It was one of those Saturdays when the light above Lake Starnberg had a clarity that is otherwise only known from Upper Bavarian Veduten painters. Around 11 o'clock we gathered in front of the clubhouse of the MRC. It smelled of gasoline, old leather and that joyful expectation that arises when automotive classics meet a community that carries rowing in its blood and a passion for aesthetics in its heart.
Three ‘helmsmen’, as they jokingly called themselves in advance, had invited to the benefit exit. The reason was the redemption of the previously auctioned rides in favor of the renovation of our clubhouse. The expectant passenger: Polly, Romano (Jenny's father) and Uli K.
Before we started the engines, there was a picture that deserved a double page in every car magazine: Nick presented his wonderful 1954 MG TF, owned by him for 50 years – a British car jewel. Bernd relied on his red MG B GT, built in 1973, which he has been keeping for 33 years. The trio was completed by Thomas in a 1964 Porsche 356 SC, whose boxer engine underscored the ride with an unmistakable soundscape.
We left Starnberg to the east. We glided over Kempfenhausen, while the wind softened the summer heat. In Assemhausen we made our first stop at the monumental Bismarckturm – the lookout tower built in 1899 in honour of the Chancellor of the Reich, whose bright arcades exude a surprising Mediterranean flair.
The route took us to Holzhausen. Here, where the church of St. Johann Baptist and Georg has been perched on a hill for more than 1,200 years, our convoy meandered up the narrow road. Arrived at the top, we took a picnic break. The landscape that shaped Patrick Süskind's childhood spread among us. It was almost thought that the atmosphere from the ‘History of Mr Sommer’ could be grasped between the hills. On a shady park bench we listened to Bernd, who presented the poem ‘Im Auto über Land’ from ‘Doktor Erich Kästners Lyrische Hausapotheke’. As the verses narrated from the sky as if from ‘blue porcelain’ and the feather clouds, we looked up: Nature followed the script. A smile passed through the group at the stanza about the father driving the car ‘without error over hills and through valleys’, while we agreed at the verse ‘Permanent forest, and nowhere beer’ that we shared the desire for refreshment.
So we made another stop in Seeshaupt at the ice cream shop Allora Signora. According to locals, there is the best ice cream far and wide. Without any remorse, we spooned large ice cream cups with cream empty, while passers-by gazed at our chariots sparkling in the sun with a mixture of recognition and nostalgia.
Before proceeding, the passengers exchanged their seats. The path led us further into the heart of the Pfaffenwinkel. Everyone enjoyed the ride visibly and waved cheerfully out of the cars.
Polly later described this condition with sporting intuition as a ‘superflow in the skiff’ or the feeling of an ‘absolutely harmonious foursome’, while our convoy found the rhythm of the country road and took the turns as safely as a perfectly trimmed boat took the water.
In the Alte Ziegelei, a carefully restored industrial monument from 1870, and the former Augustinian monastery, baroque and technical history combined. In the midst of the world-famous collection of the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL ‘winged door’, we felt like we were in a cathedral of automobile construction. Only the heat prevented us from subsequently visiting the STOA169 art project – an impressive collection of decorated open-air columns.
Instead, we returned to the nearby beer garden of Polling and enjoyed a cool light in the shade of the trees. Bernd conjured from his picnic basket under great hello a wonderful snack on the table, lovingly prepared by Bernd's wife Claudia, from which all break snacks of the day came. Of course, we met her well-being. During dinner, rowing memories and anecdotes alternated with gasoline conversations. Bernd's route planning, which seemed as light as it was inspiring, and the beautiful bodies were all so impressed that some spontaneously increased their donations. So 3,500 euros came together in favor of the clubhouse renovation. This doubled the original amount. Thank you very much!
Happy about the successful day together we decided for a quick return trip to Starnberg. When we finally arrived at the MRC in the late afternoon, where our families were already waiting, there was no need for long speeches. The sun was burning, the sea was calling. Together we jumped from the jetty into the cool water – a moment of pure refreshment that rounded off this day of community, technology and good cause in the most beautiful way.