Charlotte AutoFair --
presented by the Hornets Nest Region, AACA -- is the largest and greatest
Collector Vehicle Event in the Southeast.
The Hornets Nest Region is a unit of the Antique Automobile Club of
America (AACA).
The Hornets Nest Region
established Charlotte AutoFair in April 1977 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, now
known as Lowe’s Motor Speedway. The
Region has continued to develop Charlotte AutoFair as the premier AACA attraction
in the country. Charlotte AutoFair has
gained a worldwide reputation for being a well-organized, excellent
presentation of a collector vehicle event.
Success brought a second event in September each year, beginning in
1990.
Now, each April and September, the Hornets
Nest Region, AACA presents a four-day event which includes thousands of Vendors
selling collector vehicle parts, tires, glass, restoration supplies – offering
something for every enthusiast, no matter their particular field of interest. Each event includes a wide range of parts
vendors, collector car sales in the Car Corral, multiple car shows, a collector
car auction and other unusual attractions.
In April, Charlotte AutoFair is so huge
with more than 10,000 Vendor spaces; it overflows outside the Speedway Infield
to encompass the Green Flea Market and Red Flea Market Fields. The September event, with more than 7,000
Vendor spaces, also began to overflow the Speedway Infield a couple of years
ago and now also includes a Green Flea Market Field.
In April, the Car Corral on the main track oval includes more than 1,500 collector vehicles for sale. Also in April, there is a Green Car Corral stretched out along the perimeter road at the base of the track – this area includes more than 500 collector vehicles for sale. A Red Field Car Corral has recently been added. The September event utilizes only the Track oval for the Car Corral. In addition, during both the April and September events, some hobbyists sell collector vehicles on their Flea Market spaces. The result is that generally, perhaps 3,000 collector vehicles can be expected to be for sale in April and perhaps 2,000 in September.
The Hornets Nest Region, AACA presents, at each event, an Antique Car
Show, judged by Antique Automobile Club of America standards. This event attracts approximately 250
vehicles for judging at each event. The
term “Antique” presently (2008) includes vehicles manufactured in 1983 or earlier. All vehicles must be pre-registered.
In addition, there are more than
fifty other car clubs, which present their vehicles for display on
Saturday and Sunday at each event. All
vehicles must be pre-registered.
The Speedway Garage areas are reserved for
cars of special interest and past attractions have included California Customs,
wild and crazy vehicles such as a retired milk transport tank converted into an
amphibious motor home, and beautiful concept show cars from Ford - General
Motors - Chrysler.
