The smell of gasoline in the air, gleaming paint in the morning sun, and many historic vehicles: The 4th Museum Festival at the August Horch Museum was all about the fascination of automobiles. Even before the official start on Saturday morning, Audistraße was filling up with classic cars and vehicles with eight-cylinder engines, while in the museum courtyard the “ancestors of our cars” awaited their grand entrance. Together with their owners, dressed in period-appropriate attire, they created a setting that brought automotive history to life.
Horch 8 – the common thread
The museum festival opened its doors right on time at 10 a.m. Visitors were treated to a rich program featuring guided tours of the former Audi/Sachsenring factory grounds, Anneliese Horch tours, and tours of the special exhibition “100 Years of the Horch 8: In the Footsteps of a Legend.” This theme ran like a common thread through the weekend—from the eight-cylinder car meet and the August Horch Classic to special tours and the presentation of the Audi R8. The most recently acquired P70 and an Audi R8 Coupé from Audi Tradition formed an impressive bridge between the past and the present.
The Ancestors of Our Cars
One of Saturday’s highlights was the “Ancestors of Our Cars” parade. Five historic cars and a motorcycle, escorted by a police vehicle, made their way to Zwickau’s main market square. Whether it was the hand signals used back then when turning or the unmistakable scent of vintage engines—the vehicles drew admiring glances and provided plenty of photo opportunities along the route and in the city center. After their return, the evening came to a relaxed close with conversations about cars, a great atmosphere, and live music from the Dixieland band “Steep Wall Stompers.”
Meeting Point: Augustusburg Castle
On Sunday, the August Horch Classic—the “big sister” of the Ahnen-Ausfahrt—took center stage. For the first time, participants started directly from the museum courtyard and drove through the open gates between the restaurant and the museum onto the route. The route led through Reinsdorf, Hartenstein, Zwönitz, and Zschopau to Augustusburg Castle. There, the diversity of the participating vehicles was on full display. Anyone who missed the museum festival can still experience the “Myth of the Horch 8”: The special exhibition is on view at the Horch Museum in Zwickau through January 10.
