When the inaugural Chattanooga Motorcar Festival presented its final awards in 2019 for the Concours d’Elegance on a stage overlooking West Village in the heart of the “Scenic City,” 26 classic, vintage and historic car owners celebrated victories. And, three of them stood out as winners of the most coveted prizes.
It was the first time such an event had taken place on the streets of West Village, and there was cause for celebration. The Festival enjoyed outstanding weather, huge crowds and a nearly flawless first-time endeavor to highlight the charm and charisma of Chattanooga, also known as “Gig City,” situated on the Tennessee River, said officials.
The Concours d’Elegance was the highlight of a number of family-friendly events held the first year, which included Time Trials on a specially-built 1.5-mile race course running alongside the Tennessee River, a High-Jinks Rallye through the Tennessee countryside, and other activities for car fans and families alike.
The 2020 Festival, originally scheduled for Oct. 16-18, was postponed until Oct. 15-17, 2021, due to pandemic restrictions. All these events will be on the schedule again next year, with even more activities added to the roster.
“As the Concours chairman, I was thrilled to see the number of outstanding and significant cars that were entered in the Concours for the first Chattanooga Concours d’Elegance,” said award-winning journalist/author Ken Gross. “The top winners represented the best of the best in the car collector world. Everyone connected with the Festival was honored to have these remarkable cars and their owners as part of this inaugural event.
“We look forward to an even more dynamic collection of classic, vintage and historic cars for the 2021 Concours.”