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8,500 bottles of champagne, 225 participants and the auction of a silver-grey Bugatti EB 110 Supersport from 1994 (expected revenue: 2.5 million). That must be the Zoute Grand Prix. Three participants tell about the most fashionable rally in their own country.
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‘The participants form one big family’
The classic car event of the year. That is how Koenraad Stockman describes the Zoute Grand Prix, in which more than two hundred cars participate. “I drive about ten rallies a year, but nothing compares to the rally in Knokke,” he says firmly. “This is by far the best organization. When it comes to events for vintage cars, this is the crème de la crème.’
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However, it is only the first time that the 44-year-old West Fleming is there as a pilot. “But the Grand Prix has been on my wish list for a long time,” says Stockman, who took part in the private corona edition last year and in the Generations Rally of the same organization last summer. Car enthusiasts take a family member in tow. ‘I rode along with my 14-year-old son. He is an avid equestrian enthusiast, although I try to stimulate the love for cars in that way.’
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As CEO of Engi Talents, Stockman manages more than 250 engineers – ENGI’s – who work in the industry on a temporary basis. He prefers to take a break from his busy work life in one of the cars from his Porsche collection. “Although, blowing out isn’t real. You should not underestimate participating in such a rally, because driving 250 kilometers in a day is quite intensive.’
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When it comes to events for vintage cars, the Zoute Grand Prix is the crème de la crème.
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“During a rally, you have to pay a lot of attention to your speed. Too slow is not good, too fast is completely out of the question. If you get held up somewhere, you have to make up a bit of time without exceeding the speed limit’, continues Stockman, who wants to dispel the misconception that all participants get a kick out of speed. ‘We’re really not speed demons. On the contrary, the organization punishes that.’
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For Stockman, the weekend is above all about fun and atmosphere. ‘We form a large family with the participants. We all come here with a common passion: the car. Everyone is very approachable and it is not a pompous hassle. You automatically start talking to new people and we often keep in touch. I have already made some close friendships from the rally.’
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‘It feels like traveling in your own country’
The hundreds of participants in the Zoute Grand Prix also include young people. 25-year-old Victor Mortreu participates with his childhood friend Henry Vindevogel (26), the son of the West Flemish serial entrepreneur Yvan Vindevogel. “Basically I was going to do the rally with my mother, just like Henry. But the moms are friends too, so we made the switch’, smiles Mortreu, a notorious car enthusiast who serves as a co-pilot for Vindevogel.
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From an early age, Mortreu has been present in Knokke during the second weekend of October. ‘I used to drive for a day, now I’m taking part in a Porsche 912 for the first time’, says the Gentenaar. ‘I am especially curious about the course, because the organization always makes it a gem. You have the feeling that you are traveling in your own country for a weekend. We sometimes organize small-scale rally with friends with a road book, but that is a lot less professional.’
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In addition to the exclusive old-timers, the sophisticated track and the cozy atmosphere, there is another aspect that plays a role: networking. Mortreu founded the start-up two years ago with his brother and some friends Just Russel from the ground. The company produces personalized dog and cat food and delivers it to your home. ‘As starting entrepreneurs it is an added value to get to know new people in a different setting. The rally is perfect for a casual chat about entrepreneurship.’
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The rally is perfect for a casual chat about entrepreneurship. A nice bonus for starters like us.
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‘You can compare the Grand Prix a bit with the dog world. Just like you can approach an owner to talk about the dog, you can also do the same with car and old-timer enthusiasts’, says Mortreu. ‘A lot of experienced entrepreneurs are in Knokke this weekend. They often go down for fun. It’s easy to talk to them. This way you can make contacts that will come in handy later. That’s a nice bonus for starters like us.’
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‘It’s a regular date with a good friend’
If there were a prize for the most loyal participant of the Knok rally, Stéphane Sertang has a good chance of winning it. The 52-year-old CEO of the Brabant car distributor Ginion Group has been present at the old-timer event since the first edition in 2010. “It’s a long-standing tradition,” he says. ‘I find it incredibly nice to share my passion for cars with other enthusiasts. The Grand Prix is the perfect place for that.’
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Sertang will be at the start this weekend with a 1957 BMW 507 Roadster. ‘An elegant convertible of which only 250 copies were made’, he says about the car, which was coveted by crowned heads and movie stars in the last century. The American singer Elvis Presley also owned one. In the past, Sertang already took part with a 1938 BMW 328 Roadster, another iconic model from the German carmaker’s range.
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‘What I like about the Zoute Rally is that during the rides I have time to catch up with my co-driver Alex, who has been a friend for many years. We have been participating together since the first edition, but in recent years we no longer attach importance to the classification. Our participation revolves around the good moments in the car. Because our lives are already so busy, we don’t need the competitive aspect.’
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Because our lives are already so busy, we don’t aim for the standings at the rally.
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For the car entrepreneur, the weekend is mainly about experience. ‘The organization always manages to come up with a number of nice surprises. We often pass places where you would otherwise never come with a vintage car, such as the Het Zwin nature reserve. That keeps the rally refreshing and interesting.’
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Sertang finds it unjustified that the event has a fashionable image. ‘The success of the Zoute Grand Prix lies in the fact that everyone is involved. I know of few events where passers-by on the dike and in the streets can just enjoy a total event. In addition, attention is paid to modern sports cars, art and lifestyle. Something for everyone, isn’t it?’
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