I.C.E. St. Moritz 2022 – Racing on a Frozen Lake
WINTER IN THE SUNNIEST MOUNTAIN CITY… ON ICE!
When Piotr and I decided to visit St. Moritz for this year’s edition of I.C.E. we were not entirely sure how to arrive to one of the sunniest city in the World. We decided to drive, and… well, it was a long, long drive. About 1400 kilometres in one go makes for around seventeen hours in the car. One way! Yes, we went straight from Warsaw to St. Moritz without any intermediate sleepovers. Guess we could not wait to see the sun!
The 300 sunny days a year do not disappoint and when matched with sub-zero temperatures of way beyond -20 centigrade they make for perfect winter sports conditions. Winter sports? Skiing, snowboarding, ice skating… The latter is actually quite close. What if one took a frozen lake, an oval, winter horse racing track on it and matched it with fifty pristine and very unique classic cars, going full speed sideways? Well, that basically is the definition of I.C.E. St. Moritz – with the abbreviation standing for International Concours of Elegance – but hey, there is lots of regular ice involved, too!
AMAZING FORMULA WITH EXCELLENT EXECUTION
The usual concourse of elegance are more or less organised in a very similar way. There is a (hopefully very scenic) location and some (usually very rare and expensive) vehicles are displayed on its premises. In addition to that (often very still) exhibition there may (or may not) be a parade, where visitors can admire the cars going five (or maybe ten) kilometres an hour.
I.C.E. St. Moritz takes the first ingredient and scraps the second. World class automobiles are driven by their owners onto an icy display and then take turns, in their groups, to almost race on an oval track. In theory the speed limit is set at 30 kilometres an hour, but I assure you, hardly anyone stuck to it!
What a refreshing sight it was to see all of the crown jewels of the automotive world in action! Here chapeau bas to their owners – it takes special kind of passion to enjoy their machinery in, after all, quite a risky event. Sliding fast on studded tires in a classic vehicle requires lots of driving skills but when done right is just spectacular. The visual pleasures were doubtlessly amplified by the quality of the automobiles admitted for the show… Right! Participants!
THE CARS WERE THE STARS… EVEN LITERALLY!
Whilst the entry list for almost every World-class concours of elegance is impressive, the list we were presented at I.C.E. was at least matching the best. Fifty vehicles were split into five different categories, very well thought through – Jet Set on Ice, Stars on Wheels, Vintage Road Racing, Barchettas on the Lake and Vintage Grand Prix. All cars but one were from the 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s. Standing out from the crowd was Pagani Zonda HP Barchetta driven by Horacio Pagani himself.
Very interesting was the category covering cars which played roles in movies. Visitors could admire potentially the most famous intelligence vehicle in the world – James Bond’s Aston Martin DB5. The car had all the special equipment installed, including a retractable bullet shield, special radar, wheel-cap-based tire cutters and special bumpers! To top it all off, it was driven by a man who dressed like the 007 and shot blank cartridges to another special movie car on the chase… Ferrari 250 GTE 2+2. The only Ferrari that ever “entered” the Polizia liveries, starred in a 1977 movie called Poliziotto Sprint. Movie set, right there on ice!
To the delight of the crowds the GTE 250 2+2 was not the only two-fifty coming to St. Moritz. Driving like there is no tomorrow was also an exhibit of the most expensive car in the world – the 250 GTO. Originating from 1963 this might well be the most driven GTO out there. Brad Wang – its owner – said, that “he has done everything with this car, except driving it on ice…” Well, now he has! Lastly, there were distinguished 250 Lusso and a 250 SWB, complimenting the quartet perfectly!
A STRONG ITALIAN REPRESENTATION
Passionate about all kind of automobiles as I am, it is Italian motoring that is especially close to my heart. In that, I.C.E. St. Moritz suited my taste very well. The amount of classic Ferraris, Maseratis, and Lamborghinis was astonishing and if you asked me what was my favourite car of the event, it would be a very difficult choice to make.
Let’s start with the brand from Maranello! To top the four 250s off was a stellar Ferrari 750 Monza Spider Scaglietti. It looked just jaw-dropping on the main straight of the circuit on the approach to the town and after a long inner debate, it would be my favourite Ferrari of the weekend. Another one, which I actually knew thanks to an inspiring Petrolicious video, was the 246 GTS Dino. Nicknamed “Viola” from the Viola Metallizzato colour and owned by Cici Muldoon – one of the members of the jury, enthusiast and entrepreneur – contrasted beautifully with the snow.
Similar light play was offered by amazingly restored Lamborghini Countach LP400 Periscopio, bearing a very descriptive 77 UFO registration plate. It was not the only vehicle, which Simon Kidston brought onto the frozen lake. The second one was the Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Zagato, whose bianco spino worked like a perfect camouflage on the snow! Slightly more contrasting yet very classy and chic was pastel blue Lancia Aurelia B24 S America. A right car in the right place!
There were, however, two real show stealers with the Tridente on the hood. First was a 1953 Maserati A6GCS Berlinetta, considered by many one of the most beautiful designs of the automotive history. Its beautiful sleek lines just flowed on ice and whenever it passed, I was tempted to hum Chris de Burgh’s “Lady in Red”. A more aggressive in its lines was its successor - Maserati 200S – manufactured in only 28 pieces. Powered by a two-litre straight-four it definitely had what it takes to slide on ice!
THE VINTAGE RACERS
Certainly one of the more entertaining classes to watch were the vintage racers. The single- and double-seaters which had partaken in various Grand Prix dating as far back as 1932, now had the chance to show their abilities on this very unusual circuit. Oh boy, what a show has it been! Some of their very brave (and very skilled) pilots wore era-matching leather hats and helmets, which completed the looks full of bravado.
Racing was the “Best of Show” Alfa Romeo Tipo B/P3 driven in the past by Tazio Nuvolari, followed by Ferrari 246 Dino F1 and two Maseratis – 4CL and 250F. The latter was a real F1 beast. The model is famously known for scoring two World Championships for Juan Manuel Fangio back in the years. Seeing these cars sideways on the snow was spectacular, and a standing ovation to the driver who instead of studded tires chose… chains!
THERE COULD ONLY BE A FEW WINNERS
Despite each and every car being special in a way and representing the pinnacle of vintage motoring, there could only be one winner. A jury consisting of eleven members – including amongst others Yasmin Le Bon, Cici Muldoon, Horacio Pagani and Philip Rathgen – chose the one and only in each class.
Remarkably, the Jet Set on Ice was awarded to the Ferrari 275 GTB Alloy owned by Katarina Kyvalova. This exhibit was a long-nose alloy-body, representing a population of only four such cars ever made. Interestingly, being a matching-numbers, this car was also the official ‘Prova’ vehicle for Ferrari at the Rallye Monte Carlo. The day before the event Piotr and I had the chance of chasing the duo from Julier Pass to St. Moritz. Skilled in driving and brave as she is, Katarina evaded after say… three corners.
Then, Lamborghini Miura starring in the Italian Job won the Stars on Wheels class, followed by Morris Mini Cooper S ex Works clinching first in the Vintage Road Racing category. The Mini was used to winning back in the years, too – it did so in many rallies including the Coupe des Alpes! Jaguar C-Type, nota bene owned by the same family since 1970s, was acclaimed the best Barchetta on the Lake, whilst Maserati 4CL took the first spot of the Vintage Grand Prix class. What a quintet!
REFRESHING CONCOURSE FORMULA WITH A SPIN
After yet another running session for the winners, the chequered flag was waved and cars returned to their display spots, beaming with heat from the engines and smelling of high-octane fuel. Since the snow is very clean they still look untouched, with certain parts of the bodywork being crowned with icicles. This is an award for everyone!
The International Concours of Elegance 2022 St. Moritz put a completely different twist on the topic of automotive beauty contests. The finest cars, which are not only stationary but bravely driven at speeds is the recipe for success. The icing (pun intended) is the picturesque, mountainous scenery bathed in almost guaranteed sunshine. As the event is open to the public, it is high time to pencil in the calendar its next edition!
Thanks to Piotr (Fotopatologia) for sharing the drive, to Stellantis Poland for providing with a car.
Text & Photos: Adam Pekala ©
