| |
Sports
Car Racing In Odessa
|
The city of Odessa is a large port city in Ukraine.
However, there is only one member who is also the president
of the Auto Club. He is also the auto-rally organizer.
He is the automobile sport in the form of one person
- Viktor Shapovalov. Every year Viktor organizes automobile
races on his own. Odessa has some auto-sport fans and
some traditions in the area. But as soon as it comes
to doing anything, all falls on the shoulders of only
one person. This is how it is in Odessa. The sport of
auto-racing does not enjoy steady growth and is still
developing in Ukraine. However the competition is growing
and is becoming more serious. But in Odessa everything
remains as in the past. There are the "Kuyal'nyk" racing
traditions, a historical aspect of the city where the
auto-racing sport managed to revive itself after the
Soviet Union crumbled. The rough roads that are the
requirement for this kind of races and the devoted organizer
are not enough to move the competition to a new level
with higher standards.
|
|
 |
|
V. Shapovalov
|
|
Viktor's endeavors very often do not meet
the adequate support and frequently his failures become the
objects of mockery from some sportsmen as well as others,
who are somehow related to the auto racing. But, this is how
it is in Odessa.
Every time the auto racing fans spot the Viktor's shabby "Volga"
in the area of the village of Severyntsi in Odessa region,
they take it as a sign that competition is imminent. At first
heavy machines appear, then cars are driven around for practice.
And eventually the cars race through the village over the
weekend.
 |
|
V. Rostots'kyi
|
|
|
They bring noise, crashes, shouts and
the stink of gas and burning rubber from the car wheels.
The Severyntsi inhabitants are unique and you can hardly
find anyone throughout Ukraine who could even slightly
resemble them. It looks like as if the whole village
is deeply engrossed in the rally. They know the rally
and safety rules, and all the prominent racers by name.
Every event is genuinely and socially celebrated. Here,
no one has ever heard about any problems or backstage
intrigues related to the organizing of the event. Racers
arrived, fly at high speed over the roads and fans emotionally
demonstrate their support. People firmly believe that
next year the show will go on again. This is how it
is in Odessa.
|
|
