Post date: Oct 10, 2011 10:18:0 AM
Trabant lovers from different countries rev it up in Prague.
PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC (OCTOBER 9, 2011) REUTERS - The 13th edition of the Trabantiada took place in the Czech capital of Prague over the weekend with Trabants lovers from the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Germany, Poland and Hungary taking part. 164 Trabants or short 'Trabi', but also Wartburg and Barkas cars were on show during the festival of cars, which were made in the former German Democratic Republic (GDR).
David Svatos, organiser of the yearly event said that real Trabant lovers would come a long way to attend the happening. "Also about 20 crews came here from the sea in Poland, real fans who made about 800 kilometers to come here," said Svatos.
The car owners put their loved and well-kept vehicles on show for the visitors before taking them for a round trip through Prague. During the so called 'beauty ride' the people of the Czech capital get to hear the unforgettable sound and distinctive smell of the two-tact engines accompanied by the sound of the car horns.
For many of the Trabant lovers taking care of their car is much more than just a hobby. Their engines are easy to repair, their bonnets are made of plastic and some spare parts are still available, even though the production in German town Zwickau was stopped 30 years ago in 1991.
"Some are sitting on sofa and watch TV, some are sitting on a bench taking drugs, we are sitting in the garage and working on our Trabants. This is a passion and self-fulfillment for life," Jarek Kashub from Gdynia explained. Sometimes the whole family shares the passion.
"In the family - together with my son and two daughters - we have eleven Trabants. We are collecting them and putting them together for four years now and this blue one we got completely dismounted last year," Jaroslav Chytry explained.
Tomas Cervenka equipped his Trabi with several specials like the self-opening bonnet, open roof top, special air and oil filters.
"This was the only affordable car for me. I bought it in the eighties, repaired and kept it. Then my son started with this car and now we are crazy of it both of us," Cervenka said.
In special races Trabants and Wartburgs are put to the test. The Trabant-Wartburg Racing Cup (TWRC) is taking place in several cities in the Czech Republic during the year.
The "Krtek Racing team" focuses on converting ordinary Trabant cars into sporting specials. With reinforced and toughened car base, tuned serial two-tact engine and improved breaks the Trabi turns into a race car.