Saturday was our third day at the Charlotte AutoFair, and we were again surprised at how many dimensions there are to this one-of-a-kind event. There really is something for everyone here no matter what your car interests are.
In among the thousands of American muscle cars, customs and cruisers on display and for sale was a full-blown Antique Automobile Club of America show.
The AACA event, run by the Hornets Nest Region of the AACA which helps put on the entire AutoFair, is a judged regional AACA show. The show featured 350 entries with everything from a 1906 REO to an all-original 1985 Camaro Z28.
The quality of the cars on display was incredible. Each of them was either amazingly well restored or in exceptionally all-original condition. The quality was so good that we actually will see a few of these cars at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, and quite a few already had been displayed at Pebble Beach or the Amelia Island Concours.
Another amazing thing about the AACA show cars was the distance that many had traveled to be a part of the event. We met Malcolm Appleton, the owner of a stunning light-blue 1932 James Young-bodied MG who came all the way from Vermont to show his car. We also saw cars from as far away as Washington, D.C., and even Arizona.
The AACA is a great group and the Hornets Nest region did a terrific job with the turnout and the judging. If you have not attended an AACA event, you should because the organization is all about the preservation of old cars in every category, and it represents a very important part of the hobby. The inclusion of the AACA show as part of AutoFair added a significant element with a real point of difference compared with other American-car-centric shows.
The other AutoFair feature that caught our eye Saturday was the petting zoo. The zoo is part of the kids play area, and it featured goats, sheep and Alpacas for kids and adults to feed and pet. Next to the zoo were pony rides and a kid’s playground. The petting zoo really added yet another county-fair element to this great event and helped explain why so many people bring the entire family.
If you have yet to attend the Charlotte AutoFair, we recommend that you make it to Charlotte next spring. Or plan for the Fall AutoFair that happens September 24-27.
Tomorrow we will have a full-event summary and feature our test drive of a racing lawnmower.
