【Event Reports】La Festa Primavera 2019 / The World of Classic Car Rallies Vol. 2

This is the fourth installment in the Sigaro event collaboration series, which supports active adults who enjoy both work and play to the fullest.
Following on from the last report, we bring you the second part of our coverage of the classic car rally "La Festa Primavera."

From the moment we started our coverage, our eyes were drawn to the beauty of the entry vehicles, but La Festa Primavera is a legitimate car race.
When you think of a race, you might simply imagine competing for speed, but in classic car rallies, which primarily take place on public roads, rankings are determined by driving more precisely in accordance with various rules.
To briefly explain the competition, there are two main types. One is the C.O. competition, where participants must pass designated checkpoints within a set time once a day. The other is the P.C. competition, where participants accurately drive a course created at venues (such as large parking lots or circuits) provided two to three times daily, according to a predetermined time. Since the distance and time for P.C. competitions vary at each location, coordination with the co-driver (passenger) who acts as the guide is essential.

Points are added or deducted as these competitions are cleared, and the final ranking is determined by the total score over four days.

Although driving a classic car may appear elegant, it seems that completing the four-day race with individual goals such as ranking high overall or just finishing is not easy. Due to the nature of classic cars, there are cases where participants are forced to retire midway, and the weather also plays a role. The ride comfort, too, must be incomparable to modern cars.

Accompanying them for the entire duration, even just keeping up in a regular car was quite challenging with little leeway. To complete the entire route of over 1,200 km in a classic car requires not only perfect maintenance but also the condition of oneself and the co-driver, and the mental space to enjoy the race itself.

At each day's finish line, while responding to cheers from the spectators, participants immediately attended to the maintenance of their beloved cars. Some only needed inspections, while others were seen performing extensive parts replacements. Everyone seemed to know the key points for maintaining their car's condition.

The beautifully sculpted steering wheels, the design around the meters, and the owners' attention to detail visible everywhere. The Sigaro reporting team was captivated by the unique cockpits and couldn't stop taking pictures.

Next time, we will bring you a report titled "The Beauty of Japan as Felt Through Classic Car Rallies."