WORDS: ELLIOTT HUGHES | PHOTOS: CHATTANOOGA MOTORCAR FESTIVAL
A 1935 SS One Airline Saloon was crowned Best of Show at the fourth edition of the Chattanooga Motorcar Festival on October 13-15, 2023, in Tennessee, US.
Other highlights of this year’s event included on-track action from Brian Redman’s Targa Sixty-Six at the Pace Grand Prix at The Bend, as well as label discussions covering topics ranging from barn finds to the voices of Pixar’s Cars and the 75th anniversary of Porsche.
Highlights of this year's event included on-track action from Brian Redman’s Targa Sixty-Six
Porsche was also honoured by a Gathering of the Greats – Porsche Edition, as well as the display of Luftgekühlt’s collection of air-cooled Porsches. Brian Redman’s racing career is heavily associated with the Stuttgart brand, and Chattanooga paid tribute to the legendary driver’s life and career.
Complementing the array of significant Porsches was a display of rare Ferraris at the Westin Chattanooga in West Village, which benefitted local neuroscience charities.
Chattanooga also saw the official unveiling of the J Willard Marriott Ferrari Club, which will provide an area in the West Village for Prancing Horses to be displayed at future events.
Sixty race cars across four classes complemented Redman’s Targa Sixty-Six on track, with everything from the pre-war Ragtime Racers to modern machinery making an appearance.
One of the most exciting spectacles of the weekend was drift demonstrations performed by Adam LZ in his 2023 RTR Spec 5 Ford Mustang. Drift fans also showcased their skills in a competition on a SimCraft Pro Racing Simulator, with proceeds donated to the event’s beneficiaries.
Several notable personalities made appearances and took part in interviews and panel discussions. These included the likes of Luigi Chinetti Jr, Brian Redman, Lyn St James, Justin Bell, Tommy Kendall and former NASCAR driver Kyle Petty.
Chattanooga’s Honored Collector award was presented to Kevin Cogan, while musician John Oates received the Chairman’s Award from event founder Byron DeFoor.
“Everyone connected to the Festival did an outstanding job,” said DeFoor of the event. “I thank everyone who brought their valuable vehicles, both for the Pace Grand Prix at The Bend and for the Concours d’Elegance.”
Dates for the 2024 Chattanooga Motorcar Festival will be announced in due course.
For full concours results, click here.
