2022 Events Schedule

Join the fun as, each day, 50 lucky drivers, and their passengers drive beautiful mountain “less traveled” roads and experience the comradery with the “One Lappers”. The annual “One Lap of The Mountains” driving tours have become the one of festival’s most popular events.  One Lap tours will be held on both Thursday June 9 [SOLD OUT], and Friday, June 10 [SOLD OUT].  These exhilarating driving adventures are technical rallies as opposed to timed rallies, designed to give drivers a chance to enjoy the scenery while staying together as a group.  Event organizers annually plan different courses for each day on roads chosen to provide the ultimate mountain driving experience. 

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE 2022 DRIVES ARE SOLD OUT AND THE WAITING LIST IS FULL. We hope you can join us in 2023. Or create your mountain drive anytime with the "One Lap of the Mountains" tour book sold on our merchandise page. 

Join us for a parade of classic cars on Main Street in Highlands as hundreds of enthusiastic spectators enjoy this opportunity to see these classics in motion.

Participants will gather in K-H Park at starting at 5:30pm. The parade cars will depart K-H Park at 6:05pm.

Spend the evening taking about our favorite subject - cars. Come to The High Dive for an evening of Food, beverages and enjoy the company of fellow car enthusiasts. The High Dive is located at 476 Carolina Way, adjacent to the Kelsey Hutchinson Park. 5:45pm to 8:oopm.

Highlands Motoring Festival’s® centerpiece event, Cars in the Park classic car show, occurs on Saturday, June 11, at Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park, just steps from Main Street.  The Featured Marque for 2022 is Porsche.  Organizers expect 80 total entrants, including approximately twenty-five examples of some of the greatest and rarest Porsches ever built, along with more than 2,500 visitors on show day. Entry is by invitation only, either directly or through application. “Cars in the Park” focuses on autos from the pre-computer car era; the model years prior to 1990.  

Previous year’s shows have featured such diverse classics as pre-war and brass era, post=war American and European, and race cars including BMW M1 and 328, Ferrari 166MM, Bugatti Type 35, Indy cars, rare muscle cars, and a corral of original Shelbys and Cobras. In 2016, a trio of Mercedes 300SL Gullwings was on display.  Italian-car lovers have brought cars from Ferrari, Alfa Romeo, Fiat, Maserati, and Lamborghini. Race cars have included Lotus, Lola, Shelby, Porsche, Lister-Jaguar Ferrari, BMW, Pantera, Morgan, Ginetta and McLaren, including multiple Le Mans winners.

 Judging Criteria for “Cars in the Park” 

The Highlands Motoring Festival is honored to have a distinguished group of judges, with national judging experience, and who graciously provide their expertise, and continued support. Note that neither judge’s cars, nor cars owned by Highlands Motoring Festival committee members, are eligible for judging and award.  At the Highlands Motoring Festival, we employ a modified French judging method. Please note, this is not as rigorous as what would be found at a marque specific concours, (JCNA, PCA, BMWCCA, etc.), nor AACA standards. Correctness to the most minuscule detail is not our focus; Our judges are knowledgeable car collectors/restorers, but they will not be inspecting for correct screw heads on your thermostat housings, for example.  Judges also may, at their discretion, consider an owner’s knowledge of their car, and additional presentation effort, ( factory brochure, period accessories or attire, etc. ).Highlands Motoring Festival is more than a car show; it is a 4 day event that includes driving. We’d like that anyone may participate in those experiences, and if accepted, also display their car on Saturday. Our judging process, and criteria, reflects that objective. Cars will be judged on overall quality of restoration, authenticity, provenance, and presentation. Areas that will be judged on correctness, and cleanliness are: exterior fit and finish of paint & body, interior, engine compartment, and trunk, if applicable. The automobile’s under body and chassis, as viewed from underneath, will not be judged. Many of the automobiles on Saturday will be trailered, however we recognize that many collector cars are driven regularly. Consequently, modifications for safety are given special tolerance when our judges consider originality.  Acceptable modifications are, seat belts/shoulder straps, upgraded brakes, battery, hoses, belts, and tires. Vehicles with deep modifications will be grouped into a Modified/Custom display collection. These modifications include: engine type, wheelbase, suspension, transmission/drivetrain, and body lines. On behalf of the Highlands Motoring Festival, we look forward to getting to know you, and your car. We sincerely appreciate your support, and happy motoring! 

PUBLIC ENTRANCE GATES OPEN AT 9:30AM.

Spend the evening socializing with others who share your passion for classic automobiles. Dress for a resort casual atmosphere. Enjoy spirits and spirited conversation, diner, silent auction, and a very special program featuring Miles Collier and a discussion about his lifetime passion of collecting classic cars. Price $125.

6pm to 9pm. 

Winding up a perfect Highlands Motoring Festival® weekend is a second car show, the annual “High Octane” at 8:30 A.M. on Sunday, June 12, at the Kelsey Hutchinson Park. All vehicles are welcome at this more casual event. Cars of any age are invited – there is no entry fee or judging. Old and new friends will find this the opportunity to exchange contact information, tell one more story, make plans for HMF2023, and bid each other a fond farewell.