“If it’s not original, then it’s not a classic car”

“Steyr is amazing”, enthused a participant of the Ennstal-Classic after the triumphal procession of the cars across the town square. A crowd cheered the drivers and especially many motorsport classics on four wheels. Matching the scenery, the weather yesterday afternoon was also sunny. That wasn’t always the case before: hail and heavy rain made life difficult for the drivers on the Nockalm Road, for example.

“I admire the drivers who keep going in their open cars”, Wolfgang Porsche paid tribute to his colleagues. He is an Ennstal Classic veteran and will be at the start for the 17th time.

With a smile and waving, one of several local heroes – the Steyr oral surgeon Cyrus Goldmann – with co-driver Gerald Gahleitner piloted his (open) Arnolt Bristol built in 1954 through the Neutor onto the town square. “I’m completely wet, but driving in here is indescribable.” This is also the view of the St. Ulrich innkeeper and motorsport enthusiast Christian Mayr, who is driving a BMW with his son Max. “We’re doing pretty well, around 50th place.” The mood in stage towns like Steyr or Schladming is sensational. “I’m more of a looker into the country, but there are real inventors who test and calibrate their vehicles with cold and warm tires.”

Ex-McLaren race director Jo Ramirez, who immediately apologized to Mayr after getting out of the car, showed how comradely things are in the field of participants because he had pinched a bit briskly in front of him on the track. The Ennstal Classic is less about speed and more about consistency. A lot of value is placed on originality, regardless of whether it’s a Ferrari, Bentley, Porsche or Mercedes. “If it’s not original, it’s not a classic car”said one participant. Cheers erupted on the town square as racing legend Hans-Joachim “Strietzel” Stuck rolled calmly onto the Steyr town square. Steyr was far from over for him and the field: via the Pyhrnpass and Niederöblarn it was back to Gröbming.