Hear the word Goa and the first few things that come to your mind is the beach, the sun, the sand and a few more things that we all know of. Starting this year, the region has added another highlight to its allure. Goa tourism Development Corporation recently held its very first vintage car and bike rally. Known as the ‘Vintage Bike and Car festival 2016’ the annual event witnessed a whole bunch of timeless beauties being displayed.
Flagged off at Paryatan Bhavan by the Minister for Tourism, Dilip Parulekar, the event held in the city of Panaji witnessed the participation of 83 vintage cars and 40 vintage bikes as they made their way through the pristine coconut flanked roads of goa, taking the passengers and onlooker on a trip down the memory lanes. The rally lasted for two hours. Post the rally, these timeless beauties made their way to the Inox Courtyard where a number of tourists thronged to see the pre -1970 vehicles.
Seen in the Inox Courtyard were more than 120 vintage vehicles including cars and bikes combined. While the entrance of the area was taken over by a 1941 Ford Artillery Truck (said to have been used in the First World War), what followed was a lineup of bright candies in the form of eight vintage Volkswagen Beetles. The main attractions, to name a few, included the 1962 Chevrolet Impala, 1968 Amphicar convertible sedan, 1959 Morris Mini Minor and a 1969 Cadillac Fleetwood owned by the Governor of Goa.
The annual event not only featured owners from in and around Goa but also from regions as far as Nagpur and Mumbai. Later in the evening, Chairman of GTDC, Nilesh Cabral later announced the prize winner for different categories of the Vintage Car and Bike Fest 2016 which are as follows:
- Long distance traveled vintage Car: Vintage Jeep, 1965 Mercedes Benz, 1965 VFJ Jonga and 1964 Standard Herald
- Long distance traveled vintage bike: BMW RSO
- Best restored vintage car: 1921 Citroen
- Best restored vintage bike: 1942 Norton 16H
- Best restored classic car: 1961 FIAT 500 D
- Best restored classic bike: 1965 Lambretta LI 150 series
- Best Indian heritage car: 1964 Standard Herald
- Best India heritage bike: 1962 Jawa
- Best show cars: 1968 Volkswagen 1600 L
- Best show bike: 1952 Lambretta
- Most unique car: 1941 Ford Artillery Truck
- Most unique bike: 1962 Escort Runabout
- Most original classic car: 1959 Morris mini manor
- Most original classic bike: 1958 BSA shooting star
Speaking on the occasion, Dilip Parulekar, tourism minister of Goa, said that it was overwhelming to see such a huge participation at the Vintage Bike and Car festival 2016 and should be an annual event that will boost tourism in the State of Goa. He further went on to add that Goa Tourism and GTDC organize such unique events in the state to promote tourism and the Vintage Bike and Car festival will help boost heritage tourism in a big way.
Following is an image gallery of Vintage Bike and Car festival held in Panaji, Goa:
