The racing of Leopolis Grand Prix is taking place in Lviv on June 10-12. It is the first retro car festival of this level in Ukraine.

 

Lviv Grand Prix has already been added to the official program of Lviv festivals. But for the retro car race, many other events will be taking part during the fest, such as retro cars presentations, car parades, fashion shows. Also, the regular stage of Ukraine Closed-Circuit Car Race Championship will be taking part in Lviv at that time! The amateur car race of "Diplomat Rally” has been moved from Kiev to Lviv on the occasion of Lviv Grand Prix Festival as well.

 

What’s Lviv Grand Prix?

A bit of history.

 

 

Benz Victoria was the first car which appeared on Lviv streets in 1897. It belonged to Kazimierz Odrzywolski, the pioneer of oil extraction in Galicia.

 

September 8, 1830 is the date when the first closed-circuit racing was organized. The track got the name of "Lviv Triangle” due to its shape. The racing took place on the streets of Vitovskogo (former Pelchynska), I.Franko (former Sw.Zofji), Stryjska and Gwardiyska (former Abramowiczów-Kadecka). According to the racing drivers of that time, Lviv Triangle was one of the most complicated tracks in Europe. There were about 800 meters of tram rail on Vitovskogo and Franka Streets and the best part of the track was paved with basaltic cubes. The track elevation on Gvardiyska Street was about 8%. The racing was organized on the model of Gran Prix Monaco which started a year before (1829). The circuit racing in Lviv got an international status just a year after the foundation. Since 1932 it was called Lwow Gran Prix.

The stars of the car sport from all over Europe took part in the racing. It was cancelled in 1934 because of the economic and political crises. The racing did not concern the history of the USSR, so it was not mentioned after the WWII until Ukraine gained its independence.

 

The initiative of Lviv Gran Prix renovation was taken by "ZAZ-Kozak”, the automobile club of Zaporozhets ZAZ-965 owners. Loved by Ukrainians, the so called humpbacked mini car celebrated its 50th anniversary last year, so they can justly be considered an antique vehicle brand. The International Association of Lviv Gran Prix Reactivation was established in Warsaw last year. The archive records concerning the racing were studied by specialists. So, supported by the organizations mentioned above, as well as by the city authorities and the Consul General of Poland the event will be held on the highest level.

 

 

by Autoua.net and www.zazkozak.com