Engines and people have one thing in common: the better they’re warmed up, the smoother they perform. Some participants of the Eggentaler Herbst Classic have long taken that to heart and arrive days before the official start of the rally. Not only because the pre-rally program is worth it.

“It really feels like being on vacation,” says Wolfgang Stegemann, who wants to take a moment of calm before the intense rally days begin—just like Andrea and Axel Prym, who got to know the spectacular new campsite in Deutschnofen. Around the Ganischgerhof, participants were already gathering for aperitifs at the hotel bar or an evening at the Lahneralm in Aldein, where, as every year, Karl Frei from the Schreckbichl Winery offered a fine selection of wines for tasting.

And meanwhile, the early birds among the rally participants could take their time preparing their cars—so that by Thursday, everything would be running as smoothly as the engines themselves.

Rally Director Klaus Pichler Live on Air

Anyone who’s ever organized an event knows the feeling: at first, there’s all the time in the world to plan, and at the end, every second counts. In the weeks leading up to the Eggentaler Herbst Classic, rally director Klaus Pichler could easily use days with 48 hours.

Yet during a long interview on RAI Südtirol radio, he sounded remarkably relaxed as he explained what makes a classic car rally like his so unique: precision instead of speed, a celebration of culture, regional value creation—and, of course, the fact that over the years, many participants have become regulars and true ambassadors of South Tyrol.
Take, for instance, the group led by Tony Maessen from Belgium, who each year embark on a multi-day tour to reach the Eggentaler Herbst Classic—accompanied by Klaus himself. This time, they met at Arieshof high above the Pusteria Valley, a hidden South Tyrolean gem renowned for its excellent cuisine and regional products. There, they joined other pilots and co-pilots—about ten cars in total—who had driven from the Ganischgerhof to meet them.
Getting into the spirit of shared adventure even before the rally starts has long been part of the Eggentaler Herbst Classic tradition. Many guests were already browsing the newly printed rally magazine and stopping by the race office—by the day before the rally, more than half the starting numbers and roadbooks had already been picked up.
So, dinner and drinks were full of cheerful reunions among returning participants—and also a chance for some newcomers to get a taste of what the 20th anniversary edition would bring. Talk revolved not just around the challenges of the rally route, but also, as always, around the timeless trio that defines this event year after year: sun, fun, and great food.

The Tyrolean evening returns to the Ganischgeralm

The cultural heritage that Klaus Pichler spoke of on the radio isn’t just about vintage cars—it’s also about living traditions that remain vibrant today, especially in food and music. And at the Eggentaler Herbst Classic, this blend comes together every year in the legendary Tyrolean Evening on the Ganischgeralm.
Once again, chef Youss Bouachir and his team were in full swing in the kitchen, serving South Tyrolean specialties like speck, Kaminwurzen, mountain cheese, deer goulash, and sweet plum dumplings. With full bellies, guests swayed to folk music, sang along, and even waltzed later into the night. Everyone agreed: the Tyrolean Evening is an inseparable part of the 20-year history of the Eggentaler Herbst Classic.
Sometimes you only realize how important and special certain traditions are when they’re missing. After last year’s necessary logistical detour, when the Tyrolean Evening had to be held at the hotel, Klaus and his team kept their word and brought the beloved event back to its rustic alpine hut setting—with a spectacular comeback that included dancing deep into the night to the tunes of Georg Pichler, a.k.a. DJ Schicky.
Of course, the day’s prologue also featured a bit of driving: at 2 p.m. sharp, the spectacular pre-war Alfa Romeo 6C1750 GS Zagato, driven by Ronald Goedmakers and Catharina Cerfonteijn-Goedmakers, led the field. The route—stretching idyllically from Deutschnofen via Obereggen, the Reiterjoch, and the Lavazè Pass—offered breathtaking mountain views of the Latemar and Rosengarten massifs. It set the bar high for scenic beauty and proved once again how magical rally life in South Tyrol can be.
One could easily get used to it—and perhaps take to heart the slogan printed on one of the musicians’ aprons that night: “Work ruins the whole day.”

Selfie time with t-shirt weather

It’s hard to imagine that just six weeks after the rally, the ski season in the Eggental will already be in full swing. Because on the second day of this anniversary edition of the Eggentaler Herbst Classic, the weather was perfect for t-shirts — at least once the sun had risen above the Dolomite peaks of Rosengarten and Latemar.
And yet, the day offered a small preview of the winter to come. Early in the morning, the vests from rally sponsor Nordisk were among the most coveted items, keeping participants warm in the shade. Later, cable car rides to the two ski and hiking areas of the Eggental-Carezza and Latemar Dolomites – were on the program for the espresso stop and lunch.
From Predazzo, participants ascended to the beautifully sunny Baita Gardonè, where the Ganis team provided irresistible fuel in the form of homemade cannelloni.
It was full-on selfie time at this so-called “Mountain Riviera” high above Predazzo, offering not only spectacular Dolomite views but also a unique sight below: from the cable car, 130 gleaming vintage cars parked neatly together made for an unforgettable panorama—right beside the construction site preparing the Predazzo ski jumps for the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Before lunch, guests enjoyed what might have been the most delicious cake buffet ever, at the Laurins Lounge, South Tyrol’s highest panoramic terrace, framed by the cliffs of the Rosengarten.
But the day’s indulgence didn’t end there. That evening’s buffet featured, among other delights from Youss & Co., sushi that was quite literally out of this world—both in quality and in quantity. Some participants may have felt their Nordisk vests fitting a bit more snugly afterward, but that didn’t matter—because the evening dress code was glitter and glamour.
And anyone who thought there was “more tinsel in the old days” was proven wrong, especially by the dazzling Swiss contingent. Peter Schmid and Lukas Huber, for example, took inspiration from Roy Black and went all-in with golden outfits.

Almost too beautiful to be true

Anyone who thinks “Ritten Sport” sounds like a brand of chocolate is mistaken—it’s actually the name of one of South Tyrol’s best ice hockey clubs, based in an arena set against a breathtaking mountain backdrop. And it was here, in the outdoor area of the Klobenstein ice rink on Bolzano’s local mountain, that the final day of the 20th Eggentaler Herbst Classic featured one of the most scenic rally tests ever—on the very track where speed skaters usually race.
This final day will surely be remembered for a long time. “The photos and videos are almost too beautiful to be true,” said James Latham, who had traveled all the way from New York, as he watched the evening’s highlights reel. It was a moving look back at three unforgettable days—and at the grand finale around Bolzano: the peaceful morning light over the Latemar and Rosengarten near Karneid, the spectacular views of the Schlern and Seiser Alm on the drive up to the Ritten, and the winding descent into South Tyrol’s capital city.
There, the rally convoy was granted the rare privilege of parking around the Cathedral—an attraction for countless onlookers and a perfect opportunity to walk to Restaurant Meta, whose rooftop terrace offered wonderful views over Waltherplatz. Before continuing to Kaltern, participants stopped by Vögelino for two generous scoops of gelato each—complete with matching smiles.
At the Concours d’Élégance in the center of Deutschnofen, the grand finale awaited. Karl Pardeller, a veteran who has participated in all 20 editions of the Eggentaler Herbst Classic, was already confident he’d take home the special prize for Best Outfit. Along with his wife Magda, his friend Heinrich Zelger, and Heinrich’s wife Michaela Amplatz, Karl has long given the Concours d’Élégance its unmistakable flair. “If we don’t win today,” Karl joked, elegantly dressed in a fine suit and top hat, “we won’t bother dressing up anymore.”
He had to wait until the evening, when the rally concluded in Deutschnofen’s Nova Teutonica cultural center with a gala event worthy of the anniversary. As Klaus Pichler announced the Concours results to the sounds of the Laid Back Orchestra performing smooth cover songs in the background, Karl could finally relax—knowing that next year, we can look forward once again to the high-style looks of Magda, Michaela, Heinrich, and himself.

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The 21st edition of the Eggentaler Herbst Classic will take place from 8 to 10 October 2026.