The first Ennstal Classic Rally was held in 1993 with the total of only 35 cars. During the last ten years the event has become an important event attracting many cars and stars. This year’s event, held on August 20-24th, featured 150 cars split in four groups: 1924 - 1934, 1935 - 1949, 1951 - 1960, and 1962 - 1972. The eldest car was the Rally Cycle Car from 1924. entered by Peter Finkemeier from Germany and the latest one was a 1972 Alfa Romeo Montreal entered by Antony Hugins from Austria. Most of the cars were from Austria or Germany, and attending celebrities were Sir Stirling Moss (and Lady Susie Moss), John Surtees, Derek Bell, Alexander Wurz and Rauno Aaltonen-- none of these guys needs an introduction…
The Stöderzinken
Thursday morning witnessed the start of the first special stage, the hill-climb of the Stöderzinken with a height of 2.048 meters and an average climbing-percentage of 9 ŕ 10%. At 11:00 in the morning the pass was closed for all traffic.. Many drivers realized what the specta-tors wanted to see. I saw the Daytona of Derek Bell (5-times winner of Le Mans) really winding through the corner it like it should! I’ll never forget the roaring of several cars coming uphill, just at the beginning of the first serious climb. Late in the afternoon, after all cars passed the finish, they came down the one after the other... There was no fee for the event that evening, but in Gröbming the spectators had to stay behind the fences once the first car started for the night prologue. At the start I saw all the Ferraris, Mercedes 300 SL’s, Lagonda’s, Alfa Romeo's, Jaguars, Porsches and all the other makes. It was a fantastic display in a most beautiful setting.
The night-prologue
At 18:00 sharp the night-prologue started and ended in Schladming at a Ferrari-club event in the Planai Olympic stadium. There were some Ferraris, but also music, dance and Austrian beer, not only in Schladming but in the whole area of "Dachstein". After these festivities, I was sure of a warm bed in a pension just outside Gröbming with the appropriate name "Edelweiss" --managed by a very charming lady by the name of Gabrielle- in a wonderful environment. Driving to the center next morning I had a great view on Gröbming and the surrounding moun-tains that almost took my breath away.
The "Tauernrunde"
Friday was a day of much exertion for the participants and the photographers, who had to find suitable spots in the mountains. "Steiermarken" and the "Tauern", are the "Rockies" of this part of Austria. This day’s tour was over 570 km long and I was invited to join some friends. We were expecting some nice weather but in the mountains of Austria you could expect really all kinds of weather from bright sunshine to heavy rain, fog, or snow. The first car started at 07:00 and we followed at approximately half-past nine but drove much faster then the average speed of 50 km/hour. We drove through beautiful reservations and picturesque villages on our way to the Nockalm, a nature reserve. After lunch we continued our way to the top and just on the other side of it we found our place to take some shots. Next to it we went on to St. Michael where we took some other photos and again tasted the atmosphere of this event.
Before the participants could check in they were besieged by autograph hunters, mostly kids from the village itself and myself-- Alexander Wurz, quietly sitting in his Mercedes signed autographs for me and all the other kids varying in age from eight to sixty. After we had seen enough, by that time it was in the end of the afternoon, we drove to the "Sölkpass Hohe", the final challenge this day, but when we arrived it was too dark and foggy for me to take any pic-tures. I last year only attended part of the scrutineering and the Stöderzinken, but now I was glad I decided to attend the Ennstal all the way to the end. One thing I’m sure of… the "Tauernrunde" was a very special experience to me.
Final day of the T-Mobile Ennstal Classic
Saturday the finals took place with the line up of the classic cars in the middle of Gröbming. All the important guests -the stars, like Moss, Surtees, Stewart, etc.- were walking between the two fences on the main road, were interviewed, or were asked to put an autograph on a photo, a cap or a shirt, or just were talking to other celebrities.
The demonstration of the classic race cars was also something special. There were many spectators, but only a few of them realized how unique it was to see the Ferrari 125 F1 in the center of Gröbming. This was the first Ferrari monoposto race car, which appeared in Turin at the Grand Prix of Italy in 1948 with a V60 12 cylinder 1,5 liter motor and a Roots compressor. In 1949 Ascari won the Grand Prix of Switzerland and Silverstone. After that the horse power was upgraded to 280 with a two-stage compressor and Ascari won at Monza. After some years, the car was displayed in the Donington Museum of Tom Wheatcroft. At this moment the car is with Egon Zweimüller, who drove it impressively at the demonstration in Gröbming.
After the demonstration of the classic racers, the finale of the Ennstal Classic began. All the cars were lined up in the main street, far back to the outside of the village, which was completely closed for all traffic that afternoon. After the start the cars turned right, between fences on both sides of the road that kept the spectators at a safe distance. There were some curves to be taken and I must say, many were drifting like they were on a race track. Applause could be heard above the sound of the engines.
The Ennstal Classic was won by Dr. Gerald Brandstetter und Mag. Christian Hochfelsner in a Jaguar E Serie III (#141), 2nd was Michael & Sebastian Haberl in a Porsche 356 C (#114) and 3rd was DI Rudolf Schraml & DI Heinz Schraml in a Ferrari 275 GTS s/n 7945 (#120). The well-organized T-Mobile Ennstal Classic had come to an end and for me it was the right time to leave just ahead of the crowd.
Photo Gallery: Ennstal Classic Rally
Click on images to view larger images.
The Ferrari 125 F1, renumbered with S/N 114 F1.
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1500cc,supercharged Ferrai, built for the 1945-1951 F1 regulations.
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Can he handle it? Alexander Wurz, McLaren test driver, here with a 190SL-R with 115hp.
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Aaltonen, Misty and Derek Bell talk strategy.
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D-46 Cisitalia, now owned by Winfried Kallinger.
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Derek Bell does justice with the Daytona, S/N 13415.
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Trying hard, Bromberger and Zeinler aboard the 508CMM Fiat.
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8C 2300 Alfa entered by G.& J. Stummeyer.
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Bruppacher and Bammatter with the 250GT SWB S/N 2419 GT.
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1929 6C 1750 Alfa, Nobert and Sylvia Wollner.
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S/N 2149GT was originally delivered to Oliver Gendebien, now owned by Rolf and Marietta Schneerberger.
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Lancia Flaminia Zagato, Anton and Andreas Pfaff.
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Maserati-Parsons, 1957, driven by Giorgio and Grazia Marchi.
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Two time winner of the Ennstal Classic, Rudolf SchramL with 275GTS S/N 7945.
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