Stars of the classic car and racing worlds will convene at the inaugural Chattanooga MotorCar Festival, Presented by DeFoor Brothers, Sponsored by Volkswagen of America, Oct. 11-13, 2019.
Notables and celebrities seen on the TV screen, on the race track and in written pages will take part in this first event in downtown Chattanooga on the Tennessee Riverfront. It will benefit Erlanger Neuroscience Institute, the region’s only certified academic Neuroscience Center, which focuses on a collaborative, multidisciplinary approach that enhances quality of care for patients and family.
The Festival resembles its European counterparts by incorporating unique classic car events tailored to the vintage/historic car collector and racer, and the welcoming hospitality that is the trademark of the American South. It includes Time Trials Between the Bridges, Rendezvous of the Greats Concours d’Elegance and a High Jinks Rallye.
The dignitaries lending their expertise include:
Englishman Brian Redman is the Grand Marshal of the Festival. The racing legend has claimed nine sports-car road-racing championships in his 60 years of competition. He’s also the author of “Brian Redman: Daring Drivers, Deadly Tracks,”
Jim Pace, an IMSA GTU champion and overall winner at the 24 Hours of Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring, will be the Chairman of the Time Trials at the Festival. He’s competed all over the world and is a consultant to the Festival.
Bill Rothermel, an M.C. at numerous Concours around the country, and a judge at other significant Concours, will act as the Rendezvous of the Greats announcer. He’s M.C.’d at the Boca Raton (Fla.) Concours, The Elegance in Hershey, Pa., among others, and has judged at the Amelia Island (Fla.) Concours, the Classic Sports Sunday at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Fla., and many more. As a freelance automotive writer, his work has appeared in publications internationally.
Alain de Cadenet, Formula 1 and Endurance racer and TV commentator, will be the Time Trials announcer. He has constructed his own racing cars, has hosted television and commentary shows on auto racing and classic cars, including the show, “Victory by Design.”
Chief Judge for the Festival’s Concours will be Mike Tillson, founder and chairman of the Radnor Hunt (Pa.) Concours d’Elegance and Chief Judge at the Carmel (Calif.) Concours on the Avenue. He’s a former race-car driver in the World Endurance Championship, SCCA and IMSA. For four decades he’s owned a sales, service and restoration shop specializing in high-performance European cars.
Ken Gross, award-winning automotive journalist, will be the Concours Committee Chairman, helping select the exotic and significant cars eligible for the Concours. Gross has written for Playboy, Popular Mechanics, The Robb Report, AutoWeek, Hemmings, has authored two dozen books, and written a 12-episode, historic car series for TV, “Behind the Headlights.”
Dorsey Schroeder is the Competition Director for the Time Trials. He’s the 1989 SCCA Trans-Am champion and 1990 IMSA GTO Class Champion. He also won the 1985 Pro Sports Renault championship, raced IROC in the ’90s and is the current Trans-Am Series’ Chief Steward.
Donald Osborne, automotive consultant, historian, TV commentator (he’s the “car expert” on “Jay Leno’s Garage”), and opera singer.
Wayne Carini, of “Chasing Classic Cars” TV fame, and master car restorer.
Keith Martin, writer, publisher, TV commentator and founder of Sports Car Market magazine.
Linda Vaughn, American auto racing personality who has been described as “The First Lady of Motorsports,” and is best known as “Miss Hurst Golden Shifter.”
Bill Elliott, the 1988 NASCAR Cup champion, with two Daytona 500 wins, and NASCAR’s “Most Popular Driver” for a record 16 times.
Corky Coker, former CEO of Coker Tire Company and strong supporter of the Festival, providing his time, energy and collection of classic automobiles and motorcycles.
Ray Evernham, winner of three NASCAR Cup championships as crew chief, runs Ray Evernham Enterprises, is a driver and race-car collector, and serves as a NASCAR analyst for TV race broadcasts.
David Hobbs, famed racing TV commentator, 1971 Formula 5000 and 1983 SCCA Trans-Am champion, and author of “Hobbo: Motor Racer, Motor Mouth.”
“We are so proud to have the creme de la creme of the car and racing worlds be the brain trust of our first Chattanooga MotorCar Festival,” said Byron DeFoor, event founder. “The talent, knowledge and expertise these industry giants bring to this inaugural event is mind-boggling. We are grateful for their time and support.”
The 2019 Chattanooga MotorCar Festival is an inaugural multi-day event, incorporating the style of its European counterparts by holding unique classic car events tailored to the vintage/historic car collector and racer, and the welcoming hospitality that is the trademark of the American South. It includes Time Trials, a Concours d’Elegance, a Rallye and family activities. Hosted by Fifty Plus Racing Foundation, Inc., a 501(c)(3) organization, CMCF benefits Chattanooga Erlanger Neuroscience Institute, the region’s only certified academic Neuroscience Center.
For more information, go to www.ChattanoogaMotorCar.com or contact the Chattanooga MotorCar Festival at [email protected].
Photo credits: Jim Pace – Mitchell Hartley; Alain de Cadenet – courtesy of de Cadenet; Dorsey Schroeder and Linda Vaughn – courtesy of ISC Archives & Research Center via Getty Images; Ray Evernham – courtesy of Ray Evernham Enterprises.
