La Festa Primavera 2019

Report

【Day1】19 Apr 2019

Classic car festival La Festa Primavera 2019 kicks off, marking its 11th spring

Spring classic car festival La Festa Primavera 2019 marked its 11th year. As many as about 70 cars gathered in the start venue, Atsuta Shrine in Nagoya, from all over Japan. The beautiful cars sparkling in the gentle spring sunshine fascinated spectators this year too. The spring journey of approximately 1,250 km just starts today, driving through seven prefectures, from Nagoya to Mie, Wakayama, Osaka, Nara, Hyogo and to Kyoto, for four days.

After setting off from Atsuta Shrine at noon, the entrants took on a PC competition (a measurement competition to drive a designated section in a designated time in seconds) held in the results open format at NTP Nagoya Toyopet. Because the results were announced on the spot, entrants' feelings showed on their face as they passed through the finish line. Some entrants smiled and others were disappointed. In a PC competition, competitors compete on difference of from 1/100 to 1/1000 second and measurement results of how much the difference is are usually not announced on the spot. However, this results open format is easy to understand for spectators and La Festa Primavera specially holds PC competitions in this format at some of the points each day. Eventually, the winning team is the team with the smallest difference in PC competitions. Although the results open format puts pressure on competitors, if the entrants can perform at their best in those competitions as usual or not is the key to be one of the top finishers.

The entrants left NTP Nagoya Toyopet and headed to a stamp point in Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology. After getting a stamp here, they left Nagoya for the next destination Isshindenjinai Town, Tsu City, Mie Prifecture and many spectators saw them off.

At Takada Honzan Senjuji Temple in Isshindenjinai Town, many local people as well as children warmly welcomed the entrants this year too. Those children cheering loudly and lively kept the entrants going. At this point, they lined in order of bib number, then made their way to the Tsu City Industry and Sports Center.

The entrants competed a PC competition and got a stamp at the Tsu City Industry and Sports Center, then traveled to Ise City to go to the next stamp point Geku Sando. As in other points, many spectators cheered for the entrants here, and they headed to today's last competition point, the Toba Observation Deck.

At the Toba Observation Deck, the entrants received a stamp first, then took on a PC competition in the results open format. They stayed focused on the competition through to the end with no signs of fatigue of approximately 220 km traveling. Local people looking forward to this once-a-year event welcomed the entrant everywhere they went and their smile always lifted entrants' spirits.

The finish line of day one was set in the Shima Kanko Hotel where Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress were staying until yesterday. The entrants got today's last stamp here, and finally it's time for both the cars and the drivers to rest. The cars somehow looked relieved in the spring dusk.

Day two will drive on a course of approximately 300 km, starting from Shima City, Mie Prefecture and finishing at Minabe Town, Wakayama Prefecture. The entrants will have a once-a-year reunion with local people and meet new people tomorrow too.

(text & photo:Mika Iwamoto)
PORSCHE 356 SPEEDSTER sets off from Atsuta Shrine, seen off by many spectators
PORSCHE 356 SPEEDSTER sets off from Atsuta Shrine, seen off by many spectators
Praying for road safety before start
Praying for road safety before start
ASTON MARTIN 1.5LITRE Mk-2 competing PC competition at Tsu City Industry and Sports Center
ASTON MARTIN 1.5LITRE Mk-2 competing PC competition at Tsu City Industry and Sports Center
FIAT S.I.A.T.A. 508 competing PC competition in results open format at Toba Observation Deck
FIAT S.I.A.T.A. 508 competing PC competition in results open format at Toba Observation Deck
Entrant in TOYOTA 2000GT looking at measurement line to match timing
Entrant in TOYOTA 2000GT looking at measurement line to match timing
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