Fall Charlotte AutoFair
It wasn’t quad-oval NASCAR racing that drew auto fans to the Charlotte Speedway in September. It was the lure of classic cars and all things automotive. The annual Fall AutoFair event featured a huge swap meet, cars shows and special exhibits, ride-along drifting adventures, and classic cars for sale. Here is what we saw in the infield and around the 1 ½-mile track.
Car Show
The location of Saturday’s car show certainly made the gathering of classics particularly memorable. For participants and spectators alike, the sight of hundreds of vehicles spread throughout the infield of the historic Charlotte Motor Speedway was an extraordinary sight to behold. This day also provided car clubs, such as Corvette, Mopar, Mustang, and Tri-five, to name a few, the opportunity to meet, talk and show off their rides.
Not every participant went home with an award, but there’s no doubt everyone who brought their vehicle this weekend felt like a winner. Here is a list of some of the cars that received top awards.
- Best of Show: Randy and Vickie Conrad, 1956 Chevy 210 Hard Top
- Best of Show Runner-up: Kirk Gronowski, 1965 Chevy Corvette
- Best of Show Second Runner-up: Terry Richards, 1968 Dodge Dart GTS
- Most Original Award: Ron Bavier, 1987 Oldsmobile 442
- Best Millennial Car Award: Liz Morris, 2021 Toyota Supra GR
- Most Creative Award: Robert Isenberg, 1975 Dodge CNT-950
- Best Restoration Award: Brian DePouli, 1969 Dodge Charger
- Best Foreign Car Award: Pablo Serrano, 1969 Toyota Corona
- Sam Bass Award (Best Paint): Larry Stikeleather, 1955 Chevy 210
Indoor Special Car Exhibit
The indoor car exhibit is one of the most popular attractions at the annual Autofairs. Custom-built cars, finely restored original cars, and even some celebrity star cars were on display in the east garage complex. Highlights from this year included 60 years of the Corvair, custom builds which have won national awards, including two Autorama Great 8 finalists, and star cars, such as the 1970 Charger from the “Fast and Furious” movie, and the 1966 GTO Monkeemobile.
Car Corral
Cars for sale were parked along the front and backstretch of the speedway. Here are some examples of the cars we spotted and the asking price.
Swap Meet
For those looking for that hard-to-find part or for a project car to start a new build, the Autofair provided a supermarket for automobile enthusiasts. Well over half the infield of the speedway was filled with booths offering all things related to petro-burning vehicles. Even if you weren’t in the market for parts, the swap meet was a window back in time for vintage items not normally found anywhere else. For true cars guys, it was just fun to look around.
Drifting Ride Along
For anyone wanting a thrill ride, several late-model Mopars were giving a “Drifting Ride” during the show. The sound of revving engines, squealing tires, and the occasional smell of burning rubber added to the visual experience of a day at the track.
