This weekend’s Lime Rock Historic Festival 33 has expanded its list of attractions by adding a 1908 Mercedes Brooklands, the only one left of three produced, and the car that finished 4th in the inaugural Indianapolis 500 in 1911 driven by Spencer Wishart. The car will travel to Connecticut courtesy of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s Hall of Fame Museum.
“It was the Brooklands models that built the very foundation of Mercedes racing success from the early 1900s onward,” said Festival chairman Murray Smith. “How wonderful for it to join the ‘722’ 300 SLR, the 1954/55 W196, the 1939 W154 Silver Arrow and the 1914 Mercedes that raced in the French Grand Prix. A spectacular grouping.”
Another late addition is one of the very few remaining 1928-’32 Mercedes-Benz SSKs, a streamlined example built for Count Carlo Felice Trossi. The spectacular “Trossi SSK,” owned by Ralph Lauren, won Best of Show at both the 1993 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance and the 2007 Concorso D’Eleganza Villa d’Este.
Festival 33 opens on Thursday, September 3, with a vintage racecar parade from the track along 17 miles of local roads to the Falls Village Street Fair. Lapping begins at the track on the Friday with sessions in both morning and afternoon, and honored guests Sir Stirling Moss and Jochen Mass greeting the fans in the first of their daily autograph sessions.
Saturday features two racing sessions for all groups, while with the track gone quiet for the Sabbath, the Sunday in the Park concours on the Sam Posey Straight and the Gathering of Marques Collector Car Show from Big Bend to West Bend, will provide enjoyment for all. Monday closes out the program with two more races for each race group. For complete information please visit www.limerock.com
