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Schloss Dyck Classic Days 2017

TEXT: MARIO LAGUNA / PHOTOS: UNAI ONA / PHOTO FEET: JAVIER ROMAGOSA

Last year we visited Dyck Castle Classic Days with The Escudería, so our readers you already know the generalities of this magnificent event. That will allow us to dive directly and without any prelude to the edition that has just been held from August 4 to 6, 2017.

Diving in I do not mean it figuratively but literally, because when we get to the many controls of the fortified palace it rained heavily. The temperature of 14 degrees was not reminiscent of the scorching sun of the Peninsula that we left when we embarked on our journey north.

So much so that planned car parks were flooded, cars skidded and long queues formed, while some of the traffic was diverted to makeshift parking areas a respectable distance from main entrances.

THE EURO DOES NOT PREVENT INFLATION

By the way, the price of parking has gone quickly from 1 euro that was paid only two or three years ago to 3 euros last year and the 5 euros that were necessary this August. The supposed barrier against inflation that was supposed to be one of the effects of the euro is highly questioned.

The price of the program remained at 10 euros thanks to the advertising pages, but the entrance it was paid at 34 euros on Saturday, with the possibility of purchasing tickets for Saturday and Sunday at 55 euros.

After this annoying chapter, but of necessary mention, we will add that despite the increase in prices, the pressure of attendees does not diminish, which only encourages the organizers to maintain the upward trend. Fans will continue to pay as long as we consider the reasonable quality / price ratio.

How do we guide ourselves to solve this quality / price equation? Mainly because of the quantity and quality of the cars that participate. But not only that, but also because of the care in its presentation, the setting of the stalls and the presence of other incentives such as the attendance of motor figures, the exhibitions of museums and private merchants, the layout of restaurants, as well as the shops for parts and merchandise related to travel and the automobile.

Being a luxurious setting, be prepared to find expensive restaurants and shops in the upper segment of their respective specialty. But where Schloss Dyck balances the scales is in the presence of a number of historic vehicles in impeccable condition of presentation; admiring such quantity and quality of different brands and models will make us forget, or at least justify, the budget necessary for the visit.

MUSEUMS AND PROFESSIONALS

Among the museums present we will highlight Autostadt, that groups the brands Volkswagen, Audi, Porsche, Lamborghini, SEAT and Skoda. A 1950 Volkswagen Beetle was much admired but had no color next to a Lamborghini LP 400 Countach from 1975 with a 12 hp V375 engine. Remember that LP does not refer to records longplay, but to the disposition of the engine in rear longitudinal position. It was being sold new for DEM 69.900; whoever bought a few at the time could now resell them now doing a great business.

Professionals abounded throughout the large exhibition spaces available. It would be difficult to choose the best presented, so we will highlight a specialist in the Mercedes-Benz SL line and an Alfa Romeo product dealer.

The first of them brought two very well chosen specimens: a 280SL from 1968 with 350 km since its total restoration - that is, practically new - with a price to discuss; and a 300 1986SL with 16.500 km since it left the factory, for sale for 119.890 euros. It is not necessary to remember that good merchandise of any kind is not cheap.

As for the Alfa Romeo interesting was the contrast between a large 2600 1966 Sprint coupe, of which only 1984 copies were made, and a current production 4C. They showed well the evolution of the brand according to the trends and tastes of the buyers. The 4C means that there is a very young and wealthy clientele; the buyer of a 4C must necessarily be young, otherwise they would not be able to get into the car, much less get out. I say this from experience, since installed at the wheel they almost had to take me out of four.

Renault, for its part, it gave the opportunity to observe the changes between its most successful sports car, the original Alpine, and the resurrection of the same, which has grown in size accordingly but has retained the general lines, such as the wraparound rear window or the pointed nose.

MONSTERS IN THE BASEMENT

In tales and legends, almost all palaces have monsters that hide in cellars and give good scares when they deign to appear in public.

Schloss Dyck He is no exception and from time to time he lets his monsters come out to breathe in the cool breeze of the surrounding forest. These can be due to its size or its exceptional attributes that can cause fear in those who observe it ...

The two things possess the FIAT Type S76, written like this on its factory identification plate (which reminds us not to write Fiat in lower case), and that it seems to us an eyesore with its 4-cylinder engine and 28,7 liters of displacement. This means that only one of its cylinders has more capacity than an entire American V8 and not one of the smallest. The 1911 car was used in speed record attempts.

In the category of monstrosities for its size, but no less admired for its mechanical qualities, we will bring to these pages for the first time trucks and tractors, which are well deserved for their historical interest. Among the trucks present we highlight one of the Südwerke brand and a 200 HP Deutz engine capable of pulling a tank with 20.000 liters of fuel.

The Hanomag brand of tractors is known in Spain because they were manufactured under that name by Barreiros, although possibly not as big as the German Robust 800. Translation is unnecessary.

Other cars like it, like this Bentley, seemed small compared to the Type S76.

ELEGANCE

The cars that flock to Dyck Castle Classic Days They do it in the secret hope of returning home with one of the many awards from the Contest of Elegance that, as we know, does not focus on a Best of Show but to reward the 8 categories that were present this year, plus the FIVA award and the choice of the respectable public.

Not being able for obvious reasons to detail each one of them (we would not need an article but an encyclopedia), we will limit ourselves to the queen of the occasion, which was that of Ferrari in tribute to the 70 years of the brand.

All models were represented, from the prestigious cars with a V12 engine in the front position (technically center-front), to the most dynamic of current production with V8 engines in which the driver is in front, instead of behind the engine solution that always seemed strange to its creator Enzo Ferrari.

The cars of the eighties they are beginning to be recognized in elegance contests. Thus, the class award 'Modern' It was awarded to a 288 Ferrari 1984 GTO. Let us remember that the price of this model already exceeds two and a half million euros.

There were not a few spectators who would have preferred the Ferrari 250GT Lusso or the Dino 246GT in its wide fender mode, which were the great forgotten by the jury.

Ferrari's traditional competitor has always been Porsche and the war of the circuits now moves to the contests of elegance, as reminded by the presence of a Porsche 911 2,7 RS, one of the most appreciated versions, with prices for the best specimens already situated at one million euros. One of them won the third prize in the class 'Seventies'.

CURIOSITIES

Autostadt moved with great means, transplanting in the palace garden even some vehicles used inside the museum to move visitors.

Heidi Hetzer, enjoying excellent health and strength at the age of eighty, he arrived at the palace driving his 8 Hudson 1930 with which he completed the world tour after traveling 181.855 kilometers. Heidi (yes, like in the cartoons), bought the car with the sole objective of going around the globe traveling through the five continents (now in schools they say there are six continents, I suppose that the Olympic committee will have to urgently change the flag).

Heidi does not speak Spanish and found the crossing of all of South America difficult for that reason. It took a little longer than Cantinflas and the 80-day record will have to wait. He arrived in Berlin 950 days after his departure (he has a website where he tells his adventures and joys that we do not stop recommending to our readers).

What do you think?

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Written by mario laguna

Mario Laguna, author of the book "The Pegaso Adventure", scholar and observer of the history of motor racing, brands and characters. Regular visitor to automobile competitions, whether of current or historical categories, international contests of elegance, lecturer ... Read more

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