It’s the Tuesday after a busy, busy Ultrace 2023. I’m sitting at Wrocław Airport ready for my flight again to London, grinning from ear to ear as I get pleasure from my comedown after an incredible weekend in Poland.
I knew what I used to be getting myself into, however no quantity of Instagram hype might correctly put together me for the insanity of Ultrace. It was whole sensory overload introduced on by means of two action-packed days of stay drifting paired with a sunny automobile present that spiralled across the large Wrocław Stadium.
Ultrace is an occasion I’ve been just about spectating for a couple of years. That is partly right down to my Polish roots and partly right down to the easy undeniable fact that the Poles, undisputedly, have the most effective angle to automobile tradition of any European nation. That is one thing they show to us yr in and yr out by means of Ultrace and its surrounding occasions, leaving foreigners like me to take a seat again and spectate by means of our little telephone screens, wishing we could possibly be there to expertise it first hand.
The eye to element and general styling of Polish-built automobiles is one factor, however their capability to run with their abilities and switch them right into a welcoming, inviting neighborhood is the magic mud on the entire ecosystem that surrounds Ultrace.
The very first thing I consider once I look again on the weekend’s present is the pure theatrical expertise of all of it. I’m leaving Poland feeling impressed to do extra; to construct one other mission automobile; to get take extra pictures and to see everybody once more.
Ultrace does this to you. You permit the occasion feeling a thousand associates richer, whom you inevitably meet alongside the way in which.
I received the impression that years of web friendships have been lastly realised at Ultrace. I do know it was undoubtedly the case for me in addition to everybody I spoke to, giving the occasion a social buzz which you’d normally expertise at a household marriage ceremony or Christmas.
I’ve already written concerning the calm earlier than the Ultrace 2023 storm, teeing you up for what was to come back. Now, let’s buckle up and tuck into what this yr’s occasion was all about.
For this particular article, Vlad took care of the pictures. He’s additionally already coated Mariusz Michalski’s Pontiac Fiero GT, which took house Ultrace 2023’s high trophy.
The awards ceremony itself was a spectacle, with 5 judges voting stay in a knock-out type battle. Prize-giving can at all times be hit or miss at occasions, as there’s a positive line between turning one thing that’s imagined to be enjoyable right into a bureaucratic process. Not right here although. The MC was working the gang and earlier than you knew it there have been hundreds of individuals counting right down to reveal the winner.
The runners up have been all unbelievable too, with a bagged Rolls-Royce Silver Spur on customized break up OEM wheels taking second spot.
My private favorite? It must be the one and solely ‘Kebin’ constructed by Nightride. An unbelievable engineering train has seen the group flip a bit Suzuki Carry van into, effectively… simply look a it! The Frankenstein-esque creation makes use of an precise bike because the operating gear. I extremely encourage you to do some digging round within the web to see some movies of this factor on the transfer. It’s not like something I’ve ever seen.
A lot of individuals within the crowd have been cheering for Kebin to win the primary award, however the competitors was powerful and effectively armed.
One of many judges was a well-known face: Wataru Kato of Liberty Stroll. Kato-san introduced a few automobiles over for the occasion, together with his personal Tremendous Silhouette-inspired R34 Skyline inserting within the High 16. Cheekily, Kato voted for himself when this one popped as much as be judged for the highest prize.
However, the High 16 automobiles have been simply scratching the floor of every part on present.
Euro, JDM, American – Ultrace 2023 had over 1,400 automobiles on show, offering one thing for everybody.
One model undoubtedly stood out to me although, and very quickly I’ll be bringing you a narrative spotlighting the development. Any guesses as to what it could possibly be? Right here’s a tip – it’s near my coronary heart. For those who’ve seen my tales earlier than, it received’t be exhausting to guess.
Because it was my first time at Ultrace, I’m unable to check the 2023 occasion to prior ones, however I observed an consideration to element in preserving automobiles clear and stylish. The traits of stickers getting plastered throughout home windows is on its manner out. Minimalism is in proper now, and apparently it’s not taking away from the builds in any respect. If something, it’s making them extra interesting to have a look at. Even when hen liveries are concerned, they’re orchestrated and organised.
I can inform that thought and care went into each construct right here, and the Poles have been eager to level out to me that the majority of modifications are home- and hand-made. Bolt-on components aren’t as widespread and celebrated right here as they’re in different components of Europe; customized fabrication is king, and it reveals. A by-product of that is folks’s care and a spotlight to their builds. It’s an absolute pleasure to see and makes the present a lot extra participating each for the spectators and people exhibiting their automobiles.
The factor that introduced me essentially the most pleasure over the entire weekend although was the drift show placed on by the Subsequent Stage Drift group. All through the entire weekend, there was a crowd of two,000+ folks stretching above the monitor wanting down at an occasion made up of 80 or so automobiles. However right here’s the vital bit: these have been show-quality drift automobiles displaying their sport to the viewers.
Drifting is king in Poland, and Polish grassroots drift automobiles have an enormous affect on the game throughout the remainder of Europe.
Maybe you’d prefer to see a gallery of my time with the Subsequent Stage Drift guys over the weekend? Tell us within the feedback part beneath.
I began off penning this occasion story with an enormous grin on my face, and I can verify to you now that, over 1,000 phrases later, the smile remains to be there.
The entire Ultrace expertise was unforgettable, and it provides me real pleasure to have a Polish surname. A novel feeling from an expertise I sit up for experiencing once more. See you subsequent yr, Ultrace.
Michał Fidowicz
Instagram: candyshowroom
Images by Vladimir Ljadov
Instagram: wheelsbywovka
as a result of@wheelsbywovka.com
www.wheelsbywovka.com
