From July 17 to 19, 2,380 smart fans from 31 countries gathered on the beach in Portugal to celebrate the largest international smart event worldwide. The heart of the town of Cascais wasn’t just the venue for numerous smart programme items from test drives to the smart parade – it was also the starting point for excursions to the surrounding region for more than 800 smart enthusiasts: from Figueirinha beach to the most western point in Europe.
Programme à la smart – Party à la Portugal
At the invitation of Carlos Karriere, Mayor of Cascais, the event started on Thursday with a free BBQ on the town’s own beach. And in the following days attendees enjoyed test drives with the latest smart models, the popular smart times car contest, smart tuners and exhibitors from across Europe, and relaxing on the sun deck with a view of the Atlantic. For the little guests there was a children’s play area right on the beach.
From the street to the beach – smart times on Saturday
The smart times parade, which has long since become legendary, started on the former Formula 1 racing track “Circuito de Estoril”. And it kicked off with a lap of honor for all smart forfour drivers to mark the 10th birthday of the four-seater. 1,427 smarts then cruised through the Estoril region towards Cascais where a beach party awaited them. smart ebikes were also included in the parade. Later, at the beach party the winners of the eight categories of the smart times contest were honored on stage amidst lots of cheering.
From the beach to the city – smart times 15 in Hungary
There was a further exciting highlight at the farewell party on Saturday night. At around 11 p.m. the venue for next year, which had previously been kept strictly secret, was revealed: smart times 15 will take place from 28 to 30 August 2015 in Budapest, Hungary – in the direct vicinity of Heldenplatz. Participants can register now at www.smarttimes15.com.
Background information on smart times 13
23 to 25 August 2013,in Buochs near Lucerne, Switzerland
1700 attendees from 24 different nations
1203 smarts in the parade
From August 4 – 7, 2011 1,500 smart fans from 22 countries gathered along the Italian seaside resort of Riccione for the largest event of the smart community worldwide. Over four days the fans – who came together in Italy instead of Austria for the first time after ten years – shared their passion for the small city car and connected with designers, tuners and experts. Next year the community will congregate in Belgium.
smart times has long become a firm date in the international event calendar for all fans of the small city car. And the participants are prepared to go to great lengths to attend. For example, a group of smart drivers drove an amazing 2.286 kilometres in order to attend the event in Riccione. It had the longest journey to the Italian seaside resort.
From beach volleyball on the beach in Riccione, to a visit to Aquafan, Europe’s largest aquapark, or a lap on one of Italy’s most famous racetracks – the Misano World Circuit – all the items on the programme of this year’s smart times proved very popular. A special highlight was the excursion entitled “smart meets Museo Ferrari” to the home of the world-famous red sports car. At the traditional smart times parade the fans set a further new record: more than 800 smart vehicles drove through the streets of Riccione to the delight of onlookers. Plenty of opportunities to take test drives, to talk at length with smart experts, parties every night and the annual smart flea market rounded off the programme. All the visitors had a great time at the event under the Italian sun and they are already excitedly looking forward to next year’s smart times.
In 2012 the international smart community will gather again in Belgium.