The Centennial Anniversary of the Great Savannah Races will be celebrated at this fall’s Seventh Annual Hilton Head Island Concours d’Elegance & Motoring Festival on the recently reopened road course on Hutchinson Island in Savannah, Ga. The Hilton Head/Savannah Historics event, organized by Historic Sportscar Racing Ltd., marks the first public activity at the track in more than a decade.
“We’re delighted to have support from both the Hilton Head and the Savannah communities for these high-energy track events,” said the event’s executive director, Carolyn Vanagel. “The Great Savannah Races, which ran between 1908 and 1911, served as the very first grand prix road races in the United States. It’s a thrill to be able to bring an element of racing back to Savannah and to celebrate this innovative racing event.”
Included among the cars taking over the circuit on Halloween weekend (October 30-31) will be several from the original events a century ago, including the 1910 Lancia Tipo 55 that won that year’s race in the hands of Billy Knipper. The event will also feature high-speed exhibition laps, interactive autocross events and visitor rides in powerful modern sports cars.
The Concours will take place at Hilton Head’s historic Honey Horn plantation on Saturday and Sunday (November 1–2), and feature a special celebration of Brass Era Cars from before 1916, including a 1908 Renault from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum that was one of 10 specially commissioned by William K. Vanderbilt. Also on the weekend’s schedule is the Third Annual Hilton Head Sports & Classic Car Auction presented by Worldwide Auctioneers, as well as anniversary celebrations marking 100 years for both General Motors and Morgan, 60 years for presenting sponsor Porsche and 50 for Edsel.
A variety of ticket and pass packages are available, so for complete information call (843) 785-SHOW (7469) or visit the official Hilton Head Island Concours d’Elegance & Motoring Festival website at www.hhiconcours.com.
