First Chattanooga MotorCar Festival Debuts in October

Posted on 5 August 2019 by Ken Zino
AutoInformed.com on auto industry commentary, autoinformed.com, automotive blog, Ken Zino, inaugural Chattanooga MotorCar Festival, Chattanooga MotorCar Festival

Well, I told Orville and I told Wilbur it will never fly.

No choo-choos at the inaugural Chattanooga MotorCar Festival, just cars, bikes and boats of all ages, all eras, and all disciplines. Cars and motorcycles will compete in three different events at the Festival, which include the Time Trials Between the Bridges, Rendezvous of the Greats Concours d’Elegance, and the High Jinks Rallye.

Those that will challenge the 1.5-mile circuit in the Time Trials Between the Bridges range from a 1956 Wright Special, a 1938 Wolseley Special, a 1918 American LaFrance, a 1929 Ford Model A, to a more “modern” 1970 Boss TA Mustang, 1972 BMW 3.0 CSL and 1972 Ford Capri RS. A 1956 BMW Sidecar Racer R50 will also be there.

The Rallye will have a variety of entries, which include a 1928 BMW R62 motorcycle, a 1956 Jaguar XK140 DHC, a 1952 Aston Martin DB2, and several Porsche 911s.

The Concours will have classic vehicles, such as 1931 Henderson KJ and 1927 BMW R42 motorcycles, a 1948 Simca Gordini F2, a 1955 MG TF1500, a 1958 Jaguar XK150 OTS and a 1958 Cadillac Eldorado Brougham, among others.

One of the exotic cars entered for the Concours is the 1932 Helicron from  the Lane Motor Museum in Nashville, Tenn. Constructed in 1932, this propeller-driven car was discovered in a barn in France in 2000 having been placed there by the original owner in the late 1930s. It was completely rebuilt but many of the mechanical components are original, such as the frame, wire wheels, dashboard, steering wheel, steering gear, brake pedal, light switch, headlights, and the type plate.

The wood structure was sandblasted and treated, the steering gear was rebuilt, and the interior was upholstered. The car steers with the rear wheels and only those wheels have springs. It is currently equipped with a Citroën GS engine with the propeller coupled directly to the crankshaft. The Helicron passed the French safety inspection in 2000 and is approved for use on their roads.

The Festival will also have an Antique Wooden Boat Show on the Riverfront. More details will be announced soon.

For more information, go to www.ChattanoogaMotorCar.com or contact the Chattanooga MotorCar Festival at info@ChattanoogaMotorCar.com.

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About Ken Zino

Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn. He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe. Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap. AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks. Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
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One Response to First Chattanooga MotorCar Festival Debuts in October

  1. Pingback: Chattanooga Motorcar Festival on Schedule | AutoInformed

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