Guus Docen

Guus Docen

Friday, 12 April 2019 10:22
Published in European Desk

Citroën 2CV Museum in Andijk, the Netherlands

In the top ten of cult cars are the Ford model T, VW Beetle, Mini, Fiat 500 but without doubt also the Citroën 2CV or Deux Chevaux.  The name Deux Chevaux (2 horses) refers to the taxation class of the 2CV. This car was designed to be a ‘two tax horsepower’ car. Nicknamed the ‘Duck’, the car still has a huge number of admirers and owners. There are even collectors of this cult car and most probably the largest collection of Citroën 2CVs can be admired in a museum located in a small village in the Netherlands called Andijk.
Tuesday, 22 January 2019 19:43
Published in European Desk

The BMW Museum in Munich

The BMW factories are situated not far from the center of Munich, At the opposite side of the factories are the museum, brand experience centre and head offices. The museum was built at the same time as the new headquarters (the striking four vertical cylinders), in 1973. Since May 1973 the BMW Museum has welcomed visitors from all over the world with a fascinating collection of the motorcycles and cars produced from 1929 until now. From 2004 to 2008 the museum was renovated in connection with the construction of the BMW Welt, a multi-use exhibition center located directly opposite, which is used for meetings and promotional events, and where buyers take delivery of BMW vehicles. Since it was re-opened in June 2008, the BMW Museum has posted record visitor numbers year after year and is proud to be one of the most visited museums in Germany. From the entrance it starts with the earliest products, which were aeroplane motors and motorcycles. Surprisingly, the iconic blue and white logo and lettering hasn’t been changed much since the first World War. The 4,000 m² permanent exhibition space houses a neatly-arranged assortment of the brand’s most significant cars and motorcycles. The BMW Museum also regularly stages temporary exhibitions featuring special vehicles, design exhibits and prototypes from the long and illustrious history of the BMW Group. An absolute must for all car enthusiasts.
Friday, 05 October 2018 12:41
Published in European Desk

26th Spa Six Hours - Francorchamps 14-16 September 2018

The Spa-Francorchamps circuit was created in the early 20’s using the streets of the three villages Malmedy, Stavelot and Francorchamps. The 14 kilometre race track in the fabulous Ardennes region was completely modernised in 1979 with a more turns and bigger gravel beds. Since 1979 the 7 kilometere long track has been changed a few times but it continues to be one of the favourite circuits for the drivers as well as for the spectators. During the 26th Spa Six Hours weekend the weather conditions event were perfect . The sun was shining all day and the temperature was around 20 degrees Celsius. Ideal conditions for racers and spectators to fully enjoy the Spa Six Hours. More than 600 racing cars from almost every country in Western Europe were transported to the beautiful circuit in the Ardennes area.
Friday, 21 September 2018 10:27
Published in European Desk

Historic Grand Prix Zandvoort 31 August – 2 September 2018

Circuit Park Zandvoort (Zandvoort Racetrack) is perfectly situated in the dunes just a few hundred metres from the Northsea. At this racetrack the seventh edition of the Historic Grand Prix Zandvoort was held and again this event was a true paradise for the passionates of historic racing cars. Historic single seaters, touring cars, GTs, sports cars and side cars were competing on the 4.3 kilometres long racetrack.
Thursday, 30 August 2018 19:12
Published in European Desk

AvD Oldtimer Grand Prix 10-12 August 2018

With additional racing series, the AvD Oldtimer Grand Prix took nearly 51,000 spectators on a historic journey of motorsport at the Nürburgring this weekend. Ten races on Saturday and Sunday could be watched on a livestream. A number of renowned companies in 2018 again used the AvD Oldtimer Grand Prix as a platform thereby helping to deliver a festival of historic motorsport once more, for instance at Jaguar Land Rover where at the Jaguar Village historic models were shown. Porsche Classic made a huge appearance at the Nürburgring as well: on the occasion of the brand’s 70th anniversary, the marque from Zuffenhausen had invited two-time World Sportscar Champion and multiple Le Mans winner Derek Bell to drive an early Porsche 911 in the Gentlemen Drivers race. Bell had also the opportunity to present his new book ‘All My Porsche Races’.
Friday, 19 January 2018 19:41
Published in European Desk

Healey Museum

Reading the title of this article a majority of the readers will probably think that this museum is situated in the UK or in the USA. Most of the Healeys were sold there so what would a more logical place for a Healey museum ? Well you’re wrong, the Healey museum is located in the Netherlands just 20 kilometres south of Amsterdam, in a small village called Vreeland. The initiative to create a Healey museum came from Hans van de Kerkhof. As a teenager Hans was already impressed by Austin Healeys which he spotted in his neighbourhood and a few years later he fulfilled his dream and bought his first Austin Healey. From that moment his interest in the marque grew and during the years he started collecting Healeys and everything item related to the marque Healey. The results of his passion and his close relationship to the Healey family are exhibited in this museum which opened its doors on the 24th november 2012.
Wednesday, 04 October 2017 19:13
Published in European Desk

25th Spa Six Hours - Francorchamps 15-17 September 2017

The Spa Six Hours racing weekend is on the top three list of the best historic racing events of Europe. It’s the layout of the Francorchamps circuit in the beautiful green Ardennes region and the huge amount of entries (650 vehicles) of the 12 different race series. Although Friday was a bid drizzling, one couldn’t complain about the weather this year. The Saturday- and Sunday-morning were characterized by fog, but the fog dissolved within an hour. During the afternoon many spectators could enjoy the Belgian beer and nice food on the roof terrace of the pitbuilding. Even during the Six-Hours race on Saturday-evening the sun was shining and during the sunset everyone could enjoy the spectacle of the endless number of cars passing by.
Monday, 25 September 2017 18:55
Published in European Desk

Historic Grand Prix Zandvoort 11-13 September 2017

The sixth edition of the Historic Grand Prix Zandvoort offered a wonderful mix of race classes and appealing demonstrations. The programme enhanced races for Formula 1 cars from the 70s and 80s, Historic Sports Cars, Touring Cars and GTs, Pre-War Sports Cars. Formula 3 Racing Cars and historic Grand Prix Cars. Every visitor who read the schedule of this event could notice that an early leave from house was necessary to enjoy all sixteen races and nine demonstrations.
Friday, 08 September 2017 18:24
Published in European Desk

AvD Oldtimer Grand Prix 11-13 August 2017

It was 1973, when Hubertus Count von Dönhof invited some friends for a meeting at the Nürburgring to prove themselves that their vintage racing cars were still capable for fast laps. The next year Count von Dönhof organised a race-weekend and it was called the AvD Oldtimer Grand Prix. Each year the event developed itself and attracted more and more visitors. During the 45th edition of the AvD Oldtimer Grand Prix the weather conditions were bad but despite these circumstances almost 45,000 visitors were enjoying the races and demonstration runs. Only on Sunday just before lunchtime the sun started shining and the temperature rose to 22 degrees Celsius.
Monday, 03 July 2017 15:04
Published in European Desk

Nürburgring Classic Eifelrennen 16-18 June 2017

Since its construction (1925 - 1927), the Nordschleife has enjoyed a reputation as a terrifying and merciless route through the German Eifel forests. On the occasion of the 90th birthday of the legendary Nürburgring, a new - but already well-known - motorsport event took place in the Eifel. Exactly 90 years after the Nürburgring was opened (the 18th of June 1927) the "Nürburgring Classic" was held on the old track (Nordschleife) and the Grand Prix course.