MAY 24-27 2001 XXIV. INTERNATIONAL TATRA MEETING KOETSCHACH-MAUTHEN / AUSTRIA

1 June 2001 by Kees Smit Italian Alps dwarf Manfred Haspel’s 1958 T 1-603 Close to fifty Tatras gathered in the Austrian Alps, in South Carinthia close to the Italian border to compete in the Tatra Freunde International annual meeting. Competitors came from Czech Republic, Slovakia, Austria and Italy. Oldest competitor was a T 11, youngest competitor a T 613. After meeting old friends and admiring each other cars, the pre-war cars set off for their trip through the fascinating mountenous surroundings, while the post-war cars, including not less than five Tatraplans, crossed the Alps to Northern Italy – the first-ever Tatra veteran car meeting to visit bella Italia – for a 186 km long trip through Northern Italia and back to Austria. The route was described in a well illustrated roadbook. Needless to say, the route was paved with hairpins and steep roads, all Tatras managing and enjoying the mountain-climbing. Competition included searching for certain buildings and special tests to enable the Tatra drivers to show how the Tatra drivers managed to master their vehicles. With the help of early summer wheather, the international touch, the beautiful surroundings, the smell of edelweiss, good temper of the competitors and the fluent organisation, the meeting became one of the best ever of the Tatra Freunde International.