The members of the Russian Automobile Enthusiasts’ Club in Cuba are back from their summer vacation and have put on a car show near Havana.
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© RIA Novosti
The members of the Russian Automobile Enthusiasts’ Club in Cuba are back from their summer vacation and have put on a car show near Havana. A number of Ladas and Moskviches competed in rallies and tested their driving skills against one another.
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The Lada is perhaps the most popular automobile in Cuba. As the Cubans themselves say, it’s because of its ease of repair, availability of spare parts and steady handling.
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The car owners tried to prepare their cars for the imminent competitions as much as possible by adjusting their engines and polishing the cars themselves to a shine.
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The car owners tried to prepare their cars for the imminent competitions as much as possible by adjusting their engines and polishing the cars themselves to a shine.
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A car is a matter of pride for a Cuban. These Zhiguli (Ladas) are 15 to 20 years old, but most of them are in excellent technical condition.
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Car owners will certainly upgrade interiors, change dashboards and install additional options as soon as it becomes financially feasible
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Revamping cars has become more than a hobby for many owners, who put all of their spare time, financial resources and efforts into it.
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Cubans’ average wages do not exceed $20 per month, but they would sooner forego buying clothing and furniture in favor of equipping their cars the way they like it.
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Club members do not attend the competition alone – they bring their families or significant others. But an auto show is one of the rare instances when a Cuban woman could be deprived of the attentions of her beau.
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Anyone who owns a Soviet car, regardless of make and year, may become a member of the Russian Automobile Enthusiasts’ Club.
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Spectators await the start of the competition under the scorching Caribbean sun. It’s over 30 degrees Celsius in the shade.
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Club members say, “The Russian Lada is a real Cuban car!”
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The logo of the Russian Automobile Enthusiasts’ Club is seen more frequently on the streets of Havana. The club now numbers more than 60 members.
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The competition starts. The first car to participate in the rally is the club president’s car.
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Moskviches and Ladas compete on equal standing in the rally, confidently negotiating turns and performing equally well.
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Club members show their mastery of driving skills on a dirt road. The dust kicked up by the wheels completely obscures the cars.
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Many spectators record the race on their mobile telephones.
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The drivers do not spare their tire treads. Each driver wants to show what he is capable of.
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This competition will be memorable for both participants and spectators, since the club has held it for the first time.
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No one was left indifferent and there were really no losers. Enthusiasm for Russian cars won out.
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© RIA Novosti
No one was left indifferent and there were really no losers. Enthusiasm for Russian cars won out.
