The 3rd annual La Rade Classique

Classic and vintage motors event - Villefranche-sur-Mer - May 2024
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The 3rd annual La Rade Classique – classic and vintage motors event

Posted by Dan Norris on 9 May 2024
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Villefranche-sur-Mer can be accused of being a little low-key by French Riviera standards, with the likes of Cannes and St Tropez boasting their film festivals and yacht shows – which can be a big part of its appeal. But while Villefranche may be a little more reserved, it is by no means without action. Since 1902, one Monday in February, there is the Combat Naval Fleuri, which attracts huge crowds to the quays every year, and around the start of May, classic and vintage car owners and fans come together for the La Rade Classique. Now in its third year, staged over two days of the weekend, the event attracts owners of classic cars spanning more than six decades, ranging from 1930s Bugattis to 1990s BMWs and Porsches, with plenty of exotica in between.

La Rade Classique 2024 - Villefranche-sur-Mer

A fine display of six decades of classic motoring

The show begins Saturday morning with the cars on display in the parking Wilson – which surely must have one of the best views for a car park in the whole of France. Sitting pretty between the beautiful Napoleonic-era citadel – which now houses the town hall and municipal meeting rooms – and the cruise ship terminal building (and the excellent Mayssa Beach restaurant – see our review here), Wilson is a glamourous venue with plenty of space to look around and ogle the cars on display.

This year, some of the highlights for car enthusiasts included a lovely white Renault 5 Turbo II (which happened to be for sale) a brace of Renault Alpine A110s, a smattering of Porsche 911s spanning several versions, a couple of BMW E30 M3s and an E21 Alpina C2, original Fiat Abarths with their boots propped open, ready for action, some Lancias, a Citroen DS Chapron in all its elegance, a beautiful Mercedes Pagoda, a few Ferraris, and a Peugeot 205 1.9 in perfect 80s original condition. Sponsors Aston Martin were showing their new SUV off to visitors who were more interested in a vintage original race-tuned Mini, and some rally-liveried Opels made a colourful display alongside a beautiful Lotus.

“Parking Wilson must surely have one of the best views for a car park in France!”

Once the visitors have had plenty of time to flaner amongst the cars, the La Rade Classique show starts to move up a level. One by one the cars start their engines, and the rich smell of petrol and hot oil fills the air, with rasping exhausts and enthusiastic commentary from the organisers as the cars are released one by one to begin the road section of the event. Unfortunately the police seem to be more interested in the cars than controlling the local traffic, so not all the drivers get the same opportunity – but most try to add a little flair to the proceedings as they head up the hill past the spectators. Leaving the Old Town behind them, the cars speed towards the Octroi on the Basse Corniche, the exotic roar of old school motors bouncing off the beautiful buildings that line the narrow streets of the town. Once on the Moyenne Corniche, the route follows the road round the cliff before turning left, and up, again, until they reach the open road of the Grande Corniche. Here the drivers can open the taps and indulge a little more in some spirited driving, passing a classic car landmark, the Hermitage Hotel (no stranger to these type of gatherings). Just beyond, to the left, the snowcapped peaks of the Alps appear, providing a stunning contrast with the azur blue sea to the right, as they head onwards to La Turbie, just above Monaco, following part of the way in the tyre tracks of the now defunct La Turbie hill climb (for those who are interested, the original start point for this event can be found marked with an inscribed stone at the very bottom of the Grand Corniche as it arrives in Nice, on Boulevard Bischoffsheim, as it meets Boulevard Saint-Roch).

Villefranche-sur-Mer

Looking at the superyachts from inside a tower

“You can’t visit the citadelle without peeping into the little towers…”

On the second day of the La Rade Classique, the Wilson car park reopens for public parking and the cars move to their display positions within the wonderful stone citadel’s walls. With the drawbridge down, visitors can wander around this fascinating structure, and spend time admiring not just the cars from the previous day, but an additional collection of Sunday amateurs, such as an original Citroen light 15 with its 1940’s gangster running boards. Of course its not possible to visit the citadel without having a peep into the little towers and galleries that look out over the glistening sea, with the first of the season’s super yachts moored up just below. Its hard to imagine that a building as beautiful and compelling as this was built for military purposes – luckily it is now more often witness to scenes of a romantic nature – as this is now the venue for those couples looking to tie the knot and lucky enough to live in the town, giving them the right to get married here.

La Rade Classique 2024 - Bugatti Type 57 Tank

You can almost smell the hot oil…

So, another year’s Rade Classique is over, and the organisers thoughts turn immediately to next year. With this event clearly going from strength to strength, increasing in popularity, its definitely one for next year’s diary – so watch this space for dates and keep an eye on their official website!

 

La Rade Classique 2024 - Porsche 911 Speedster

Blazing up the hill in a Porsche 911 Speedster

La Rade Classique 2024 Villefranche-sur-Mer

A BMW E30 3-series looking perfectly at home

La Rade Classique 2024 - Porsche 911

The founders of the Oceanic Institute look on approvingly as a 911 rounds the corner

 

La Rade Classique May 2024

The draw bridge is down for another Rade Classique in the citadel

La Rade Classique French Riviera car event

Classics in the courtyard

 

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