July

3rd – 5th Goodwood Festival of Speed Goodwood House, Chichester, West Sussex. Unmissable motorsport celebration of historic and modern race and rally machinery. A superb venue for fans of anything automotive to get very close to their heroes and their cars. Admission by advance tickets only Tel: 01243 755055

4th – 5th The 2009 Retro-Festival Caen. Caen Racecourse, Normandy, France. Take a break in Normandy and enjoy the prestige, sports and classic cars on show. For details see: retrofestival@orange.fr If you wish to enter your Mercedes for the Concours contact: 0033 (0)607 564296 (France)

5^th Heathrow Classic Car Show British Airways Concorde Club, Cranford. All day event, for details Tel: 020 8513 2000

11^th – 12^th Essex Classic Motor Show Barleylands, Billericay. For details Tel: 01527 871150 or see: www.classicmotorshow.com

12^th Darling Buds of May Classic Car Show Buss Farm, Bethersden, Ashford, Kent. See the home of TVs famous Pop Larkin and enjoy arena events and attractions for all the family. For details Tel: 01622 751000

18th – 19th The Cholmondeley Pageant of Power. Cholmondeley Castle, Malpas, Cheshire. Hear the roar of performance engines in one of the most beautiful grounds in England. Added bonus will be the Fireworks Concert on Saturday night with proms style concert by The Manchester Camerata Orchestra. Bring a picnic and chairs to enjoy this wonderful evening below the castle. Details Tel: 01829 722432 or see website: www.pageantofpower.com

18^th – 19^th Dorset Classic Tour The Springfield Country Hotel is the base for touring beautiful Dorset. Tour takes in the Abbotsbury Swannery and finishes at 16^th century Sherborne Castle and the Classics at the Castle Show – probably the south of Englands finest classics and supercar show (Monday 20^th ). For details Tel: 01935 474630.

19^th Beaumanor Classic Car & Transport Show Beaumanor Hall, Woodhouse, Leicestershire LE12 8TX. For details Tel: 01922 643385

19^th Sands of Time Seaside Festival, Bognor Regis, Sussex. Take a trip to the seaside and see the parade of Classics along the seafront and at the Royal Norfolk Hotel. For details or to enter your Mercedes Tel: Sue 01243 825535

24th – 26th Silverstone Classic Silverstone, Northamptonshire. One of the world's largest classic motor sport events, the Silverstone Classic, brings together a unique gathering of classic road and racing cars to The Home of British Motor Racing. Will include historic F1, Group C, and Mid-90s Super Touring Cars. This classic car event with a difference will also feature evening pop concerts with The Pussy Cat Dolls and recently reformed Blue on Friday night and Carlos Santana on Saturday night. For details Tel: 01327 856024.

26^th Classic Car Summer Picnic at Amberley Museum Amberley, Near Arundel, West Sussex. Join the gathering of up to 250 classics. For details Tel: 01798 831370

August

1st -2nd Classic Days at Schloss Dyck Take a trip to Germany and enjoy this prestigious motor festival based in the stunning castle grounds . For details see: www.schloss-dyck-classic-days.de

1^st – 2^nd The Hebden Bridge Vintage Cars Weekend Calder Holmes Park, Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire. Weekend rally for veteran, vintage & classic cars, motor cycles and commercial vehicles – fun for all the family. For details Tel: 01422 842597

2nd Walsall Classic Car & Transport Show Walsall Arboretum Extension, Walsall, West Midlands. Details Tel: 01922 643385

2^nd The Duxford Classic Car Show Imperial War Museum, Duxford, Cambridgeshire. An amazing array of all-time classic favourites for car lovers and nostalgia seekers of all ages to enjoy. For details Tel: 01233 835000.

2^nd Yorkshire Classic Car & Bike Show, plus 4x4 Show Ripley Castle, Harrogate. For details Tel: 01253 407779

5^th Classics on the Green The Green, Croxley Green, Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire 3pm till late. Open to all types of interesting vehicles. For details Tel: Kevin on 07958 980711

7^th – 9^th Summer Classic Tour Touring weekend in the beautiful Brecon Beacons and South Wales. For details Tel: 01935 474630

9^th Classic Car Show Mid Suffolk Showground, Stonham Barns, Pettaugh Road, Stonham Aspel, Stowmarket. For details: Tel: 01449 711111

9^th Southern Classics Late Summer Show The Worthing Rugby Club, Angmering, West Sussex (on B2225 Roundstone Lane, just off A259 Worthing to Littlehampton Road). 10am-4pm. For details Tel: Eric on 01903 782661

9^th – 13^th The 2009 Rock It Rally Test yourself with tough driving legs and track days and enjoy VIP parties at night as you take in 5 amazing cities in this European car rally adventure of a lifetime. After meeting up at Sandbanks in Poole your route leads you via Paris, Munich, Milan, Maranello and Monaco. All car enthusiasts wishing to enter their Mercedes for this exciting rally please email nathan.sherriff@rockitrally.com / info@rockitrally.com or Tel: 07920 528605.

15th – 16th Heart FM Air Display & Classic Car Show Rougham Airfield, near Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk. A thrilling weekend with stunning air display. Details Tel: 01359 270524

16^th Cranleigh Lions Classic Car Show Cranleigh Showground, Bookhurst Road, Surrey (B2127) 9am-4.30pm. For details Tel: 01483 275644

16th Pebble Beach Concours dElegance Once each year, on a Sunday in August, 175 of the most prized collector cars in the world roll onto what is often called the best finishing hole in golf the famed eighteenth fairway at Pebble Beach, California. Tire meets turf and transformation occurs: the stage is set for one of the most competitive events in the automotive world. The occasion is the prestigious Pebble Beach Concours dElegance. The Concours is not a contest of speed, but of excellence. Automobiles are judged for their historical accuracy, their technical merit and their style. And the best garner reward and recognition. Thousands of enthusiasts are on hand to celebrate these cars and enjoy the company of others who share their passion. For details Tel: 001 831 622 1700 (USA) or email: info@pebblebeachconcours.net

22nd – 23rd Vintage & Classic & Sportscar Show with Giant Autojumble Tatton Park, Knutsford, Cheshire WA16 6QN (Junction 19 of M6, Junction 7 of M56) For details or to enter your Mercedes Tel: 01565 723863.

30th August Bank Holiday Charity Rally/Race/Show Swaffham Raceway, Norfolk. More Mercedes are invited to join the Ferraris, etc... already signed up for the 3 lap time trial on the circuit. A great day out with live band, celebrities, etc and proceeds going to Breakthrough Breast Cancer charity. For more information see: www.charityballrally.com or tel: Philip Hatton on 07766 050000

30^th The Cheshire Classic Car & Motorcycle Show Capesthorne Hall, Macclesfield, Cheshire. Includes North West Mercedes Day. For details Tel: 01484 452002

30^th – 31^st Hampshire Pageant of Motoring Broadlands, Romsey. 10am-5pm each day. The largest motoring event on the South Coast. For details of this great family day out Tel: 01245 350830

30^th – 31^st Knebworth Classic Motor Show Stevenage, Hertfordshire. For details Tel: 01527 871150

September

5^th Cotswold Classic Car Run Join this picturesque run through the beautiful Cotswolds. For more information Tel: 01527 835256

5^th – 6^th Public Track Day at Shakespeare County Raceway Warwickshire. Open to all classic cars – take your Mercedes through its paces and feel that adrenaline rush. For details Tel: 01789 720180

10^th for 35 days, Rally to Rio. Open to vintage, post-vintage and classic vehicles (or you can choose one of the hire cars on offer if you do not wish to use your own). This non-competitive adventure starts in Lima, Peru and finishes in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, a distance of some 6000km. Full support team and accommodation in the best hotels available each night. For further details and to book see: www.rallyroundtheworld.com or Tel: 01803 211443

11^th – 20^th Southampton Boat Show Mayflower Park, Southampton. Enjoy a great day out by the sea at this fabulous showcase for all things nautical. Mercedes Owner readers are offered £5 off of each ticket purchased (full ticket price £18). This offer is available by logging onto the Shows website at www.southamptonboatshow.com, quoting P37 or by calling the ticket hotline on 0844 209 0333. For added value, two children aged 15 and under will be admitted free for every adult ticket purchased. Offer excludes Public Preview Day on 11 September.

12th Annual smart Festival Mercedes-Benz World, Brooklands, Weybridge, Surrey. Previous years have seen smart football and even cartortionists, so make sure you pay a visit to see the unforgettable entertainment on offer this year, courtesy of this iconic, funky city car. For details Tel: 0870 400 4000 or visit: www.mercedes-benzworld.co.uk

18th - 20th Goodwood Revival Goodwood Motor Circuit, Chichester, West Sussex. Revisit the romance of the golden age of motor racing. See all the stars and their cars. Join competitors and enthusiasts and dress to impress in 1950s costume. If you own a pre-1966 Mercedes, make sure you arrive in it. All tickets to be booked in advance. Tel: 01243 755055

Invitations Received

19^th – 20^th September 2009 XIV Coppa Toscana Rally Enjoy the beautiful countryside of the Chianti region in Tuscany between Florence and Siena. Pre 1965 classic cars are invited to participate – includes optional regularity race and visits to several Consorzio Chianti Classico wineries with wine and food tasting. For more details see: www.coppatoscana.it

7th to 16th November The Endurance Rally Association invite you to participate in the 2009 Casablanca Challenge for vintage and classic cars; category 1 for cars up to 1941 and category 2 for cars up to 1971, all classes based on engine size. (This could be good preparation for the next Peking to Paris Rally in 2010 – of which still a few places left – please enquire.) Starting at Brooklands and on to the ferry crossing from Dover, the route crosses France and Spain, through Southern Morocco to Casablanca. All hotels, breakfast and 9 nights evening meals included ending with gala prizegiving. For more details or to book Tel: 01235 831221 or see: www.endurorally.com