Sundowner 2022
Hosted by Emil’s Garage, 06 August 2022
A couple of streets down from Hamburg Central Station we see a beautiful yellow Porsche Targa from the late 70s or early 80s parked in front of a shop.
We take two or three photos and wonder whether we’re going to see it again that same evening. Close to our hotel, there are even more cars from the 80s and 90s cruising around. But we’re tired. We got up at 4 am, the first train was late, the second train, that was supposed to be on time, was late, too, and of course we didn’t make our ICE train in Cologne. Back and forth, we got a written confirmation of the delay, got a coffee, admired the cathedral in the early-morning sunlight and waited for the next IC train. About four hours to Hamburg. AC at full blast, making it feel like it's 14 degrees on that train. “We probably have another car that’s too warm.” Right … We check in at the hotel and sleep for a good hour. Holiday Inn have incredibly comfy beds.
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We take a shower and get ready, all the while there are more automotive gems from the 80s and 90s racing past. We cross the bridge over to Emil’s Sundowner event. On the way over to Baakenhöft, there’s already a queue of cars, mainly Porsches and W124 Mercedes-Benz, but also a great 205 GTI and an MX-5 with pop-up headlights, plus some nice BMWs and a couple of motorbikes. The gate is still closed, because after all, it’s still not quite 5 o’clock. Anticipation and excitement can be measured in car lengths that evening. Finally, Emil unlocks the gate. Ticket check and a warm-hearted welcome from this go-getter guy, who, when he has an idea, does everything he can to put it into action. And that night, his idea will turn out to be a grand success once again!
That night, Emil’s idea turns out to be a grand success once again!
The drivers get their precious cars into position. Mercedes-Benz are parked next to Porsches next to Toyotas next to Peugeots next to Saabs next to Nissans next to VWs next to Ferraris … The owners lock up their cars and stroll past the other people’s rides, admiring them, towards the bar and food stalls. Bratwurst meets sushi meets summer rolls. Splendid! There’s coffee from an old HY van and the DJ starts his set.
The weather is perfect, sunlight reflecting off shiny paint, and everywhere there’s men, women, kids, and dogs inspecting cars and talking shop. Chatting about the Nissan Skyline as well as the BMW 7 series, about the low-budget classic Renault 5 as well as the collector Porsches. And exactly this is the appeal of this event: No one needs to hide their car in some corner just because their classic is “just” their nan’s old bread-and-butter car from the 80s. And there’s zero competition over who has the most original 911 or the rarest Ferrari. Each and every car is treated with the same amount of respect, because the people here have understood that this is not about having a better car than everyone else. They know that this is about everyone who’s here having an absolute passion for their car and automobiles in general. It’s a passion they share and that brings them together. This is what creates these great and long-lasting memories of this second Sundowner in Hamburg.
People here have understood that this is not about having a better car than everyone else. They know that this is about everyone who’s here having an absolute passion for their car and automobiles in general. There’s zero competition over who has the most original 911 or the rarest Ferrari.
Apart from the cars, Emil and his partners and sponsors have arranged a couple more attractions inside the Baakenhöft Cruise Center building. You can get your Sundowner memories in fabric form. From a VW bus his team are selling T shirts with the event poster printed on them. You can also buy some fantastic prints from photographer Lorenzo Kikisch. And next to the ping pong and foosball tables there’s the evening’s first prize, because there’s a tombola, too. Emil managed to find an old Renault Clio in wonderful shape and with its original DIN license plates. Very cool. And he eventually finds the keys to the car, so it can be raffled off and find its new owner. We’re not the lucky winners, meaning that we’re going back to Bonn by train the next day. With a 30 minute delay, of course, and without having seen that yellow Targa again, sadly.
Thank you, Emil, for this incredibly cool evening! Next year, hopefully, we’re coming back in our own Sundowner-worthy car.
Thank you, Emil, for this incredibly cool evening! Next year, hopefully, we’re coming back in our own Sundowner-worthy car.
