Spend 10 minutes with Philip Carroll and you come away with two certainties. First is his life-long passion for automobiles and the other is the energy he brings to that passion.
Both are intrinsically needed if your ambition is to create a motoring festival from scratch. Last year we had the privilege of covering the well-received inaugural event in our article titled, Roswell Motoring Festival Brings Out The Corvettes.
Just weeks before the upcoming October 2nd, 2021 event, we knew we needed to know more about Philip Carroll, his team, and his preeminent advisory board.
What follows is an edited transcript of our engaging interview.
Riding The Running Boards
Rod Worley – Editor – Philip, let me start by saying how much fun we had attending the inaugural Roswell Motoring Festival. There was a strong turnout from the region’s automotive community for the event.
You have to be a lifelong car aficionado to pull together a show like this. Were there any cars that stood out in your childhood growing up, any experiences?
Philip Carroll – Roswell Motoring Festival – Thank you, Rod, glad you enjoyed it, and yes, we were thrilled to have such an enthusiastic turnout for the inaugural event.
My father was always bringing home unique cars which, naturally caught my attention as a young boy.
I can recall a canary yellow Mercury Park Lane convertible with a big block. However, there was also an aquamarine Park Lane convertible that stood out.
My father was an engineer and was genuinely impressed with what Henry Ford had accomplished with the automobile.
He made an impression on me with the first car that I ever learned to drive. It was a 1936 blue Ford standard sedan with a flathead V8.
I was about 7 or 8 years old when he picked up the ’36 at a Coker swap meet in Chattanooga, TN. We called it “Old Blue” and kept it for 40 years.
I can still remember standing on the running board outside the car with my arm locked through the “B” pillar as we drove around Lookout Mountain. It was like a Six Flags ride every Sunday.
As you can imagine, that’s what started my love affair with automobiles. Today, my wife and I enjoy Jaguars and Aston Martins.
A Love For Automobiles
Rod Worley – Editor – If you were to boil the essence of the Festival down to a single sentence, what would it be? Also, what life experiences gave you the confidence to undertake an event of this scale?
Philip Carroll – Roswell Motoring Festival – Our Festival was born out of our love for automobiles and the desire to do something meaningful for our favorite charity, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
We identify with giving back; we understand the need.
Fortunately, I’ve had significant life experiences in the hospitality field that have prepared me for this undertaking. For example, for 30 years, my family produced the Atlanta Jazz Party.
The event was a three-day internationally attended event held at Atlanta’s Westin, and Doubletree (King & Queen) towers until 2016.
We’ve also produced jazz events for the City of Roswell Cultural Arts Center in the past. So, you’ll find that we integrate that era of music into the Festival and various artists in other mediums.
Through the event, we strive to preserve and evangelize the automobile. To that end, our inaugural Festival highlighted the racing career of Atlanta’s very own, Gene Felton.
Gene was ISMA’s winningest driver and a 2005 inductee into the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame. Each year we’ll showcase a different aspect of the automotive culture.
Amazing Team & Advisors
Rod Worley – Editor – Often, we’ve seen a correlation between the strength of an event’s advisory board and the success of the event. If that’s true, then the Roswell Motoring Festival has a bright future.
Can you take a moment and share the team members and advisors who help make this event a success with us.
Philip Carroll – Atlanta Motoring Festival – Rod, I’m so glad you segued the discussion to highlight those vital to our show’s continued success. You’re right. We owe so much to our amazing team and advisors.
Our Directors of Operations are Cliff and Gaylynn McManus. Cliff is a retired project manager for the Southern Company, and Gaylynn is a data analyst. They handle the site plan, processing of applications, bookkeeping, and so much more. They are truly invaluable.
For our advisors, we are fortunate to have Steve Rinaldo. He is the co-founder of the Atlanta British Motorcar Day. In addition, he is a brass-era automotive historian and talk-show host.
Then we have our car whisperer, Skip Smith. As you no doubt know, he is the co-host of the internationally syndicated “Caffeine & Octane” television show.
Skip and Bruce Piefke, the producer of “Caffeine & Octane,” emerged early on as passionate supporters of the Festival. Their success with C&O is nothing short of a phenomenon.
Don and Marlene Hart are founding members of the Atlanta Jaguar Society. They are also founding members of the Georgia chapter of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Early on the Roswell Motoring Festival committed to raising funds and awareness for the St. Jude Children Research Hospital. In many ways, we believe St. Jude is leading the way the world understands, treats, and eventually defeats childhood cancer.
Just Around The Corner
The Roswell Motoring Festival will be held on October 2nd, 2021. A change of venue brings the charitable automotive experience to the grounds of Roswell’s picturesque City Hall.
The inaugural event provided the opportunity to see one-of-a-kind cars we’ve only seen in books and periodicals. So we’ll be there early to take in the sights and sounds given how much fun we had last year.
One thing we’re sure of is that Philip Carroll will be bringing the passion and energy.
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