Dream It. Then Drive It.

Written By: Steve Ham | Issue: 2020/04 - April

The annual “One Lap of The Mountains” driving tour has become the festival’s most popular event. It has been expanded for 2020 with a second day of driving tours. It will be held on both Thursday June 11, and Friday, June 12. 

This exhilarating driving adventure is a technical rally as opposed to a timed rally, designed to give drivers a chance to enjoy the scenery while staying together as a group. Event organizers plan a different course every year on roads chosen to provide the ultimate mountain driving experience. 

Thursday’s One Lap of the Mountains Classic is a curated mountain driving tour of less than 90 miles including a lunch stop. It’s open to vintage cars only and there are twenty slots. 

The second Thursday drive, One Lap of the Mountains Speciale is a curated mountain driving tour of less than 90 miles, including a lunch stop and is open to interesting vehicles. Bonus judging points are awarded to those One Lap participants who also show their driven car at Saturday’s “Cars in the Park.”

Friday’s One Lap of the Mountains Grande follows its tradition of a more ambitious 175-mile route. You’re invited to join the fun as 50 lucky drivers and their passengers will drive beautiful mountain “less traveled” roads and experience the camaraderie the One Lappers from past years have enjoyed.

One Lap of the Mountains will begin on Pine Street in Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park, also the site of the Saturday event, “Cars in the Park.”

We’ll do our best to accommodate your wishes, but spots will be assigned on a first come, first serve basis. One Lap of the Mountains 2020 will be capped at 50 cars. 

Awarding of points to those One Lap participants who also show their driven car at Saturday’s “Cars in the Park”, will be continued in 2020. All “interesting” cars are invited to participate in the One Lap, but please be advised that we will be navigating very mountainous and curvy roads. Make sure your choice of wheels is up to the task!

This year’s route will encompass an approximate total of 175 miles of the back roads of Western North Carolina. There will be an organized lunch along the route where you can order from a menu. If all stays on schedule, we should return to Highlands no later than 4:00 P.M., and in plenty of time to rest up and prepare for the Friday night Welcome Party and Parade at The High Dive Tavern.

Saturday’s car show in Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park has become “Cars in the Park Invitational.” All cars exhibited on Saturday will be invited through an application process available at the HMF website. The show cars will be selected to provide diverse and interesting groupings of vehicles for public viewing.

For information or to register, visit highlandsmotoringfestival.com.

by Steve Ham