This year at Historic Festival 43, we pay tribute to one of the most influential figures in British motorsports history—R.W. “Kas” Kastner, the man who turned Triumph into a racing powerhouse on the West Coast. Our special Triumph Feature brings the spotlight to the Kastner Cup with a dedicated run group divided into three classes: Triumph Under 1.6L, over 1.6L, and 2.2L. It’s a celebration of competition, innovation, and a legacy that helped shape grassroots racing in the U.S.

Kas Kastner’s story is the stuff of legend. Starting from a small garage in California, he tuned, raced, and outsmarted the competition—first behind the wheel, then as Triumph’s U.S. Competition Manager during the golden era of sports car racing. He parlayed his early racing contacts into a job at Cal Sales in Gardena, California, the West Coast distributor for Triumph. By June 1958, he was the company’s service and parts supervisor.

Kastner’s performance tuning guides became gospel for club racers, and his engineering know-how helped Spitfires, TR3s, and GT6s punch far above their weight on America’s toughest tracks. Under his leadership, Triumph transformed into the underdog brand that routinely upset the favorites.

In 1970, Kastner left Triumph to launch Kastner-Brophy Racing in Costa Mesa, California, continuing his motorsports legacy from the West Coast.

To honor his legacy, the Kastner Cup was established in 2003. Unlike most trophies, it isn’t awarded to the fastest car—it goes to the driver who best embodies the spirit of Triumph racing: passion, perseverance, sportsmanship, and mechanical ingenuity.

The Cup travels to a different track each year, drawing Triumph racers and fans from across North America. In 2024, for the first time, it comes to Lime Rock Park.

And there’s no better setting. Lime Rock has long been a haven for sports car enthusiasts, and this year’s Kastner Cup run group promises to be a highlight of the weekend. Currently, 27 beautifully prepared Triumphs are entered—from high-revving Spitfires to torque-rich TR6s—all racing in honor of the man who made it possible.

And among Triumph’s proudest moments? A GT6 prepared by Kastner’s team competed at the 1967 24 Hours of Le Mans, driven by none other than David Hobbs—who returns as Guest of Honor for Historic Festival 43. This year, the spotlight belongs to Kas, but the legacy lives on in every lap and every legend he helped shape.

Learn more about Historic Festival 43 & get tickets today at https://limerock.com/events/historic-festival/