(828) 526-0173 | [email protected] | Copyright 2024 – All Rights Reserved.
One for the Road, Highlands Motoring Festival
Written By: Mary Jane McCall | Issue: 2018/05 - May
The Highlands Motoring Festival weekend, June 7-10, is always one of the Southeast’s premier auto shows, but its Special Interest category, which changes every year, offers several cars that you’ll have little chance to see anywhere else.
This year’s Special Interest class, Vintage Race Cars, has several entries that organizers are particularly excited about.
NASCAR fans, start your engines and don’t miss a vintage piece of NASCAR history, a 1939 Ford Standard Coupe. This restored-to-original Gober Sosebee Race Car won Daytona three years in a row − 1949,1950 and 1951, back in the days when the cars actually raced on the beach.
Another vintage beauty featured this year is a 1953 Ferrari that was raced when new by Hollywood screenwriter Ran McDougall (husband of Nanette Fabre’). This Pebble Beach-winner is making a homecoming to Highlands. It was owned by a Highlands summer resident for 35 years, and was seen in Highlands during the 90s. It is the most valuable car ever to appear at HMF.
Other historic cars will include a 1972 BMW CSL racecar, which won its class at LeMans in 1973; and, from 1959, the last Lister Knobbly ever built. Expect to see racecars from Ford, Lotus, McLaren, Lola, and Mazda.
“Cars In the Park” at Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park on Saturday, June 9, from 10:00.A.M. until 4:00 P.M. is the place to see these cars and other pre-1990 classics. There’s no charge for spectators, but donations are appreciated. Platinum sponsors Mercedes, BMW, Porsche-Audi, and Ferrari-Maserati will also display several of their newest models on the day of the show.
Other events slated for the weekend are the Monte Carlo Night on Thursday, June 7, from 6:00 P.M. until 9:00 P.M. at Highlands Falls Country Club.
Friday, June 8, is the ever-popular “One Lap of the Mountains.” Pre-registration is required. Everyone can attend the welcome party at The High Dive on Carolina Way from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M.
“Cars in the Park” on Saturday will be followed by the Saturdays on Pine concert series that evening, featuring the lively sounds of the Colby Deitz Band.
The festival wraps up on Sunday, June 10, with “Cars and Coffee” at Wright Square on Main Street from 9:00 A.M. until 11:00 A.M.
To register for events, or for more information, visit highlandsmotoringfestival.com.
