Every year, the Hamburg City Park Revival for two- and four-wheeled, historic mobile vehicles takes place in the middle of the city. They meet once a year in the idyllic Stadtpark and come from all over Europe. For 48 hours, a busy four-lane road is transformed into a special kind of race track.
Closed circuit
Within a very short time, a large area is cordoned off, tents and grandstands are set up. Historic vehicles emerge from the surrounding area and the city's garages in a star shape, all magnetically attracted to one destination: Hamburg's city park.
On Saturday morning, things get lively early on the course. The helpers arrive, cash desks are manned, latecomers arrive. Then driver briefings.
The day is taken in turns: Motorcycles, racing teams, cars in various classes, with demo runs in between.
Right in the middle
The special thing about the atmosphere of the Stadtparkrennen, which dates back to a historic event from the 1940s and 1950s, is the friendly and barrier-free interaction between all those involved, whether spectators, families with children and dogs, racing drivers, exhibitors or celebrities, who are united by a love of historic vehicles and a passion for motorsport.
In the motorcycle paddock, some are still eating breakfast, others are putting the finishing touches to their bikes, one is tinkering. Loud engines and the stadium announcer can be heard in the background. Many spectators have already arrived early on Saturday morning. With a cup of coffee in their hands, they watch the races, stroll a little further during the breaks, have a chat, ask interested questions or simply enjoy the street cafés set up in the middle of Saarlandstraße, where the hectic rush hour traffic usually flows.
Many have the date - September 5/6 - marked in red in their calendars and have been looking forward to being there for a whole year. It smells of fuel and tire rubber. Presenters explain the races and individual vehicles.
Every motorsport fan will find a bargain on the market mile around the circuit and across the two paddocks. With hopefully pleasant late summer temperatures, an eventful day for the spectators will come to an end far too quickly. The participants, however, will meet up for a Drivers' Night. Petrol talk late into the night makes hearts beat faster.
With trophies
By Sunday morning, everything is already in place: Calls for the various classes, pre-start, start. A driver who has been chatting to his neighbor rushes to his vehicle at the second call for his class, helmet on and off to the line-up. After all, there is something at stake! The prizes are ceremoniously awarded after every four runs - and even if nobody really wants to admit it: a trophy makes you proud!
On Sunday evening, it's time to dismantle the tents as soon as the last runners have crossed the finish line. In no time at all, the tarpaulins are down, the poles unscrewed and onto the truck, next one please. Everything runs like clockwork, after all, normal traffic has to resume at 6 a.m. on Monday morning.
But once a year, the Motor Revival really gets to roar in the Stadtpark. Then the Hanseatics let it be good again ....
Further information can be found on the event website.
