WATCH: Over 100 pre-World War II cars take part in the Czechoslovak 1,000 Miles race

This annual event has taken place since 2013 in tribute to an epic race that first took place in Czechoslovakia 90 years ago.

Thomas Smith

Written by Thomas Smith Published on 16.06.2023 15:46:00 (updated on 16.06.2023) Reading time: 1 minute

Earlier this week, over 100 cars made before 1939 were lined up in the center of Prague, ready to start the Czechoslovak 1,000 Miles race, which has its 90th anniversary this year. Riders "race" from Prague to Bratislava, and then back again, and are expected to reach the finish line – Prague’s National Technical Museum – Saturday late afternoon.

The Czechoslovak 1,000 Miles was an automobile race that took place in 1933, 1934, and 1935. It was inspired by the famous Italian Mille Miglia (1,000 miles) race.

At the start of the race, all crews of all competing cars lined up at Prague's Opletalova Street, which is the same road where the same race started in the 1930s. This is also the location of the headquarters of the Czech Republic Autoklub, which convened this race before World War II. The goal this time, however, is to keep as steady a speed as possible rather than vying to be the fastest.

“There will be three cars at the start that drove the original 1,000 Czechoslovak Miles race. The Aero 750 Sport, which was built especially for this race, a Praga Alfa from 1933, and a Tatra 77 from 1934”

Race director Jiří Patočka

This video shows the classic, old-school cars in Lednice, to the very southeast of Czechia and near the Austrian and Slovak borders, wheeling out one by one as they resume their onward journey onto Bratislava.

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