Highlands Motoring Festival 2025

     The Appalachian Mountain range runs from central Alabama northeast all the way to Canada. It is one of the oldest mountain ranges in the world.

     Highlands, North Carolina, sits just across the northern border of Georgia at an elevation of 4,118 feet above sea level. It is here the roads into and out of this town twist and turn as they wind along the sides of the mountains, climbing and falling through the hills and valleys of this ancient land.

     The forest envelops the road giving up quick views of mini waterfalls and majestic vistas as another curve demands your attention. Many of the turns are blind and require precision to keep from crossing the double yellow line that separates traffic.

     The reward for driving a Ferrari in this challenging environment is knowing the suspension and brakes were meant for this. The engine powers up another hill, carburetors open with a throaty song before braking for another turn.

     Just getting to the Highlands Motoring Festival is its own reward. Linda and I have taken the Mighty 400 on this three-hour drive from Atlanta. It has been accepted to be part of the show.

     Fresh from the episode while on the way to Celebration, Florida, it has been repaired and is ready to tackle another weekend drive.

     Now in its eighteenth year, the Highlands show has continued to grow and prosper. This year’s theme is “The Cars of Enzo Ferrari”. With Ferrari as the featured car, the organizers wanted to have a wide and diverse representation of Ferrari models.

     Mark Chmar, former Highlands Motoring Festival Chair, put a great group of Ferraris together to be displayed in Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park. The show is on Saturday but before we can get there, there are other activities available to enjoy.

     Thursday and Friday before the show is a scenic drive through the mountains. It is here participants can explore and stretch the legs of their favorite steed. As I was still a bit nervous about the Mighty 400, I declined to push it more by participating, but from the comments from some who did, it was a fantastic experience.

     One of the more interesting comments came from a West Coaster who was surprised at how tight the corners were. The twisties prevent excessively high speeds but the challenge was to drive smoothly and accurately through the turns.

     All were able to enjoy the scenery and the challenge of the road. Smiles were everywhere. I talked to one Corvette owner who was driving a ZR1 and was surprised at a gold 330 GTC that kept up with him throughout the drive. “As hard as I tried, that Ferrari stayed with me up the hills and around the corners!”

     Linda and I hung around the city of Highlands and visited the quaint shops and stores. While the town is a tourist destination the shops were not full of “touristy” trinkets. It was more like walking through an artist colony with many of the stores displaying wares made locally.

     While parking is difficult to find, (the town is not that large) once parked, it is possible to walk everywhere because the town is not that large. Food and snacks are readily available, and we found a nice deli for lunch.

     As we headed back to the hotel, I realized the rally participants should be coming back soon, so we turned around to go back. Of course, I had lost my parking space so I pulled into the park where the show would be tomorrow.

     It was barricaded but when driving a Ferrari, doors open. The guards let me through. “Are you here for the parade?” Sure, why not? “Pull all the way to the front, you will be the first car.”

     With that, I stumbled into leading the parade of cars that begins at 6 pm. OK, I was not the very first car, but right behind the mayor and the Grand Marshal in their respective cars was the Mighty 400.

 

 

     The parade consisted of one lap around the town. A thousand or two were lined up and down the street cheering and snapping photos. (Is taking a photo with your phone still considered ‘snapping’ a photo?).

     We waved and blew the horn at many; Linda was trying out her best queen wave as we laughed and smiled throughout the drive.

     Saturday started early as the cars were ushered into the park and positioned. With so many special cars I shall start with the oldest.

     Serial number 039 S is a 1950 166 Inter. It started life as a Touring Barchetta but was rebodied about 1953 into a Vignale coupe. It is rare to see one of Ferrari’s earliest creations. This one was so small it seemed only slightly larger than a modern Fiat. With two people in the cockpit, it would be very cozy indeed. Then again, people were much smaller at that time.

 

     The other rebodied car was a Drogo 250 GT. This one was born as a PF Coupe, S/N 0977 GT. It was converted in 1965 and imported by Chinetti. Owner Hugh Ruthven has owned this car since 1973 and it has seen many, many events over the years.

     Ruthven is not shy about driving this one on the street or on the track. Needless to say, it was a real treat to see it up close.

     Another long-time owner brought a 250 GTE. John Kenney’s GTE has been in the family since 1964 and has not been fully restored. It looked like it has weathered the years with proper care.

 

     Next in line was a black and tan 250 Lusso, brought by Robert Honeycutt. It had received an engine upgrade back when that was not frowned upon. The 275 GTB engine looked just right in the engine compartment.

 

     Speaking of 275 GTBs, Ron Green brought his red, long-nose, torque tube version to display. This late car carries all the upgrades to make it one of the best of the series.

 

     There were two 330 GTCs, the only model here that was duplicated. All of the other Ferraris were singular examples. One was owned by Steven Cantera in dark blue and the other was owned by Martin Clark in Nocciola.

 

 

     The Nocciola car of Clark had been identified on original service invoices as green. While stripping the red paint there was no green found underneath. Only gold paint could be found in cracks and crevices. It just goes to show that even with original paperwork you can’t believe everything!

     The next two cars were owned by Bruce Miller. One, a 330 GTS, S/N 10359 was beautiful in Azzurro with black interior. It had once been owned by Carl Cantera, father of the aforementioned Steven Cantera. It is good to see generational owners.

 

     The other Miller car was a 365 GTB/4 Spyder, S/N 16857. It was painted Blu Dino Metallizzato. This color blue was striking in the bright sunshine.

 

     The modern class cars contained many excellent choices. Cody Laird brought a blue with cream 348 tb. It was next to David and Julie Scott who brought a 348 Challenge in yellow and an F40. The F40, S/N 88451, was the only Supercar at the event but as supercars go, an F40 always draws a crowd.

 

 

     A black 365 GTC/4 was brought by John Barrett. The C/4 is the more civilized brother to the Daytona. With power steering they are easier to park and the inside is more luxurious.

     Speaking of the Daytona, Ivan Ruiz brought his Fly Yellow one, S/N 14903. This has always been my favorite color on a Daytona, matched with the tan interior this one stands out from the crowd.

     A red Berlinetta Boxer sits nearby. It would appear to be a normal carbureted Boxer but reading the placard it is discovered this one has been breathed upon by Carobu Engineering. Carobu is known for its high-performance engine rebuilds and this one does not disappoint. With a total of 471 HP on tap, owner Steven Cantera has plenty of power to make this Ferrari scoot down the road. 

 

     There are fast cars and then there are fast drivers. Roland Linder has brought his 1991 Testarossa, S/N 90330. I spent some time with Linder and he clearly knows his way around a racetrack. He raced motorcycles in Europe and teaches high-performance driving. I would bet his Testarossa does not sit like a shrine in his garage.

 

     The 308/328 was well represented with a GTSi brought by Benjamin Spurling. This one in the classic color of red carried the license plate ROBIN 2 as homage to the Magnum, P.I. television show.

     The 1989 328 GTS was bought by Jay Weitzel. Jay is famous for being the MC at many events. His commanding voice and perpetual smile keep banquet crowds entertained. Although his services were not used for this event, I am sure you will find him at a podium near you.

     His 328 has a name. Do you name your cars? I have never consciously named a car, but his 328 is ‘Stephanie’. As we discussed how that name came to be, I mentioned the 400 GT I call the Mighty 400. We agreed that it still counts, so forever more my Bruno Magano 400 GT will carry it.

     I have saved the best cars for the last. There was a 500 Superfast brought by Byron DeFoor. This 1965 model was delivered in silver with red leather interior. Serial number 7817 SF was in the Pininfarina Aerodinamica style. Known as the Barbara Hutton car, it was delivered by Chinetti to the Woolworth heiress.

 

     Best of Show was awarded to a 400 Superamerica, S/N 2373 SA, owned by Kevin Cogan. This 400 SA also is a Pininfarina Aerodinamica coupe.

     The Superamerica series Ferraris were special cars for special people. These were ordered by discerning owners who could afford to tailor their car. This, if you will, was the beginning of the Tailor Made program.

     The original owner specified a special engine with internal components polished, exhaust system with SNAP extractors, manual windows to save weight and dual Heuer chronographs fitted. The most unusual item was not what was added, but what was removed.

     To prevent his wife and I’m sure other passengers knowing how fast he was traveling, the speedometer was eliminated. Only the large tachometer sits in front of the driver. 

     To top off all the special features of this Ferrari, it is painted in a light metallic green, or was it blue? Depending upon the sunshine or clouds the car seemed to change hues right in front of your eyes.

     This car deserved to be awarded Best of Show!

 

     As the afternoon wound down it was time to freshen up for the evening gala, which was held at the Wildcat Cliffs Country Club. The view from the deck along with a drink made for good conversations with participants met earlier in the day. The buffet was incredible, and several items were auctioned off to help local charities.

     REACH of Macon County provides resources, education, assistance, counseling and housing to victims of abuse.

     The Literacy & Learning Center provides services to adults and children to advance literacy and a GED program in the local community.

     The Community Care Clinic of Highland and Cashiers provides free primary medical care for individuals without medical insurance.

     Corky Coker, the Grand Marshal, gave a heartfelt presentation that had many wiping their eyes. Well done, Corky!

     With that, dinner was served and unlike many other events I have attended, the background music was so low, we had a good conversation at our table. How refreshing it was to be able to talk about cars and hear across the table!

     The Highland Motoring Festival has quickly become another of my ‘go-to’ events. The roads and scenery are fantastic; the show is laid back with plenty of time to spend with friends and knowing all the volunteers and sponsors have contributed to supporting the local charities makes the cause just.

     A quick shout out to Ferrari of Atlanta. They brought several new cars to show off. As major sponsors they contribute much to the show.

     Highlands is a haven for artists and the awards were a beautiful hand-made plaque of glazed pottery with the Highlands Motoring Festival logo made by Frank Vickery.

     The Mighty 400 received a plaque as a participation trophy. While not a winner it will continue to provide a memory of what a great time was had by all. See you next year!