This season promises to be special for our project and its fans. We have already decided to invite AutoClassicNews readers to plunge into the atmosphere of the struggle for the main prize in the Italian Retro Rally Championship, as well as into all the subtleties and delights of auctions. Previously, our main target was RM Sotheby’s, but two more will join in 2021. And retro cars will appear on our pages even more often and more. So it’s time to introduce the new heroes of the season
Very young by the standards of its field, the auction house Silverstone Auctions dates back to 2011 and has already managed to take its place and earn a name. The company, headed by Nick Whale, a British racing driver and a former dealer for major automotive brands such as Porsche and Ferrari, trades at the Silverstone Circuit and is also involved in a number of events, including the NEC Classic Motor Show and Race Retro. Siverstone Auctions are often contacted by representatives of well-known marque-oriented automobile clubs to organize auctions dedicated to the memorable date of the brand. These include Ferrari Owners ‘Club of Great Britain, Jaguar Enthusiasts’ Club and Porsche Club GB.
Last year, the total profit from car sales at the auction house of the trading house was 32.3 million pounds (about 44.7 million dollars), and there is no doubt that Siverstone Auctions will try to beat that achievement this season. For our part, we will follow the progress of the auctions, the first of which is already scheduled for the first spring month — The Race Retro Car Live Online Auction awaits its customers and lovers of beautiful cars on March 27-28.
This summer, another representative of the world of lots and trading, Artcurial, will get onto the stage. The auction house was founded in 2002 and achieved total sales of 203.1 million euros by 2019. Now the company focuses on many areas, including cars. And although not much time is allocated for retro-vehicles in the total volume of sales, two events will still take place in 2021 — on June 4, the auction will take place within the framework of the R?tromobile Salon, and in July the auction will be timed to coincide with the racing weekend for retro cars — Le Mans Classic, which will be organized on the legendary ring of the 24-hour marathon in Sarthe, a suburb of Le Mans, by Peter Auto.
Much to the regret of fans of multi-day retro-rallies, last year Liz Wenman, head of Rally Round, announced that the pandemic had made adjustments throughout her life, and she realized that she wanted to be with her family. Thus, we will not see the famous logo with a white circular arrow (maybe for a while), but there was an alternative to the events held by the Rally Round, which gave us the «Trans-Himalayan Adventure». In 2021, along with the retro-rallies from Rally the Globe, ERA and HERO Events, we will also cover the competitions organized by Bespoke Rallies. So far, only 3 events are planned in the calendar of our events, but this will be exploration, and then we will see.
Finally, about a week ago, the Automobile Club d’Italia (ACI) announced the dates for the four largest retro rallies of the Apennine Peninsula, which are united in the Grandi Eventi series. It traditionally includes Gran Premio Nuvolari, Targa Florio Classica, as well as Coppa d’Oro delle Dolomiti and Coppa Milano-Sanremo — an absolutely new event for our project. Last season, the aforementioned mastodons were accompanied by Coppa delle Alpi, which, as we know, this year was planned for January 21-24, but was canceled due to restrictions imposed in Italy in connection with the pandemic. As for the Dolomite Golden Cup, the organizers of the event have already opened registration for the retro rally, a link to the form is available on the official website of the event — https://www.coppadorodelledolomiti.it/it/concorrenti/ (or https://www.coppadorodelledolomiti.it/en/competitors/). The event itself, if no epidemic obstacles arise, will take place in the picturesque region of Cortina d’Ampezzo, included in the UNESCO Heritage List.