"The Great Race" 6/23 - Northern Michigan

[dyhunter]

The Great Race

Lot of cool cars leaving Traverse City starting @ 9:30 am.

another article:

On Your Mark! The Great Race Roars into TC
by Al Parker


The Great Race is the antique auto circuit’s premier summer event – one that attracts competitors from across the country and media buzz from the The New York Times, Spike TV and Powerblock TV.

And next week, participants’ vintage engines will roar first on Front Street.

How’d TC manage to nab the starting line of a race that’s traditionally been run between big cities – Los Angeles to Indianapolis, Norfolk to Seattle, and Ottawa to Mexico City, to name a few?

Easy, says Hagerty Insurance public relations manager Jonathan Klinger: “Traverse City is one of Northern Michigan’s premier destinations, and this is a great chance to bring car enthusiasts from all over the country to experience our hospitality and beautiful scenic roads.”

Another point that no doubt held sway for organizers: TC’s Hagerty Insurance has been involved in the Great Race for years and is a major sponsor of the event.

The company also has some skin in the game: Klinger will drive a 1930 Model A Ford, and CEO McKeel Hagerty will be behind the wheel of a 1958 Bocar XP-4 alongside Wayne Carlini (host of Chasing Classic Cars on the Velocity Channel), leading the racers out of town during the start.

Only vintage cars, trucks and motorcycles built before 1969 are allowed to participate in the competition. This year’s entries range from a 1907 Renault to a 1969 Jaguar.

Unlike a race where the winner is first across the finish line, The Great Race is a road rally that pits driver/navigator teams against the clock and each other. Drivers and navigators will virtually circle the Great Lakes, logging 2,283 miles over nine days, covering 19 cities in four states and two countries before ending, appropriately, in Henry Ford’s hometown of Dearborn on July 1.

“What we like about this event is it combines all of the exciting elements from several types of classic car events into one great family event,” says Klinger. “You get to see a wide variety of cars, from 1907 to 1969, meet the drivers and navigators, see and hear the cars run, and cheer on the teams as they take off for their next destination. In addition to the competitive side of this event, it is a traveling car show.”

Klinger is no stranger to traveling car shows; he drew attention last year when he spent 365 days using a Model A as his everyday car. He believes that experience might well give him a leg up on the competition.

“After putting 17,000 miles on the “Mighty Model A” last year, I think it will be one of the most road-tested antique cars in this race,” says Klinger. “I am familiar with every little detail of that car, about how it handles and performs, which is crucial in an event that is all about precision driving and navigation.”

Want to watch an 80s-vintage video about the vintage car race? Click here. Find information about the upcoming race at The Great Race.

[FastCarFan]

The Great Race came through Norman, OK one year when we lived there. Lots of cool & interesting cars. Anyone on the route (see link below) should check it out.

The Great Race » Great Race 2012 Event Page

[john70t]

Beautiful area.
A little further north...A few years ago we drove up to Copper Harbor(at the northern tip of the UP). Fall color was gorgeous and the roads perfectly paved and twisty. There was an exquisite German restaurant/inn overlooking the water at the end there.
I think the 26 or 41 from Eagle Harbor to Copper Harbor was listed on one of R&T top drives.

[vonsmog]

Last years winner lives here in town, (Fairport, NY) and this year the race is coming here for lunch. Plan on stopping down to see the cars for sure!