Travel: Greece’s Arcadia Classic Tour Is A Laid-Back Weekend With A Twist

Greece’s Arcadia Classic Tour Is A Laid-Back Weekend With A Twist

By Michael Banovsky
April 27, 2016

Photography by Evan Maragkoudakis

What’s it like to compete in a car rally in Greece? Petrolicious reader Loukas Mexis and his girlfriend recently did just that, as their very first classic car outing. The Arcadia Classic Tour is in its second year running, and Mexis was on hand to take part. Armed with a 1986 Alfa Romeo Sprint QV, a route, and two days of driving, they ended up finishing surprisingly well, he says.

What made the drive special? “The special bond that resulted from co-driving with my girlfriend, discovering unknown roads on the outskirts of the Peloponnese and actually making a great overall time,” said Mexis. Despite taking a wrong turn and missing checkpoints, the experience has him hooked. “It changed my life,” he said. “Now, regularity races are my must-attend events for me and my girlfriend.”

Don’t think the drive was without mishap: having to make up for lost time, Mexis had to drive more quickly—something that didn’t bode well for the QV.

“On the way, rocks damaged our fuel line which I had to mend by stopping on a nearby village, with tape and tie-wraps,” says Mexis. “What’s done is done. We made it home, no tow-car was needed.”

For more information on the 2nd Arcadia Classic Tour, visit its Facebook page.

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Mirko Cocco
Mirko Cocco
8 years ago

Check this report for last year edition of the Tour the Peloponnese! http://www.cinecars.nl/nl/tour-du-peloponnese-2015/

Loukas Mexis
Loukas Mexis
8 years ago

Much obliged. Till the next one. And it’s a big one.

Johan Overtoom
Johan Overtoom
8 years ago

Cool to so this on Petrolicious, joined them last year at the Tour the Peloponnese last year and had the best time of my life.

just great!

Darel Matthews
Darel Matthews
8 years ago

I would love to find some more rallies in the U.S. that fit the following criteria:

1. Only classic cars
2. Competitive. TSD, regularity, whatever, but something that’s not “just a nice drive”
3. Doesn’t cost $10,000 to enter (I’m looking at you, Treasure State, Colorado Grand).

My wife and I compete in SCCA TSD rallies quite successfully, but if we’re just in my Chevy Silverado surrounded by Camrys and (for some inexplicable reason) Subarus, it just sucks. We take our classics on as many “rallies” as possible (America’s British Reliability Run, 1000 Islands international), but these are not competitive, just an excuse to go for a drive. Can’t we have something in between like this, that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg to get to and enter?

Maxime Veilleux
Maxime Veilleux
8 years ago
Reply to  Darel Matthews

I’d second that sir.

Liu Leo
Liu Leo
8 years ago

It was a pleasure to attend the event.

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