that cars, which until recently people wanted to ban from city centres or even civilization, can contribute a great deal to cultural preservation. In 1999, Schloss Dyck became a foundation as a center for garden art and landscape culture.
Soil protection and the forces of nature
Each car was given a large cardboard box to protect the natural soil in the huge gardens from oil and gasoline. All those present took these precautionary measures extremely seriously; only nature itself could not hold back and briefly drenched almost the entire castle park with a downpour on Saturday afternoon.
The entire event is therefore something for the eyes, the ears and, last but not least, the stomach. The Schloss Dyck Classic Days are an event that I can only recommend to every classic car fan.
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