I believe most will agree that thus far, 2020 has hardly been the most delightful of years – both in general and most certainly in terms of our beloved classic car scene. This COVID-19 pandemic has proven a real show-stopper. Literally. Because practically every planned classic car event, meet or show this year has been cancelled – that is, up until now. So it is with genuine and great joy that I can now report on an exception as last Friday’s National Drive-it Day in Denmark went ahead as planned. Perhaps there is light at the end of the tunnel?
The British should be given due credit for celebrating Drive-it Day as it was the Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs who first launched the concept back in 2005. It’s proven an annual way of ensuring that we all get out there and enjoy our classic cars as they were intended to be, and thereby create positive awareness for our hobby and not least the entire industry which supports it. Drive-it Day quickly became such a success that the Danes unashamedly copied the concept in 2009 since when it’s become an integral part of our National Constitution Day. And thankfully, we didn’t have to cancel our 2020 drive!
Truth be told, I’m perhaps exaggerating a tad when I say that it went ahead as planned. At first it looked as if another cancellation was inevitable, but with a little tweaking here and there, they managed to pull it off. Various routes had been planned in different parts of Denmark, but what they all had in common was meeting points from where we would all set off on the routes and not least built in break areas for a coffee and a chat. With the current situation not allowing groups of more than ten people, this was clearly not viable. So instead it was decided that while the routes would remain unchanged, anyone participating should simply join the route at the point closest to their home address at 10am. This would obviously spread everyone out along the route and a larger assembly of people in any one place would thereby be avoided. I also heard suggestions that even number plates could drive the route in one direction while odds would drive the other way around, but I’m not entirely sure this was actually practiced by many.
So Friday morning I met up with two good old mates – Steen with his ’68 Simca 1200S Coupé and Peter with his ’71 Datsun 240Z. After oohhhing and aahhhing over these two stunning machines we set off together with me riding shotgun in the Simca as we found our way onto the route for southern Zealand. The straight-6 of the Datsun burbled purposefully in front of us while the nimble little Simca emitted a lovely rasp from the free-revving, rear-mounted 4-cylinder. What a pair…
If I’m to be totally honest, I had hoped to see more classics out on the route. Maybe it hadn’t been communicated well enough that the drive was go? Or maybe the wet weather forecast had dampened spirits? Either way, except for one very short shower just as we set off, we had clear blue skies all day long and just thoroughly enjoyed being back out in our beloved classics again. And we weren’t entirely alone either as we did come across several classics heading the other way, and saw even more when we stopped to stretch our legs at a fuel station in a small sleepy village.
Generously, Steen threw me his Simca keys so I could make myself comfortable behind the wooden steering wheel. While the stylish Bertone body is small, there’s still a surprising sense of space in the cabin – even with my 6’2” frame. The steering is light yet responsive while the weight over the rear wheels and ample amounts of negative camber ensure there’s a huge reserve of traction. It’s not at all unlike the driving experience of a longhood 911 or Alpine A110 – just with a little less power as the 1.2-litre engine pushes out around 80hp. But who cares about performance figures anyway? For me it’s always been about smiles per mile and the Simca delivers in bucketloads.
We were now approaching Peter’s homeground just west of Næstved and he was leading the way in his 240Z. Steen and I were (once again) complementing the gorgeous and rare colour of his iconic Nippon coupé just as Peter pulled into a large layby in a clearing in the middle of a forest. Three impressive American classics were already parked up and enjoying a picnic break, and shortly after us a beautifully restored Scania-Vabis truck from the late 60’s pulled in too.
While enjoying the classics motoring by our layby with a wave and sharing tales of yesteryear, we even found time for a bit of a photo session for our two lovely coupés. It simply had to be done. While very different in nature and specifications too, they somehow complimented each other perfectly…
We were all starting to full somewhat hungry though and the Americana picnic right next to us wasn’t helping. Of course, neither Steen, Peter or myself had been sensible enough to pack suitable provisions. But Peter knew of another layby just the other side of Næstved where we could get food, coffee and ice cream while still watching the classics cruise by. So we powered on and gave the two coupés a bit of a workout.
True to Peters promise, the next stop would satisfy our hunger while there once again was a nice selection of classics on display. Of course, I immediately feel in love with the Skoda 130 Rapid – when did you last see one?
Then as we were finishing off our ice cream, another familiar face made his entrance as Stefan arrived in his loud and rather fast ’67 Firebird. What a beast! Needless to say, more time – much more time – was passed telling tales of cars previously owned and the ones that got away. Enjoying our classic cars again was fabulous, but socialising was perhaps even better…
Eventually we forced ourselves to break up the party and head out on the last portion of the approximately 200km route. Stefan rumbled off in one direction while Steen was back behind the wheel of his Simca again as we trailed Peter along some practically empty and hugely entertaining and twisty backroads. It was good to be back in a classic. My withdrawal symptoms were somewhat subdued – at least for a while…
