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Ain’t It Grand
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Bruce McCaw, in his 1952 prototype Mercedes Benz 300SL, winds his way up Grand Mesa, the world’s largest flat-topped mountain. Photo: Bob Dunsmore
2000sRacecar ArticlesRacecar Features

Ain’t It Grand

 Casey Annis

One of the great things about the growth of historic racing over the past decade is the wide variety of events in which an owner can now participate. In addition to the enormous (and growing!) selection of historic race events, there are now more and more fantastic non-racing events open to historic racecars as well. Of particular interest are the many internationally renowned driving events, such as the Mille Miglia, Tour Auto and California Mille, which not only allow owners to run their racecars on beautiful public roads, but let them take their husbands or wives along as well!

Last August I was invited by Peter Spieth, director of Mercedes Benz’s Classic Center, to join him on the 2004 running of the Colorado Grand, a five-day, 1,000-mile trek through the Rocky Mountains. The Grand was founded by historic racer and Colorado native Bob Sutherland 16 years ago as a low-key driving tour for friends that would also raise money for various Colorado charities, including the Highway Patrol Widows & Orphans Fund.

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Decade (2000s)Event (Colorado Grand)

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Casey Annis
Steve Natale has been playing with cars ever since he was old enough to first hold a matchbox car in his hand. A lifelong enthusiast of anything old with an engine in it or wheels on it, Steve has been active in the hobby for over 35 years. Currently he owns a successful marketing company with his wife Mary, is an automotive photographer, blogger and writer for several automotive magazines and regular contributor to various automotive websites. Steve has attended vintage car events and visited car museums and collections around the world.
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