The canton of Obwalden becomes a mecca for mobile contemporary history
After the attempt to create a "Sports Valley" failed miserably around 25 years ago, the canton of Obwalden in the canton of Obwalden in the canton of Uri has big plans again and wants to become a Mecca of mobile contemporary history this year and bring the entire mobile tradition to life for one day.
O-iO organizer Ruedi Müller: "We will offer Mobil what Goodwood does with motorsport. Most of the vehicles can already be admired standing in the Museum of Transport in Lucerne, but we want to move them, even if only for one day."
The O-iO in Sarnen (Oldtimer in Obwalden) with over 500 classic cars every year will provide the platform for further attractions on the Whitsun weekend (May 23/24) together with the "OldtimAir" on the Stanserhorn. Not only historic cars, motorcycles and bicycles are in demand, but for the first time also mule drivers, airplanes, ships and steam trains.
The transport of goods began with muleteers in the Middle Ages, and continued with trains and ships before the automobile and airplane arrived. All those who own muleteers' horses, donkeys, mules or carriages are cordially invited to take part in the Brünig crossing on the old mule track from Sarnen, the O-iO meeting point, towards the Ballenberg Open-Air Museum in Hofstetten near Brienz in the Bernese Oberland.
The Zentralbahn will even cease operations completely on Whit Sunday and open the tracks over the Brünig Pass to Brienz to all historic steam train collectors. Five steam trains from Austria and Germany have already registered. In addition, every registered participant will receive a free ride on the old steam train to the Brienzer-Rothorn. Even the Pilatus Railway will only be running with its wonderful old railcars on Whit Sunday.
The Alpnach-Dorf military airfield will become a Mecca for aviation for one day. Historic aircraft will fly various passenger flights around the summit of the Stanserhorn and then over the Brünig to Meiringen airfield in memory of the "OldtimAir".
Lake Sarnen will also be open to all boats built before 1960, and the "New Orleans Steamboat Company" will be using one of its paddle steamers from 1865 for various passenger trips.
For all those who like to take photographs, a special photo competition with lucrative prizes is being held to find pictures for a future illustrated book. The only requirement is that the camera used to take the photos must have been built before 1960. The original negative or slide serves as a reference to prevent digital images. Large-format wooden cameras with bellows will certainly have an advantage with the jury. There will be no shortage of motifs and the right location is also provided.
Registrations and bookings for passenger rides will be accepted on April 1 from 7:00 to 19:00 on the Mecca event website .
ADDENDUM/COMMENT:
A glance at the date should have made the inclined reader suspicious. In fact, this is an April 1st joke. Such an event might be possible to some extent, but certainly not in the form described.
