Old beauties add to Lucknow’s charm, but massive jams play spoilsport

LUCKNOW: Lucknow on Sunday saw the charm of ‘old beauties’ as they passed through the roads all decked up.

The occasion was the Vintage Car Rally — the annual and a popular event of Lucknow Mahotsav.
Crowds raised a loud cheer as proud owners made entry in their British-era cars at Hazratganj crossing. The rally was flagged off from Hazratganj crossing at 11am and culminated at Indira Gandhi Pratishthan after an hour.

Despite long traffic jams, people made the most of the day. The highlights of day were the Vintage Car Rally

One of eye catchers was 1926 Baby Austin whose owner is 75-year-old MA Khan. Girls clicked selfies with Baby Austin while some elderly women praised its design. “I had bought Baby Austin in 1987 from a Nawab’s descendent. Companies have stopped manufacturing the parts of this car, so whenever any repair is needed I go to Kolkata’s chor bazaar to buy old parts,” shared Khan, a businessman. Other beauties were 1926 Ford A, 1928 Ford A Roadster, 1930 Chevrolet Phaeton, 1932 Austin, 1932 Wolsely 14, 1938 Fiat Topoling, 1946 Morris-8, Fiat 500, Willys Jeep and Willys Station Wagon.


However, the show stopper was the 1911 London manufactured Merryweather steam engine fire tender. The British brought it to India in 1920. Since then, it has remained a part of Lucknow fire department. Policemen kept a close vigil around it.

Women's wrestling and the kite flying competition

“I have been participate in the vintage car rally for the past 15 years,” said Rohit Pant, a resident of Clay Square.Besides cars, vintage two-wheelers like 1942 Excelsior Wellbike, 1947 CZ-250, BSA 350 and Lambretta auto cycles, also added to the charm of the event. Additional city magistrate (first) Praful Kumar Tripathi said each participant was presented a memento.