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Results of rally ⌠Golden ring√2007■

Participants of the IVth international rally of classic cars ╚Golden Ring√2007╩ finished at the main entrance to the National Exhibition Center in the capital of the Russian Federation. ╚Golden Ring╩ was organized by Classic Cars Club headed by Boris Bazhenin, the first Russian participant and devoted fan of Mille Miglia. Oldtimer competitions are being held in our country for about five years.

Moscow, July 10. Participants of the IVth international rally of classic cars ╚Golden Ring√2007╩ finally finished at the main entrance to the National Exhibition Center in the capital of the Russian Federation. Oldtimer competitions are being held in our country for about five years. ╚Golden Ring╩ rally is a truly unique event for all automobile fans; it is an analogue to the legendary Mille Miglia race in Italia.

Only automobiles that were manufactured before 1977 can take part in the rally. ╚Golden Ring╩ was organized by Classic Cars Club headed by Boris Bazhenin, the first Russian participant and devoted fan of Mille Miglia.

Among the most notable participants of the last year rally were three rare and unique automobiles ≈ MG TC of Paul Skitt from Birmingham, MGA Sebring and fantastic Maserati Bora, which immediately became the star of the event and the icon for admirers of Italian racecars.

Thirty-five classic cars with crews from Russia, Italia, Great Britain, Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Israel, Australia, and Argentine (debut) went off at Vasilievsky Spusk in Moscow on July 7. As it was planned, during four days the participants of the rally traveled over 1,200 kilometers, passing through twenty cities and towns of the famous Golden Ring: Uglich, Rybinsk, Pereslavl-Zalesskiy, Suzdal, Rostov Velikiy, Kalyazin, Tutaev and others.

The Golden Ring is a ring of cities northeast of Moscow. The towns have been called ╚open air museums╩ and feature unique monuments of Russian architecture of the 12th√18th centuries, including kremlins, monasteries, cathedrals, and churches. These towns are among the most picturesque in Russia and prominently feature Russia▓s famous onion domes.

The important rally was supported by celebrated Italian brands ≈ Alfa Romeo, MA-FRA, Bordogna, Fuoriserie and Mille Miglia Museum. Alas, due to various circumstances, only twenty-one crew managed to reach the finish line.

Six new automobiles and crews took part in the competition this year: 1971 Alfa Romeo GT Junior (Luciano Viaro, the head of Mille Miglia Museum crew and the winner of Mille Miglia in 2005 and 2007), Jaguar E-type, Morgan (the one and the only car of the type in Russia today), two Corvettes ≈ Sting Ray and C2 Mini Cooper 1300. A rare and unique Lagonda LG 45, once the rival of Bentley and Aston Martin, and participant of numerous important rallies in the early XXth century, was in the spotlight as well.

The awarding ceremony took place at the former theatre of Count Sheremetev in the museum-manor ╚Ostankino╩. Italian crew on 1967 Fiat 124 Spider was the first among the rally▓s participants from abroad. Egor Ushakov and Anna Gribkova (1970 Opel GT) won the ╚National Prize╩. It was their second victory in the rally; also, the crew will take part in Mille Miglia.

The crew of Fiat 124 Spider, 1971 was the first in ╚The Best Family Crew╩ nomination. Among winners in other nominations were Fiat 124 Spider, 1971 (╚The Best Debut╩), Lancia Flaminia GT, 1964 (╚For the Will-to-Win Spirit╩) and Morgan 4x4, 1964 (╚The King of Elegance╩). Besides, the partners of the rally awarded the crew of Alfa Romeo Montreal (Anna Lepetukhina and Tatiana Vechirko) a matreshka in Alfa Romeo style decorated with Quadrifoglio (the famous symbol of the race crew). It was the first time the young ladies took part in such an important competition, but they demonstrated team spirit and will to win.