International Old-timer Vehicles Exhibition “A”, May 24–25, 2014

The traditional International Old-timer Vehicles Exhibition “A” began on Friday, May 23, with a reception for foreign participants at the Repnik Inn and continued on Saturday, May 24, and Sunday, May 25. The main features of this year’s exhibition were the selection of vehicles limited to those manufactured before 1940, and the event’s scope, spanning two days across the municipalities of Kamnik, Kranj, Cerklje, and Šenčur.

On a beautifully sunny Saturday, the oldest cars and motorcycles gathered at the dinosaur-themed Arboretum Park and then drove to the town center of Kamnik. There, they were welcomed by a large crowd of enthusiasts and greeted by the Mayor of Kamnik, Mr. Marjan Šarec, the Mayor of Cerklje, Mr. Franc Čebulj, and the Deputy Mayor of the Municipality of Kranj, Mr. Bojan Homan. Representatives of the Kamnik Tourist Information Center treated the drivers to local specialties and guided them on a tour of the town. Each participant was introduced by the organizers, including a brief description of their vehicle and special features or stories about it. As usual, all participants and vehicles received a blessing from Mr. Pavle Juhant.

This year, we admired beautifully preserved vehicles from Slovenia, Croatia, Italy, Hungary, and Germany. The oldest and most unique car was a 1904 Corre from Hungary, and the oldest motorcycle, from 1909, came from Croatia. The longest journey was made by a Mercedes from Germany, which traveled 1,060 kilometers to attend. There were also many local participants, especially motorcyclists. The Cadillacs, which accompanied the procession and transported special guests, attracted a lot of attention. In total, 57 old-timer vehicles participated (38 of them among the oldest), along with 11 motorcycles. Including escort vehicles, there were about 100 vehicles altogether. Kamnik thus hosted around 250 participants in this exhibition.

From Kamnik, participants continued to the municipality of Cerklje, stopping in the village of Adergas. There, they were welcomed again by the Mayor of Cerklje, Mr. Franc Čebulj, and had the opportunity to refresh themselves before continuing toward Kranj. After a short drive, there was another stop in Kranj’s old town center, where many citizens came to admire the vehicles. Participants were greeted once again by the Deputy Mayor of Kranj, Mr. Bojan Homan, and were treated to an interesting guided tour of the town. Saturday’s journey ended at Brdo Castle, where drivers and their companions stayed overnight and attended a social gathering in the evening.

Sunday began with a short drive to Šenčur, where the municipality hosted a reception for participants, including a cultural program. This was followed by a drive to the municipality of Cerklje, where the procession was greeted by a brass band, and participants toured the local sights.

The event was covered by Radio Gorenc, Radio Hit, noticed by Radio 1 and Val 202, and broadcast on RTV 1, POP TV, and Planet TV. Many roadside enthusiasts shared videos of the old-timer vehicles exhibition on YouTube. Of course, none of this would have been possible without the devoted members of the association and the event sponsors.

The closing ceremony for the exhibition took place at Arboretum Park, where the vehicles were beautifully decorated with flowers. Although visibly tired, the participants were full of praise for the beauty of our country and the excellent organization of the event, all promising to return again next year.