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Classic Adelaide 18 – 22 November
2009
(This article appeared in Porsche Parade -
Summer 2009/10)
The Official magazine of the
Porsche Club of Victoria
“This started as a Porsche rally, you
know. Then all these others buggers muscled in on us”, grumbled one of the
Porsche drivers at the beginning of the fourth day of competition.
Porsche, however, still dominated in a large and varied field in this
year’s Classic Adelaide.
The 2009 Classic Adelaide ran for the
thirteenth time from the 18th to 22nd of November.
The four day event covers about 1,000 kilometres within a 100 kilometre
radius of the centre of the fine city of Adelaide. Two hundred and fifty
of those kilometres are on approximately 32 closed stages with “no holds
barred” driving linked by transport stages on roads where all road rules
had to be observed. Cars are sent off at thirty second intervals so it is
not unusual to have three or four fast cars thundering past nose to tail.
This year competitors came from all states and territories as well as
seven overseas countries.
Vehicle entries are divided into a
number of categories according to vehicle age, engine capacity and
modifications. These categories are Historic for vehicles manufactured
from 1900 to 1946, Classic – 1947 to 1971, Late Classic – 1972 to 1990,
and Modern for a limited number of modern and selected cars. A Regularity
was also run.
Entries ranged from fine historic
1930s era Chrysler Delage and Alvis cars driven as they are meant to be
(fast and furious) through mid-era Minis, BMWs, Alphas and Triumphs to
superb and shiny new Evos, Mercedes and Ferraris. Some of the drivers
fanged their cars around the course with obvious enjoyment. Others seemed
to be driven by Nanas. As one careful driver drifted gently past us a
disgusted spectator was heard to mutter “I drive my kids faster to school
than that”. The Porsches were all driven in the former category!
Crews were subdued after the tragic
deaths of Porsche 911 team Gary Tierney and David Carra on Day One. On our
trip over to Adelaide on Friday we saw a number of cars returning to
Victoria. Most, however, were determined to stay and drive in memory of
the two popular competitors.
A minute’s silence was observed at the
beginning of Friday’s competition for Gary Tierney and David Carra.
Additionally, all cars had a strip of black tape on the left headlight.
Most of the cars retained their strips throughout the race.
However, if you only want the dry
bones of daily times, maps, other people’s photos and The Official Line
check out the Classic Adelaide website at:
www.classicadelaide.com.au
All other photos and video taken
here:
Adelaide is widely known as the City
of Churches. Be that as it may, it really should be the City of
Contradictions. Granted there are churches on almost every corner but
Adelaide also has a plethora of other public open spaces – gardens,
sculpture parks, children’s playgrounds. Despite the drought nature strips
are largely green, private gardens flourishing and there is lush growth in
the Hills and Southern Vales. Flowering jacaranda trees are abundant,
sprinkling the ground beneath with a carpet of purple blossom.
Thirty five years ago when I first
moved to Adelaide it was like a big country town. Nothing seems to have
changed. Peak hour traffic which the locals moan about is rather like
Melbourne early on Sunday morning. But not as busy. There is now a unique
motorway heading south towards God’s wine country at MacLaren Vale and on
to the seaside at Victor Harbour. Unique? Yes indeed. For half of each day
you can drive south. After, it then becomes a one-way freeway heading back
to the City.
There is a confusing nest of one-way
streets in the City which were exacerbated by the Classic road closures.
Despite, or because of, our Victorian plates local road users were very
tolerant of our sudden stops, abrupt turns and (gulp) occasional wrong-way
forays down aforementioned one-way streets.
Modern buildings sidle up to some of
the city’s earliest shops and residences. Lots of the earlier homes are
built of limestone with brick quoining. The older buildings are well
maintained and being used. Some time back, part of the historic Adelaide
Market burnt down and was replaced by an ugly supermarket building with no
concessions to sympathetic historic reconstruction (perhaps the city
fathers are just marking time?).
We stayed in a recently renovated
1860s hotel (The
Hotel Metropolitan) across from the Hilton. Rooms with 15 feet
ceilings, French doors out on to the iron-laced wide veranda, bathroom
down the hall… The hotel has a liquor licence until 5 a.m., however, the
owner told us he didn’t think people should be encouraged to stay out
drinking so late, so closes at 2.30! The hotel is the sponsor of Porsche
entry #XX from Darwin, a couple of cheerful lads who thoroughly enjoyed
the competition.
Vale - November 2009
Gary Tierney and David Carra |
