The contributors of the “Vilduja” historic automotive rally competed on the roads of Lithuania and Poland

The “Vilduja” historic automotive rally organized by the “Saugus Ratas” Public Enterprise began and completed along with the standard “Pasienios fiestas” celebration of Dzūki, which has existed for greater than twenty years.

This yr, lovers of historic vehicles competed for 2 days, throughout which they needed to overcome a record-long route of 300 km, which stretched alongside the picturesque border roads of the 2 neighboring international locations.

The victory was celebrated in Lazdijai

After beginning on the opening of the “Pasienios fiestas” competition and circling the roads of Seina, Punsk, Alytus and different areas, the racers rushed to the end line of the competition in Lazdijai, the place they distributed awards.

Identical to final yr, this yr’s rally of historic vehicles ended triumphantly with Ramūnas Žilionis and Linas Žvinakevičius, the winners of the overall standings and Youngtimer class of the rally, who obtained the loudest applause, driving the British-made thoroughbred MG B GT Sebring, amongst different awards, taking residence the primary prize – a brand new Goodyear ” tires.

The MG B GT Sebring pushed by the rally winners was specifically designed in 1967. For the very fashionable 12 Hours of Sebring in Nice Britain. for racing. This automotive was beloved by each Prince Charles (now King Charles III) and the singer Sting.

“After the “Vilduja” historic automotive rally and the victory gained in it was not simple, R. Žilionis mentioned after the end. – The brand new timing system proposed by the organizers grew to become fairly a problem, and even greater difficulties have been attributable to the rain that fell on the primary day, which made many roads slippery.

On the second day, we needed to overcome an actual problem when the electrical wires of the automotive have been on fireplace, however we managed to efficiently take care of the issue, and all the difficulty of two days was compensated by the hospitable dzuks, contributors of the “Pasienios fiesta”, who met us very kindly.

Donatas Urbanavičius with Evelina Žvinakevičiūta gained the second place within the Youngtimer (authentic automotive know-how produced earlier than 1990) class with a BMW 535i, beating the third place winners Donatas Devenis from Šiauliai with Darius Ambložiejs (Volkswagen Scirocco).

The duo from Šiauliai was happy with the third step of the winner’s podium in final yr’s rally as nicely.

Older, within the Oldtimer class, which incorporates vehicles as much as 1980. to save lots of or restore the manufacturing, whereas sustaining the genuine look and development, vehicles and bikes not used for each day journeys, which could be thought-about as technical or cultural heritage, gained Domantas and Gabrielė Kaminskas, driving the Volkswagen Karmann Ghia Coupe.

By the best way, Andrius Vaitekūnas and Paulius Beniušius debuted with this automotive on this yr’s Monte Carlo Rally.

Andrius additionally took half within the “Vilduja” historic automotive rally, however he raced solely on the primary day, and entrusted the second wheel to Domant and Gabriele, who loved the title of winners with Andrius.

Second on this class was Rolandas with Biruta Setkauskai (Volvo Amazon), and third place was gained by Raimundas and Rasa Juravičiai, driving an unique Cadillac Fleetwood.

Totally different pursuits, completely different priorities

It is not usually {that a} motorsport competitors can boast even two contributors within the Monte Carlo Rally.

When requested if this journey on the border roads of southern Lithuania and Poland will not be too simple in comparison with the unique Monaco, A. Vaitekūnas mentioned that there are loads of similarities, and every of those rallies is fascinating and distinctive in its personal manner, offering worthwhile expertise.

“Our crew, as in earlier such competitions, actually appreciated slaloms, precision driving and different occasions, however we felt a bit of weaker when fixing the questions of the introductory quiz,” mentioned Andrius. – Nonetheless, these are our issues, and this rally tremendously enriched our acquaintance with fascinating folks, and the great group of the occasion can be value noting.

We are able to solely be glad that “Sagus Ratas” doesn’t neglect the lovers of historic gear and continues the custom of such races. It might be even cooler if such previous automotive rallies have been held 3-4 instances a yr.”

Tadas Vitkevičius, an everyday participant of those rallies, the top of the corporate “Vilduja” that installs and takes care of the gasoline gear, who additionally competed within the Monte Carlo rally this yr, delivered to Lazdiju not solely the SAAB 96 V4, which obtained a baptism of fireplace within the serpentines of the Alps, but additionally a brand new navigator – Vējūnas Toleikis.

The duo got here second within the thrilling Vilduja slalom occasion and their pink, unique SAAB caught the attention of the group.

Nonetheless, lots of them have been wanting on the common, in all probability essentially the most appreciated ZAZ 965, with which Tad, along with Feliks Krivickij, participated in lots of related occasions.

And located. The tiny “humpback” adorned with state symbols didn’t keep within the storage, as a result of T. Vitkevičius entrusted it to Laimon and Dainora Malakauskas, who delighted the spectators within the levels assigned to them.

The “Vilduja” historic automotive rally grew to become the debut of a real off-road wolf Merkis Saukevičiis,

this time to the driving force’s seat, and gave technique to one other rally debutant, Mantas Bernickis.

Many have been shocked by their selection of the spectacular 1993. manufacturing Youngtimer class “Mercedes Benz SEL W140 V12”, whose wheels are turned by a twelve-cylinder gasoline engine.

And the debutants themselves have been a bit of scared by the spectacular “whale”, to place it mildly, not very appropriate, particularly for slalom occasions.

“Because it was our debut in historic automotive rallies, we didn’t pay a lot consideration to this issue,” mentioned M. Saukevičius. – To start with, it was vital to really feel the spirit of the occasion and the parts of victory in it, after which… In fact, our automotive was not appropriate for all occasions, however in quick slaloms, akin to in Veisiejai, we drove fairly nicely.”

By the best way, giving equal alternatives to all contributors of the rally, the organizers supplied to beat one slalom with one and the identical Toyota MR2 automotive.

Mr. Saukevičius, who doesn’t know motor sports activities by rumour, was shocked by the correct highway ebook, which he didn’t even anticipate finding in such competitions and which, he says, only a few reached perfection.

And a really pleasant, selfless environment, which you would need to search for in different competitions.

“After we, the debutantes, requested our colleagues or occasion organizers about any particulars, we obtained essentially the most detailed explanations,” recalled M. Saukevičius, who was significantly not solely within the sports activities, but additionally within the academic a part of the occasion. “This side, I’d say, is completely fitted to households and younger {couples} searching for solutions to quiz questions starting from the names of the lakes surrounding the picturesque Dzukland to the mysteries of prayer.”

An awesome burden rests solely in lots of palms

After presenting the awards to the winners and prize-winners, the organizer of the rally, the top of VšĮ “Saugus ratas” Valdas Juozas Vilūnas emphasised that a big burden can solely be lifted by a gaggle of like-minded folks with concentrated efforts.

“The contribution of every of them, beginning with the corporate “Vilduja” that installs and takes care of the gasoline gear, or the mayor of Lazdijai, Ausma Miškiniene, the museum curator of this area, Daiva Andriuskevičiene, or the farmer Juoz Pečiulius of the village of Kampauių, who met in Poland and rewarded the rally contributors with honey, and who constructed a monument to March 11 together with his personal funds , and others – weighty and vital, influencing the great environment of the occasion”, mentioned VJ Vilūnas.

The winners and prize-winners will probably be reminded of the rally accomplished on the border roads of the 2 republics not solely by the locations they gained or the unique prizes they gained, but additionally by the particular Liqui Molly oils, that are finest suited particularly for engines of historic automobiles.

Darius KIBIRKŠČIS’s pictures

Historic Automotive Rally Press Middle – Public Relations Company “Visus Bonus”