The third annual Chattanooga Motorcar Pageant Sponsored by Millennium Financial institution was a grand Scenic Metropolis celebration of Oktoberfest, a real “competition” with dynamic and thrilling occasions for auto aficionados of all ages.
* Towards a backdrop of pumpkins and hay bales on a drive-up podium in entrance of the Westin Lodge Chattanooga, the 1937 Twine 812 Phaeton, owned by Travis LaVine, gained Better of Present in Sunday’s Concours d’Magnificence. Roughly 125 judged and exhibition automobiles in 21 completely different lessons have been on show in West Village.
* On the second annual Tempo Grand Prix at The Bend on Friday and Saturday, roughly 89 automobiles in seven teams of classic, historic and a few up to date race automobiles competed on a purpose-built 2.75-mile race observe that stretches alongside the Tennessee River. This 12 months’s Grand Prix, named for Jim Tempo, the previous COO of the Pageant who died in 2019, featured the debut of the Alley of the Greats, a loop by way of a skeleton of an previous manufacturing constructing draped with banners commemorating racing legends.
* Different occasions over the three-day weekend included V8s within the Village, Gathering of the Greats–Ferrari Version, Mecum Public sale Chattanooga, RADwood, Concours d’Lemons, mild exhibits, night avenue events, panel discussions, the winged automobiles of NASCAR, plus an array of racing and automobile collector celebrities that will by no means be seen collectively once more in a single place.
* Automobile Golf equipment have been strongly represented, together with some uniquely named ones comparable to Choo Choo Bimmers, Choo Choo Corvairs, Cruisin to Finish Alzheimer’s, Drive Electrical Scenic Metropolis and the Soddy Daisy Mustang Membership.
* Acquainted names from auto racing and automobile amassing, comparable to Donnie Allison, Justin Bell, Wayne Carini, Corky Coker, Tom Cotter, Ray Evernham, Chip Foose, Ken Gross, Jeff Hammond, Tommy Kendall, Keith Martin, Brian Redman, Invoice Rothermel, Lyn St. James, Mike Tillson and Linda Vaughn participated in panel discussions, interviews and displays.
* Lyn St. James, the 1992 Indy 500 Rookie of the Yr served as Grand Marshal, racing champion Brian Redman was the Grand Ambassador, and native hero Corky Coker was Grand Marshal Emeritus.
* Former NASCAR crew chief Ray Evernham curated a set of NASCAR winged automobiles, and hosted a panel dialogue with famed NASCAR racer Donnie Allison and one other former crew chief and TV commentator, Jeff Hammond.
* NASCAR driver Joe Nemechek competed on the Tempo Grand Prix in a NASCAR 2006 Toyota Camry, successful every of his group’s two characteristic races on Saturday.
* The Torque Present live-streamed greater than 30 hours of protection throughout the three-day weekend, which included the Canossa Rally Chattanooga, the racing motion on the Grand Prix, the Concours d’Magnificence awards presentation, and the Torque Present every day with Justin Bell and Tommy Kendall.
* “Effectively, it’s arduous to imagine it’s really occurring—that it’s already Sunday,” stated Byron DeFoor, occasion founder on the morning of the occasion’s last day. “So many individuals helped us make it occur. I suppose we put out 1000’s of bales of hay right here on the observe, and [brought in] tractor trailer a great deal of pumpkins. It feels good to be proper right here right now and see all these individuals.
“The West Village space seven years in the past was not a fairly place,” DeFoor continued. “This constructing behind us (the Westin) was deserted. So to see the Motorcar Pageant carry Chattanooga to the world stage is unimaginable and it touches my coronary heart. It’s simply arduous to imagine that it’s occurred in seven years solely.”
* Former NASCAR crew chief and TV commentator Jeff Hammond was effusive in his feedback: “It’s my first time [here]. I do know concerning the historical past of Chattanooga, however I by no means realized the wonder right here. It’s an enormous metropolis, nevertheless it’s received a small city really feel—I really like all of the individuals I’ve had the privilege of working into [and] I can’t wait to return again.
“It’s not a NASCAR race,” Hammond continued, “however on the similar time, they race for pleasure on the Tempo Grand Prix at The Bend. And when individuals are racing for pleasure, you get a special really feel and sensation. The intermixing of the completely different manufacturers and makes which might be in every one of many teams is nice. I’m a individuals watcher, so I’m watching what’s happening with the hometown of us. They are saying, ‘Wow, take a look at that. Do you hear that sound?’ It’s one thing I grew up with and it makes me smile, makes me be ok with the game and career that I selected as a result of we’re nonetheless entertaining of us and we’re bringing individuals collectively.”
* For Tempo GP race outcomes, hyperlinks to extra of the Torque Present video protection and extra, click on HERE.
