Mercedes Museum presents 70 years of SL in new exhibition

“The Fascination of the SL – A Dream Car for 70 Years” is the title of an exhibition that opens on October 22 and runs until May 15, 2022, at the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart, Germany.

As the title suggests, the exhibition features nine cars from the SL series which was launched in March 1952 with the unveiling of the 300 SL, the now famous “gullwing” coupe that has been so successful in motorsport. A more luxurious roadster version would be produced.

Featured in the exhibit will be the oldest existing SL, the Chassis 2 Coupe. Also on display is a 1955 Coupe, a 1959 190 SL, a 1961 300 SL roadster, a 1965 230 SL “Pagoda”, a 1982 500 SL (the R 107 was the first of the SL series with 8-cylinder engines), a 500 SL from 1982, an SL 500 from 2000, an SL 500 from 2001 with retractable Vario roof and an SL 500 “Mille Miglia 417”.

Jimmie Johnson, Herzog’s story exposed

Prior to becoming a seven-time NASCAR champion, Jimmie Johnson established his reputation as a driver in entry-level off-road, ASA and NASCAR events with Herzog Motorsports, a Midwest-based family business, far from Johnson’s California home.

Stan and Randy Herzog “became fathers to me,” Johnson is quoted in a press release regarding the Herzog Motorsports special event scheduled for October 15-16 at the Speedway Motors Museum of American Speed ​​in Lincoln, Nebraska.

“I have spent so much time with them, at a critical age in my growth as a man, professionally and personally,” Johnson continued. “I was often away from home on the road with them, so their wisdom, guidance, mentoring, caring for me and bringing me into their family like they did, meant the world to me. .

“I look back on it now and smile with pride and joy for the time we spent together, at the start of my professional career, which they have so much to do with.”

Johnson is expected to join in the festivities at the museum, as are other pilots including Larry Ragland, Todd Bodine, Danny Ashcraft and Dave Mason. Herzog Motorsports vehicles and memorabilia will also be on display, including those that have traversed the desert, around tracks, drag tracks and up to Pikes Peak.

After racing with the Herzogs in the NASCAR Busch Series, Johnson secured his race with Hendrick Motorsports.

The Corvette Museum acquires a motel

The National Corvette Museum Foundation has acquired the former Country Hearth Inn motel at 395 Corvette Drive and will demolish the property after it serves as a training site for the Bowling Green Fire Department, the museum said.

“The demolition of the structure adds to the beautification of the National Corvette Museum campus (located across the street) and also allows us to support our community by providing a training space for our fire department. local and ensuring the proper recycling of building materials to help protect our environment, ”said Sharon Brawner, museum director, in the announcement.

Demolition is scheduled to begin on October 4. There are no immediate plans to redevelop the property, the museum said.

Opening of the “Graffiti” museum

Television channel ABC.10 reports that the Graffiti USA Classic Car Museum in Modesto, Calif., Has opened, but with a “soft launch” that opened the facility to visitors this weekend from 10 a.m. at 4 p.m. on October 2 and 3. and no admission fees for those days.

The museum is located in George Lucas’ hometown, and the city’s automotive culture inspired his film American graffiti.

“It will be a completely immersive experience,” Chris Murphy of the museum team told the TV station. “It won’t be just a line of cars. We’re basically looking for a Disney-style feel… when you walk into a museum, you’re going to be transported to the world of one night in 1962.

Special events this weekend

The harley-Museum Davidson in Milwaukee is hosting an outdoor movie night on October 1 as part of the Menomonee Valley Week celebration. The movie is Trolls World Tour.

“Great Sports Car Designers” is the theme of the Demonstration Day activities from October 2 to Simeone Foundation Automobile Museum in Philadelphia, where cars designed by Castagna, Zagato, Pinin Farina and Scaglietti will be presented. Cars shown include a 1933 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Mille Miglia Spider, 1933 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Monza, 1954 Ferrari 375 MM Spider and 1958 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa. Events run from 11:15 am to 2:00 pm

The National Studebaker Museum in South Bend, Indiana, hosts a cars and coffee event on October 2 featuring the Coachmen Auto Club, which was founded in 1956 by four friends from high school

With the SCCA runoff invading the runway, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum will have modified hours from September 30 to October 3, will close at 1 p.m. on September 30 and will be closed all day on October 1 and 2.

Autobooks-Aerobooks in Burbank, Calif., hosts author Randall Cannon and his book Caesars Palace Grand Prix: Las Vegas, organized crime and the pinnacle of motorsport from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on October 2.

CruiseFest on Fulton Avenue, an annual event that benefits the California Automobile Museum in Sacramento, is scheduled for October 2, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. replica of Batmobiles, this one owned by Bob Goldsand of Meadow View, California.

AutoFest 2021 is scheduled for October 3 through Newport Automobile Museum in Rhode Island.

Mark your calendar

“Michelotti World”, and exhibition of cars designed by Giovanni Michelotti, opens on October 6 at MAUTO, the National Automobile Museum in Turin, Italy.

The Saratoga Automobile Museum in upstate New York hosts a private screening of No time to die at the Bow Tie Cinema at 7 p.m. on October 7.

“Beyond internal combustion” is the subject that will be dealt with on October 7 from 10 am to 4 pm at the Automotive Hall of Fame in Dearborn, Michigan, where former GM engineer Gary Witzenburg will speak on “Reloading the Auto Industry,” his talk will be followed by a presentation and tour of the hybrid and electric vehicles on display.

The Saratoga Automobile Museum in upstate New York on October 9 is the 10th Vintage at Saratoga, a gathering of BMWs produced in the 20th century. The museum hosts a Corvette car exhibit from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on October 13.

The AACA Museum in Hershey, Pa., resumes its annual “Night at the Museum” fundraiser on October 6 with the theme “Cars and Country Music”. Troy Engle and Southern Skies will be performing at the event that kicks off “Fall Hershey”.

The Newport Automobile Museum is hosting its German Car Weekend on October 9-10 with five branded car clubs in attendance and with people showing off a German car key earning free entry.

Herzog Motorsports, the Missouri-based racing team that has won a variety of events from off-road racing in Baja to Jimmie Johnson’s transition to stock car racing, will be honored on October 15-16 at the a special event at Speedway Motors Museum of American Speed in Lincoln, Nebraska.

“Mille Miglia” is the theme of the Demo Day activities from October 16 to Simeone Foundation Automobile Museum in Philadelphia, where the museum’s Mille Miglia podium cars will be performed. These cars include a trio of Alfa Romeo 8C models from the 1930s and a Maserati 300 S from 1956.

The Harley-Davidson Museum in Milwaukee resumes its Scouting Merit Badge program on October 16 with in-person meetings at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. and with a new 90-minute online program for Scouts across the country at 8:30 a.m. on Saturdays and at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesdays.

Hemi under glass by Bob Riggle and Rich Truesdell will perform from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on October 16 at Autobooks-Aerobooks in Burbank, California.

The Blackhawk Museum in Danville, Calif., is hosting its 30th anniversary All British Motor Show from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on October 17.

A school semester in the UK means special youth-focused programs from October 23-31 to British Automobile Museum in Gaydon, where Professor Pickle and Doctor Pumpkin will share the science of lights and mirrors.

Opening on October 26 at MAUTO, the National Automobile Museum in Turin, Italy, is an exhibition titled “These daredevils on the white roads”. The exhibition features 40 photographs by Adriano Scoffone of the 40-mile hill climb in the Italian Alps in 1930 and won by Tazio Nuvolari in an Alfa-Romeo Grand Prix car. The exhibition was developed with the help of Angelo Sala, former director of stage direction of the Alla Scala Theater.

On October 28, it’s Skulloween at the Motor bar and restaurant at Harley-Davidsion Museum in Milwaulee, where a black and orange themed Halloween costume contest will be held.

The British Automobile Museum in Gaydon is hosting the Great British Model Railway Show on October 30-31, featuring 30 scale model railroads in different gauge sizes.

The Tunnels to Towers Foundation’s mobile exhibition on September 11, Never Forget, will be at National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Ky., November 3-9.

The North East Motorsport Museum in Loudon, New Hampshire, is hosting its Legends Day on November 7 this year in honor of New England midget races.

New Savoie Automobile Museum in Cartersville, Ga., halfway between Chattanooga and Atlanta, announced Dec. 8 as its opening day for visitors. The museum sits on a 35-acre site and consists of three buildings with 65,000 square feet of exhibition space and a cafe. It is part of the Georgia Museums Inc., which includes the Booth Western Art Museum, the Bartow History Museum, and the Tellus Science Museum.

Does your local auto museum have any special events or exhibits planned? Let us know. E-mail larrye@classiccars.com.