You’d be forgiven for thinking that a show as big and impressive as Ultrace Club 2024 would be a clinical affair with an insane amount of organization and a straightforward ‘in-and-out’ atmosphere.
But soon after that you have to give yourself a reality check and remember that Ultrace is a car event and nothing can go perfectly according to plan. That’s why I spent as much time as possible away from the event during my six nights in Poland and threw myself into the mix.
That didn’t just mean hitting as many restaurants, bars and clubs in the old town as possible (I promise I take my work travel very seriously) it also meant spending time with the enthusiasts who had travelled to Poland in their various tribes, hanging out and seeing what they do outside of the show.
I was lucky enough to have guides in the form of Gaston, Chris, Ian and Radu for the weekend – all involved in Continental car culture in one way or another. Ian was a huge help in my 2022 Nürburgring 24-hour mission.
After being picked up from Wrocław Airport in Chris’ BMW X5, we grabbed some lunch and headed back to their hotel to see what had happened to the parking lot. It didn’t take long to see what lay before us…
Visitors who didn’t take the Ultrac train and stayed at the Wrocław City Novotel probably thought the hotel was hosting its own car show.
I thought I would see a parking lot or two with some show cars scattered around the grounds, but this was downright ridiculous. Most had German plates, some Austrian, but surprisingly few Polish.
This could be because motorists are pack animals who like to travel in herds to protect themselves from predators on the road (read: German law enforcement).
While many showgoers spent the weekend just chilling in their cars, driving from parking lot to parking lot, others decided to go for a drive. The owner of this Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VII was one of them. Unfortunately, his front differential left the chat after a few full-power launches on sticky Yokohama Advan A052 tires.
No problem. With a supportive network like the Low Natic around you, you will surely reach the right people to help you out. I was happy to see the white Evo at the show a few days later.
If you’re not familiar with their antics, the Lownatics are a European car collective with some of the simplest and cleanest builds around. If it’s a cool JDM car or a clean European stance build on fully polished Work Meisters that’s blowing up on Instagram, it’s probably one of them.
It’s not just show prep that goes on for Ultrace. Because you might not see the people you see at the show again until the following year, there are always plenty of meet-ups around town.
Gaston, one of my guides, is quite well known in the German Toyota scene for the various JZX builds he has had over the years and what he has done with them. When I asked about car meets that were happening around the show, it didn’t take long for him to gather a group of JDM enthusiasts and organize one himself.
I almost thought I was in the UK, judging by the number of right-hand drive cars arriving at the (not so) abandoned tram depot near Wrocław’s industrial area.
It was fascinating to see the enthusiasm for Japanese imports outside the UK. Sure, the US has known about them for years, but apart from the 25 year rule, it’s a pretty straightforward ownership proposition.
Germans have it much harder with such strict rules in TÜV and import legislation. After a short research I had to give up; my headache is still lingering.
And yet no one at the gathering was particularly picky about their car, nor did there seem to be any division over how well modified people’s cars were or what model they drove.
The owners loved to be together and soak up the atmosphere, as the beautiful Polish sunset slowly approached and the weather was in full swing, dressed in shorts and t-shirts.
Two standouts for me were the JZX100 Toyota Chasers of Radu and Bert. Very different styles, one static, one bagged. Radu’s is perhaps more stylish with its kit and polished wheels, while Berk’s was more of a sleeper with its subtle bodywork and modified 1.5JZ under the bonnet. Can’t forget the TE37’s either.
Ultrace’s pre-public access was a very different beast than the Saturday and Sunday show. Thursday and Friday are setup days, and I’ll take this to my grave: setup days are the best part of any car show. Ever.
There is no hustle and bustle, no stress or ‘Did I miss the awards ceremony?’ to worry about. Just people taking the time to chat, and owners being able to admire/show their builds to others, knowing that they have all created something worth showing.
My two biggest lessons from my time in Poland around Club De Ultrace 2024? 1.) You are practically above the law in a black, tinted BMW X5 with German license plates. 2.) Car culture unites us all. Let’s not wait for big events to enjoy it together.
Mario Christou
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