Remember the old fire engine and ambulance that I drew a while back? Turns out if you get the opportunity to draw these fantastic engines and hang out for a bit with the fire fighting enthusiasts that take care of them, you might also get offered to ride with them to Gärdesloppet, the yearly veteran car exhibition and race at Djurgården in Stockholm. And who am I to say no to such an offer?
It is a bit shaky to draw while riding in an open Scania firetruck from 1931 – suspention technique in cars have taken quite a leap forward in the last 86 years – but the experience is fantastic. Makes you feel like a kid, for real, to be allowed into a fire truck with brass bells on the sides and ladders up above. A bit windy on the highway, but very cozy along the sunny streets of the inner city.
Driving comfort has developed a bit too, since 1931, but charm and style? Not so much. I love how everything is just practical in these old cars. There is no shiny curved dashboard with digital displays everywhere. Simple and straightforward. (And I just love the turn signals, those red drop shapes on the wind shields. Super cute when in use, with arms waving up and down.)
Gärdesloppet was a real feast for the eye, as usual, and a great crowd magnet. Urban sketchers Stockholm took advantage of the nice weather and all the cool cars, and gathered for a picnic and drawing session. And as a bonus, a few of us got a lift back to the garage with the Scania. Happy children in the back seat.