Heimatfest

Heimatfest

 

 

Alabama Section and Peachtree Section are joining to present a special event on 28 May–1 June 2009.

 

Based at the four-star Wynfrey Hotel/Spa in Birmingham, Alabama which is built into an upscale mall with covered parking, car washing area, and even detailing services, and is five minutes from another upscale shopping center, this event promises something for everyone.

 

Thursday activities will include a visit to the Mercedes-Benz Museum and Visitor Center on the grounds of the Mercedes-Benz U.S. International Factory in nearby Vance, Al.  This is the only U.S. branch of the Mercedes-Benz Museum and contains examples of the 1886 Daimler, 1886 Benz, and the 1885 Daimler wooden vehicle that was the first road vehicle powered by an internal combustion engine.  The museum contains other important Mercedes-Benz vehicles as well as a complete history of the company.

 

There is also a theater showing production in the factory.

 

There will be a challenging scenic drive through little traveled area including horse farms, a wildlife management area, wineries, and a go-kart country club where we will arrange challenge races in high performance go-karts.

 

On Thursday evening we will have cocktails with Road & Track editor-at-large, Peter Egan, who writes the “Side Glances” article in this classic automobile enthusiast publication.

 

For a change of pace on Friday we will start with a dramatic road over mountains and across the Coosa River to the Talladega Motorsports Park Hall of Fame with its significant race car collection, including, ahem, one of yr obt svt’s championship cars.

 

Of course, Talladega is synonymous with speed on its 33° banking—the steepest if any sanctioned race course.  If you have ever wondered what it feels like, this is your opportunity!  We will be taking laps in groups at “highway speeds” in our own cars.  Whether this means U.S. or German highway speeds we aren’t sure.  Plan to take advantage of this rare opportunity.  The fee for this includes lunch and a visit to the museum.

 

The Superspeedway is at the foot of Cheaha Mountain, and the drive up the summit has more turns in the same mileage as the infamous “Tail of the Dragon” in Tenn./N.C. without the traffic and oppressing police patrols.

 

It then opens out and continues for several miles along the crest of the Talladega Mountains in the National Forest.  This will be followed by tech session on performance driving, 

 

Friday Evening will include a reception with an M-B speaker at the Wynfrey.

 

The main event Saturday will be the conours at the beautiful Barber Motorsports Park.  There will be classes for both the concours d’elegance purists as well as the entrant’s choice daily drivers.

 

Our venue will overlook the widely acclaimed Barber Road Course where a vintage race will be taking place.  After judging is complete you may want to watch the race, visit the paddock, (again yr obt svt will be racing), or take a special guided tour of the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum with its 1300 motorcycles and 50 Lotus Race Cars.  This tour will concentrate on the Lotus Collection since this event will coincide with the Lotus, Ltd. annual Lotus Owners’ Gathering.

 

There will be more social activities on Saturday evening.

 

Sunday is defensive driving and autocross day staged by MBCA’s Frank Cozza.  The Birmingham Race Course (horse and dog track) provides a huge parking lot that can yield an autocross up to a mile long!  This is a rare treat and a chance to test your skills to compete for the fastest runs by classes.

 

Defensive Driving will teach threshold braking and quick direction changes to avoid accidents.  Successful completion results in reduced insurance premiums from some insurers.  This is also excellent training for both new and experienced drivers.

 

Following the autocross there will be a drive to the dramatic Little River Canyon National Preserve in northeast Alabama.  This will include 3 major waterfalls and the 1300 ft deep canyon of Little River which is deepest and longest canyon east of Mississippi.  Best of all the road from the canyon mouth up to and along the edge if Little River Canyon is 23 miles of challenging turns and elevation changes with spectacular views of the sheer walls of the canyon.  Even better traffic is light, so be sure to keep the secret!

 

Sunday evening we will have a reception in the striking Aldridge Gardens near the Wynfrey.  This recently opened botanical garden features the native Oakleaf Hydrangea which should be near its peak of large white bursts of blooms along with the magnificent Magnolias.  It should be a romantic southern evening.

 

Final event Sunday will be a tech session and mandatory drivers meeting for Monday’s track day at the world acclaimed Barber Motorsports Road Course.

 

This 17-turn track is 45-50 feet wide with breathtaking elevation changes.  Many of the turns go over the crest of a hill, so the apex is not visible on approach.  It is one of the most technically challenging while being probably the most beautiful road courses in the world.  It has been called “The best new course in America, if not the world”, “ The Augusta of race courses” due to its English garden type plantings and statuary around the grounds, “It ellipses most other tracks and draws comparisons with Germany’s Nüburgring”.  These are some of the many compliments heaped upon this crown jewel of this five day event—the home (of Mercedes-Benz) festival—“Heimatfest”.

 

 

 

For more info contact:

James Roberts jertoothsaver@bellsouth.net

Jim Mitchell  jrs190sl@yahoo.com