All beginnings are difficult, or not ...
08/16/2017
It all starts with a surprise. There is probably no better moment than being asked by a city to organize a car meeting in its historic center. However, after the initial euphoria and the subsequent logical acceptance by the city, the headaches begin: Are six weeks even enough to organize such an event? Who should even take part in August, in the middle of the vacation season? How should we communicate? What does the target audience expect from such an event? Where do you find answers and solutions?
There are many questions and uncertainties, but the blazing passion makes these doubts disappear pretty quickly. So you get down to work. You look for historical contexts, start to draw up a concept, work out how to cover the financial outlay and spend nights drawing an attractive graphic design.
Word quickly spreads among friends that something is being created - something that has never been done before. Enthusiasm spreads, emails and phone calls run hot with many advisory comments, far-reaching ideas and interesting contacts. A few people get in touch who just want to spur me on.
Now it's time to keep an overview and at the same time generate so-called "followers" in a modern world and keep them happy. The words "likes" and "posts" take on a new dimension and you try to interpret the reactions of the virtual audience. Each of these virtual "pats on the back" is a source of energy and security; you are definitely noticed and appreciated by strangers.
Finally, the program is set: Three music bands have confirmed, the well-known DJ will be on board, the friends of an aerobatic team will be entertained with a flyover, food and drink will be provided, several exhibitors with a stand have confirmed and, what's more, two charity projects can also be integrated into the event. This ensures that there will be something for everyone and that the event will be a (cost-covering) success.
August 5, 2017 is getting closer and closer, the logistics are being set up, the media are becoming active, more and more vehicles are registering on the website provided and over 700 people are already interested in the event on Facebook. You can feel the adrenaline pumping through your veins and you experience new highlights every hour. The signs for the signalization are printed and look better than expected. The trophies are produced, the wines for the winners are brought over by the sponsor and you start to imagine what the award ceremony will look like. At the same time, the first voices are raised on social media as to whether you are even capable of handling such a flood of vehicles and you feel obliged to interrupt an entertaining discussion between "followers" and calm the virtual world. However, you won't know for a few hours whether you've really lived up to expectations and whether you've thought of everything.
The big day; the sun finally rises over Bellinzona and you are on site. The city center wakes up with the usual Saturday market, where many Ticino residents stock up on local products and take the opportunity to discuss political and social issues.
Various vehicles already parked around the city centre by the organizers and exhibitors attract attention and encourage passers-by to philosophize about times gone by. A local radio station calls and a live broadcast euphorically provides information about the event and the classic car scene in general.
The sun rises to its highest point in the cloudless sky and it gets really hot. The thermometer reads 37 degrees Celsius at midday - helpers, exhibitors and tourists look for shade or pleasant air-conditioned coolness in the surrounding stores. The time has come, at 1 pm the pedestrian zone is opened for the historic vehicles - the event begins.
Vehicles roll up tentatively but steadily in the sweltering heat and sign in. Beautiful cars! You think you know many of the vehicles in the region, and yet you are surprised at how many cars turn up that you have never seen before.
Anecdotes about vehicles and owners make the rounds, memories are awakened, acquaintances are made and peaceful coexistence takes its course. By the time the awards ceremony is held at 17, we have registered 70 vehicles at the event and are very grateful to the owners for finding their way to us and resisting the temptation of the cooling waters of the lake and swimming pool.
The variety and attractiveness of the vehicles did not make the award ceremony easy. In the end, we decided to award prizes to seven participating vehicles based on their quality, personal anecdotes and stories:
- Buick Master Six from 1926 (Alfredo Eggemann)
- Condor motorcycle from 1929 (Jürg Schmid)
- Saurer L4C Alpenwagen from 1954 (Domenico Barenco)
- Saab 93b from 1957 (Ana Maria Cattaneo)
- Opel Rekord P1 from 1958 (Gianni Ghidossi)
- Alfa Romeo Giulia Super from 1969 (Davide Franchi)
The 1939 Cadillac La Salle (Antonio Moreno) was honored with the "Best of Show" award.
In conclusion, all beginnings are difficult, or not... because you can rely on the passion and loyalty of the owners of historic vehicles.
It was a wonderful day, and we are already looking forward to spending another peaceful day with classical music and music lovers in the old town of Bellinzona in 2018. Until then, we will continue to report on new developments via our information channels, especially the Vintage Motors website .
