Ivan Vicario Martin
La Fallera Round of Cars of L'antigor-Trophy of SM El Rey, better known as Fallas Rally, celebrated its 52nd edition this past weekend. Organized by the Antique Automobile Club of Valencia, had the participation of thirty classics that made the audience enjoy the colorful caravan.
the cars were exposed from 10:00 a.m. in Shed number 2 of the Valencia Marina, where the Valencians and tourists who were already in the capital of Turia could enjoy them. Shortly after, at 11:30 a.m., the start ceremony of the Rally began to give the start to the different drivers from different corners of Spain.
The banner was given, as is typical, by the Major Falleras of Valencia, in this case Laura Mengó and Paula Nieto, accompanied by their Courts of Honor. the classics departed willing to travel the 80 kilometers to Gandía, the base of operations of the Round. The exit from the Valencian capital was carried out by the Avenida de Baleares and the Gran Vía Marqués del Turia, to then head towards El Palmar.
PARTICIPANTS
The Fallas Rally 2023 has counted, one more year, with a large participation, especially notable if we think about the age of most of the cars that take part in the test. This year, six Ford vehicles (1929, 1929, 1929, 1930, 1930 and 1954), three Bentleys (1936, 1936 and 1953), two Chevrolets (1934 and 1964), a Cadillac La Salle (1939), six Mercedes-Benz (1935, 1935, 1936, 1964, 1965 and 1970), a Buick (1930), a Jaguar (1978) or three Rolls-Royce (1936, 1937 and 1938).
The list of participants was completed by a 1938 Citroën, a 1948 Delahaye, a 1967 Fiat, a 1929 Packard and a Morgan of 1934. As we see, most of the participants are prewar, which does not fail to add a special interest to the test.
After arriving in Gandía on Friday the 10th, it gave way to an intense Saturday. In the morning, two timed stages were held. The first ran from Gandía to Simat de Valldigna, including a 30-minute refreshment stop. Later, the classics continued the route in the direction of Xàtiva, where the participants were received by its mayor Roger Cerdà and the councilor for Fallas, María Beltrán. Next, the classics were exposed on Selgas Avenue. Before eating, she shot herself a mascletá, how could it be otherwise.
END OF PARTY
The gala dinner took place at the Hotel RH Bayren in Gandía, where The awards ceremony was also held. It should be remembered that the Valencia Antique Automobile Club is the only one in Spain that has been awarded the award for this type of Rally. the valencian Sebastián Vernetta Giner, at the wheel of a Rolls-Royce registered in 1936, was the winner of the SM El Rey Trophy. The second position was reached by Víctor Gutiérrez with his 1936 Bentley, followed by Félix León with his 1930 Ford A, Andrés Agustí with another 1929 Ford A and Manuel José Jordán, again in a 1929 Ford A.
In addition, during the day of Sunday, March 12, and as a finishing touch to this 52nd edition of the Fallas Rally, the classics made a tour of the Gandía beach towards the Borja Wharf. In this emblematic space, they were exposed from 11 in the morning.
Augusto Lezcano, president of the Valencia Antique Automobile Club, wanted to thank all the collaborating institutions and those sponsored for their support. Without his help, it would be impossible to continue holding the test.
