In many ways, the 2021 Chattanooga Motoring Festival was remarkable.
From downtown racing to a highly-anticipated Concours event to a Mecum auction, there was a bit of everything to enjoy throughout the three-day event. This Festival, at its core, was a public conclave for automotive enthusiasts of every stripe to come together and bask in an immersive automotive celebration.
In many ways, the Festival represented the melting pot of influences, cultures, and styles of the Chattanooga car community. Granted, it’s a lot to ask of an event of this size and significance, but they pulled it off brilliantly.
And they did it with genuineness, energy, and precise planning.
Nowhere was the infectious energy more on display than with the Grand Marshal, Corky Coker, and the group of panel experts. Not only were they approachable, but also eager to sign autographs, take photos and offer words of advice and encouragement.
In addition to Corky Coker and Brian Redman, the Grand Ambassador, a celebrated list of experts was on hand for panel discussions.
Racer and racing personalities in attendance were Justin Bell, Alain de Cadenet, Ray Evernham, Tanner Foust, Derek Hill, David Hobbs, Scott Speed, Lynn St. James, and Dalton Georgia’s own Linda Vaughn.
In addition, car experts such as Mike Tillson joined Wayne Carini, Tom Cotter, Ken Gross, Bill Rothermel, and Keith Martin held engaging panel discussions.
A Gathering Of The Greats
The Chattanooga Motoring Festival lived up to its advanced billing as a preeminent Concours event. Sunday’s Concours D’Elegance featured an incredibly diverse gathering of automobiles arranged throughout the streets of downtown Chattanooga’s West Village.
A peerless collection of priceless vintage Ferraris was also on display for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity called the “Gathering of the Greats – Ferrari Edition.” The public has seldom seen this collection of Ferrari’s featuring the 1948 Ferrari 166 Spider Corsa, the 1954 Ferrari 250 Monza, the 1967 Ferrari.
Some of the world’s most innovative vehicles were on display under the sunny Tennessee sky. Tucker Model 48s, GM concept cars, the Hirohata Mercury, and many more inspired and awed the crowds of enthusiasts.
The Concours d’Elegance on Sunday was bustling in the West Village. Class-winning cars drove up the ramp in front of the stage to take possession of the carved trophy designed by the local artist Cessna Decosimo.
The Best of Show winner was the 1967 Ferrari NART Spider owned by the Rare Wheel Collection. The Timeless Elegance Award went to Jack Boyd Smith’s 1936 Packard 12, and People’s Choice was a 1950 Buick Special owned by Jeff Hardin.
Brass Era Captures Imagination
You couldn’t help but wax poetic as you walked by the Festival’s impressive offering of Brass Era automobiles. Throughout the Festival, owners and drivers were eager to share their knowledge of their motor cars.
As we were soon to learn, the Brass Era (1896 to 1915) derives its name from the prominent brass fittings used during this time for such things as lights and radiators. Judging by their stories, it takes considerable patience and mechanical aptitude to drive and maintain a “horseless carriage.”
The inherent beauty of driving brass cars is that everything is mechanical.
While driving, you constantly monitor and manually regulate the ignition timing and the fuel mixture for the carburetor. You also have to be aware of the next time you need to adjust the brakes, clutch, or transmission bands.
Among the brass cars were replicas of the historically significant 1911 Marmon and the 1911 Lozier. These cars finished one-two at the first Indy 500 in 1911.
Race Honors Jim Pace
Friday and Saturday brought door-handle to door-handle racing through downtown Chattanooga city streets. Retired Formula 1 driver Brian Reman designed a competitive 2.1-mile road course along the picturesque waterfront area.
The eight different competition classes ran the gamut of automobile racing. Participants’ cars dating from as far back as the 1920s to the modern era with a 2021 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup were in action.
Three races of 20 minutes each, spread out over the weekend, provided plenty of visceral excitement.
On a somber note, a tribute to Jim Pace took place at the “Pace Grand Prix at the Bend” in his honor.
Jim was the beloved event chair and COO of the inaugural 2019 Festival who died of COVID-19 in 2020. In his honor, a fleet of Lola race cars paraded in front of the podium.
At the same time, friends, family, and racing dignitaries remembered the popular race-car driver from Mississippi, known for his Southern charm. Russell Gee, Pace’s best friend, had a skywriting plane spell out “Pace” high overhead in the clouds to further pay respects.
Standing-Room Only Mecum Auction
Mecum’s first auction in the state of Tennessee was at the Chattanooga Convention Center during the Festival. To say it was a success would be an understatement.
The standing-room-only crowd pushed the overall sales past $18.7 million. Five hundred and forty-three vehicles went on the auction block during the two-day event.
The event achieved an impressive 84% sell-through rate with 457 vehicles sold. The top individual position went to a nearly new 2021 Mercedes-Benz G550 Brabus Edition for $302,500.
America’s sports car did well on the auction block. The auction’s No. 2 highest seller was a 1958 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible that brought $264,000, followed by a 1963 Split Window Coupe at $214,500.
The complete top 10 collector car sales at the Mecum Chattanooga auction include:
- 2021 Mercedes-Benz G550 Brabus Edition for $302,500
- 1958 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible for $264,000
- 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Split Window Coupe for $214,500
- 1968 Shelby GT500KR Convertible for $176,000
- 1959 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible for $170,500
- 1970 Plymouth Cuda for $165,000
- 1965 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible for $159,500
- 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air for $148,500
- 1967 Chevrolet Camaro RS for $143,000
- 2021 Ford Bronco First Edition for $137,500
Special thanks to Jim Guck for getting us into the sold-out event and Coker Tires for their genuine hospitality at their VIP platform.
River City Corvette Club Shines
In the heart of all the action was the River City Corvette Club. The Hixson, Tennessee-based club was given the best downtown location for its energetic club members.
Their beautiful Corvettes drew a steady stream of interested onlookers and admirers. Not the least of which was the event’s Grand Marshall, Corky Coker, and Wayne Carini, the host of “Chasing Classic Cars.”
An event like this one draws out the finest examples of automotive design, though one stood out. Setting aside our obvious Corvette biases, the 1958 Royal Turquoise roadster owned by Sheila and Rickey was something very special.
We were mesmerized as the early morning light danced across the contoured lines of this exquisite drop-top.
Proceeds Support NeuroScience Research
While the Festival focused the national automotive spotlight on the vibrant Chattanooga community, it also raised awareness and support for vital medical research.
Proceeds from the Chattanooga Motorcar Festival support the NeuroScience Center at CHI Memorial and NeuroScience Innovation Foundation through Fifty Plus Racing Foundation, Inc. This foundation has been raising funds since 2011 through a racing team called Highway to Help.
This team was started by Byron DeFoor and Brian Johnson of AC/DC. They formed this team to participate in the Rolex 24 At Daytona and to raise money for Alzheimer’s research.
When trying to put the weekend into perspective, it was NASCAR Hall of Famer Ray Evernham who said, “The Chattanooga Motorcar Festival has been a phenomenal event for me. I spent a couple of days at the race track having a blast. They built a race track, which amazes me. This morning, here at the Concours, I have seen incredible cars that normally I only see in a magazine. This is a must-see event!”
Famed race driver Lyn St. James’s words also encapsulated the view of many when she said, “It is the first time that I have been to the Chattanooga Motorcar Festival. I didn’t know what to expect, to be honest. I am amazed at how many things are going on at the same time. It gives people the opportunity to experience an auction, experience a car race, experience an assembly of cars – Ferraris, Lamborghinis – and it is all here in the West Village area. They’ve got the music. They’ve got everything here. It is literally a festival of automobiles.”
No matter what superlatives you chose to describe the October 15 – 17th event, one thing is true, the 2021 Chattanooga Motoring Festival was remarkable.
*Special thanks go to Judy Stropus from JVS Enterprises and Corky Coker for the interview “Preview Of The 2021 Chattanooga Motorcar Festival With Corky Coker“
Articles We Recommend:
Amazing Corvettes Club Explores Hendrick’s Heritage Center
The Corvette Cruisers Of Atlanta Event Was Something Special
Lanier Corvettes Unlimited Tours Michelin Tower And The Driving Club