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Paesi
Beforty 2024: by Marie Antoinette in an Alfa Romeo 8C
A pair of knights, a dinosaur, a cave woman, Louis le Grand and two Greek gods drinking Champagne in a car park among old cars: where could you find that? At the 2024 BeForty Rally, of course. Another participant in the themed party during the rally was Marie Antoinette, known to her friends as Helena Kolaszewski, who participated for the first time with her boyfriend. She tells us what a good time she had:
The BeForty Rally: a drive where the requirements are that you are under forty, with a pre-1940 car. It seems to be increasingly sought-after and increasingly exclusive. Last year, 2023, we were late signing up and, sadly, it was already full. When I read late last year that the next event would take place in the Champagne region, I was first out of the starting blocks to register. After all, there is nothing better than ‘the Sparkling Gold’ and that, combined with our 1934 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300, made it an unmissable experience.
We relatively quickly received word that we had been accepted. Towards the run-up, it seemed to be a habit, or an omen, that almost all the cars suffered some kind of breakdown just before the rally. Ours made a few protests, but a smooth drive followed from the fact that we did a test drive well in advance and were therefore able to find this out by trial and error.
Two weeks beforehand, we received the last message from the organisers, with instructions about the hotel and an invitation to a party on Saturday night, dress code: "From the Big Bang till 1940s." Well, goodness, that's a broad term! I made up my mind to look for an outfit from the 18th century. I wanted the biggest possible hoop dress, but I was a bit afraid of being overdressed... so then I went for the most elaborate wig conceivable, with a beautiful 18th-century dress to match. My friend, Robin, got a matching suit, including a wig. The anticipation for the party was as much to be savoured as the bash itself. That the hire of such outfits is so expensive, we had immediately forgotten.
The weather forecast leading up to the rally was not very good. We were well-prepared with extra outfits (in case we got completely wet), Mackintoshes and trousers, and so, fearing a downpour at any moment, we arrived in Champagne. On the way there, we stopped at my favourite Champagne house (I won't advertise) to pick up my (semi-)annual dose of Champagne (three boxes—quality of life is important). The weather was surprisingly good, the sun was shining and we were looking forward to the informal Friday rally which would kick off the event.
I quickly downloaded Tripmaster onto my 'phone, set it up, and we were ready to go. Navigating with a mobile 'phone, from the tight confines of an 8C, around a twisty route was not very easy. In truth, our position was a great luxury rather than a real problem, but the 8C revs so fast and loud that Robin couldn't hear a word I was saying over its roars, and he missed a turning after 100 metres. After shooting off in the wrong direction for several miles, we eventually recovered our bearings. The idea of this ride was to give us a taste of the scenery in Champagne. It took us on beautiful, picturesque roads, and while we were getting thrown about inside the cockpit, we enjoyed the scenery.
The difference between the various cars on the BeForty is very large. There were a lot of Bugattis that raced about vigorously, but also many cars which were not quite built for that sort of driving. There's nothing wrong with that of course; the old Peugeots and Citroëns happily bounced over the bumps on the old-world roads and seemed to be having a great time. Their passengers looked a lot more comfortable than we were in the Alfa!
Chapeau! to the people who drove a closed car. The emerged at the end of their drive looking far more respectable than the drowned rats, such as we were. You see, on Saturday morning, the weather took a turn for the worse. During the first pit-stop, near the Abbey where the monastic inventor of the méthode Champenoise, Dom Perignon, had taken up residence, we sipped a bottle of Champagne and, then it was suggested that the navigators should switch cars, but we declined. It was a pity in retrospect, as I could have taken a seat next to our mortal rival the rally, the pilot of a Vauxhall with a 4.4-litre four-cylinder engine. Anyway, Robin and I had become comfortably acclimatised to each other, and our respective rallying habits, by this stage. I am sure that if the challenge had been suggested a little later in the day, we would have swapped.
After the finish and the lunch we had there, there was still time to head back to the hotel to refresh ourselves and start the journey home. That was when the weather turned from bad to diabolical. A friend of ours had a breakdown on the way, but luckily his car was able to keep going, slowly but steadily, and with a queue of three open cars behind him in the soaking rain, we continued our drive quietly back to the hotel. The rally took us to some beautiful places including a château where the French Oldtimer Club welcomed us, plus the collections of some great enthusiasts, all while enjoying lots of Champagne and getting up to an appropriate amount of mischief.
Robin has supported many rallies over the past ten years as part of a service team in the Mille Miglia, among others, tand this year will be my fourth year accompanying him. This was the first time both of us were able to participate in a rally ourselves with a pre-war car. The experience has been very dear to us—we enjoyed it wonderfully. Très bien!
Pubblicato:
giovedì maggio 23rd, 2024
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Commenti
Theo De Leeuw
26 Maggio 2024, 10:10
What a wonderful event. Great to see vintage enthusiasts encouraging younger drivers to get involved with old cars, especially cars that were probably the norm in their grandparents day. Great photos and a great idea for a vintage driving event, what a blast.
Per saperne di più
Jeff Perkins
23 Maggio 2024, 05:06
Oh, to be 39 again…….well, I have been 39 for 30 years now. Wish I could have been there. Great Pictures!
Per saperne di più
Rogier Biekens
23 Maggio 2024, 10:02
Nice read and certainly the rally should continue. To keep promoting driving cultural heritage among the youth. And also nice to see the images.
And even more great to read that you have to be quick to register otherwise it will be full. We could never have hoped for that 13 years ago.
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Leuk om te lezen en zeker moet de rally blijven bestaan. Om rijdend culturele erfgoed bij de jeugd te blijven promoten. En ook leuk om de beelden te zien.
En nog geweldig om te lezen dat je er snel bij moet zijn met inschrijven dat anders vol is. Dan haden we 13 jaar geleden nooit kunnen hopen.
Per saperne di più
And even more great to read that you have to be quick to register otherwise it will be full. We could never have hoped for that 13 years ago.
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Leuk om te lezen en zeker moet de rally blijven bestaan. Om rijdend culturele erfgoed bij de jeugd te blijven promoten. En ook leuk om de beelden te zien.
En nog geweldig om te lezen dat je er snel bij moet zijn met inschrijven dat anders vol is. Dan haden we 13 jaar geleden nooit kunnen hopen.
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Étant moi-même un habitant de cette belle région, je ne peux que confirmer. En Champagne la vie est belle. En photo, le même château, il y a quelques jours !
Laurent Zoller