| Quite why there is a return of vintage car events | | | | event that sees a group of cars racing across Europe |
| may be manifold, but there is no doubt the general | | | | all the way from Plymouth in England to Banjul, the |
| public is being energized by the reappearance of | | | | capital. This is an unusual event that started several |
| some older events and the creation of new ones. | | | | years ago and requires the drivers to leave their cars |
| The owners and drivers of historic vehicles come in | | | | behind in Banjul after the rally to benefit the local |
| two flavours. This who like to keep their vehicles in | | | | community. |
| showroom condition, spend hours cleaning and | | | | Another fairly low key event is the Volta a Madeira, |
| polishing their treasured cars and never take them | | | | a motoring festival held on the Portuguese island of |
| out on the open road. The other extreme is the | | | | Madeira for the 22nd time this year. Some of the |
| owner/driver who hardly ever cleans his car, in fact | | | | vehicles taking part on the most recent version of |
| they may just do the bare minimum to keep them | | | | this event included cars from Ferrari, Mercedes, |
| running. These people seem to be more interested in | | | | Triumph, MG, Lancia and BMW. The Volta takes the |
| driving rather than owning and seek every | | | | competitors over the beautiful mountainous roads of |
| opportunity to get their motors on the road, either in | | | | the island during the four day event. |
| point-to-point challenges or even track racing where | | | | The island of Mallorca also has its own classic car rally, |
| possible. Another thriving branch of historic | | | | known as the Rally Clasico Isla Mallorca, which |
| motorsport is the hill climb discipline, where stripped | | | | challenges driver on routes all over the island in spring |
| down racers climb a closed section of hilly terrain as | | | | time. This is a very popular event and over forty |
| fast as possible. | | | | cars have already entered for the 2010 event, the |
| The section of sport we are concerning ourselves | | | | sixth running of the event. The oldest car competing |
| with here covers location to location car rallies or | | | | so far is a 1954 Jaguar XK 140 which will join the |
| historic competitions on motor racing circuits. These | | | | others on various stages around this beautiful island. |
| are the events that are attracting the public attention | | | | The most spectacular of the 14 stages for |
| and now make up a significant part of the motor | | | | spectators are bound to be those that take the cars |
| sport calendar in different countries. One of the | | | | into the Tramuntana mountains, to the north of |
| biggest is the Goodwood Revival Festival in the UK | | | | Palma. One stage runs between the northern town |
| which attracts cars, owners and visitors from all over | | | | of Pollensa and Lluc, the location of one of Mallorca's |
| the world. There are real races that see very | | | | most famous old monasteries. |
| expensive cars put through their paces on the track, | | | | Another similar event is the Historic Commercial |
| which has been lovingly restored to reflect the | | | | Vehicle Rally that was held on the island of Malta in |
| bygone era when the cars originally raced. Visitors | | | | March this year. Organised by the Malta Historic |
| are invited to dress up in period costume and the | | | | Vehicle Trust at the Ta Qali location, the event |
| whole weekend is a special event. | | | | expects to grow into the largest motoring event on |
| A similar event on a smaller scale is the brand new | | | | Malta. Amazingly on the first running of the Rally, |
| Algarve Historic Festival, which tales place for the | | | | almost 120 vehicles were on display including old fire |
| first time this year at the Algarve's newest motor | | | | engines, trucks, vans and military vehicles. |
| circuit, near to Portimao. Just like the Goodwood | | | | Finally, France has a huge heritage in classic cars and |
| festival there will be competitive races for cars in | | | | has two similar events at two of its legendary |
| different categories. In fact there are 16 different | | | | venues. The Magny-Cours track hosts the Masters |
| races in addition to plenty of exhibition areas for cars | | | | Historic Festival every two years in July, while other |
| not racing. Motor racing legend Sir Sterling Moss has | | | | years see the Le Mans Classic festival taking place. |
| accepted an invitation to race his own car, a 1956 | | | | Both events include competitive races for pre-1974 |
| Osca, in the year he celebrates his 80th birthday. Sir | | | | and pre-1966 race cars. Another French Classic Car |
| Sterling is well known for not owning a normal car | | | | event is the November Sun Run, which start in the |
| himself, preferring to travel around on public transport | | | | Champagne region of France on November 4th 2009 |
| or on his scooter. Also planned is a charity parade | | | | and sees the cars driving 1400 kilometers towards |
| celebrating 50 years of the Mini as well as parade laps | | | | the south of France, finishing on November 7th by |
| for Ferrari, Maserati and Osca cars. | | | | racing up the famous alpine climb of Alp D'Huez. |
| Gambia is the final destination for a historic motoring | | | | |