Final Simeone Museum Demo Day of 2014 gives the people what they want

The 63 candidates for the 2014 People’s Choice Demo Day at the Simeone Museum. Photo courtesy Simeone Museum.

Philadelphia’s Simeone Museum is known for its extensive collection of both prewar and postwar racing and sports cars, and during the museum’s “Demo Days,” visitors get to see selected cars in action on the facility’s three-acre back lot. Demo Days typically have a theme that unites the cars to be exercised, as chosen by the museum’s staff, but for the final Demo Day of the year (scheduled for Saturday, November 29), the museum is letting its visitors choose the three cars to be driven.

The list of 63 candidates covers over six decades, stretching from a 1912 National Model 40 Semi-Racing Roadster to a 1975 Alfa Romeo Tipo 33 TT 12. Choices include a 1929 Stutz Supercharged Le Mans and a 1967 Ford GT40 Mk IV, both raced at Le Mans; a 1964 Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe, entered into the National Historic Vehicle Registry and used by Craig Breedlove to set speed and endurance records at Bonneville; a 1953 Hudson Hornet Twin H-Power sedan with a history of hillclimb victories and a nickname of “the Satan;” a 1970 Porsche 917 LH with an instantly recognizable purple and green psychedelic livery; a 1913 Mercer Raceabout, believed to be the last surviving example with a competition history; a 1963 Corvette Grand Sport roadster; a 1958 Aston Martin DBR1 once raced by Jim Clark during his “Border Reivers” racing days; and a 1956 Jaguar D-Type, with a history of competition at tracks like Sebring, Watkins Glen and Silverstone.

Voting runs through Monday, November 24 at 5:00 p.m., and the three cars chosen by popular vote will be announced on Tuesday, November 25. The final Simeone Museum Demo Day of 2014 will take place on Saturday, November 29, with activities beginning at noon, and if history is any indication, expect the “People’s Choice Demo Day” to be among the museum’s most popular events.

For additional information, or to vote on the cars to be driven, visit SimeoneMuseum.org.