Top-End Motors Hosts A Birthday Bash For Mike Thies

Colorful Charity Open Car Show poster

Want to make a car show better instantly? Just add a party to celebrate Mike Thies’s 75th birthday and plenty of birthday cake.

We seldom need much coaxing to come out to a Georgia Cool Cruisers car show. But adding Mike’s birthday party and a chance to visit Top-End Motors quickly became an offer we couldn’t refuse.

As many of you would attest, Mike Thies has been a driving force in the Atlanta car culture for many years. His South East Wheels event page is a go-to source for the latest on area events and car-related information.

Mike’s service to the Atlanta area car culture extends even further with his I-VAN International Vehicle Appraisers Network.

You could tell by the enthusiastic turnout that this would be a fun car-loving birthday party.


Seventh-generation Red Corvette coupe with Z06 package
Steve – 2019 Long Beach Red Z06 coupe
President – Amazing Corvettes of Atlanta
Seventh-generation Corvette coupe in red
Refik – 2014 Red Z-51 coupe
Amazing Corvette Club

The car registration booth for the charity car show in Georgia
Rick Ellis – Georgia Cool Cruisers President
along with Rochelle, and Sharon

Georgia Cool Cruisers, Of Course

It only seems natural that Georgia Cool Cruisers would be the ones to organize the birthday bash at Top-End Motors. Since the Georgia Cool Cruisers club formed in June of 2013, they’ve been a fixture in Atlanta’s car scene.

Typically their charity car show in February kicks off an ambitious event season that runs late into the year. This hard-working club host several charity-driven car shows every year across the metro area.

Their efforts have generated over $150,000 for great causes. The list of notable charities includes Toys for Tots, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, and USO Georgia, Furkids.

They’ve also supported Hot Rodders Children’s Charity and Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

Over the years, Rick Ellis and the club have carefully crafted a winning car show formula. Consistently their shows are entertaining, charity-focused events that bring traffic to the hosting business.

A Georgia Cool Cruiser’s event is a fun win for everyone involved.


Sixth-generation yellow Corvette coupe
Sean & Katrina – Custom 2006 Velocity Yellow coupe
Black Panthers Corvette Club
Seventh-generation Blade Silver Z06 Corvette coupe
Gary – 2015 Blade Silver Z06 coupe

FurKids animal rescue booth
Jessie, Taylor, and Karen
Furkids Animal Rescue & Shelters

Furkids Brings The Puppies

Puppies? Did someone say Furkids animal rescue & shelters showed up with adorable mixed-lab puppies?

Yes, we were there for the Corvettes, but we’ve got a soft spot for rescue animals. As we were to learn, this is Furkid’s 20th anniversary year.

To celebrate this milestone, they are hosting an event at their headquarters at 5235 Union Hill Rd, Cumming, GA, on Saturday, April 9th, 2022, from 6:30 pm to 10:00 pm.

It is a great chance to get together with like-minded animal lovers and celebrate the thousands of animals they’ve saved from abuse and abandonment while raising funds to save thousands more.

Enjoy live music, an open bar, dinner, and live and silent auctions to benefit Furkids’ 20 years of lifesaving work. You will also get a sneak peek at their Event Center under construction!

The guest speaker will be Jackson Galaxy, the host of My Cat from Hell and a two-time New York Times best-selling author.


Third-generation Sunflower Yellow Corvette
Jack – 1972 Sunflower Yellow coupe
Sixth-generation Torch Red Grand Sport Corvette coupe
Chris – Custom 2011 Torch Red Grand Sport coupe
Owner – “Open Roads Customs”

Thanks Top-End Motors

We sincerely have to thank the folks at Top-End Motors, 5489 Technology Pkwy, Braselton, Ga. The team there is focused on you getting the maximum enjoyment out of driving, and we appreciate them graciously hosting this event.

Recently opened for business, Top-End Motors is a private car club that provides on-site car storage and elite transportation services. Be sure to check back with them often as they continue expanding their list of services and amenities.

All in all, it was a fun event from start to finish. Mike Thies’s 75th party had excellent Spring weather, a wide variety of beautiful cars, adorable puppies, and birthday cake.

Who could ask for more?


Mike Thies from South East Wheels events
Mike Thies – Owner of South East Wheels Events
& I-VAN International Vehicle Appraisers Network
People standing beside a green Model A
Aaron, Greg, Mike, and Donna – 1929 Model A Ford

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Photo of Rod Worley wearing sunglasses and smiling. He is the Editor of Vettes of Atlanta Magazine.
Rod Worley

Rod Worley is the Editor of Vettes of Atlanta Magazine, an archive selected for permanent digital preservation by the U.S. Library of Congress. A professional narrator and historian with 20+ years of Corvette ownership, he is the primary architect of this Master Technical Index and Database of Record. With 475+ technical deep-dives (C1–C8.R), Worley maintains professional standing with the SAE, SPJ, and the Society of Automotive Historians.

ISSN: 3071-3099 | LOC ID: #50193 | ORCID: 0009-0008-5644-1848 | Muck Rack: rod-worley-1