Hello Terry,
I too have rallied vintage Mercedes for years.
You may want to start out with some local TSD Rallies and work you way up to Performance rallies. There should be local clubs in your area for these kind of events. The SCCA no longer has big time performance rally events (Pro Rally Series years ago) however they have an active Rallycross and TSD Rally Program even today.
"Classic Motorsports" magazine and "Grassroots Motorsports" magazines cover some rally events these days. Sadly The Speedchannel on Cable TV has very little coverage of rally events.
There are many levels of rallying. Some are extreme, some are a bit more than a brisk drive. You can choose the level of involvement which suits you and your wallet. It definitely will add another level of enjoyment to your auto hobby.
Performance Rallying is described as "the extreme" of auto racing. Real cars, real roads and real fast!
When I first started performance rallying in the late 70's, you just needed $40.00 entry, a crash helmet and a simple single loop roll bar. This got you into a full night of all out racing on 400 miles of closed gravel forest roads. The SCCA sanctioned these events as part of their Pro Rally Series. They were serious events and were very hard on vehicles and crews.
Those days are gone. Today, if you plan on doing performance rallying you will need some training, experience, a lot of safety equipment and a bit of cash. Start out with some non-performance vintage rallies to get started.
Search up "Targa Newfoundland" and "La Carrera Panamericana Rally" for North America's best known performance vintage rallies. In addition there are many less competition oriented vintage rallies held around the US every year.
Good luck and Happy Motoring!
