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Cars, Cars and More Cars
Written By: Deena Bouknight | Issue: March 2023
Rev those engines, polish the chrome – Highlands Motoring Festival is racing toward us – June 8-11.
June may seem like miles into the future, but time flies – as do many of the automobiles, both new and old, that will be on display and on roadways during the annual June fundraiser event called the Highlands Motoring Festival. This year, it takes place June 8-11, with the schedule of events revving up as:
Thursday, June 8
One Lap of the Mountains- Grande’
Brian Redman Reception
Friday, June 9
One Lap of the Mountains- Speciale
Parade of Main Street- KH Park
Saturday June 10
Cars in the Park Invitational Classic Car Show
Fundraising Gala
Sunday June 11
High Octane Car Show and Social Gathering
This year’s featured marque automobile will be the BMW, with the history of the company and a carefully curated group of BMW cars and motorcycles front and center during the festival.
The featured celebrity is Brian Redman, who is a world-famous race car driver and winner of championships in all types of motorsports during his still active 62-year driving career.
Scott Hughes from South Carolina has been a “huge fan” of HMF, according to HMF organizer Steve Ham, “and has introduced us to many important classic car collectors.”
Hughes said, “Discovering the wonderful Highlands Motoring Festival gave my wife Fran and I even more reasons to visit this magical mountain community. It became a ‘why don’t you’ moment when we heard about all the activities available within this event from fellow car friends and we headed north to join the fun! We have participated in the festival for five years now, bringing BMWs from our collection and developing new and endearing friendships and sharing our car passion with locals and guests from far and wide.”
Hughes said his hobby started in high school with a 1955 Chevy Bel Air 2-door hardtop. “We have a recreation of that car today and often cruise around with it. Our collection is mostly BMWs, which we have shown and raced all over the country and in Europe.”
Hughes added that a special highlight of last year’s festival was the appearance of his wife’s BMW Isetta 300. “Everyone, kids and grown ups, got a chance to sit in this fun little car.”
Importantly, in 2022 the HMF donated $105,000 to three local charities and, as with every year of a fundraiser, the goal is to raise even more in June.
by Deena Bouknight
