Beautiful Bertha called ..

[Christoph]

Beautiful Bertha called and we followed.
http://bertha-benz-fahrt.de (Friday 9th till Sunday 11th of August)

Vehicles where invited up till 1930

Our 1929 Tudor Sedan appeared to be one of the new cars around.
(Actually they didnt send cars away to be built prior to 1940)

On Friday, our trip was scheduled to Mannheim;
Going on own wheels and taking it easy (just 80 miles from Frankfurt)

We had a nice evening event at Carl-Benz Museum in Ladenburg
This is the original workshop of Carl Benz close to the
river of Neckar with trees around to be planted by Bertha Benz.
A historic place of its own.

Saturday brought a trip of 80 Miles on the streets to be chosen
the “original” route , used by Bertha to visit Grandma in Pforzheim.
I guess most of the farm-tracks she used in 1888, are not around anymore.

Starting line in middle of Mannheim saw incredible amounts of
highly motivated spectators.

 

[Christoph]

From Mannheim we went nonstop ( about 8 Miles) to Ladenburg again.
Museum was crowded today and a nice breakfast was scheduled.
Lucky me, as lush hotel's breakfast was almost two hours in past ....

The impression is deceptive, as it was really crowded around the museum.
Inside was booked just for Drivers, so it was somewhat calm.

 

[Christoph]

I found Bertha (i guess) and tried to "chew an ear"
(german wording for talking BS to the girls)

Somehow she appeared to be resistant to my old-mans-talking .
Incredible as is was highly motivated (and on my "just-Sunday-slippers")

 

[Christoph]

From the museum we cruised nonstop ( 3 Miles) to the Neckar-ferry where,
due to ferry capacity of 6 cars, a jam appeared.

The ferry is there somewhere in the background ....

The swan in the foreground was in search of feed and
repeatedly chewed on my finger ...

 

[Christoph]

Once we passed the ferry – no stop for several Miles

We were able to dissociate various opponents.

Among the 72 cars there were 8 Model T and 5 Model A

Might be all Pre-War Ford to be found in Germany ?

 

[Christoph]

The city pharmacy in Wiesloch did not sell "Ligroin" to us
(as they did to Bertha)

Our tank was still full anyway

As compensation, we, got us a nice ice-cup in the nearby
Italian-ice-cream-parlor (How you call that?)

Its not written whether there where Italiens in Wiesloch in 1888,
nor regarding Berthas-preferences to ice-cream

Well-
In the meantime, we parked next to a Brennabor Ideal Type N
I guess a Brennabor is not to be found in US.
(Actually it is not to be found in germany either).

 

[Christoph]

Nice cars around at all of the stops.
Will post lists of all involved cars lateron.

 

[Christoph]

The “Leon Buat” right side of picture is built 1904 and
ist to be seen on most Rally’s in Germany.
(This car runs great!)

 

[Christoph]

We had a wonderful evening eventin Pforzheim City Hall
and after a short night we headed back to Mannheim.

 

[Christoph]

What most spectators do not see ......

It is expected that old cars travel as
to be seen in this pic:

In front a 1893 Benz Victoria (3 HP)
2nd is a 1915er T Speedster (20HP) ...
3rd is a 1928er Ford Roadster (40HP)
4th the 1925er 10/35 Benz Tourer (35PS - driver Jutta Benz !)
5th a heavy 1928er Studebeker Dictator (80HP)
6th and far behind...its us...

All in a Row - Aint that beautiful?

 

[Christoph]

Reality, looks more like that ....

My imagination shows me a
180HP Suzuki Hayabusa motorbike cruising in opposite direction
(At 120mph all-german-back-road-cruising-speed)

 

[Christoph]

Without a photo
Incredible amounts of viewers on both sides of the roads..

Often to be seen seen:
Old- and Young-timer-cars parked in the dirt
Camping table and chairs in front
Champagne on the table .
Friendly waving ....

Big Show all arround
(Germans would say “Grosses Kino”)

 

[Christoph]

Germany is beautiful !

(okok - im green with envy once i spot the superbe pics
of A`ers to be shot in the Rockys on their way to Alaska...)

How about colors and color gradations in this image?
I love it.

 

[Christoph]

All too soon we reached Mannheim again

The loss figures among the participants was incredible low and negligible.

After a goal-arrival-sparkling-lemonade (in stylish glasses) we started
our way back home.

A total of 456 relaxed kilometers (about 300miles)

What an event.

We love our Ford and look forward to future adventures.

 

[Christoph]

Teilnehmer-Liste 1a

 

[Christoph]

Teilnehmer-Liste 1b

 

[Christoph]

Teilnehmer-Liste 2a

 

[Christoph]

Teilnehmer-Liste 2b

 

[Christoph]

Teilnehmerliste 3a

 

[Christoph]

Teilnehmerliste 3b