The oldtimer calendar gives me three options for a visit. The Concours in Beesd quickly falls out for reasons that motivate me. The TABAC GP Classic in Assen and the Oldtimerdag in Burgum remain, and that is a difficult choice in the run-up to the weekend, which for me is full of hustle and bustle anyway. The weekend also starts in a vintage atmosphere, because Bart Spijker and I are going to Sietse Hansma in Boelenslaan to make a report with a gem of a Sixty-seven Mustang. And I want to use Sunday to further develop a beautiful report about a beauty from the country that is still deep inside me after a wonderful holiday: Italy.
The TABAC GP Classic beckons. and I would have definitely gone there if the Oldtimerdag Burgum had not been on the calendar for Saturday. It has to be said again: the TABAC GP Classic has become a phenomenon in a few years. I also feel the unrest that I will not be there. That event is gaining strength, and every year they bring legends to Assen. A wonderful interview with Emerson Fittipaldi is just there for the taking. Still, that does not tempt me. I will put this event in the agenda for next year, then I will go to Assen for a weekend. I promise myself that. But now, now I choose the pleasant knowledge that fifteen kilometers from my house there is also a beautiful event. And I decide: support your locals.
Now I decide to travel to Burgum, and given the experience of two years ago, the prospect is not only beautiful, but the expectation is also fulfilled. Literally around the center, space has been created for more than two hundred classics. And during the highlight of the day, they were all in their place. And that collection was absorbed by the wide range of catering establishments, a natural walking route, music, the existing shops and... a large number of visitors. Business is running smoothly, the organization has its affairs in order. Later I read that there should be more space for parking bicycles, but that is a learning point.
Of course: the excellent weather plays a major role in the success of the event, but the enthusiasm of the participants and (for me) the large number of acquaintances makes the Oldtimerdag Burgum a great success. Here you can find all sorts of things. I meet Christiaan, he bought back his Peugeot 205 GE (exactly, the car that was in the magazine a while ago). The basic version (as far as the five-door version is concerned) of the strong number dates from 1987 and attracts a lot of interest. And further on, Christiaan and I find another basic version of a five-door Frenchman. That is Nienke's Renault 5, the young owner has lost her heart to the brand. She managed to get hold of the Renault, traded in her Clio for it and also found another love for it. She is now at the event with her father, and she is super enthusiastic. And the appointment for a spring report (and that will be very nice and surprising) is made. Really, very nice.
We are too, because classics with basic equipment are becoming increasingly popular. In the past, such a car was mainly used functionally, with a slight brand preference of course. And that status means that many cars with a standard version were driven. Today, the entry-level models are becoming increasingly popular. There are more signs of that. Because the yellow Opel Kadett City from 1977 is also a genuine basic car, which stands out in the crowd just because of its condition and clarity. The Peugeot, the Renault and the Opel stand out the most to me, and that says a lot. The range in Burgum does not lie. Beautiful Americans, beautiful Europeans, a few great Celicas and a few Celestes (you don't see them every day) steal the show.
Nice: Lex Miedema's corner. He brought his Renault NN, his recently restored Heinkel Trojan 200 and the Fiat 500 L. We also see the necessary two-wheelers there, it runs back and forth at Miedema and his impressive collection. And that seamlessly transitions into a set with beautiful Opels and Fords. And so it goes on. It is cozy, I drink coffee with Christiaan. Later I do that with Ane Westra, who brought his Volvo 66 GL Combi. Very nice: an old Fiesta is used to be painted. Fun for young and old. It goes on like this all day long. The friendly Burgum is all about pure and accessible recognition. Wonderful to be among the classics and the acquaintances. That is what makes the passion for classics so beautiful for me.
It is not without reason that I enjoy it so much. Oldtimerdag Burgum is a really great event, that is neatly organized, and actually runs smoothly for an entire day. Of course: the circumstances are favorable. But when they are favorable, the power of an excellent organization comes to the fore. That is exactly what makes this event a success again. This is not about being seen and seen with a hat on your head, but about soberly arranging and facilitating classic happiness. About sacrificing yourself to organize and make a great day a success. Anyone who was in Burgum on September 14, 2024, cannot help but agree.
Maybe you made the right choice. I was at the CLASSIC GP again on Sat. and Sun., but I find the events increasingly commercialized and in terms of openness somewhat backwards. I did have some nice conversations, but it is getting less and less.
And nowadays Assen charges a tenner/day parking fee for every event (at least this weekend and Jacks Racing Day), which was never the case before (then parking was free on a large meadow).
By the way, it was astonishingly empty, every day…!
Maybe you made the right choice. I was there and so on at the CLASSIC GP, but I find the events increasingly commercialized and in terms of openness cycling backwards. I did have some nice conversations, but it is getting less and less.
And nowadays Assen charges a tenner/day parking fee for every event (at least this weekend and Jacks Racing Day), which was never the case before (then parking was free on a large meadow).
By the way, it was astonishingly empty, every day…!