35th Nurburgring Oldtimer Grand Prix

Story and Photos by Alessandro Gerelli

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I have been at the Oldtimer for many years and have noted that today there are more trucks and fewer trailers, more professionals and fewer amateurs. But the atmosphere is still the same, and if you love cars, you cannot miss this yearly appointment, which in my opinion is the biggest in the world. This year there were 625 racing cars entered in three days and in 14 different classes. In addition to this, the ‘Ring is swamped with all the owners club meetings (Ferrari, Lamborghini, Alfa Romeo, Porsche, etc.) and flea markets. This year also marked the 50th anniversary of Manuel Fangio’s victory with the Maserati 250F and a celebration of the racing activities of Opel.

The 35th meeting at the Nurburgring race track began with a very heavy fog that stopped any racing activity (tests and races) for Friday and the early morning of Saturday. Fortunately, the organizers were able to review the time table in order to try to satisfy as much as possible the huge number of competitors in the different classes, coming from all over Europe with their wonderful cars. As usual, the pleasure is for everybody: the people coming from everywhere to enjoy the view, the noise, and the smell of such particular cars. Car owners come here just to enjoy to drive for few minutes on this historical track.

After the fog has disappeared, the two remaining racing days were perfect: a very tight agenda, now and then with the presence of a pace car to facilitate the understanding between pilots and track, and a lot of enthusiasm also on the podium where champagne was sparkling and faces were radiant.

Next year ? Of course I will be there. See you in 2008 or better “Auf wiedersehen !!!”

An extraordinary garage with a Ferrari 196, the Cupellini's Dino and the Maier's Maserati 300S.

Iso Grifo 5300.

Bizzarrini 5300 GT strada.

This fantastic Ferrari 196 SP looks very "original" in the sense that has a lot of small cracks in the body painting, the interior is rather poor, etc. That's how, in my opinion, the old cars should be, without any over-restoration and that's why I love it.

Cockpit of the Ferrari 196 looks as if it hasn't been touched.

A metallic green Ferrari Testa Rossa.

Maserati 150S.

Serenissima Formula car. Based on a McLaren chassis, this is one of the two built Serenissima Formula One cars of 1967.

Close up of the Serenissima. The head of the 8 cylinder engine with the name Serenissima cast on it: the engine had more than 300 bhp.

4 cylinder Abarth engine on this Osella PA1 of 1973.

Alfa Romeo Tipo B of Tony Smith in pole position in the race for sport cars before 1940.

A spin might happen even for a Chevron during the World Sportscar Event.

Traditional Le Mans start is a rare sight today.

As usual few De Tomaso Pantera were racing.

Paul Knapfield's Ferrari 712 is always an attraction when racing against the Lola T70 and the Porsche 917--very often he wins.

Charles Pozzi's Ferrari 365 GTB4 Daytona of 1973 was the only one present at the Nurburgring.