Dikkaya, a village located in Rize's Çamlıhemşin district, hosts a wooden car race called "Laz Rally" every year during the Ramadan holiday.
With some of the cars reaching speeds up to 70 kilometers per hour, this year's Laz Rally has also scorched the hillsides. Unable to slow down on the steep course some cars even crashed into hay bales placed beside the track. Two racers were slightly injured during the race.
The event began after residents of Dikkaya exchanged Ramadan greetings at the village square. Spectators gathered to watch the rally while some took to their balconies and roofs to get a better view.
On a steep and challenging track, 34 participants, divided into three categories, entered the competition. The categories were, toddler (350-meter), young (1,500-meter track) and adult (500-meter track).
The track, laden witty road signs and warnings like "not for pedestrians," in addition to Kemal Serin's humorous race commentary in seven languages, only added to the amusement of the spectators.
A blank was fired to kick off the first step of the race which was slalom against the clock as wooden cars raced downhill through an obstacle course.
One of the racers could only complete the track after knocking down all the obstacles, some crashed into the nearby tea gardens, while a few rolled over. The winners of the Laz Rally were awarded cups.
