A classic car has a character, a look, the beat of its engine, and a history of its own — pleasures a modern car does not have.
A classic car rally is not just driving a classic car but competing in one. In Italy, the home of the classic car rally, the famous event is the Mille Miglia.
Japan, in fact, holds a good number of classic car rallies too.
You enter as a pair: a driver and a co-driver who navigates.
Unlike a race, a classic car rally is not about speed but technique. The point is how precisely you can drive a set section within the time given.
Following the traffic rules matters too, of course, and a violation costs you penalty points.
This kind of rally is called a PC (Prove Cronometrate) event.
So here are five classic car rallies held in Japan in 2022.
Classic Japan Rally 2022
Held as a satellite event of Hama Fes Y163, marking the anniversary of the opening of the port of Yokohama.
Classic cars from the 1920s through to 1973 take on a roughly 500 km rally over three days, from 20 to 22 May.
The route: Yokohama Honmachi — Hakone — the Izu Peninsula — Hakone — Yokohama Honmachi.
Dozens of classic cars gathered on the shopping street in Honmachi is a striking sight.
Entries range from 1920s vintage machines like Bugattis and Fords to cars we know well, such as the Porsche 911 and the Datsun Fairlady.
PC events are also planned for the second and third days.
Nippon Classic & Exciting Car Rally 2022
The Nippon Classic & Exciting Car Rally 2022 (NCCR2022) has been sponsored by Toyo Tires since 2016.
NCCR works with local government and police, and is also an event promoting road safety.
By having famous and historic cars follow the traffic rules on their way to the finish, in full view along the route, it aims to raise awareness of road safety and good driving manners.
It also aims to pass the cultural value of old cars on to the next generation, and it is supported by more than just car enthusiasts.
It runs as a three-round series across the year, held in various parts of the Kansai region.
29 May: Ōmi–Iga (Shiga Prefecture)
2 October: Nara–Minamikawachi (Nara Prefecture)
4 December: Osaka (Osaka Prefecture)
That is the schedule.
This event usually brings out supercars too, alongside the classics — Lamborghinis and Ferraris among them.
You are sure to meet cars you once dreamed of.
The 19th Gran Premio Auto Storiche
Auto Storiche runs as two events a year: the Gunma round, Coppa Auto Storiche, and the Nagano round, Gran Premio Auto Storiche.
This time it is the Nagano round, now in its 19th year, that I want to introduce.
Held on 4–5 June, based at the Yatsugatake Kogen Lodge and the Hakuba Tokyu Hotel in Nagano Prefecture.
It also runs road-safety charity activities, putting real effort into raising road-safety awareness.
This event sets detailed rules for eligible cars, model by model.
An Alfa Romeo, for instance, must be built before 1972; a Lotus, before 1974.
Past entry lists have been lined with cars that would make any enthusiast’s mouth water.
This year too, let’s enjoy the competition with a smile — and in earnest.
La Festa Dolce Vita
La Festa Dolce Vita 2022 is held from 9 to 11 July, based at a mountain hotel in Hakone.
The 300 km route spans Shizuoka and Kanagawa Prefectures. On the first day, the 9th, a PC event class is also held.
It is optional to attend, but it looks like a rare chance to be taught by veterans of PC competition.
About 30 cars take part.
Eligible cars are Japanese and foreign sports cars and classics built between 1950 and 1989.
The event’s website shows a Toyota 2000GT and a Porsche 356 in full flight.
It makes you want to go right now.
La Festa Mille Miglia
La Festa Mille Miglia 2022 is held on 16–19 September as an event recognised by the international federation of classic car clubs.
Among the many classic car events, this one has a precious 25-year history behind it.
The three founding principles it holds to are:
respect for the old,
stay a boy at any age,
and widen the circle of friendship among everyone involved in the event.
Those are the three.
People, cars, culture — the good things of the past are worth holding onto.
True to its heritage, the field runs to 100 cars.
The classes are set out in detail:
Class A, Vintage: cars built 1919–1929
Class B, Post-Vintage: cars built 1930–1939
Class C, Post War-I: cars built 1940–1949
Class D, Post War-II: cars built 1950–1957
Class E, Closed List: cars built 1958–1967
The route covers roughly 1,350 km across one metropolis and eight prefectures: Harajuku (Meiji Shrine) in Tokyo — Urabandai in Fukushima — Nikkō in Tochigi — Narita in Chiba — back to Harajuku (Meiji Shrine) in Tokyo.
Do visit Japan’s own holy ground for the Mille Miglia.
In summary
A classic car has all sorts of appeal.
A classic car rally does not just drive one — it competes with it too.
Classic Japan Rally
Held as a satellite event of Hama Fes Y163, marking the anniversary of the opening of the port of Yokohama.
Classic cars from the 1920s through to 1973 take on a roughly 500 km rally over three days, from 20 to 22 May.
Nippon Classic & Exciting Car Rally 2022
The Nippon Classic & Exciting Car Rally 2022 (NCCR2022) has been sponsored by Toyo Tires since 2016.
It runs as a three-round series across the year, held in various parts of the Kansai region.
The 19th Gran Premio Auto Storiche
Auto Storiche runs as two events a year: the Gunma round, Coppa Auto Storiche, and the Nagano round, Gran Premio Auto Storiche.
This time it is the Nagano round, now in its 19th year, that I want to introduce.
Held on 4–5 June, based at the Yatsugatake Kogen Lodge and the Hakuba Tokyu Hotel in Nagano Prefecture.
La Festa Dolce Vita
La Festa Dolce Vita 2022 is held from 9 to 11 July, based at a mountain hotel in Hakone.
The 300 km route spans Shizuoka and Kanagawa Prefectures.
La Festa Mille Miglia
La Festa Mille Miglia 2022 is held on 16–19 September as an event recognised by the international federation of classic car clubs.
Among the many classic car events, this one has a precious 25-year history behind it.
Do find a rally you love, and go and see it for yourself ♪