Slovakia 
The holy grail of automotive history: the Mercedes-Benz SSK shines at the Tatransky Veteran 2024
From 2 to 4 August 2024, the 35th edition of the prestigious international meeting of historic vehicles Tatranský Veterán took place in Kežmarok. This year's event was truly exceptional, as up to 54 crews from Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Germany and Switzerland competed. Participants showcased historic vehicles that represented every decade of motoring from the 1920s to the 1980s.
On the track, which measured 136 kilometres, there were not only domestic brands such as Tatra and Skoda, but also legendary European brands such as Bugatti, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Ferrari, Porsche, Jaguar, and there were also American icons such as Ford, Chrysler and Cadillac.
The oldest car of the event was a 1924 Willys Overland, which fascinated the spectators with its original pre-refurbishment condition and its origin from Australia.
One of the biggest draws of the event was the 1928 Mercedes-Benz SSK, a vehicle that made its first appearance outside of Germany. This unique car, of which only four examples survive, was last sold in 2004 as the second most expensive car in the world. This icon car was driven by former German racing driver Bernd Fusting, now an 80-year-old motorsport legend.
Another jewel among the cars was the 1935 Bugatti 57 SC Atlantic, which attracted the attention of onlookers and photographers with its art-deco design. There are only three surviving examples of the car, and one of them is also in the collection of the famous fashion designer Ralph Lauren.
The race route led from Kežmarok to the village of Hniezdne, where a public exhibition was held in Nestville Park. The crews then continued along scenic roads through Červený Kláštor, Lendak, Tatranská Kotlina, Tatranská Lomnica and Starý Smokovec until they arrived in Poprad, where they were greeted by hundreds of enthusiastic fans on the town square. The final part of the route led to Kežmarok, where the rally finished.
A novelty of this year was the evening parade of vehicles "Competition of Elegance" in the courtyard of the historic Kežmarok Castle. Spectators could enjoy a moderated show of the most beautiful cars by Samuel Vanek (editor-in-chief of Slovak Veteran magazine). During the programme, the jazz trio Paper Moon Trio performed, and this atmosphere added an unforgettable character to the whole event and enhanced its elegance.
The event also had a significant international dimension. German MP Carlsten Muller, Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee for Automotive History, discussed with representatives of the Slovak side the possibilities of further cooperation in the preservation of technical cultural monuments and the organisation of future events. This cooperation opens up new perspectives for the development of cultural and historical values linked to motoring.
According to the rally director Marek Môcik, the event was a success despite the bad weather. "I am very glad that all the crews made it safely to the finish line and that the public showed such a great interest in historic vehicles. These vehicles are not only technical monuments, but also works of art that remind us of the genius of engineers of past times," Môcik said after the successful completion of the rally.
Tatransky Veteran 2024 has thus gone down in history as an event that not only brought the most beautiful and rare vehicles of the last century to Slovak roads, but also deepened international ties and strengthened awareness of the importance of preserving automotive heritage.
Tatransky Veteran is more than just an event for lovers of historic vehicles. It is a showcase of the skill and endurance of the crews, the beauty and elegance of the old machines and also an opportunity for visitors to learn about the history of motoring.
