For decades, Wörthersee set the hearts of tuning fans on fire. Crowds of car enthusiasts have flocked to the Alpine lake since 1982, all for the legendary GTI-Treffen event.
The 2019 pandemic broke this ritual, and in February 2023 local authorities announced that the event would not return to Maria Wörth. In its place, more or less successful attempts have appeared to revive that atmosphere.
One of them is the Polish event Mountain Haste, organized by the TuningKingz team at Lake Czorsztyn.
I took most of my photos at the campsite – the informal hub of the event – where the largest concentration of modified cars gathered. That’s where owners came in droves to chat, share experiences, and show off their builds.
Mountain Haste doesn’t enforce a single aesthetic; in nearby parking lots, gas stations, and meadows you could see the full spectrum of tuning – from subtle modifications to bold show cars.
Among many interesting projects, one that especially caught my eye was a 1989 Volkswagen Corrado with an original Rieger kit – one of the few examples that survive in Poland, distinguished by its “lambo doors.” The car is controversial, but impossible to ignore.
I also couldn’t miss a perfect replica of the Mercedes DTM car in which Jörg van Ommen found success. As a two-year-old in 1994 I can’t remember that DTM season, but as a huge motorsport fan, seeing that livery sparks positive emotions.
Another highlight was a pair of Mercedes models that ruled the campsite a year earlier: a blood-red W201 Mercedes 190 E and a W108 Mercedes CLK – clear examples that quality and attention to detail are improving year after year.
Mountain Haste is above all about community. It’s about people who come not just to show their cars, but to meet friends, talk about projects, and simply spend the weekend among like-minded enthusiasts. This year, hundreds of petrolheads decided to be here – proof that the initiative makes sense, and is quickly gaining popularity.
The organizers have already announced the 2026 edition, which will take place this time in June. If the event maintains its current growth – both in the number of participants and in the quality of the projects submitted – it may well secure a permanent spot in Poland’s tuning calendar.
For the moment I thought “huh, I remebered Beskidzka Integracja a bit different” until I checked the title again… (Note to self: read AFTER coffee kicks in, not before!)
Still, looking good, I can only hope to see more events like this in the future!