It is the beginning of August 1888 when Bertha Benz undertakes the first long-distance journey in the history of the automobile. She and her two sons drive from Mannheim to Pforzheim in the patented motor car designed by her husband Carl Benz.
The Bertha Benz Ride, organized by the Allgemeiner Schnauferl-Club, honours and commemorates this historic event. In 2022, the ride will take place from July 28 to 31 around the Technik Museum Sinsheim.
Start and finish at the Technik Museum Sinsheim
On these days, museum visitors will have the unique opportunity to experience 40 impressively rare vehicles of all makes up to and including 1930 live - for example the still very well-preserved Benz 14.30 from 1909, the unmissable Loreley Type L4A from 1913 or the rare Steyr Type VII from 1926. The oldest participant is a Benz Velo from 1896 with just four hp. The motorized veterans comply with technical regulations in terms of originality, restoration and safety.
"We are honored that this important event has found its way to our museum. I am looking forward to being able to experience the vehicles live here," says Museum President Hermann Layher.
On Thursday, July 28, the vehicles will gradually arrive at the museum grounds at the foot of the Concorde and Tupolev Tu-144 from 12 noon. On the actual departure days (Friday and Saturday, July 29 and 30), the classic cars will be presented in the courtyard from 3 pm. "The Bertha Benz Ride will pitch its tents at the Technik Museum Sinsheim for the first time. Everything is located here: vehicle and trailer parking, overnight accommodation in the associated Hotel Sinsheim and catering. The museum team will actively support us in establishing this classic car event in the region," organizer Wolfgang Presinger from the Allgemeiner Schnauferl-Club (ASC) is convinced.
New event concept
While the rally was previously organized by friend and member of the Technik Museum Sinsheim, Winfried Seidel with his famous car museum Dr. Carl Benz from Ladenburg, as well as the ASC, the organization is now in the hands of Wolfgang Presinger. Winfried Seidel has retired as co-organizer after almost 40 years. A good time to change the event concept for the future. This is the first time since the Bertha Benz Ride began in the 1960s that the route has been changed. The starting point in Mannheim has now been ruled out due to the high volume of traffic. The Technik Museum Sinsheim will now provide a new home for the event.
"We want to combine decelerated driving in scenically attractive regions with friendly encounters in snorting circles," says Presinger, explaining the new concept. The route will take the participants more into the region where the automotive pioneer lived and worked: on Friday and Saturday, the sprightly classic cars will travel around 100 kilometers per day in the Kraichgau and southern Odenwald. The next trip is scheduled for 2024.
Further information on the Bertha Benz Drive can be found on the event website.
