Chattanooga Motorcar Festival
The Chattanooga Motorcar Festival has rolled into the heart of Chattanooga each fall for the past four years, featuring hundreds of classic autos and iconic racing cars. The three-day, family-friendly event highlighted racing with the Pace Grand Prix at The Bend, the Canossa Fall Rally Chattanooga, the Concours d’Elegance, Mecum Auctions, car club gatherings, entertainment, and more. Festival officials noted that this year’s ticket pre-sales had nearly doubled as enthusiasm and momentum grew leading up to the three-day event.
BIG NAMES
Grand Marshal for the 2023 festival was Luigi Chinetti, Jr., recognized around the world for his racing as a Ferrari driver, as a designer, and as an ambassador for the sport of racing. Nine-time sports car racing champion Brian Redman returned once again as Grand Ambassador. Corky Coker, a local businessman and car collector, and Lyn St. James, the 1992 Indy 500 Rookie of the Year, were also recognized as Grand Marshal Emeriti.
“It is a pleasure and an honor to return to the Chattanooga Motorcar Festival as Grand Ambassador,” said Redman. “With multiple automobile-related attractions, Byron DeFoor and his team have established the festival as one of the premier ‘go-to’ events in America.” “Each year our Chattanooga Motorcar Festival gets bigger and better,” said Coker. “I can’t wait…to experience all that is in store! As a Grand Marshal Emeritus, all I can say is ‘start your engines, here we go!'”
Cruisin’
Leading up to the festival, participants of the Canossa Fall Rally Chattanooga were welcomed to a two-day scenic and casual road rally from Chattanooga to Asheville, North Carolina, returning to Chattanooga in time for the Chattanooga Motorcar Festival kick-off event.
Race Ready
The Pace Grand Prix at the Bend racing events were held on an updated and resurfaced 2-mile course in the heart of the city, featuring Brian Redman’s Targa Sixty Six. The high-speed race-car exhibition on Friday and Saturday at The Bend was where owners of vintage, modern high-performance, and collector cars could drive at high speeds under controlled conditions in the company of others with similar interests.
To The Highest Bidder
Mecum Auctions, the world’s largest collector car auctions, returned again this year bringing in a wide array of vehicles from classic collectibles, antique motorcycles, to modern vehicles. The auction took place on Friday and Saturday at the Chattanooga Convention Center.
The Concours d’Elegance was Sunday’s headliner in the streets of West Village, boasting hundreds of significant cars from all generations and from around the world. Thirteen classes, plus six for special awards, were judged by distinguished world-class judges and all winners received their awards and accolades on the Concours stage in front of the Westin Chattanooga Hotel in West Village.
Other events highlighting the festival:
- Luftgekühlt’s celebration of Brian Redman
- Car Club gatherings
- Saturday evening fundraiser, “Unlock My Brain”
- Friday night concert with The B-52s
- Torque Show with Justin Bell and Tommy Kendall
- Panel discussions and other entertainment on the Main Stage throughout the weekend
- J. Willard Marriott Club display of historic Ferraris
- V8’s in the Village
- Gathering of the Greats – Porsche Edition
- Family Fun Zone that included a Ferris wheel and a carnival swing set
Proceeds from the Chattanooga Motorcar Festival, sponsored by Millennium Bank, support neuroscience research through Fifty Plus Foundation, Inc. Approaching 13 years of supporting Alzheimer’s and neuroscience research, Fifty Plus Foundation created the Chattanooga Motorcar Festival to bring both local and global support to back research that is already making a difference in saving lives. Learn more at www.chattanoogamotorcar.com.
Photo credits: Chattanooga Motorcar Festival
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