On a nice and warm, but windy Sunday, December 10th, 2016, Dolorosas 2016 presented "Encuentro y Exposición de Vehiculos Clasicos", in the central park of L'Eliana, Valencia. I went to attend this event, however, I got one important fact wrong. I thought they were going to be static from 9am until 6pm. Looking back, I have no idea where I got that thought, even though the publicity was in Spanish.
When I arrived in L'Eliana the police were leading a great and impressive parade of seemingly, an unending sight of truly old cars, motorcycles, pedal cycles and mopeds. There were Seats and Fiats, some dating back to the 50's. There were Citroens, very old Fords, including Mustangs; VWs, Chevrolets, camper vans, both by Chevrolet and Volkswagen, and some cars that I just did not recognize what they were.
There was also a concentration of old motorcycles and mopeds, including one motorcycle with sidecar that was evidently in perfect condition. As you looked at the interior of the cars, it was also clear that the owners had spent a lot of time and money in restoring them to showroom like condition.
This club is apparently not for people with budget restrictions on how much they can spend on showering love on their vehicle. I have a twenty-two year old XJ6 Jaguar Sovereign. The car's age makes it a classic, and it is a lovely car. It is also true that I do pamper it, but only to a certain extent. When it starts to get over the line I will move on. That means I am not a true motorhead. I do enjoy the classics, but a car is really only intended as transport, at least for me, it is.
At the show ground, when I arrived there were a few vehicles left, most notably a row of six BSA 500s. Wow! Did this bring back memories as it was while riding one such motorcycle, with my girlfriend at the time did we first enter Spain at San Sebastian. That bike was fantastic to us and I have never forgotten the experience. One of the bikes on show was a BSA 1948 model that had been lovingly restored, and was for sale at the princely sum of 5,500 euros. Someone will buy it.!
I am always fascinated by the degree to which both men and women will go to, in effect take great pride in the craftsmenship of others. I think that Jaguar is the greatest marque of all, however, when it comes to my everyday car, Volvo tops the bill. That is because Volvo is made to cope with the very tough winters of Sweden, and I have found it to be totally reliable.
So, I waited at the showgrounds for the calvacade to complete its round the town loop and to return. It never did. What I was observing was the police leading everyone out of town so that they could go home for lunch. Oh well!
Copyright (c) 2016
Eugene Carmichael
