Tour de Cebu: road trip down memory lane

RENOWNED furniture maker Kenneth Cobonpue with his Jaguar XKE

The Tour De Cebu ran another successful vintage car rally this weekend, the third successful staging of this event by the Cebu-based Performance And Classic Enthusiasts (PACE), a group of like-minded car guys from the island.

A total of 33 vintage and classic cars made the 980-kilometer drive, which began in Cebu on Thursday night with a ceremonial flagoff at SM Seaside Mall, then a ferry ride to Bohol.  The official rally start began at Tubigon Plaza in Bohol on Friday morning.

Going round the island of tarsiers and Chocolate Hills a couple times were classics of years, shapes and even wheel layout that had the crowds surprised and delighted.

Fans of American cars would have reminiscing the 1966 Pontiac GTO that was twice as long as some of the other entrants.

Porsche fans had their pick of cars that came from Stuttgart or those created as 356 homages by the esteemed Michel Motors.

Enthusiasts of Japanese cars pored over the Honda S800 and the Datsun Zs with delight.

Oldest and youngest

The oldest car was a 1959 MGA, but the youngest were surprisingly not the Porsche homages but the three-wheeled open roadsters from Morgan Garages driven each by two hearty husband and wife couples.

ENTRY No. 280 was a 1968 Mercedes Benz 350SL co-driven by Eduardo Aboitiz and Lee Lozada.

The event had time stages (well-run and within speed parameters to ensure safety) along beautiful seaside and challenging mountain road. Stops were at local municipalities, plazas, schools and sometimes just on a nice spot of road.

OVERALL winner was Marty Aguilar’s Toyota S800 (Entry No. 32), a vintage car that is not only thoroughly enjoyable but rare enough to be more in museums nowadays than on the road.

The school venues were particularly challenging and fun, as children immediately swarmed cars and drivers, gleefully shouting and taking photos.

Rain or shine

The rally ran rain and shine, and the open-topped Spyders and Morgans had no provisions for even a soft-top.

ENTRY No. 20 was a classic 1972 Porsche 911E. It caused some confusion at gas stops because it had an oil filter cap in the back where most cars have gas caps.

An amazingly fun time was had by all, and the noise that arrived at the BE Grand Resort finish line on Panglao Island ensured that this wonderful opportunity to put classic and enthusiast vehicles through their paces will continue to charm all those that hear of it.

The rally ran rain and shine, and the open-topped classics had no provisions for even a soft-top.