A Moving Experience

Written By: Mary Jane McCall | Issue: 2018/06 - June

Highlands Motoring Festival Weekend, June 7–10, is eagerly anticipated by car enthusiasts young and old from near and far.

Featured in national publications and drawing entries that would be the envy of much larger shows, HMF is still a true local event. The four-day festival is planned and administered entirely by a dedicated group of local volunteers with the support of community leaders. Cars are the main attraction, but it’s the sheer joy and fellowship of the people that make this a truly unique event.

For the second year Monte Carlo Casino Night will kick things off on Thursday, June 7, from 6:00 until 9:00 P.M. at Highlands Falls Country Club. Volunteers, including members of Highlands Rotary Club, will bring the Monte Carlo experience to the festival. Preregistration is encouraged.

Friday, June 8, is One Lap of the Mountains, this year featuring a new route of less traveled roads around our Western North Carolina mountains. Participants eagerly look forward to each year’s carefully designed route to test their mettle against the mountainous terrain. Pre-registration is required.

On Friday evening, returning drivers, show participants, and the public are invited to the welcome party at the newly opened The High Dive on Carolina Way, from 6:00
until 8:00 P.M.

Saturday, June 9, from 10:00. A.M. until 4:00 P.M. is the Cars in the Park classic car show at Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park and along 5th Street. This year the special interest class is Vintage Race Cars. Entries include a diverse collection of cars that were purpose-built race cars or production cars, modified for competition with a documented period race history. From the
NASCAR world is the historic three-time winner of the Daytona Beach race from 1949, 1950, and 1951. The last two-liter Spyder built by Ferrari, a 1953 166MM/53 which won the Pebble Beach Race in 1953, will be the most valuable car ever appearing at HMF. There will be a dozen other interesting race cars from manufacturers such as Mazda, Lotus, Morgan, BMW, Lola, and Lister-Jaguar. There is no charge for spectators, but donations are appreciated.

As always event merchandise will be available for purchase. The poster for 2018 by Knight Martorell featuring Bridal Veil Falls will be on sale, along with HMF hats and polo shirts. New this year, they are offering a “One Lap of The Mountain” tour guide book, featuring maps and descriptions of each year’s routes so that you can enjoy the beauty and challenge of each drive yourself.

Saturday night at 6:00 P.M. the Highlands Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center sponsors their Saturdays on Pine concert series at Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park. The festival wraps up on Sunday, June 10, with Cars and Coffee at Wright Square on Main Street from 8:30 until 11:00 A.M. It is one last opportunity for enthusiasts to display their cars and gather to share the experience and make plans for next year. The public is welcome.

HMF is an all-volunteer community charity event. Recipients of all proceeds this year will be The Literacy Council of Highlands, REACH of Macon County, and the Community Care Clinic. Visit highlandsmotoringfestival.com for more information.