As in the good old days
The Michelstadt airfield in the heart of the Odenwald is not only associated with the take-off and landing of aircraft, but has also been reviving the tradition of airfield races since last year. Under the motto “Pista & Piloti”, the airfield high above the Odenwald town offered free entry again this year with more than 110 historic racing vehicles back in time. On the 1200 meter long circuit with five right and four left bends and track widths between six and fifteen meters, everyone set their own pace, there is no decrease in time. Unfortunately, Peter grumbled. The six starting groups were allowed only short breaks in the rain in the two fifteen-minute runs in the morning and afternoon. Caution was the top priority for all drivers.
The race will be hosted by Alfa Romeo and Abarth. To celebrate the 70th birthday of the brand with the Scorpion coat of arms, such rare specimens as the Abarth 1000 Bipisto Millino Spider or the Formula Abarth were launched. The starting groups were largely supplemented by Italian classics such as the Fiat 131 Abarth Rally, the Lancia Delta intergrale, the Fiat 508 Ballila Coppa d'Oro or the Lancia Stratos. But the visitors could also look forward to rarities from German, British and French brands. Alfa Romeo and Abarth support the "Pista & Piloti" with current models as lead vehicles such as the 510 hp Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio and Giulia Quadrifoglio, the Alfa Romeo Giulia B-Tech, the roadster special model Alfa Romeo 4c Spider Italia, the 180 hp Abarth esseesse and the Abarth Rally Tribute, a special model in honor of Abarth's great successes in rallying.
The rear-wheel drive Alfa Romeo Giulia has to fight on wet track
"This race we can get out of the pole position", Jan Hendrik Elsner is happy with his Alfa Romeo Giulia Super 1300 from the year 1977 and touches her almost tenderly on the aged, once by Alfa Romeo self-drawn sheet metal dress. The somewhat high and angular shape you can not see that she had a sensational cw value for a production car of 0,34 for those times. Now she positions herself early and as the first before the entrance to the circuit. Her very personal rival, an Alfa Romeo GTV 3.0 six-cylinder joins right behind her. It will stay that way, although the rear-wheel drive Giulia has more to contend with on the wet track than the front-wheel drive behind it. But rumors under the hood of Italian beauty thanks to a tuning of PS-Schulze, the Alfa Romeo specialists for engines and transmissions. Instead of the factory 88 PS proud 161 PS, mentioned Elsner grinning.
Even under umbrellas can be talk shop so wonderful
It roars deafening when the drivers chase up the engines before the start. Not only the smallest spectators shut their ears. Those who have their dog with them now reap pleading looks to go: It smokes and stinks, but most racing guests want to be as close as possible to the objects - often also dreams from early youth out. Tires smoking, babbling engines, enthusiasm wherever you look. And even under umbrellas can talk shop so hot with hot coffee and pizza. Many viewers have witnessed the "real" airfield races of the 60ziger and 70iger years still live. As in the past, here and now it's not about taking time off, award ceremony and award ceremony. It's just about driving pleasure like now, when the most elderly participant, a protos racing car from the year 1920, with the dull Geballere of a brute gasoline-air mixture on the track goes nostalgic seeming decorated with straw bales more than secured.
Text and photos: Solveig Grewe