Summer Festival in Böblingen 2013, Part 1
A Weekend Near Stuttgart
In July 2013, I spent some time in Böblingen, a small German town about 20 km from Stuttgart. For car enthusiasts, however, this place is more interesting than it may seem at first glance.
Mercedes-Benz factory buildings are located here. In addition, Böblingen is home to the unique automotive center Meilenwerk, which deserves a separate story of its own.
Most importantly, the Meilenwerk grounds regularly host meetings, festivals, conferences, and traveling exhibitions. On July 6 and 7, the site hosted a summer car festival, or Sommerfest as the Germans call it.
That gave me a good reason to see what the local car scene looked like from the inside.
The Festival Atmosphere
I came to the festival on both days to get a closer look at German automotive culture. Across the grounds, there were many food spots. Most of them were built into restored vintage vehicles and trailers.
Small business owners had set up their stands as well. Some presented services. Others showed tools or inventions. A few were simply selling souvenirs.
The event was clearly designed for families too. There were rides, swings, and candy kiosks for children. As a result, the festival felt more like a proper summer gathering than a narrow enthusiast meet.
Traveling displays from the Mercedes-Benz and Porsche museums were also there. They encouraged visitors to see the latest exhibitions. To be fair, those museums really are worth the trip.
The Cars and the People
Festival participants were given a huge green field. From early morning, enthusiasts began arriving and lined up their cars in neat rows across the trimmed grass.
Many Germans came to the festival with their families. Quite a few even brought their automotive toys on trailers.
Some participants arrived on their own. Meanwhile, others gathered in brand-based groups and made their club spirit obvious from a distance.
You could spend hours walking around and studying the cars. Better still, you could talk to the owners. Then they would usually share the most interesting details.
The cars themselves covered a wide range of eras and brands. Some were old-timers. Others were modern supercars.
Looking around, it felt obvious that everyone was chasing a different form of self-expression.
