From June 20 to 23, 2019, the Klub Zabytkowych Mercedesów Polska is organizing the 18th StarDrive Poland 2019 Vintage Mercedes Rally. The rally will take place
in the capital of the Karkonosze Mountains—Jelenia Góra—and the surrounding counties and cities.
The event will feature 86 vintage Mercedes-Benz cars with a high degree of originality and exceptional historical and technical qualities. The crews participating in the rally come from Poland, Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Sweden and Lithuania.
The oldest model taking part in StarDrive, the Mercedes-Benz W21, dates from 1934. At its wheel will be Maja Włoszczowska, a Polish mountain biker.
One of the rally’s greatest attractions will undoubtedly be the 1952 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing/W198 I, capable of reaching a maximum speed of 250 km/h. Gullwing owes its name to its upward-opening doors, whose shape resembles wings. The name has historically become associated with this model. Poland is home to the only perfectly preserved example. During the event, motoring fans will have the opportunity to obtain a wealth of interesting information from the Gullwing’s owner.
The 18th StarDrive Poland 2019 Vintage Mercedes Rally will also be attended by Mateusz Damięcki, a Polish theatre, film, television and dubbing actor, and privately a vintage Mercedes enthusiast and driver of a 1980 Mercedes C123, which can be seen every day at Classic Corner, in the Wrocław showroom of Grupa Wróbel.
The crews’ first challenge, on Friday, June 21, will be a 70-kilometre rally following the Valley of Palaces and Gardens, during which participants will face interesting tasks set
by the organizers. The rally route will begin at 10:00 a.m. at Osada Śnieżka in Łomnica and run through the Valley of Palaces and Gardens, the Jeleniogórski Aeroclub, Wojanów Palace, Łomnica Palace and Karpniki Castle.
Rally participants will have the opportunity to visit the Julia Crystal Glassworks and the Gerhart Hauptmann Museum, as well as attend a lecture by Janusz Skowroński, the author of books about the mysteries of Lower Silesia.
After the rally challenges conclude, participants will attend a Mercedes Feast organized at the Lapland Corner in Osada Śnieżka, naturally in the company of Maja Włoszczowska and Mateusz Damięcki—ambassadors of Grupa Wróbel—and representatives of the sponsors: Mercedes-Benz Polska, Grupa Wróbel—Mercedes Dealer, PKO BP, Ready Construct & Bathroom and Mont Blanc.
Saturday, June 22, also promises to be very interesting. At 9:30 a.m., the vintage cars will set off from Osada Śnieżka towards Jelenia Góra’s Market Square.
The highlight of the rally will be Saturday’s Concours d’Elegance: from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Town Hall Square in Jelenia Góra, as well as a presentation of selected models in the Market Square in Jawor,
from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. The Concours d’Elegance jury will assess the car’s overall condition, its degree of originality, the matching of the car’s appearance and the crew’s clothing to the vehicle’s year, and the crew’s creativity in presenting the car.
The 18th StarDrive Poland 2019 Vintage Mercedes Rally will conclude with the Commanders’ Ball at Hotel Osada Śnieżka, attended by Jelenia Góra Mayor Jerzy Łużniak, Jawor Mayor Emilian Bera and representatives of Mercedes-Benz Polska. The results of the competition will then be announced and prizes will be awarded to the winners.