This year's Heidi-Classic was able to count on the weather. On the weekend of June 28 to 30, the summer exceptionally showed itself in the best of moods and summery temperatures. And so it was an absolute pleasure for the drivers of the 45 participating classic cars to complete the 200-kilometre route and indulge their senses.
Three-country trip
The start of number 1 took place punctually at 07:45 in the village center of Bad Ragaz and led the participants through the Bündner Herrschaft over the St. Luzisteig to the neighboring Principality of Liechtenstein. There, the first challenge awaited both man and machine: driving against the clock. The driver duo Ernst and Thomas Nigg were able to complete this challenge to absolute perfection in their 1973 Porsche 911 T and drove away with zero penalty points.
However, finding the limits of one's own vehicle was not the only experience along the way; crossing the border into Austria marked another point in the road book. The route led via Feldkirch to Dornbirn around the heart of the federal state of Vorarlberg, where the focus was on the excessive consumption of gently curving serpentines. Not a single meter of freeway was to spoil the fun; after all, the aim was to indulge in pleasure and escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life without feeling like you were on the run.
At the end of the first half of the day, a sumptuous lunch awaited the participants on the Losen Pass and the old iron was allowed to cool down a little. Of course, the time was also used to hold stimulating petrol talks and to share the experiences of the morning. Around a third of the participants were taking part in the Heidi-Classic for the first time and the road book probably raised a few questions.
Tricky special stages
The afternoon provided another highlight in the program, distance braking was the order of the day. On the grounds of the Driving Center in Sennwald, the participants had to estimate how many meters it would take for their classic car to come to a standstill from 50 km/h under emergency braking. And the tenor was a few, the brakes of all vehicles were better than expected. This resulted in penalty points, but for once they had a positive aftertaste.
Despite the fact that the 30-degree limit was exceeded in some places before midday, this posed no problem for the 45 classic cars and their pilots. Apart from a steaming radiator and a broken ignition key, no defects were reported and all vehicles were able to complete the rally without damage.
Celebration and festival
The dinner and prize-giving ceremony took place at one of the sources of every iron pig, the Gonzenbergwerk Sargans, where iron ore was still extracted from the mountain until 1966. There, the participants reminisced about the still fresh memories and ended the day on a high culinary note.
On Sunday, it was time to let it burn again: the airfield in Bad Ragaz was available to the participants for free driving. And some of them did not miss the opportunity to drive their classic cars outside the applicable speed limits.
The annual classic car festival in the center of Bad Ragaz, where the last honorary prize was awarded, was the furious finale. The visitors chose Christian and Flavia Thomi's 1925 Sunbeam 20/60 as the winner of the hearts, just before Peter opened his floodgates and provided a welcome cool-down.
The next Heidi Classic has already been decided and is expected to take place on the last weekend in June 2025. The final date as well as the program will be available on the Heidi-Classic website.
