With the classic car on a sightseeing tour

Big events are approaching: From September 1st to 5th, 2021, the world of classic cars will look to Germany, more precisely to Westphalia. This year the 5th Int. ADAC Zurich Westfalen Klassik will take place around the spa town of Bad Sassendorf – with the illustrious title of the Classic Car World Association: ‘FIVA World Rally Germany’. Up to 120 classic automobiles – the oldest is currently a Rolls-Royce from 1911 – go ‘on tour’ to experience the fascination of Westphalia.

“We are very proud that we have succeeded in bringing the FIVA World Rally back to Germany this year”, says Head of Organisation Bernhard P. Jühe. “The last time FIVA was in Germany was in Berlin in 2000. In 2021, we won the award against the world metropolis Sydney, among others.” The target of the team around Jühe is clearly defined: “We want to present the beauty of our tranquil home country, Westphalia, to the international participants.”

The hub of the FIVA World Rally Germany is Bad Sassendorf. The picturesque spa town in the Soest district in the east of Dortmund, with its modern, newly designed spa gardens, is the perfect starting and finishing point for the four-day tour that leads through the Sauerland and the Warendorf district to the Münsterland. “Westphalia is simply a dream for all vintage car fans,” says Dennis Jühe, Clerk of the Course and son of the Organisation Manager. “Spectacular sights line the picturesque driving routes. We stop at unique locations. Along the routes there are locations with a great history: the participants not only go on a journey through time in an automobile, but also experience the history

Highlights non-stop

The highlight of the first day of the event is the Möhnsee dam. Here, the participants have the opportunity to take an exclusive tour inside the mighty wall. The second day leads first through the Hönnetal, over historical bridges, along rivers and rocks, into the Hochsauerland. In Schmallenberg there is the first culinary highlight in the restaurant of the 5-star Hotel Deimann. In the afternoon the group stops in the city of Rüthen, which was an administrative center of Westphalia in the Middle Ages. The historic city wall, the craft village and the witch tower provide the perfect backdrop. After a coffee break at MeisterWerke Schulte GmbH in Rüthen, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of high-quality floor coverings and panels, the ADAC driving safety center in Kaiserkuhle is the destination for two more regularity checks.

On Friday, the third day of the event, the route leads past the large power plant in Hamm, which is going offline this year, and the nearby Oberwerries moated castle to our event partner Glasurit in Münster. The participants get an insight into the product range, which includes, among others, special paints for classic cars. The lunch break takes place in the Vier-Jahreszeiten-Park in Oelde, where the 2001 State Garden Show was a guest. This is where the classic cars of the FIVA World Rally meet a number of their own species, as different classic car clubs have announced that they will exhibit their vehicles on the 44 hectare site of the park. The way back to Bad Sassendorf leads past the renowned Crassenstein Castle private school. Friday evening will be fully dedicated to the Warsteiner Internationale Montgolfiade. At the largest balloon festival in Europe, the participants of the FIVA World Rally are VIP guests and experience an eventful and entertaining evening with a mass start, night glow and fireworks that they will not soon forget.

The two final stages are on the penultimate day of the event. The route leads back to the Sauerland, including the Schwarzenraben moated castle in Lippstadt in the direction of Brilon. The town hall, built in 1250, is one of the oldest of its kind in Germany. Then there is the lunch break at Autohaus Witteler. And here, too, there is a classic car meeting around the FIVA World Rally, at which the participating vehicles mark the highlight of the day. The way back includes a trip through the Warsteiner brewery and a visit to the Sauerländer Edelbrennerei, a distillery in Rüthen. The baroque moated castle Körtlinghausen is on the way.

Sporty or touristic – the two facets of the FIVA World Rally Germany

The finishing area is again in the spa gardens in Bad Sassendorf on Saturday evening, where the winners of the event will be awarded in the evening. In contrast to the previous events, which all had a sporty focus, this time additional points and trophies will be awarded for the tourist version of the rally. “This year’s event addresses a broad group of participants”, explains Hermann Gärtner, Deputy Clerk of the Course of the event. “It was important to us to offer both: a sporting challenge with driving tasks as well as tourist enjoyment, during which the sights and the best entertainment are the focus. Each participant can decide for himself which version he prefers.”

The grand finale of the FIVA World Rally Germany 2021 is the big classic car exhibition “Classic im Park” in Bad Sassendorf. After around 620 kilometers, relaxation in a special environment is now the order of the day. The vehicles are presented in front of the picturesque backdrop and the participants contribute to the authenticity of the event with clothing adapted to the respective era and the theme “Bad Sassendorf wears hats”. In the park street food is offered as well as cultural highlights that are also all about the automobile. The well-known personalities among the participants include TV presenter Sidney Hoffmann and the long-time BMW motorsport boss and today’s ADAC Classic Motoring Advisor Prof. Dr. Mario Theissen. For the participants of the FIVA World Rally there is something to win for the last time. At the Concours d’Élégance, the most beautiful vintage cars of their kind are awarded.

All of this is only possible with a well-coordinated team and a large number of helpers

The 5th Int. ADAC Zurich Westfalen Klassik with the predicate “FIVA World Rally Germany” is a huge organisational effort, the challenge for Bernhard P. Jühe and his colleagues is enormous. “Without a strong team in the background, the event would not be possible,” he says. “In addition to the organising team, we need between 80 and 100 volunteers to support us every day of the event. These are recruited from nine local motorsports clubs, whom I would like to thank for their cooperation. In particular, these are the MSC Bergstadt Rüthen, the MSC Soester Börde, the AC Oelde, the Warsteiner Oldtimer Team, the Motorsportclub Oberruhr, the Motor Sport Freunde Warstein, the Briloner Automobilclub, the AMC Soest and the AMC Bad Berleburg. In addition, I would like to thank our partners and sponsors as well as the many cities and municipalities who make it possible for us to carry out this event.”