56. Int. Osnabrücker ADAC Hill Climb Race - A Fun Event With Many Things To Improve!
On the 3rd and 4th of August, a highlight for all motorsport fans in the Osnabrück region and beyond took place in Hilter am Teutoburger Wald, Germany: the 56th International Osnabrück ADAC Hill Climb Race.
In total, 179 cars were challenged to race up the 2030-meter-long road ascending the Uphöfener Berg.
The event started on Saturday with practice runs up the hill. It was a hot, sunny day, with a large number of spectators already trackside. However, three-quarters into the practice, after the electric cars had just finished their drive up the hill, the runs had to be paused due to dangerous weather conditions. Heavy rain and thunder made it unsafe to continue. The rain lasted about an hour.
For fans with regular day tickets (like myself), staying dry became a priority. Some spectators came prepared with raincoats, umbrellas, ponchos, and wellies; others, not so much. Many sought refuge in a nearby cornfield, using the leaves for cover, while some used their folding chairs as makeshift umbrellas. Despite the discomfort, this situation sparked conversations among the fans, sharing laughs and weather predictions. Once the rain stopped, most people had already left or left shortly thereafter, myself included.
The location of the race is beautiful and serene, surrounded by animals, farms, and fields. However, it's rather difficult to access solely by public transport. There are limited bus services to the area, and during the race weekend, multiple bus stops were removed from the schedule due to road closures. Without a car, getting to the track was an adventure.
On both days, I had to walk quite a distance from the bus stop to the race. On Saturday, it took about 40 minutes. The return journey was even longer, as the nearest stop did not have a bus for my destination for the next three hours. So, I walked for roughly 85 minutes. On Sunday, I repeated the same route twice, resulting in a total of 170 minutes of walking. My feet, hips, and legs were sore, and I developed multiple blisters.
Sunday started bright and early at 8 am, but I arrived at the track around 10 am, as an earlier arrival would have required some serious sleep deprivation. I checked Google for weather updates since it was raining heavily when I woke up. Thankfully, it wasn't supposed to rain again, and I felt secure knowing I had access to the VIP tent with my ticket for Sunday.
The VIP tent provided everything one might need at a racetrack: earplugs for the loud non-electric vehicles, food, drinks, a race simulator, a clean functioning bathroom, and more, all included in the ticket price. This was a stark contrast to Saturday, where I paid 4,00€ for a small Coca-Cola and had to use a poorly maintained bathroom with no running water.
As someone who avoids animal products, the food options outside the VIP tent were very limited. They only offered Bratwurst, chips, pizza, crepes, and asian noodles. With only the chips and noodles possibly being vegan. The VIP area offered a few more vegan options and a coffee station, which is something I missed sorely on Saturday.
Given the option, I would always opt for the VIP ticket.
Despite enjoying the event, it made me appreciate the sustainability efforts of Formula E. This event sorely lacked such initiatives. Apart from the inclusion of electric cars, there were no reusable bottles or cups, no proper vegan food options, and the smell of diesel vehicles was pervasive.
Did I enjoy being there? Yes, I did. Was my brain the most relaxed and calm it had been in a long time seeing the cars race along the road? Absolutely. Do I see many areas for improvement? 100%, and a lot of them.
Here are some impressions of the event:
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