Belgrade April 1975 Rally
Sajamsko-Aprilski Rally 1975

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Belgrade April 1975 Rally Photos and Stories.

Photos and story provided by Ljubomir Ivanović Contact Photographer for Information.

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Belgrade April 1975 Rally

Sajamsko-aprilski rally 1975
Smatra se da su 70' prošlog veka bile zlatno doba automobilizma u bivšoj Jugoslaviji. Vozila su se posebno tri Šampionata, u reliju, na kružnim stazama i na brdskim stazama. Takmičenja su organizovana i za prvenstvo Evrope. Na svakom takmičenju učestvovao je veliki broj takmičara, i preko sto, raspoređenih u više klasa, sa automobilima koji su se u tom trenutku vozili i u Evropi. Takmičenja je posmatrao veliki broj gledalaca, na trkama skoro 100.000.

1975. moj prijatelj Predrag Peca Rajčić učesvovao je na jednom od prvih reli takmičenja te godine, Sajamsko-aprilski rally 1975, sa automobilom Zastava 101, klasa do 1150 ccm zapremine motora, Grupa 1, nekada, serijski automobili.

Na tom takmičenju bio sam mu suvozač.

Automobil je bio vlasništvo njegovog oca koji ga je koristio za svakodnevnu vožnju. Kao takav nije imao zaštitni kavez, rolbar, pa smo od plastičnih cevi napravili imitaciju. Sa tim smo prošli tehnički pregled i startovali na reliju. Start je bio na Beogradskom sajmu, na kome se u tom trenutku održavao sajam automobila.

Posle starta u Beogradu odmah se išlo na Avalu, planinu u blizini, gde je trebalo da se vozi prvi brdsko-brzinski ispit.

Inače, na Avali se uvek okupljao veliki broj gledalaca.

Od starta se kreće u blagi desnu, pa blagu levu krivinu, zatim dugačak pravac, pa oštra leva krivina. U tu levu krivinu smo ušli prebrzo, automobil se zaneo i prevrnuo na levi bog, a zatim sam ispravio pri čemu su zadnji točkovi bili u jarku. Motor se u tom tumbanju ugasio, a kako se pokvario automat anlasera nije mogao da se ponovo startuje. Izašao sam iz automobila i uz pomoć gledalaca izgurao automobil. Upalili smo automobil na guranje i otišli do vrha Avale. Nakon toga odustali smo od daljeg takmičenja.

U automobilskom časopisu Auto, broj 10, izašao je tekst sa fotografijama o ovom reliju. Tekst i fotografije je uradio Miroljub Buca Nikolić, poznati automobilski novinar. Poslao sam mu ovaj tekst elektronskom poštom. Bio je oduševljen kada ga je ponovo video. Bio je to jedan od prvih zadataka koji je dobio na početku novinarske karijere.

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Belgrade April 1975 Rally
It is believed that the 1970's was the golden age of motoring in the former Yugoslavia. Particularly three championship Rally's on circular paths and mountain trails. The Competitions were organized for the European Championship. At each competition more than a hundred teams, divided into multiple classes, with cars that were competitively racing in Europe. The Rally's drew a large number of spectators, to the races approaching 100,000 people.

In 1975, my friend Predrag Peca Rajčić učesvovao entered one of the first rallies of the year, the Exhibit - The April 1975 Rally, driving a Zastava (Flag) 101 in Group 1, (street cars) the Class up to 1150 cc engine displacement.

The car was owned by his father, who used it for everyday driving. As such did not have a protective cage, (rollbar), so we made an imitation of plastic pipe. With that we have passed technical inspection and started the rally.

In this competition, I was his passenger.

The start was at the Belgrade Fair where at the time they held the auto show. After starting in Belgrade the route immediately went to Avala Mountain near where we were to drive the first hilly special stage.

The Avala section always had a large number of viewers. From start,the route move in slightly to the right, then a slight left curve, then a long straight, and sharp left turns.

In the automotive magazine Auto, number 10, there is an article with photos of the rally. The text and photos is by Miroljub Buca Nikolic, a known automotive journalist. I sent him this text by e-mail. He was delighted when he saw the story again. It was one of his first tasks that were assigned to him at the beginning of a career in journalism.

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In the left-hand bend we went in too fast, the car skidded and rolled over on the left side, then I righted the car while the rear wheels were in the ditch. The engine died as we tumbled over and was so broke the automatic starter could not restart it. I got out of the car and with the help of spectators push-started the car, which we then drove to the top of Avala.

After that we gave up the tournament.

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