Grande Dames on Vintage Wheels

They are the grande dames of the motor world,before whom F1 fleets look like flashy wannabes. On Monday,28 vintage cars from the Heritage Motoring Club of India (HMCI) lined up at the Jaypee Greens in Greater Noida,showing off their big,round headlights and metallic bodies. These Rolls Royces,Jaguars,Sunbeam Talbots,Austin Healeys,Ford Mustangs and a Buick Eight will be part of the opening ceremony of the Indian Grand Prix at the Buddh International Circuit on October 28. F1 champions such as Sebastian Vettel,Michael Schumacher,Narain Karthikeyan,and Paul di Resta are among those who will be driven around the track by the owners of these vintage beauties. “We never dreamed that F1 will come to India and,now to be able to drive these cars on the same circuit as the F1 cars,feels wonderful. It’s a moment of great pride,” said 64-year-old KTS Tulsi,President,HMCI. Vettel will be seated in his Buick Convertible during the opening ceremony,and the glint in his eyes says it all.