Support Us Button Widget

Chattanooga Motorcar Festival returns to the Scenic City with vintage cars + wheel-to-wheel races Oct. 15-17, 2021

PTG_4291 copy

Vintage and historic cars will be ready to race throughout the festival | Photo by Patrick Trembley

Patrick Tremblay

Table of Contents

Start your engines. The Chattanooga Motorcar Festival returns from Oct. 15-17. The 3-day event features fabulous cars, vintage vehicles, industry celebrities + the opportunity to watch wheel-to-wheel races through the Scenic City’s streets.

Festival overview

🗓️ Oct. 15-17 with events happening between 8 a.m.-7 p.m. daily. See the full schedule.
🏎️ Family-friendly fun for locals and car enthusiasts alike.
🎟️ Tickets ($0-350) available online. (Children 15 and under are free.)
🧠 Fifty Plus Foundation, an organization dedicated to raising money to support Alzheimer’s and neuroscience research, is partnering with the festival this year. Proceeds will benefit CHI Memorial’s Stroke and Neuroscience Center and the Neuroscience Innovation Foundation.

PTG_2967 copy

Cars, both old and new, will compete at The Pace Grand Prix at the Bend | Photo by Patrick Trembley

The main events

🏎️ West Village Road Rallye
🗓️ Fri., Oct. 15 and Sat., Oct. 16
This event features authentic vintage and historic cars which are considered street-legal, registered, fully operational + capable of completing the road course. The West Village Road Rallye will start and finish in West Village on Oct. 15 and 16.

🏎️ The Pace Grand Prix at the Bend
🗓️ Fri., Oct. 15 and Sat., Oct. 16
This competitive event features authentic vintage and historic cars in a friendly wheel-to-wheel race. The race is held on a street circuit in a historic industrial area along Nooga’s picturesque riverfront — see the route.

🏎️ Concours d’Elegance — Rendezvous of the Greats
🗓️ Sun., Oct. 17
For this event, everything from pre-war sports cars to muscle cars will be on display, with an awards ceremony held on Sunday evening.

The classic cars

This year, Mecum Auctions will make its first appearance at the festival, bringing a vast array of collectible cars that will be up for auction at the Chattanooga Convention Center (1 Carter St.) on Fri., Oct. 15 and Sat., Oct. 16.

The celebrity guests

From race car drivers to automotive industry experts, be on the lookout for these VIPs while you’re at the festival.

Linda Vaughn copy

Vaughn at the festival in 2019 | Photo by Patrick Trembley

Patrick Tremblay

  • Linda Vaughn – “The First Lady of Motorsports
  • Wayne Carini – The presenter of the television documentary “Chasing Classic Cars” and the owner and operator of 3 companies: F40 Motorsport (buys and sells vintage and classic automobiles), Continental Auto Ltd. (a collision shop specializing in high end + exotic automobiles), and Carini Carrozzeria (a restoration shop where he spends most of his time)
  • Alain de Cadenet – Known as one of today’s most qualified motorsports raconteurs, who will be sharing daily commentary at the festival
  • Joseph “Corky” Coker – Former owner of Coker Tire Company and antique car + motorcycle enthusiast
PTG_4517 copy

Coker driving a vintage car in 2019 | Photo by Patrick Trembley

Poll:


More from NOOGAtoday
The new route that would link Chattanooga to three major cities in the region.
Bob Dylan? Check. Cheap Trick? Check. It’s not a bad idea to triple-check this list and get your concert tickets before they sell out.
Here’s how we braved — and enjoyed — winter weather in the 1900s.
Loud music, yelling, and fireworks — here’s what’s okay (and what’s not) after 8:30 p.m.
From full menu takeovers to seasonal touches, grab your coat for this merry bar crawl.
Three local spots serving one of winter’s sweetest drinks.
Neighborhoods, parks, and local attractions are sparkling this season.
It focuses on access, facilities, outreach, partnerships, and new offerings — with goals that evolve each year.
The three-day event will bring 18 teams — and a big boost — to the Scenic City.
Here are some ways to give back locally during this national day of giving.