BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - July 26, 2010 - Dozens of vintage cars are heading to town for the 4th Annual Hemmings Challenge Vintage Car Rally that kicks off in Bowling Green on Sunday, July 25, 2010. Participating will be fifty classics, over half of which date back to 1932 or earlier, with top driving teams from across the nation battling for over $70,000 in awards and prizes during this weeklong time-speed-distance rally.
The competitors’ objective is to match the perfect times as established by the rally master, who covers the rally course multiple times in advance. To make it even more interesting, no electronic devices of any kind are allowed in the cars, and odometers are either removed or sealed over.
The Vintage Car Rally Association with Hemmings Motor News as the title sponsor produces the annual rally. It is the only multi-day vintage car rally event of its kind in America today. With daily "Host City" lunch stop destinations, the rally covers approximately 200 plus miles per day, traveling along the beautiful back roads of America in the racers’ quest for perfection.
“With so many unique, small towns surrounding South Central Kentucky and some of the most beautiful country roads imaginable, Bowling Green is a perfect fit for this event,” explains Duncan Hines, Group Sales & Services Manager for the Convention & Visitors Bureau. The Rally will travel to Greenville, Bardstown and Glasgow, Kentucky, Dickson, Tennessee, and Tell City, Indiana for one of the daily lunch destinations beginning Monday, July 26 through Friday, July 30.
“The group responded to our sales efforts and immediately became interested in the area upon a visit last year,” Hines said. Dedicated to raising autism awareness, the Vintage Car Rally Association donates all proceeds of its rally events as well as any and all proceeds from donations, charity auctions and other charity functions to the Autism Society of America and/or other Autism Chapters in need. Currently, the VCRA has donated over $120,000 to this cause.
The public is welcome at the Rally’s Ceremonial Start this Sunday in front of the Bowling Green Hot Rods Baseball Stadium along 8th Avenue beginning at 3 p.m. Following the Rally Start, the Hot Rods face the Cedar Rapids Kernels at 5:05 p.m. Then on Friday, July 30, see the Official Finish as the cars travel from the Historic Railpark & Train Museum down 7th Avenue between 4:30 and 5:00 p.m. before parking in the grass lot across from Circus Square where they will be on public display until 6:15. The Concerts in the Park Series follows at 6:30 p.m. at Fountain Square and 7:30 p.m. at Circus Square.
To learn more about the organization, visit the VCRA website at http://www.vintagecarrally.com or contact Director Rex Gardner at 918-801-2406.
Call the Bowling Green Area Convention & Visitors Bureau at 800-326-7465 for more details about the event.