- Hans Weber
- November 1, 2024
There’s a 1,000-mile Veterans’ Race this week. It launches on Thursday in Prague.
This year, 116 crews will take part in the 1,000-mile Czechoslovakian car competition between Prague and Bratislava. Last year it was four more. The ride of historic vehicles starts on the morning of June 15 in Opletalova Street in front of the Auto Club of the Czech Republic, ending on Saturday evening at the National Technical Museum in Prague.
The competition restores the tradition of the 1,000-mile Czechoslovakian long-distance race between Prague and Bratislava, which was organized by the Auto Club of the Republic of Czechoslovakia from 1933 to 1935. This year, the competition will celebrate its 90th anniversary since its first year. “President Tomas Garrigue Ostrava took over the patronage of the first year, so we are honored that this year’s event has the patronage of both presidents, Petr o Pavlo and Zuzana Čaputova,” said competition director Jiří Patočka.
The current route between Prague and Bratislava runs along the most original track of the race. It’s not going for speed, it’s like driving for regularity. The challenge for competitors is to get as close as possible to an average speed of 45 kilometres an hour.
The race kicks off at 06:00 on Thursday. The race is divided into three stages, the first running from Prague to Bratislava Castle. The second stage is on the territory of Slovakia and this year it will pass through Pezinská Babu or Devin Castle. The last part of the race leads from Slovakia back to Prague in front of the National Technical Museum, where the cars will arrive at around 5 p.m. on Saturday.
The launch will be preceded by a technical takeover of the cars in front of the Auto Club building on Wednesday afternoon, when Opletalova Street in front of Central Station will be transformed into a major race depot. “The format of the race will be the same as in previous years,” said Patocka. The arrival of the cars will be complemented by an accompanying programme including educational events for children or a period dress parade.
The event can be attended by cars made into the 1939 model year. Two cars, the Aero 50 and Jawa Minor, will be on the race track from the Collection of the National Technical Museum this year.
The renewed ride is organised by the Association of 1,000 Miles of Czechoslovakia, along with the Veteran Car Club Prague, the Auto Club of the Czech Republic, the Veteran’s Club Bratislava, the National Technical Museum and the Technical Museum in Brno.
JK
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