“Keeps going further”: 75-year-old travels 8,000 kilometers in a vintage Bulldog

Created: 05/26/2022, 22:09

By: Jörg von Rohland

A well-established team: Josef Gretschmann (left) and Leonhard Schmid in front of the Schönberger's Hanomag.

© Jörg von Rohland

Schönberger Josef Gretschmann will soon be on the move again.

The 75-year-old wants to drive to the North Cape and back in the vintage Hanomag.

Schönberg – "It keeps going," says Josef Gretschmann, who can laugh at himself.

He tells reporters who want to cover his upcoming adventure frankly: "Just write, two crazy people are going to the North Cape."

The second "crazy" is Leonhard Schmid.

Josef Gretschmann met the 69-year-old from Anthofen near Günzburg in 2015 at a classic car meeting in Maxlrain.

When the Upper Bavarian told the Swabian about his long-distance travels with the Bulldog, Schmid was quickly hooked.

Since then, the two have been driving across Europe with their classic car teams.

Schönberger wants to drive to the North Cape with the vintage Bulldog: he has been on the road many times

Whether on the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela or on a journey into deepest Romania: the two have long been a well-rehearsed team when they chug leisurely through the countryside in their vintage cars.

Rule number one is: "We fill up every day," emphasizes Gretschmann, who fears nothing more than running out of diesel.

That almost happened to him on the way to Spain in 2016.

In France, the refineries went on strike, and many petrol stations ran out of diesel.

And those that still had some had fuel rationed.

"We still filled up," says Leonhard Schmid and grins.

The diesel is also the biggest cost factor that will accompany the two on their journey of around 8,000 kilometers.

Gretschmann's Hanomag Robust (built in 1966) and Schmid's Brillant 600 (built in 1965) are very thirsty.

Gretschmann calculates that his Hanomag needs six liters in one hour.

At an average speed of 30 kilometers per hour, 20 liters quickly accumulate over 100 kilometers.

Especially since the Bulldogs have a lot to pull with the camping trailers.

That's where they want to go: Josef Gretschmann and Leonhard Schmid (left) before the start of the journey to the North Cape.

© Jörg von Rohland

With the vintage Bulldog to the North Cape: Schönberger and companions chose two routes

Gretschmann still has an older camping model.

After all, in addition to the kitchen and gas heating, there is also a toilet on board.

"And four crates of non-alcoholic beer," reveals the Schönberger.

Schmid's caravan, on the other hand, has a lot more luxury: shower, toilet and satellite TV are just a few features.

The Upper Bavarian and the Swabian have prepared two different routes for the outward and return journey.

Gretschmann will first drive to Günzburg on Friday.

The next day, the two of them set out together for a classic car meeting in Donauthalheim near Dillingen, before they set off on the long journey north.

Schönberger drives to the North Cape with a vintage Bulldog: the route takes him through Leipzig and Rostock

The Bulldogs will roll through Leipzig and Rostock, and the ferry will take them across the Baltic Sea to Trellenborg in Sweden.

The two bulldogs will drive all along the east coast of Sweden before heading to Norway via northern Finland and finally to the northernmost point of mainland Europe.

Gretschmann and Schmid already know exactly what they will be doing at the North Cape.

At 1:30 a.m. in the light of the midnight sun, they want to drive their teams into the area otherwise closed to motor vehicles to the well-known steel globe.

"At that time, no one pays close attention anymore," says Schmid with a smile.

And there the globetrotters then have a clear view of the Arctic Ocean and want to take the photo of their arrival.

The way back from the North Cape should be via Denmark: an eight-week trip

Then it goes home along the Norwegian west coast via Denmark back to Germany.

The fun will last about eight weeks.

"I have an appointment with the ophthalmologist on August 8th," says Schmid.

As always, retirees can expect the biggest surprises on the go.

They report that there are small crowds of people almost everywhere they stop with their vintage cars.

In France, they have even been approached by a reporter who took a photo and wrote a newspaper report about the unusual travelers from Germany.

Travel to the North Cape with the vintage Bulldog: Travelers are happy to leave the German border behind

Meanwhile, they are happy when they have left the German border behind with their bulldogs.

Because then it will be quieter.

Only in Germany would they be honked at by angry drivers if they had to drive behind the teams.

And if they are then overtaken, they would sometimes get the bird too.

In France, Spain and Holland it is completely different.

"They give us a friendly wave."

In an emergency, however, the two rely on help from Germany.

They are both ADAC Plus members, they say.

Should the Bulldogs give up the ghost, "then the ADAC will have to take us home".

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