No half measures in Roggwil
02/24/2014
Or half-measures after all? In any case, during my visit to the popular classic car and parts market at the Roggwil karting track (near Langenthal/BE) on February 22, 2014, I immediately noticed the famous Porsche 911 R, with which the four Swiss racing drivers Jo Siffert, Dieter Spörry, Rico Steinemann and Charles Vögele set a whole series of speed records for BP Switzerland in Monza in 1967.
In fact, however, it was not the real Porsche 911 R, but a halved copy. Thank goodness! The real car has belonged to Californian Joe Cordner for several years. He told me a few years ago that his car was originally painted white and green (like the halved copy in Roggwil).
"At the time, we only had black and white photos of the car, and since the BP colors are green, we painted the car white and green," the Porsche collector explained to me. "Then I found colored photos of the record in Monza and saw that the 911 R was not white and green, but white and red. I immediately had my car painted in the right colors."
This halved 911 R was not the only interesting car in Roggwil. There was also a pretty Fiat Ballila from 1938 to admire.
The various miniatures, books, accessories, parts and brochures were also exciting, including a Monteverdi catalog with historical information, including about the Monteverdi Hai 650 from 1992. Speaking of Monteverdi, the various squares and avenues of the Roggwil classic car market were named after famous Swiss racing drivers and designers: for example, Peter Monteverdi Arena and Franco Sbarro Strasse!
Attractive old and youngtimers could also be found in the parking lot outside. Perhaps the first signs of an early and promising spring?
