Where has the time gone?
It seems like only yesterday we were trying to take in all the action at the 2021 Chattanooga Motorcar Festival. “Trying” is the key word here because the excitement was non-stop.
This year promises to bring back all the action to downtown Chattanooga again.
The third annual Chattanooga Motorcar Festival will occur on October 14th – 16th, 2022. The three-day Festival will include a Concours d’Elegance, the Canossa Fall Rally Chattanooga, The Pace Grand Prix at The Bend, a Mecum Auctions event, and many more family-friendly activities.
We can honestly say this Festival was one of our favorite events in 2021. Not surprisingly, the title of our recap article says it all, The 2021 Chattanooga Motoring Festival Was Remarkable.
For 2022, the Festival committee made a great choice in selecting Lyn St. James to be this year’s, Grand Marshal. So, we reached out to Lyn to get her thoughts on the upcoming Festival and a window into her illustrious career.
2022 Grand Marshal
Rod Worley – Editor – Congratulations, Lyn, on being selected as the Grand Marshal for the third annual Chattanooga Motorcar Festival. So what are you looking forward to at this year’s event?
Lyn St. James – Grand Marshal – Well, Rod, I attended the event last year for the first time, and I didn’t know what to expect. Every Concours or Festival has its own life, its own style.
I was impressed with the event last year. It was so unique. What makes it special is that so much is happening, sometimes overlapping, other times simultaneously.
They do a great job keeping you up on all the action by positioning huge TVs throughout the downtown Chattanooga Festival area.
This year’s three-day Festival includes an incredible Concours d’Elegance and all that comes with that type of event. There is also the Canossa Fall Rally Chattanooga and the well-known Mecum Auctions.
Of course, one of my favorite events is The Pace Grand Prix at The Bend.
The Pace Grand Prix is in memory of Jim Pace. Unfortunately, we lost him a little over a year ago. This sweet vintage race honors his memory.
When you look at all that this three-day Festival has to offer, it’s impressive. There is something here for families, children, and everyone.
A Career Of Success
It should come as no surprise when Lyn St. James mentions the Pace Grand Prix as her favorite event. Especially given her Hall of Fame racing career.
Lyn’s has seen success at every level of automotive motorsports racing. What follows are some of her accomplishments.
- Five IndyCar series starts, eleven CART, and five Indy Racing League starts to her name.
- She is one of nine women who have qualified for the Indianapolis 500.
- Lyn was the first woman to win the Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year award. To date, the oldest driver to ever win the prize at age 45.
- She also has a class victory at the 24 Hours of Daytona and won the GTO class and the 1990 12 Hours of Sebring.
- Additionally, she has competed in endurance racing in Europe, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the 24 Hours of Nürburgring, at which her AMC Spirit AMX team placed first and second in class in 1979.
- Lyn has held 31 national and international closed-circuit speed records and clocked 225.722 mph in her qualifying race for the 1995 Indy 500.
- Sports Illustrated honored St. James as one of the “Top-100 Women Athletes of the Century” in 2000.
- She was inducted into the Sports Car Club of America Hall of Fame in 2017, the Sebring Hall of Fame in 2020, and the Automotive Hall of Fame in July of 2022.
- Lyn also received the Spirit of Ford Award at the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance.
Something For Everyone
Part of the allure of the Chattanooga Motorcar Festival is that it celebrates so many aspects of the automobile.
- Appreciate the artistry of the automobile? Then the Concours d’Elegance is your cup of tea.
- Looking for a timed competition on the street? The Canossa Fall Rally Chattanooga is calling your name.
- Searching for vintage race action through city streets? Clearly, the Pace Grand Prix At The Bend should be high on your list.
- Thinking of taking home the car of your dreams? The world-famous Mecum Auctions is where you should be headed.
From start to finish, this family-friendly event will be an automotive experience not soon forgotten. After talking to the 2022 Grand Marshal, Lyn St. James, we know one thing for certain.
This year’s Chattanooga Motorcar Festival brings back all the action.
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