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Printed: 19.04.2024.
PrintVintage car march starts in Vilnius to mark Baltic Way 30th anniversary
A solemn start to a march of vintage cars was given in
Vilnius on Sunday, held to mark the 30th anniversary of the Baltic Way, with
the organizers saying it's the first joint Lithuanian, Latvian and Estonian
event after the restoration of independence.
All in all, 205 vehicles, including cars, motorcycles and
one bus produced in 1975, had registered for the event but around 150 arrive in
Vilnius. Some of the vehicles also took part in the original Baltic Way.
Egidijus Einoris, the head of the Klasika vintage car club
organizing the event in Lithuania, said there have been attempts to do such a
joint march earlier but they were unsuccessful. And the 30th anniversary was an
incentive to step up forces.
"The Baltic Way's 30th jubilee was a great opportunity
to join forces. It's the first event by clubs uniting enthusiasts of vintage
vehicles after the restoration of independence. It's a historic event in this
case," Einoris told.
From Vilnius, vintage vehicles go via Panevezys and Pasvalys
in Lithuania, and then via Riga, Cesis and Valmiera in Latvia and Viljandi and
Turi in Estonia. They are scheduled to reach Tallinn on Aug 20.
The march participants will hold exhibitions and the Baltic
Way's commemorations in all these cities.
30 years ago, around 2 mln Lithuanians, Latvians and
Estonians joined their hands to express their wish to restore independence from
the Soviet Union. The Baltic Way took place on Aug 23, 1989 on the anniversary
of the 1939 Soviet and Nazi pact that led to the occupation of the Baltic
states.