The 2nd Iberian Meeting of Classic Cars was truly an ode to the car and the passion that is to drive older cars. With no accidents on the way, no stalled engines, no punctures and no mechanical problems, the oldest vehicles at the meeting lived up to it.
Only the heat, the good mood, the desire to travel, to know more, to taste good food and learn about history, to photograph landscapes and discuss the best and worst of the engines present, were part of this second edition, very marked by great success of interested public in the different places where the caravan was based.
With great visibility and animation right from the highest city, the vehicles were, still on Friday, 4th of September, in the Urban Park of Rio Diz (Polis) in Guarda, following to the blue carpet, where they paraded, in full Praça Luís de Camões, before parking in the city center and visiting the Museum of Guarda.
On Saturday, the first stage led the caravan to Gouveia, where fans were surprised with the interesting stories and facts from the collection of the Museu da Miniatura Automóvel, through a detailed presentation by collector Fernando Taborda. The Serra do Caramulo was one of the key locations on this tour.
As part of the Motor Festival, in addition to a visit to the Caramulo Museum, where some of the country's great examples of classic and historic vehicles are exhibited, and a tour of the event, the participants did not hide their enthusiasm for climbing the Rampa do Caramulo. of the “classics” of the National Mountain Championship.
Luís Celínio, president of Clube Escape LivreThis initiative publicizes the three automobile-related museums in the border area and demonstrates the added value of the partnership between the municipalities of Guarda, Gouveia and Nelas.
The Spanish border area and its historic charms were Sunday's destination. The Fuerte de la Concepción, a 19th century military fort. XVII transformed into a hotel, it welcomed the caravan at the closing lunch and delivery of souvenirs, and the visit to the rock carvings of Siega Verde ended this extraordinary program.
Luís Tadeu, mayor of Gouveia, and Carlos Monteiro and Alexandre Borges, respectively deputy mayors of Guarda and Nelas, and Vítor Amaral, councilor of Tourism for the municipality of Guarda, were present throughout the weekend and confirmed the completion of the test in 2016.
The Iberian Meeting of Classic Cars is organized by Clube Escape in partnership with the Museum of Historia de la Automoción de Salamanca, the Miniature Automobile Museum of Gouveia and the Museu do Caramulo, and has the institutional support of the Tourism of Central Portugal, municipalities of Guarda, Nelas and Gouveia, and Ayuntamientos de Ciudad Rodrigo and Salamanca.
It also has the support of Caldas da Felgueira, Paço dos Cunhas de Santar, Quinta de Cabriz and Casa de Santar wines, and support for the dissemination of Classic Motor, Beira.pt and News Motorsports.