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Issues of 2008
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Retro rally: reviving interest to old autos
— Stanislav, are there new participants of the rally in this season? — Of course, we are joined by new members. New cars have been added to the list of participants as well. For instance, now we possess the full series of Chevrolet Corvette (manufactured up to 1970). The regulations of the competitions have changed too. Now, automobiles produced before World War II will compete in a separate group. — What is the oldest automobile – participant of rally? — It is Ford-T manufactured in 1924. I drove it myself. And this year this automobile, probably, will be the oldest participant of the rally. During competitions in Southern Africa those “Ford” automobiles, manufactured in the beginning of the last century, normally ran 150–170 kilometers per day. Interestingly, a 1911 automobile took part in that rally as well. — Are there any new participants in the four-day stage of the international championship “Gold domes”? — We have slightly changed the route: this year we will move along the route Tula — Orel — Kursk. We have faced another problem: lack of accommodation places (hotels), as this year the rally team consists of 150 participants, plus technicians, judges, reporters, etc. — Do automobiles of important historical value take part in competitions? — Well, there are a number of exceptional automobiles in collections of participants of rallies. However, people try not to drive them frequently, as, in fact, those rate automobiles do not belong to a single person, garage or collection – they are the living history of the humanity. Though a Cadillac of Elvis Presley has taken part in the full competition stage running over two hundred kilometers in one day. Once, a ZIS automobile owned by Joseph Stalin and a ZIL car of Leonid Brezhnev has taken part in a one-day rally near Moscow. — What do you think, in your opinion, has the annual rally of classical automobiles become an integral part of cultural life of Moscow? — This year in Moscow, it is forbidden to hold any events at Vasilievsky Spusk — except for our rally. The city’s government city favors classical automobiles as we never violate traffic regulations. We are setting the pattern for road users: we always keep within speed limit, never drive through the red light, etc. Maximum speed of Ford-T, for example, is forty kilometers per hour. — Why have you changed the route? — We have rejected the idea of “trips along the Gold ring”. It is not interesting to always to drive along the same route! People in Tula, Kursk, and in Pskov (the route that we have planned for the next year: Pskov — Novgorod — St. Petersburg) are eager to see rare and unique old automobiles. — Do rallies of classic automobiles boost interest of people towards the history of our country, the so-called “technical history”, in particular? — Certainly, they do. Many young people — collectors and participants have joined or club during recent years. People started buying old automobiles; many owners of old cars do their best to repair and restore them. Thus, we have fulfilled our dream to revive interest towards technical culture. — What are the most popular collectible oldtimers nowadays? — Now, the majority of collectors are interested in English automobiles. I think that those cars deserve it. Among popular English cars are MG, Morgan and “the Americans”: Chevrolet Corvette, Ford. — What would you like to wish the participants of the classical rallies in 2007? — Please, do not suspect each other in unfair game. Everyone have an equal status! It is much more useful to study the regulations and the route and be careful. And of course I wish good health and good luck to all!
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