The classic car parade and the motorcycle meeting on INTERSCHUTZ Saturday - this demonstration is likely to have rarity value not only in Hanover. On 25 June 2022, around 50 fire engines will drive through Hanover in a long procession.
The special feature: Together they should have around 2,000 years or more under their belt. This is because the convoy, which will make its way from INTERSCHUTZ to downtown Hannover in the morning and, after a breather in front of the New Town Hall, back to the exhibition grounds, is the big meeting of historic fire engines as part of the 29th German Firefighters' Day.
Motorcycle-Riding fire brigade fans
But not only vehicles from yesterday and the day before yesterday are on the road: The oldies meet together with the motorcycle-riding fire brigade fans ‘Red Knights’ (International Firefighters Motorcycle Club): Tradition meets modernity.
"Right at the opening of the last INTERSCHUTZ day, the participating vehicles will be available for visitors to visit on the INTERSCHUTZ site," promises Thomas Ruß from the Lower Saxony State Fire Brigade Association, who is organizing the event as project manager for the German Fire Brigade Association (DFV). "In the late morning, the start towards the city center is planned." Both at INTERSCHUTZ and during the planned two-hour stop in front of the town hall, there will be an opportunity to have ‘petrol talks’ with the drivers of the fire engines and motorcycles - as experts like to call their shop talk about the various high-horsepower models.
Small fire engine
Also involved is a historic Ford Transit small fire engine from the Wedemark fire brigade from 1963
One thing is already certain: "The spectators will get their money's worth," promises the organizer and gives a few examples. Among the ‘oldies’ is a 60-year-old Mercedes Benz 180 C, which was once available to the Hanoverian fire chief until August 1969 as an ELW 1 command vehicle. The pretty vehicle is privately owned in West Germany.
A turntable ladder, DL 25, from Klöckner-Humboldt-Deutz also bears witness to how much love and care, but also historical understanding of its owners, the vehicles are cared for. This also applies to a Hanomag LF 88 from 1954. Also involved is a historic Ford Transit small fire engine from the Wedemark fire brigade from 1963, which three years ago paid a friendly visit to the partner fire brigade in Roye, France, and covered 1,400 kilometers.
Event additional flair
Even the owner of a nearly 60-year-old TLF 16 tank fire truck from Bavaria is not worried about the longer journey to Hanover. He even wants to sit at the wheel in lederhosen. Other participants have announced that they will give the event additional flair in historical costumes.
"Just like the oldies, the motorcycles of the Red Knights will also find their fans," Thomas Ruß is sure. The Red Knights is the largest fire brigade motorcycle club in the world. The club was founded in 1982 in Boylston (Massachusetts) in the USA. As he reports on his homepage, there are now about 480 individual associations worldwide – so-called chapters – with more than 10,000 members. In Germany, 31 chapters with about 500 members are currently active.
