Caramulo Motorfestival, Portugal
Discussion
Has anyone been to this. A buddy and I try to get to a different event each year - we've done Le Mans Classic, Pau Historic GP, Angouleme last year and this year stumbled on this one to explore. It's a bit of a punt as not really sure what to expect. Sadly also a bit far to drive (we usually take turns to take either his Porsche or my Alpine) so we are flying down.
I was curious to see if it was on anyone's radar.
https://www.caramulo-motorfestival.com/en/
I was curious to see if it was on anyone's radar.
https://www.caramulo-motorfestival.com/en/
Yup, been looking at this. Also done LM, LM Classic, Angouleme, FoS etc multiple times and looking for something new.
For our group, it is more the journey, food etc as much as the motorsport now so LM and FoS are just too big, expensive etc. Having done Angouleme several times, it is about perfect as a relaxed and manageable event with 400 miles of lovely French roads over a day and a half getting down there. .
Been looking at a ferry to Santander, which would give a 700km road trip there and back in Spain and Portugal with an overnight 20 hr crossing each way. Guessing that Brits will be few and far between there. This would be for next year so any feedback from anyone going this year would be welcome.
For our group, it is more the journey, food etc as much as the motorsport now so LM and FoS are just too big, expensive etc. Having done Angouleme several times, it is about perfect as a relaxed and manageable event with 400 miles of lovely French roads over a day and a half getting down there. .
Been looking at a ferry to Santander, which would give a 700km road trip there and back in Spain and Portugal with an overnight 20 hr crossing each way. Guessing that Brits will be few and far between there. This would be for next year so any feedback from anyone going this year would be welcome.
Agree about Angouleme. First visit last year and it was just such a chilled weekend. Definitely will do it again in a future year. Pau was similar - not too big an event but plenty enough there to fill a couple of days. Lots of local feel about the place to enjoy it as a foodie / travel break and not just an event to be at.
I'll report back from Caramulo in a few weeks time!
I'll report back from Caramulo in a few weeks time!
As promised a review of Caramulo Motorfestival, which was held on 5-7th September. We went without much of an idea what the event would be like, having in previous years been to the Pau GP, Spa Classic and Angouleme Classic. It turned out to be surprisingly good. Caramulo is a small hill village in the Tondela region of Portugal about 90 minutes south east of Porto and the annual Motorfestival is based around a hillclimb from the town and out on the winding, uphill N230-3 for about 3km.
It's organised by the Museo do Caramulo (Caramulo Museum), which is really a collection of four museums focused on art, toys, lots of cars and military machinery. We spent Thursday (4th) in the museums that included an impressive collection of vehicles from the Salazar era, through a collection of Bugatti’s, an absolutely immaculate Mura, F40 and La Ferrari, amongst numerous Lancia classics (037 and several WRC models), an XJ220 and lots of others. Friday was practice day and fairly lightly attended. This was a good thing as it meant being able to get up close to the action including seats on the start line. Saturday and Sunday were the main days, we only went on the Saturday and it was heaving. Queues to get into the village mid morning were surprising at about an hour, with all car parks seemingly full and having to street part on the outskirts.
While the event was a timed hillclimb, there didn’t seem to be any timing screens and the vibe was very much more nice cars just having fun climbing the hill. Alongside a smatter of sponsor and exhibitor cars (Alfa Romeo, Kia, Alpine, Mercedes and Porsche) the mix was eclectic. Single seat hill climb cars mixed it with classic rally volvo 240’s, 3 wheel Morgans, classic Bugatti, Jaguar, MGs and Alfa’s, original and previous model GT40’s, Jaguar LeMans racers, Toyota Startlet rally car, GT3 Cup Cars, Lancia and Ford WRC cars and much more. For the Porsche fans, there were more GT3’s, GT4 and RS’s in one place than I’ve seen for a while, and in the car park a wonderful Speedster casually parked among some beautifully restored classic Alfa’s.
John Watson was a guest driver and gave amusing commentary on the Saturday that he was invited but didn’t really know what he was being invited to but had found it to be an amazing event, reflecting our view of it.
There were very few Brits there, the odd voice heard. A small group of UK reg cars did appear – a GT3, Sunbeam Alpine, Cobra 427. That would have been quite the drive as the roads around Portugal are mostly in excellent condition, and once off the Autoroute they duck and weave, climb and descend all the time as they pass through the hills and forests.
The event was free to visit although food and drink was more expensive than elsewhere in Portugal – but when breakfast of Coffee, OJ and Croissant is 3.50 euro, even that was relative.
Overall, worth a few days flying down and hiring a car to visit and it would make a great destination as part of a longer driving trip. Enjoy the images.
It's organised by the Museo do Caramulo (Caramulo Museum), which is really a collection of four museums focused on art, toys, lots of cars and military machinery. We spent Thursday (4th) in the museums that included an impressive collection of vehicles from the Salazar era, through a collection of Bugatti’s, an absolutely immaculate Mura, F40 and La Ferrari, amongst numerous Lancia classics (037 and several WRC models), an XJ220 and lots of others. Friday was practice day and fairly lightly attended. This was a good thing as it meant being able to get up close to the action including seats on the start line. Saturday and Sunday were the main days, we only went on the Saturday and it was heaving. Queues to get into the village mid morning were surprising at about an hour, with all car parks seemingly full and having to street part on the outskirts.
While the event was a timed hillclimb, there didn’t seem to be any timing screens and the vibe was very much more nice cars just having fun climbing the hill. Alongside a smatter of sponsor and exhibitor cars (Alfa Romeo, Kia, Alpine, Mercedes and Porsche) the mix was eclectic. Single seat hill climb cars mixed it with classic rally volvo 240’s, 3 wheel Morgans, classic Bugatti, Jaguar, MGs and Alfa’s, original and previous model GT40’s, Jaguar LeMans racers, Toyota Startlet rally car, GT3 Cup Cars, Lancia and Ford WRC cars and much more. For the Porsche fans, there were more GT3’s, GT4 and RS’s in one place than I’ve seen for a while, and in the car park a wonderful Speedster casually parked among some beautifully restored classic Alfa’s.
John Watson was a guest driver and gave amusing commentary on the Saturday that he was invited but didn’t really know what he was being invited to but had found it to be an amazing event, reflecting our view of it.
There were very few Brits there, the odd voice heard. A small group of UK reg cars did appear – a GT3, Sunbeam Alpine, Cobra 427. That would have been quite the drive as the roads around Portugal are mostly in excellent condition, and once off the Autoroute they duck and weave, climb and descend all the time as they pass through the hills and forests.
The event was free to visit although food and drink was more expensive than elsewhere in Portugal – but when breakfast of Coffee, OJ and Croissant is 3.50 euro, even that was relative.
Overall, worth a few days flying down and hiring a car to visit and it would make a great destination as part of a longer driving trip. Enjoy the images.
Biggles - great review, photos and pleased you had a good time.
From that, definitely on our possible list for next year now as I look out the window on the falling rain here in Somerset. But would make a road trip of it with the Plymouth Santandar ferry arriving Thur midday and departing Mon evening.
Did you do hotel, Airbnb or camping nearby as I guess the accommodation gets booked quickly if it is as busy as you say?
From that, definitely on our possible list for next year now as I look out the window on the falling rain here in Somerset. But would make a road trip of it with the Plymouth Santandar ferry arriving Thur midday and departing Mon evening.
Did you do hotel, Airbnb or camping nearby as I guess the accommodation gets booked quickly if it is as busy as you say?
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