Sunlit Mololongo in Rijeka, on Labor Day, was enriched by about 20 selected vintage cars gathered by members of the Oldtimer Club Rijeka 1996, delighting numerous walkers, recreational visitors, and guests of Rijeka. Alongside a meeting with journalists and an open-air presentation, they announced the upcoming traditional international event, “Oldtimer Car Rally Rijeka 2024.” The well-established May date, commemorating Rijeka’s Liberation Day, will be held this Saturday, May 4th, for the 28th time, with full support from the City of Rijeka.

“This year’s event, combining promotional and competitive sports-tourism features, is prepared for an expected hundred participants coming not only from Croatia but also abroad. We will gather at Rijeka’s Korzo promenade, and this year’s route will take us through Rijeka–Meja–Hreljin–Drivenik–Grižane–Bribir–Novi Vinodolski–Pavlomir. The first stop is in Drivenik, visiting the Frankopan castle, followed by a coastal stop in Novi Vinodolski. Competitors will perform special driving tests in Novi, and everyone will finally gather in Pavlomir for a closing lunch and award ceremony for the most deserving. We are grateful for the support and cooperation of the local authorities and tourist boards of Vinodolske Municipality and Novi Vinodolski,” said Marino Radan, president of the Rijeka Oldtimer Club, presenting this year’s event.

The Rijeka Oldtimer Club is the only club in Croatia affiliated with the Croatian Oldtimer Association that, for over a quarter-century, has been organizing both car and motorcycle vintage rallies during the calendar year. It is also the only club to organize a competitive program within the HROS Championship alongside the rally meeting.

“We are proud of last year’s results by our members and remain the only club so far to have won the Croatian Oldtimer Association championship titles in both car and motorcycle categories. With a passing control in Drivenik, marking the start of the new HROS season, two special driving tests measuring accuracy and skill await about 30 drivers from four clubs in Novi Vinodolski. Participants’ vehicles are divided into nine classes based on production years, all at least 30 years old,” explained Darko Krpan, secretary of the Rijeka club and head of the HROS Competition Committee.

“Interest in this year’s event is exceptional. We expect historic cars, especially those produced before and shortly after World War II. We believe more than 20 car brands will be represented, and residents, tourists, and visitors along the route and at stops will enjoy the presentation of historic heritage on wheels. If we match last year’s participant numbers and welcome vehicles from Slovenia, Italy, and Hungary, we will be very satisfied,” said Robert Čulina, head of the Oldtimer Club Rijeka’s Car Section.

Saturday’s gathering, despite “…the announced rain,” as one organizer put it, will have participant verification from 8 to 10 AM on Rijeka’s central promenade Korzo, with the start at 10:30 AM in front of Radio Rijeka. The route covers a total of 50.6 km, with one-hour stops in Drivenik around 11:30 AM and Novi Vinodolski around 2 PM. The 2024 Oldtimer Rally Rijeka will conclude in Pavlomir after 3 PM with a closing lunch and awards ceremony.

In Novi Vinodolski, part of the vintage cars will be parked in the Novi harbor for the competition, while others will be brought to the town center to be presented to all visitors.