Old timers race over mountain pass

This MG K3 belonged to the famous race driver Earl Howe in the 1930s (Klausen Memorial Race)

Hundreds of vintage racing cars and motorcycles are taking part in a memorial event over the Klausen Pass in central Switzerland from September 19 to 22.

The Klausen Race was considered the best known and most difficult mountain race of its time.

It’s the third time the vintage cars will rev their engines, reviving the race which was held annually from 1922 to 1934.

The Grand Prix cars of the day reached speeds of up to 200 km per hour on the straights on the top of the pass.

The record on the 21.5 km course was 15 minutes 22 seconds set in 1934 by the German Rudolf Caracciola in a Grand Prix Mercedes W25.

Tickets for the memorial race cost between SFr40 ($27) for entry on either Saturday or Sunday to SFr110 for entry and reserved seating on both days.

Mountain films

A day after the cars have crossed the finish line, the curtain will go up on the International Mountain and Environment Film Festival in the resort of Les Diablerets.

For seven days, documentaries will be screened highlighting the daredevil antics of mountain lovers, as well as the simple but hard lives of mountain folk.

The programme includes films from Switzerland, Italy, France, Australia and Kyrgystan.

swissinfo