Plateau Magazine June-July 2023

history
The Little Car Show That Could
The Highlands Motoring Festival is a national gem
By MARIANNE LEEK
Journey to Salem in honor of Salem
Academy and College. This 500 mile walk
honors not only the schools but top-notch
education for women everywhere.
1970 Porsche 917
in Martini livery.
MAYBE IT’S THE HISTORY
or the horsepower, the
sound of an engine or the
unique smell of muscle
car exhaust, the Southern
barbecue or freshly squeezed lemonade, or
perhaps it's simply the nostalgia of a bygone
era when cars seemed more like works of
art that make a hometown classic car show
like the Highlands Motoring Festival so
interesting - and well, fun! And right here
in Highlands, this little car show that could
has become one of the most anticipated
celebrations in the Southeast. Legend has
it that the inception of this festival can be
traced back to a weekly lunch meeting in
2007 involving members of the Highlands
Rotary Club. Two of the festival’s founders,
Chuck Cooper and Bob Kieltyka, and others,
decided that Highlands could support an
annual classic car show, with all generated
proceeds to benefit a local non-profit. With
some guidance from KB Pierce and Mark
“Bud” Pitman, the inaugural Highlands
Motoring Festival generated over $3,000
for the Hudson Library and was supported
entirely by local funding and volunteers.
PHOTOS PROVIDED BY HIGHLANDS MOTORING FEST
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