The View from St Francis Cottage - A Chattanooga Bed and Breakfast

GREAT RACE, VINTAGE CAR TIMED ENDURANCE RALLY,  COMES BACK TO CHATTANOOGA SUNDAY,  JUNE 25!!  SPECIAL DISCOUNTS at The Cottage!

Great Race makes overnight stop in Chattanooga, Sunday, June 25. Event will include huge Cruise-In for a wonderful variety of vintage and specialty cars that will be on display!  Come join us!

In 2011, locally owned Coker Tire company in association with Hemmings Motor News and Hagerty Insurance revived an almost 30 year event called The Great Race.  This cross country timed endurance rally for vintage automobiles had lain dormant for a few years and since Coker bought the franchise, it has literally taken on new life.  

The race began here in Chattanooga in 2011 and ended in Bennington, VT.  In addition, over the last six years the race has gone from Maine to Florida, traversed around the Great Lakes, run Route 66, followed the Mississippi, and run the Lincoln Highway.  This year the route takes them from Jacksonville, FL to Traverse City, MI ending at the phenomenal Cherry Festival in that city.

Click Here For Details and Reservations

From 4 - 8 pm, Sunday, June 25, this year the stop will include a scaled down version of the Chattanooga Cruise-In at the Coker Tire Company Headquarters on Chestnut Street in Downtown Chattanooga.

Details from the Great Race Web Site:

"The setting is perfect for the Great Race stop, and the Coker Tire crew plans to welcome the Great Racers with a slightly downsized version of the Chattanooga Cruise In. The event will last from 4 to 8pm, offering a cool cruise night atmosphere, in addition to the awesome display of vintage iron that travels with the Great Race.

While the cruise in portion of the event lasts from 4 to 8pm, the first Great Racers will roll into the venue at 5:30pm, and continue filing in until approximately 7:30pm. The racers will enjoy a complimentary catered meal inside of the Coker Tire Museum, while cruise in participants will have other options for food and refreshments, including the “Cruisin’ Cone” vintage ice cream truck.

Each stop on the Great Race is free to the public and spectators will be able to visit with the participants and to look at the cars. It is common for kids to climb in the cars for a first-hand look. “When the Great Race pulls into a city it becomes an instant festival,” race director Jeff Stumb said. Take advantage of this chance to see 120 Great Race vehicles and hundreds of other classic cars with the awesome Coker Tire cruise in and Great Race block party on Sunday, June 25th from 4 to 8pm"

2015 Race, in Arizona on Route 66 at Route 66 Museum.

On the Santa Monica Pier at the VERY beginning / end of Route 66.  It was a great day on the Great Race!

I have had the privilege of being one of two Directors of Photography (video) for the last six Great Race events, traveling the incredible routes and meeting hundreds of amazing people and learning about their wonderful cars and families.  I will VERY MUCH miss being with them on the race this year!

I will everyone safe travels, few breakdowns, and little rain as you get to have the trip of a life time...one more time this year!!