Brooklands, the world’s first purpose-built motor racing facility, will turn 100 this year. Mercedes-Benz UK, which has done extensive development on the grounds of the famed British track, will help promote the Brooklands Centenary Festival. The festival will kick off with a Grand Centenary Ball on June 15 at the company’s new Mercedes-Benz World facility, on the Brooklands grounds. The event will continue the next day with an impressive display of vintage and veteran cars at the Brooklands Museum.
Then, on June 17—100 years to the day after Brooklands’ very first race—the original Grand Opening Parade of racecars will be reenacted on the remains of the Brooklands banking. Highlight of the parade will be the running of several of Mercedes’ “Silver Arrows” Grand Prix cars. Organizers hope that this year’s event will be the first of many such annual festivals, much like the Goodwood Festival.