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TEXT: CARLOS SANZ / PHOTOS: WIDE PHOTO
Once upon a time there was a circuit ...
… Which Formula 1 and the most prestigious international competitions regularly visited. It was a time when fearless and brave pilots they filled with their exploits the most colorful and entertaining pages in the history of motorsport. A time when their cars were indomitable machines with which simply surviving was already a success.
That spirit is what the organizers, led by Jesús Pozo, have tried to recreate with the festival Spirit of Jarama in the current and renovated Madrid circuit. The question is, did they get it? Judge after reading this short chronicle.
Spirit of Jarama: A well-known formula
The idea of this event is not new, since it has been carried out with considerable success during the past 5 years in Barcelona with the Spirit of Montjuic, and in turn has taken over in Madrid from Jarama Vintage Festival. It consists of convening for a whole weekend numerous classic car racing and, in addition, to attract a greater number of people (car enthusiasts or not), offer various activities in the padock, such as: a small amusement park, shows by TV clowns, painting workshops for the kids, puppet shows, live music, ballroom dancing, etc.
There was also an area for automobile stores, miniatures, clothing, restoration and even a tent set up by Coupe (Paco Pueche) where there were some cars (rather jewelry) for sale. Specifically there was a Pegasus Z-102 Touring, turned into a spider by Serra at the request of its owner, a wonderful Hispano Suiza 16HP Tipo 30 Sport, a Delahaye 135 Sport, a Rolls Phantom II from 1931, a Ferrari Dino 308 GT4 and some others deli.
Seat showing off classics
It is mandatory to mention the interest shown by Seat in this contest, which moved from its historic car center (the famous ship 122), numerous units that are part of the history of the brand. Some 850 and derivatives to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the model, as well as several competition cars such as an Ibiza Kitcar, a Córdoba WRC, the current León Cup Racer, the 124 Gr. 4 with which Salvador Cañellas finished fourth in the Monte Carlo rally. from 1977, the Formula 1430 car from 1971, also from Cañellas ...
And some curiosities like one Siata Patricia convertible and the 600 convertible minivan designed by Frua and bodied by Savio to walk the celebrities around the factory, with which he participated in the elegance contest.
'Art in motion', the elegance contest
This is how they called the elegance contest convened, and it was not for less, because in the area enabled for it, it was possible to contemplate specimens of the highest level among which an overwhelmingly outstanding 917 Porsche 1970K, the prototype sport that all racing car fans have dreamed of.
It sported its most representative livery, that of the Gulf team with its sky blue and orange colors, the same as the cars featured in Steve McQueen's Le Mans movie. Specifically, this unit participated, among other tests, in the 8 Barcelona 1971 Hours with Derek Bell and Van Lennep at the wheel. He was accompanied by another singular Porsche, a 904 Carrera GTS that the pilot acquired Juan Fernandez in 1964, with a wide sporting life throughout our geography.
The pegasists They were in luck, because in addition to the aforementioned specimen, another Z-102 was competing, a unit with a riveted aluminum body, a recreation of the mythical Rabassada with which Celso Fernández won the test of the same name. He was accompanied by his "little brother", a small Biscuter 200F Pegasin that showed the same decoration.
Along with them a precious Porsche 356 Speedster black and a superb Bugatti Type 57 Atalante from 1936 converted to a convertible in 1952.
In addition, as a claim, there was a white tent that gave shade to some illustrious cars: A Lotus 49B, the Lotus 79 with which Mario Andretti was world champion in 1978, another Nigel Mansell Lotus 81B and a 10 McLaren M5000A Formula 1969 .
Show on the track, the true Spirit of Jarama
But the highlight of the weekend, which was mainly attended by the majority of the 22.000 fans -according to organization-, was to see the formula 1 and the Sport cars once again traveling the demanding Madrid track.
It must be recognized that the grills of both specialties were not as large as expected, especially that of Formula 1 with only 8 cars on the track, but they gave a show. Cars as charismatic as the 91 Lotus 5/1982 of Elio de Angelis (winner of the two races with Gregory Thornton at the wheel), the Hesketh 308 of James Hunt from '74, Keke Rosberg's Williams FW08C from 1983, or Vittorio Brambilla's March 761 from 1976 among others.
Among the participants of the FIA Master Historic Sports Car we could see two beautiful Ford GT40, some Lola T70, several Chevron trays, Cooper ...
Passenger cars They also gave a good show divided into two competitions, the Spanish Classics Cup and the Iberian Legends Trophy. Spectacular models such as BMW 2002, BMW M3, Ford Escort Mk1 and Mk2, Ford Sierra Cosworth, Mercedes 190 DTM, De Tomaso Pantera and a long etcetera ran in these races.
To further enliven the show and have the public entertained with races and more races, a test of the CER (Spanish Endurance Championship) and another of the Spanish F4 Single-seater Championship were also convened, but in both cases the competitors were modern vehicles lose interest for those of us who like old cars.
Does the event capture the essence of Jarama?
In answer to the question that I posed at the beginning, if it has really been possible to bring the authentic spirit of yesteryear to Jarama, my opinion is that it was. You have to be positive. It is true that there are clearly room for improvement; that some trials failed to cite many participants; that for those who had previously been in the Spirit of Montjuic it seemed more of the same.
It may be a somewhat worn recipe, but we must recognize that it is not easy to innovate and organize an event like this in our beloved Spain and that, despite everything, it has been the best that has been seen within our borders in 2016 (except for the Jarama Classic by Peter Auto). This is a country in which, unfortunately, we have a long way to go when we talk about our fans.
