Sunny Labor Day weather graced the 33rd annual Historic Festival at Connecticut’s Lime Rock Park last weekend as both racecars and show cars enjoyed their moments basking in the solar glow. Two days of racing were split by the annual Sunday in the Park Concours d’Elegance, where some 264 entrants contested 29 classes.
Top honors in the Concours were taken by Ralph Lauren’s 1930 Mercedes-Benz SSK “Count Trossi” (above), which was originally built with a competition “spyder” body by Carrozzeria Touring and campaigned in the Mille Miglia, various hillclimbs and other local events by original owner Trossi and subsequent owners. The Italian count re-acquired the car in 1934 and commissioned the present bodywork.
“The Trossi SSK is truly a work of art,” said Festival organizer Murray Smith. “This car is so rarely in public, I can’t thank Ralph enough for entering it in our concours for everyone to enjoy.”
The SSK was shown alongside five other important Mercedes-Benz competition cars; two from the Mercedes Classic Center in Germany — the 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR “722” and a 1955 Mercedes-Benz W196 Grand Prix Silver Arrow — two from The Revs Institute of Naples, Florida — a 1939 Mercedes-Benz W154 and a 1914 Mercedes Grand Prix car — and a 1908 Mercedes Brooklands from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s Hall of Fame Museum. A full list of Class Winners follows below.
On the track, activities were highlighted by the Mercedes-Benz demonstration runs featuring Sir Stirling Moss and Jochen Mass who, respectively, were driven in and drove the classic Mercedes machines. Racers contested some 36 races in nine race groups, with four drivers sweeping all four races in their run group. They were: Dave Nicholas (1960 MGA) in Group 1; Peter Greenfield (1935 Alfa Romeo 8C) in Group 2; Danny Baker (1963 Lotus 23B) in Group 5; and Jack Busch (1965 Jaguar E-Type) in Group 7. A complete list of race winners follows below.
Class Winners, 2015 Sunday in the Park Concours d’Elegance
Group A, Our Distinguished Seniors
Class A1, “And So We Begin,” special class for the machines that started it all, pre-1915 – 1911 Packard 30 7-Passenger Touring, Michael DeAngelis, Stamford, Connecticut.
Class A2, “The World’s First Wheels,” basic transportation 1915 to 1939, open and closed cars – 1932 Plymouth PB Sport Roadster, Kevin Biebel, Stamford, Connecticut.
Class A3, “Gatsby’s Delights presented by Castle Cadillacs,” luxury and speed; coachbuilt and special cars from an elegant era, pre-WWII – 1938 Lincoln Model K LeBaron Convertible, John Winslett and Sheri St. Germain, Bristol, Rhode Island.
Group B, Practical Machines for Practical Purposes
Class B1, “Off to Work,” post-War transportation machinery; those workhorses we depended on daily – 1941 Tatra T87 Diplomat, Barney Hallingby, Sharon, Connecticut.
Class B2, “Carry Your Weight,” trucks and commercial vehicles up to 1975; machines that earn their keep – 1975 Land Rover Series III 3-door truck, Thomas and Kristin Zarrella, Gloucester, Massachusetts.
Group C, Sports and Performance Machines on Display and on Track
Class C1, “Risky and Racy,” racing, competitive specials and speed-record machines – 1965 Alfa Romeo GTA, Jon Goodman, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Class C2, “The Rallyist’s Revenge,” rallying function in a variety of forms - 1985 Audi Quattro, Ed Torres, Norwalk, Connecticut.
Class C3, “Speed and Agility,” early sports cars to 1954 – 1952 MG TD Roadster, Hal Kramer, Pittsfield, Massachusetts.
Class C4, “Dashing Between the Drops,” mid-sports car era roadsters, 1955 to 1961 – 1960 MGA, Phil Brown, Bloomfield, Connecticut.
Class C5, “Racers are Rewarded,” race on Saturday, show on Sunday (Saturday’s winners on exhibit) – 1959 Volvo PV-544, Ronald Polimeni, Capon Bridge, West Virginia.
Class C6, “Shiny Side Up,” Sports cars, 1962 to 1967 – 1962 Austin-Healey 3000 MK II, Donald E. Schneider, Lititz, Pennsylvania.
Class C7, “For the Fun of the Drive,” sports cars, 1968 to 1975 – 1970 Lotus Elan S4 SE/Sprint, David Porter, Darien, Connecticut.
Class C8, “Speed, Sport and Spirit,” sports cars, 1976 to 1990 – 1983 Lancia Beta Zagato, Jane and Jerome Roth, W. Cornwall, Connecticut.
Group D, Grand Touring Greatness
Class D1, “Style, Comfort and Pace,” GT cars, 1955 to 1961 – 1961 Porsche 356B T5, Mark Reich, North Andover, Massachusetts.
Class D2, “A Businessman’s Express,” GT cars, 1962 to 1967 – 1964 Chevrolet Corvette, Mike Lombardi, Watertown, Connecticut.
Class D3, “Speed Breeds Success,” GT cars, 1968 to 1975 – 1968 Lamborghini Miura, Michael Schwartz, Sharon, Connecticut.
Class D4, “Outrunning the Wind,” open-air GT-caliber cars, 1955 to 1980 – 1962 Austin-Healey 3000 BN7 MKII, Roger Hamblin, Sandwich, New Hampshire.
Class D5, “Simply Exceptional,” super cars and special road cars, 1975 to present – 1979 Porsche 930, Bud Szurek, Hebron, Connecticut.
Group E, Comfort, Style and More – Luxury Transport in a Post-War World
Class E1, “Comfort and Class and Wind in the Hair,” open-air motoring elegance, 1945 to 1985 – 1960 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz convertible, John E. Haverty, Pleasant Valley, New York.
Class E2, “In the Lap of Luxury,” exceptional luxury in coupe and sedan form, 1945 to 1959 – 1958 Cadillac Eldorado Seville, Frank Nicodemus, Jr., Poughkeepsie, New York.
Class E3, “Life at the Top in Style and Comfort,” luxurious transportation coupes and salons, 1960 to 1985 – 1977 Jaguar XK6-C Coupe, Richard Sementilli, New York, New York.
Group S, Our Special Feature Classes
Class S1, “Mercedes-Benz: The Legacy of Excellence,” stars of the three-pointed star: track machines – 1939 Mercedes-Benz W154 “Silver Arrow,” The Revs Institute, Naples, Florida.
Class S2, “Mercedes-Benz: Practical Excellence on the Road,” stars of the three-pointed star: road machines – 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SC Roadster, Old Timer Restoration/Off Bros., Harvard, Massachusetts.
Assorted Groups, Special Interest
Class F1, “Just as we Found it,” untouched originals to 1975 – 1962 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster, Ann M. Fagan, Briarcliff Manor, New York.
Class F2, “A Fresh Approach,” creative machines and “Euro rods” that fall between classing cracks, all years – 1976 BMW 3.5 CSL Tribute Car, Joseph Rodriguez, Mahwah, New Jersey
Class F3, “Hot Rod,” our tribute to garage-built American greatness, all years – 1956 Chevrolet Suburban, Shaun Nettleton, Washington, Connecticut.
Class F4, “Mercedes in Motion,” Mercedes-enthusiast passion through the years, all years – 1962 Mercedes-Benz 300 D, Jeri and Mary Ann Barrett, Easton, Connecticut.
Class F5, “Up on Two Wheels,” the lighter side of getting going; legendary motorcycles through 1995 – 1937 BMW R6, Philip Richter, Ridgefield, Connecticut.
Class F6, “Domestic Dynamite,” reflections of a golden age of American Muscle, 1955 to 1980 – 1967 Pontiac GTO, Thomas and Kristin Zarrella, Gloucester, Massachusetts.
Class F7, “Arnolts Abound!” A reunion of Arnolt-Bristols – 1957 Arnolt-Bristol Deluxe Roadster, Michael Arnolt, Indianapolis, Indiana.
Jochen’s Selection – 1966 Jaguar XKE OTS, Thomas V.G. Brown, Norwalk, Connecticut.
Stirling’s Selection – 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR “722,” Mercedes Classic, Stuttgart, Germany.
Race Winners from Historic Festival 33
Group 1
All races – Dave Nicholas – Honolulu, Hawaii – 1960 MGA
Group 2
All races – Peter Greenfield – Freeport, New York – 1935 Alfa Romeo 8C
Group 3
Saturday 1 – Dave Porter – Darien, Connecticut – 1971 Lotus 69
Saturday 2 – Michael Rand – Sharon, Connecticut – 1980 Van Diemen RF80
Monday 3 – Glenn Taylor – Shelton, Connecticut – 1979 PRS
Monday 4 – Glenn Taylor – Shelton, Connecticut – 1979 PRS
Group 4
Saturday 1 – Dave Gussack – Armonk, New York – 1963 Triumph Spitfire
Saturday 2 – Kent Bain – Connecticut – 1965 Triumph Spitfire
Monday 3 – Kent Bain – Connecticut – 1965 Triumph Spitfire
Monday 4 – Bill Warner – Jacksonville, Florida – 1979 Triumph TR6
Group 5
All races – Danny Baker – San Francisco, California -1963 Lotus 23B
Group 6
Saturday 1 – Michael Kaleel – Hamilton, Massachusetts – 1962 Lotus Super 7
Saturday 2 – Michael Kaleel – Hamilton, Massachusetts – 1962 Lotus Super 7
Monday 3 – Laurent Fumex – Madison, Connecticut – 1962 Lotus 7
Monday 4 – Laurent Fumex – Madison, Connecticut – 1962 Lotus 7
Group 7
All races – Jack Busch – Torrington, Connecticut – 1965 Jaguar E-Type
Group 8
Saturday 1 – Jeffrey Neiblum – Shelton, Connecticut – 1969 Porsche 911
Saturday 2 – Michael Piera – Newtown, Connecticut – 1973 Porsche 911
Monday 3 – Alan Tosler – New York, New York – 1965 Lotus Elan
Monday 4 – Michael Piera – Newtown, Connecticut – 1973 Porsche 911
Group 9
Saturday 1 – Howard Katz – New York, New York – 1975 Toj SR
Saturday 2 – Howard Katz – New York, New York – 1975 Toj SR
Monday 3 – Howard Katz – New York, New York – 1975 Toj SR
Monday 4 – Ben Sinnott – Fairfield, Connecticut – 1991 Lola 191/90
