About 120 cars built before the Second World War have set off from central Prague for a three-day race to commemorate a famous event staged 90 years ago.
The 1,000 Czechoslovak Miles race, inspired by Italy’s famous Mille Miglia competition, was held by the Czech Autoclub in 1933, 1934 and 1935, with the most famous of the three events being the second.
“Ninety years ago, all domestic car manufacturers had at least one car represented, and some competitors set record times that remained unsurpassed a year later,” the event’s organizers said.
“The absolute fastest at that time was racer Jindřich Knapp in a Walter Standard S car, who traveled the entire race at an average of almost 104 kilometers per hour.”
Speed is not of the essence, however, as the goal of the event is to maintain as steady a velocity as possible between Thursday’s starting point on Opletalova Street, where the original race began, and the Saturday finish line at the Czech capital’s National Technical Museum.
In keeping with the original, the route will take the drivers to the capital of Slovakia, Bratislava, then back to Prague over three stages. The vintage cars, which include Bentleys, Lagondas and Tatras, will be driven on regular roads in normal traffic. Following the race, the cars, all of which were manufactured prior to 1939 apart from some racing and sports models made before 1960, will be available to view as part of an exhibition.
“Ninety years ago, all domestic car manufacturers had at least one car represented, and some competitors set record times that remained unsurpassed a year later,” the event’s organizers said.
“The absolute fastest at that time was racer Jindřich Knapp in a Walter Standard S car, who traveled the entire race at an average of almost 104 kilometers per hour.”
Speed is not of the essence, however, as the goal of the event is to maintain as steady a velocity as possible between Thursday’s starting point on Opletalova Street, where the original race began, and the Saturday finish line at the Czech capital’s National Technical Museum.
In keeping with the original, the route will take the drivers to the capital of Slovakia, Bratislava, then back to Prague over three stages. The vintage cars, which include Bentleys, Lagondas and Tatras, will be driven on regular roads in normal traffic. Following the race, the cars, all of which were manufactured prior to 1939 apart from some racing and sports models made before 1960, will be available to view as part of an exhibition.
Source: dvcc.sk, 1000milceskoslovenskych.cz, expats.cz
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