Luigi Chinetti Jr. Selected As Grand Marshal Of Chattanooga Motorcar Festival

Luigi Chinetti, Jr., who grew up tagging along with his parents to races such as the 24 Hours of Le Mans, where his father Luigi Sr. had won three times, has been named grand marshal of the 2023 Chattanooga Motorcar Festival. Luigi Jr. went on to make his own mark on the sport and business as a racing driver and designer.

The fourth annual event, sponsored by Millennium Bank and held in the heart of the city of Chattanooga, is scheduled for Oct. 13-15.

Mr. Chinetti becomes the fourth grand marshal since the Festival was established in 2019, following Brian Redman, Corky Coker and Lyn St. James, respectively. Due to the pandemic, the Festival was not held in 2020.

Nine-time sports-car racing champion Mr. Redman returns again this year as grand ambassador. Mr. Coker, a local businessman and car collector, and Ms. St. James, the 1992 Indy 500 Rookie of the Year, will be recognized as grand marshal emeriti.

“We at the Chattanooga Motorcar Festival are honored to have Luigi Chinetti Jr. as grand marshal of our fourth annual Festival,” said Byron DeFoor, founder of the event. “He is a great ambassador to the sport, with a great history with Ferrari as a driver, businessman and designer. His racing achievements and contributions to the sport are recognized around the world.”

Mr. Chinetti has distinguished himself both as a driver and designer. He has been connected with extraordinary automobiles and the often special people surrounding them most of his life. His father’s pre-World War II involvement in Milan and Paris with Alfa Romeo and Talbot Lago, and his three Le Mans victories – his third win in 1949 was the first for Ferrari – led to the senior Chinetti's becoming the exclusive North American importer of Ferrari automobiles and the founder of the North American Racing Team.

NART gave Mr. Chinetti the opportunity to fulfill his own ambitions of racing and designing automobiles. He has done both, finishing fifth overall and first in GT at the 1971 24 Hours of Le Mans in a Ferrari Daytona, as well as winning his class at the 24 Hours of Daytona twice – once in a Ferrari 312P in 1971, with a body he designed himself, and again in 1973 in a Ferrari Daytona. In addition, he has designed a number of unique Ferrari automobiles for private clients, and overseen the restoration of a number of highly significant Ferrari racing cars.

At home he was surrounded by his dad's Le Mans victory trophies, including the one from 1965 when the NART 250LM won, which inspired Mr. Chinetti to drive at Le Mans, where he competed three times for NART. He then went on to establish a number of world records at the Bonneville Salt Flats in 1974 with a Ferrari 512M and a 365 Daytona, along with Graham Hill and Paul Newman.

He's been a tireless ambassador for Ferrari and the NART legacy.

"Being the grand marshal is an absolutely wonderful opportunity," said Mr. Chinetti. "I’m told the Chattanooga Motorcar Festival is a spectacular event. From what I hear, the warmth of the people is probably the most interesting aspect. I look forward to meeting everyone and sharing great Ferrari stories with the fans and the Ferrari car owners."

Mr. DeFoor added: “We’re also privileged to have Brian Redman continue to support the Festival. He’s been an integral part of the operation since the beginning, and his input is invaluable. And, what can I say about Corky Coker and Lyn St. James? Corky is our local hero, and Lyn has been a strong supporter of the Festival. We acknowledge her achievements and we welcome both of them back to this year's Festival with gratitude."

“It is a pleasure and an honor to return to the Chattanooga Motorcar Festival as grand ambassador," said Mr. Redman. "With multiple automobile-related attractions, Byron DeFoor and his team have established the Festival as one of the premier 'go-to' events in America.”

“Each year our Chattanooga Motorcar Festival gets bigger and better," said Mr. Coker. "I can’t wait for October 13-15 to experience all that is in store! As a grand marshal emeritus, all I can say is 'start your engines, here we go!!!'"

Added Ms. St. James, "While many communities are creating new concours and automotive-themed events, they're learning that it's more difficult than it appears, especially to be able to maintain the momentum to do it annually. The Chattanooga Motorcar Festival team has done an amazing job of creating and sustaining the excitement of a 'must be there' event. The variety of activities supporting an important cause while visiting the lovely city of Chattanooga are all reasons to put this event on one's calendar. See you there!"

The Festival supports neuroscience research through the Fifty Plus Foundation, Inc.

For more information about the festival and its activities, visit https://chattanoogamotorcar.com/.