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Dream Cars on Display
Written By: Deena Bouknight | Issue: June 2023
Highlands Motoring Festival revs up for its 16th year – June 8-11. It’s free to the public, but donations are welcome. To volunteer or for more information, visit the festival’s website at HighlandsMotoringFestival.com.
Each year, the public is treated to an opportunity to view beautiful and often very distinct automobiles at the Annual Highlands Motoring Festival.
This year, the spotlight is on two featured cars: 1958 BMW 507 and 1927 Miller 91 Special.
However, the weekend event – in its 16th year – which begins Thursday, June 8, offers much more.
Packed into the weekend fundraising event to benefit Literacy and Learning Center of Highlands, REACH of Macon County, and the Community Care Clinic of Highlands and Cashiers is everything from a car show to motoring opportunities to silent and live auctions. The event attracts local residents and visitors alike; in fact, the Motoring Festival is on the radar of automobile aficionados from throughout the United States and even from other countries.
According to festival organizer Steve Ham, 85 special classic cars – ranging from 1907 to 1989 American and European models – have been invited through a rigorous application process.
“The 2023 featured marque is BMW, where 15 carefully curated classics will tell the history of the brand. Other 2023 entries will include cars from Duesenberg, Ferrari, Porsche, Ford, Cadillac,Jaguar, Chevrolet, and many others,” he said.
Besides a myriad of vintage and new cars presented, a highlight is the Thursday evening reception, due to the guest appearance of world-renown, British-born race car driver Brian Redman. His career is noteworthy in that he raced in Formula One between 1968 and 1974 with six different teams. He is a member of the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America, the Sebring Hall of Fame, the Talladega Hall of Fame, and the Long Beach Walk of Fame.
Then, on Friday evening, the festival committee, with assistance from Highlands Police Department, will stage a Main Street Parade where interesting and collectible classic cars will be showcased.
A can’t-miss activity is Saturday’s “Cars in the Park” car show in the Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park in downtown Highlands.
On Saturday night there will be a Fundraising Gala with a dinner and program at Wildcat Cliffs Country Club. Redman will be present again, this time to discuss his 60-plus year career in international motorsports. He will share his experiences on famous racetracks from around the world. Plus, on Saturday night there will be silent and live auctions of automotive items.
The festival concludes on Sunday morning with the High Octane Car Show and Social Gathering at Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park.
