A diversified event par excellence!
The weeks leading up to the second edition of the Ostbelgien Classic set up by Michael Bartholemy and his fine team are fast going by. There is no summer break for the organisation, which is hard at work preparing the much-awaited event. On Friday 4th, Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th December, a diversified event par excellence will be proposed to the contestants. And everyone will have fun, regardless of their level of experience or ambitions…
Herein lies the undisputed strength of the Ostbelgien Classic: a concept like no other, which has been popular since its first organisation at the end of 2019. “This event is the fruit of my personal expectations when I take part in regularity rallies”, comments Michael Bartholemy. “In a few words, the aim is to highlight the wonderful Eastern Belgian region at the eve of the end-of-year festivities, by offering a very high quality course and perfect sports management (hence Joseph Lambert and Eric Chapa joining us), a layout that not only promotes driving pleasure, but also provides the opportunity to have a good time at the end of each day before the official dinner, a prestigious setting (perfectly illustrated by the Klötzerbahn, which is at the heart of the event, as well as the venues for the various dinners and the prize-giving ceremony), professional communication, etc. You got it, nothing is left to chance…”
Towards a ‘Best Of’ regularity rallies…
For the 2020 edition, we also created the ‘Ostbelgien Classic Light’ category, reserved for enlightened amateurs, and we already have a list of committed people that combines quality and quantity – starting with the regularity specialists, who are very numerous in our country. Last year’s winners, Daniel Reuter and Robert Vandevorst (Porsche 944 S4) were full of praise for the event, and more than one expert has already decided to challenge them in December. Yves and Benoît Deflandre (Porsche 911), Dirk Van Rompuy and Eddy Smeets (Porsche 914/6), Jean-Jacques Martens and Aswin Pyck (Volvo PV 444), Jacques Evrard and Christian Bernard (Porsche 911), Etienne Baugnée and Benoît Remion (MG B Roadster), André Lamotte and Joseph Polet (Lancia Fulvia), Raymond Vernier and André Lys (Lancia Fulvia Monte-Carlo), Patrick Lambert and Yves Noelanders (BMW 2002 Ti), Baudouin Halleux and Olivier Bonhomme (Innocenti Mini Cooper), Tony Kevers and Didier Gathy (Porsche 911), Wolfgang Heinz and Fabian Mohr (Ford Escort MK2), this is a preliminary list of favourites and big outsiders to make any other organiser green with envy. Add to these the Frenchmen Christophe Berteloot (Porsche 911 SC) and Jean-Pierre Verneuil (Renault 5 Alpine), and you can see that these international references have already decided to challenge the Belgians on one of their favourite grounds. This is all highly promising… especially since this panel, however prestigious it may be, remains largely provisional!
Eclecticism is beautiful…
At the risk of labouring the point, the Ostbelgien Classic is not only an event for specialists. That’s why it already enjoys such popularity and attracts cars as original and uncommon as the legendary Bentley Speed Six (Vincent-Vincent), Citroën Traction (Denis-Denis), Renault 8 Gordini (Bertrand-Van Der Eynde) and 5 Alpine Turbo (Corvi-Gascoin), Porsche 356 (Dahmen-Widdra), Fiat 124 Abarth (Lührmann-Lührmann), Volkswagen Beetle (Osters-Lührmann & Jacobs-Gillissen), Saab V4 (Schoch-Seitz), DAF 55 Coupé (Moonen-Hoens), Citroën Dyane (Quirijnen-Trullemans), Porsche 911 ST (Wiesemes-Maraite), Alfa Romeo Giulia (Heck-Kaulmann), or the most recent Mercedes 190 2.3 16S (Pecinova-Chantraine), Lancia Delta Integrale (Scheck-Kauth) or Porsche 964 (Lührmann-Lührmann). In contrast to the regularity experts’ group, at this level, there are plenty of foreign teams. They are certain to attract others.
With the start of the new school year in September, the countdown to the 2nd Ostbelgien Classic will officially begin. The undecided will have three months to see their names appear in the regularly updated list of entrants on the official website www.ostbelgien-classic.be.
Ladies & Gentlemen, Start your engine…