For the second time, the Classic Days took place in Düsseldorf’s “Green Park”. Overall it was the 16th edition of this fantastic event for classic cars and historic racing cars, always in memory of Wolfgang Graf Berghe von Trips, the subtitle of the Classic Days has been the “Trips Memorial” since the first event.
After the Classic Days moved to Düsseldorf last year, this past weekend was the second edition of this event, which is pretty unique in Germany.
The map of the site and the division of the individual themes of experience were rearranged and presented themselves even better than the first time. There were a few things last year that weren’t perfectly arranged, they were solved much better now. The festival area was clearer and better structured.
The Düsseldorf “Green Park” is actually a large but really green parking aera with a lot of trees that belongs to the exhibition center and the football stadium.
How the organizers around Marcus Herfort manage to create such an atmospheric place with this flair is simply a great achievement. It really is as it is written down on the beautiful signs, when you enter the Classic Days area, the real world ends and the world of old automobiles with all their history begins.
This year’s program also included an hommage to the 24 Hours of Le Mans with two special demonstration runs. In addition, of course, there was another Monoposto run, this time with a genuine Formula One racing car, a Hesketh 308B from 1975 with Max Werner at the wheel. Also, like every year, the classic motorcycles were there again. An Opel special run that symbolized a bit the history of the „Deutsche Rennsport Meisterschaft“ with a wonderful, bright yellow Opel GT.
What distinguishes the Classic Days in Düsseldorf from those at Schloss Dyck is that the race track runs through the middle of the event site and the spectators have the best view of the racing action from many different places.
An important point to attract as many fans of classic automobiles as possible is the versatility of the vehicles on display. From the original American Pontiac or Buick to the German automobiles of the „Wirtschafts-Wunder-Jahre“, from the classic pre-war Bentleys and Mercedes to caravans from the 1970s, from the Rolls Royce to the VW Käfer, from the Ferrari to the Citroen 2CV…… For all this there is a deserved place at the Classic Days, there are not only the priceless rarities of automobile history but also “everyday cars” with history.
This special concept makes the Classic Days unique and of course family-friendly. There is basically something for everyone. Of course, there are also many participants who are dressed in period cloth, the tweed jacket is very popular with men, with the women you can often see very nice dresses with floral patterns but also petticoats matching the American automobiles.
Unfortunately, the weather didn’t really play along this year. Friday was dry for almost the whole day, there was heavy rain on Saturday, which led to the Classic Days being interrupted, and then the event had to be canceled early on Sunday afternoon due to another storm warning.
Of course that wasn’t nice and I think that because of the weather forecast there were fewer visitors. But sunshine is definitely on the cards again for the next Classic Days, just like in 2022. And real enthusiasts won’t let a little rain stop them either.
Save the date – the first weekend in August is the traditional date for the Classic Days every year. Don’t miss it, see you there. Find out more about our photographer Ralph Lüker.
