Beep beep! Vintage pre-WWII cars beetle from Prague to Bratislava

Lining up for a three-day endurance rally, the protagonists are the best part of 100 years old. But don't worry: these aren't humans, but cars.

Around 130 pre-war vehicles set off in this year's "1,000 Miles of Czechoslovakia" race that leaves Prague for Bratislava in neighboring Slovakia before circling back again.

Open to vintage and classic cars built up to 1939, the historic car race was first held in 1933 but was forced to stop after 1935 as pre-war tensions in Europe increased.

There were attempts to revive the race in the 1970s, and although a few races were held, the event never made it back as an annual until 2015.

"It's a traditional race that was held in the 1930s but was then discontinued," says Borivoj Zabrensky, one of the participants. "Today, it's organized by the Prague Veteran Car Club, and it's an impressive showcase of classic cars with a traditional feel."

More than half of the cars here are from Czech manufacturers, with Aero being the most numerous.

Other Czech brands included Škoda, Walter, Tatra, and Praga cars. BMW, Ford, Jaguar, Bentley, Mercedes, Buick, Lincoln, Bugatti, and Lagonda represented foreign brands.

Five cars that also competed in the original race in the 1930s featured on the starting line.

"It's a pleasure for every participant to take part," says Zabrensky. "Personally, I can say I've been looking forward to this for the whole year."

Teenager Jonas Trhlik is too young to drive but he loves to navigate the race for his father in their Škoda 420 from 1937.

"This is my fourth time participating, and for me, it's all about having fun," he says. "I get to meet people here whom I might only see once or twice a year, and I just enjoy these three days with my family – my dad."

Despite it technically being a race, it's unlikely these beautiful vintage vehicles will be stopped for speeding. The route runs through congested small cities – as well as lanes blocked by agricultural vehicles.