Auto Fair And Ten Tenths Turn Charlotte Into Car Culture Heaven

If you live in the southeastern United States, chances are you’ve heard of Charlotte Auto Fair. Organized by the Hornet’s Nest region of the Antique Automobile Club of America (AACA), Auto Fair has been an annual spring tradition since 1978. In fact, the event grew so much that, in 1990, the club added a second auto fair, now called Auto Fest, which takes place every fall. This year, the stars aligned, and the spring Auto Fair happened to fall on the same dates as the Heritage Invitational at Ten Tenths Motor Club. That created a mecca of automotive grandeur that was a must-see for any red-blooded car enthusiast!

What Is Ten Tenths And The Heritage Invitational?

As I was walking around Auto Fair between stints at Ten Tenths, many enthusiasts asked me about what was going on “across the street”. I guess I should begin by defining “across the street” for those of you unfamiliar with the Charlotte Motor Speedway complex. The property, divided by two roads, consists of four different tracks. The historic speedway is accompanied by The Dirt Track at Charlotte, the four-wide ZMax Dragway that was added in 2008, and, as of a few years ago, Ten Tenths Motor Club. A 100-acre luxury automotive country club and high-performance driving complex, Ten Tenths holds a yearly concours event that always features cool happenings.

IROC: Sort Of LS

Last year, the premier motorsports component of the Heritage Invitational was vintage SCCA Trans Am racing. This year’s premier motorsports component was the East Coast racing debut of the historic IROC series. Headed by NASCAR superstar Ray Evernham, the revived IROC series is divided into two classes: Firebirds, which are Laughlin chassis, and Banjo chassis, which are Dodge Avengers and vintage Camaros. Eleven of the eighteen cars in the series are Pontiac Firebirds, most of them reflecting the era of LS-powered road cars. Of course, that count makes sense given that the Firebird was the longest-running platform in IROC history, with Pontiacs being raced from 1996 to the series’ unfortunate demise in 2006.

The IROC event brought a lot of talent to Ten Tenths, with NASCAR Hall of Famers Mark Martin, Bobby Labonte, Bill Elliot, and Kurt Busch competing against legends Scott Pruett, Tommy Kendall, Max Papis, Justin Bell, and expert wheelman Ken Schrader. Ultimately, it would be Kurt Busch, in his personal IROC ride, edging out Jeff Gordon’s Hendrick-owned Firebird in an exciting battle for the win. Other motorsports activities included a vintage Indy exhibition and Pro-Am activities. On Saturday, the Heritage Invitational concluded with a concours event and Hagerty’s Radwood show.

LS Legion At Auto Fair

Across the street, Charlotte Motor Speedway was packed with over 400 cars representing both the AACA and over 50 local car clubs. One walk down pit road was enough to excite any fan of LS or LT power, with Camaros, GTOs, Corvettes, Trans Ams, and G8s making up a large majority of the entrants. The AACA component of Auto Fair includes judging of cars 25 years or older (yes, my friends, that now includes LS cars). In addition to being the spot for ride-alongs, both NASCAR garages were packed with special attractions, and there was even a Car Corral for enthusiasts interested in buying or selling.

But Wait, There’s More

For those of us deeply involved in the hobby, Auto Fair has gained considerable fame for its extensive swap meet and flea market. Hornet’s Nest’s spring event features 5,000 vendors that stretch from the track’s infield all the way outside into what promoters call the Red and Green fields. Honestly, you can spend at least one full day browsing for the random parts and collectibles that, if you’re like me, you don’t really need but dearly want.

Overall, it was an excellent weekend. On one side of the street, there was world-class machinery, legendary drivers, and a polished concours setting at Ten Tenths. On the other side, there were thousands of enthusiasts, grassroots builds, swap meet treasures, and the kind of cars that actually get driven and enjoyed. Two completely different vibes, but both equally important. Whether you’re chasing lap times in an IROC Firebird or digging through a pile of parts hoping to find that one piece you didn’t know you needed, you’re part of the same thing: a community that spans generations, budgets, and styles, but all speaks the same language.

If you’ve never made the trip to Auto Fair or the Heritage Invitational, put them on your list. Just make sure you bring comfortable shoes… and maybe a little extra cash.