FIVA World Motorcycle Rally 2019

Open to any owner and enthusiast with a motorcycle built prior to 1984, not only FIVA members, this 3-day touring event celebrates the fun of riding classic motorcycles on the road – in this case discovering a hidden gem of the Mediterranean: Istria, a peninsula shared by Croatia, Slovenia and Italy.

It is in Istria that the world-renowned truffle can be found, where charming hilltop villages welcome visitors – and it’s easy to enjoy gourmet meals and fine Istrian wines while discovering local secrets, history and spectacular sites.

Of particular interest to many will be the third day of the tour, dedicated to Trieste in Italy, where participants can preview the exhibition on Camillo Castiglioni (a huge influence on early BMW) at Palazzo Gopcevich, and ride the legendary climb of the ‘Trieste-Opicina’ race. Starting from Piazza Unità d’Italia in downtown Trieste, the tour will follow the route of the race that ran from 1911 to 1971 and became known as ‘The Uphill Monza’, arriving some 10km later on the Karst plateau, around 330m above sea-level.

Participants will be staying at the four-star Hotel Sol Umag on the Croatian coast, among Mediterranean pine trees and a short walk from the many seaside pools, buffets, restaurants, fitness and spa centres, as well as the historical attractions of central Umag.

The cost of the tour is 450 euros per person, including three nights’ accommodation from 27–30 June, all food and refreshments during the rally, the social programme and museum visits, reserved parking, motorcycle service at the car park, welcome gifts and a memorial plaque, plus a shuttle/bus for non-riding companions.

Itinerary

27th June – after the breakfast buffet, the tour will spend the day in Istria, one of the most popular holiday destinations in Croatia. Accompanied by experienced marshals on modern motorcycles, participants will visit the town Porec and its surroundings, returning to the hotel via Grožnjan, a small picturesque medieval settlement.

28th June – a visit to the city of Piran with a guided walk through the city and harbour, followed by a visit to the birthplace – now a museum – of the world-famous violin virtuoso Giuseppe Tartini. The winding road will lead the tour between vineyards and olive plantations to the newly opened wine cellar ‘Rodica’, known for its culinary delicacies such as prosciutto, sausages, cheeses, salami and local wines. The return trip to the hotel is via the picturesque Slovene Istria and the centuries-old salt pans of Secovlje.

29th June – riding to the heart of Trieste, participants will be welcomed by the Mayor and the President of the region, as well as meeting the members of Motoclub Trieste – the oldest club in Italy, founded in the summer of 1906. While the tour’s motorcycles are on display in the square, participants are invited to preview the Camillo Castiglioni exhibition at Palazzo Gopcevich: ‘Camillo Castiglioni: the Triestino that brought BMW to success’. There will also be an exhibition of the history of BMW motorcycles, from the first prototypes to modern production, and a presentation of the book ‘La Trieste Opicina Motociclistica’ by motorcycle author Dr. Franco Damiani. Plus there will be a display of British Frazer Nash cars in the Piazza Unità d’Italia, following the world meeting in Bolzano.

Then it’s time for the ride up the route of the ‘Trieste-Opicina’ race, starting from downtown Trieste and ending at the Karst plateau, 330m above sea-level. After a traditional regional lunch and local attractions, the tour will return to the hotel for the final night’s gala dinner, with music and an awards ceremony.

For more details and an entry form, please see our webpage https://fwmr2019.svamz.com/.

Notes to Editors

FIVA (the Fédération Internationale des Véhicules Anciens) is the worldwide organisation dedicated to the preservation, protection and promotion of historic vehicles and related culture, as well as their safe use. Since April 2017, FIVA has been a non-governmental partner of UNESCO, and continues to pursue its successful FIVA World Motoring Heritage Year programme.

For more press information, or to speak to a FIVA representative for a specific country, please contact Gautam Sen, FIVA’s Vice President Communications on communications@fiva.org, +33(0) 6 87 16 43 39 (mobile), or +33 9 66 12 44 64 (landline).