DDK - Die Deutschen Klassiker

After owning my 356A for nearly 11 years, I was very fortunate to be able to take it to this year's Targa Florio Classica in Sicily together with three other cars (911, 912 and 356) looked after by Export56. We were blessed with fabulous weather, great roads, delicious food and my little car didn't miss a beat over the course of the two days, nearly 20 hours and over 400 miles of driving....including in and out of the absolute chaos of Palermo city centre (still having flashbacks!)

What great cars these are. Export56 looked after the prep of the car which included new tyres, harnesses, battery cut off, LED bulb upgrade, tripmeter installation and a few other bits and pieces as well as taking care of all the (copious) paperwork. An unforgettable experience...hope you like the pics. We have some pro photos coming of us on the route, but for now hope these give you a flavour.

My first time participating in a regularity rally and it was a lot of fun, particular the short timed stages held in some of the village streets surrounded by the locals cheering us on!! Its a competitive event and part of the ACI Italian classic rally championship so has some pretty professional teams in the mix (when you see how few penalties they incur in their pre-war cars it boggles the mind). We finished a creditable 62nd out of 110 odd cars and the 356 was just brilliant. Lots of highlights including barrelling along the old course being chased at speed by the current ACI president in his immaculate red Lancia B24 Spider!

IMG_2188 by CARMANWAITINGINTHESKY, on Flickr

by CARMANWAITINGINTHESKY, on Flickr

Untitled by CARMANWAITINGINTHESKY, on Flickr

Untitled by CARMANWAITINGINTHESKY, on Flickr


IMG_2387 by CARMANWAITINGINTHESKY, on Flickr



Untitled by CARMANWAITINGINTHESKY, on Flickr

Untitled by CARMANWAITINGINTHESKY, on Flickr

IMG_2202 by CARMANWAITINGINTHESKY, on Flickr

IMG_2478 by CARMANWAITINGINTHESKY, on Flickr



IMG_2491 by CARMANWAITINGINTHESKY, on Flickr

IMG_2523 by CARMANWAITINGINTHESKY, on Flickr

IMG_2611 by CARMANWAITINGINTHESKY, on Flickr

IMG_2690 by CARMANWAITINGINTHESKY, on Flickr

Full album is here:
https://www.flickr.com/gp/100516929@N08/41q187639F

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Had always been an ambition of mine - looks to have been a fabulous trip - & the ideal car to do it in.

Thanks for posting the pictures Jonathan

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Fabulous

Brilliant!

Awesome

Brilliant, looks like a great trip

Some lovely cars there

What a fantastic event to be part of

Great trip and lovely pictures. Good work!

Thank you for sharing. Looked great fun. I so want to take my 356 around the old course. I think I will need 3-4 weeks to get there and back. Maybe a plan for next week!

Sent from my 22011119UY using Tapatalk

wow looks amazing.

Thanks for sharing, that looks like it was brilliant fun.

Karl

Thanks for sharing, it's six years since we went to Scilly and took in some of the Targa. I too have nightmares of Palermo's traffic! I did however did take one of my favourite pictures in that traffic...

Over 8 years ago Brendan, June 2016………….





If anyone is considering a trip, just do it, Sicily is fabulous. DDK trip?

Great pictures of the 356 Jonno1

Regards
Mike

Great photos. It was great fun. Already seems like a year ago with the bloody UK weather!!!

Hi Jonno,
Great to see your pictures!!
I have a few questions as I have been loosely tasked with arranging a similar trip next year!!
Bill Drysdale of 904FF fame is a friend of mine and we went to Ollon Villars together in 2022.
I questioned his travel arrangements in jest and he said "well you bloody organise the Targa Florio in 2025 then!"
True to my word, I plan to do just that.
Would Bills 904 replica be admitted, essentially being a home grown kit, Superbly done mind.
Would I get an entry in my 1973 VW Beetle powered by a 3.6LTR Porsche flat 6??
We seen cars admitted in Switzerland that were not strictly to historical specification.
Both our cars are prepared to FIA standard for hill climb and sprints.
If you could help on the above and at least tell me how you travelled and the route you took, I would be very grateful.
I have struggled to make sense of the on-line content for 2025 at the Targa Florio site, so if you have a contact of a useful nature, I would appreciate that also.
Thank you,
Jim Collins