For more than thirty years, Charlotte Motor Speedway has connected generations of car enthusiasts through a shared appreciation for the history, artistry, and innovation of the automobile. Those connections were on full display Saturday at AutoFair presented by Camping World in a celebration of the history of vintage race cars, ultra-unique one-of-ones and never-before-seen custom remasterings.

“I’ve been coming to the AutoFair since I was five years old, maybe six. This is where my love of the car started, coming to the AutoFair with my dad and my brothers,” said President and CEO of Speedway Motorsports Inc. Marcus Smith. “It doesn’t matter whether it’s a Packard, a Porsche, a Pontiac, some of the dump trucks over there, we’re all connected with this love and appreciation for the craftsmanship, engineering and ingenuity of the automobile.”

The Smith Heritage event included the crowning of two exceptional winners; brothers Cam and Rory Ingram’s 1955 Porsche 550 Spyder was awarded the Chairman’s Trophy in the sports category, while Ralph Marano’s 1930 Packard Super 8 Boattail Speedster received the top honor in the d’Elegance group.

Renowned for its legendary speed and agility since its debut in 1953, the Porsche 550 Spyder gained a reputation for being one of the most iconic sports cars in automotive engineering history. The Ingram brothers’ came together as a family to undergo a thorough 5,000-plus man-hour restoration in an effort to make it the most faithful 550 Spyder restoration in existence, one of only 90 produced.

“Cam and I have been here this weekend and talked about how pleased our dad would be today because this is a special moment,” said Rory Ingram. “The Porsche is a family brand, the Smith is a family brand, the Ingrams are a family brand and when you tie all of those connections together, it’s a special day.”

Marano’s sleek 1930 Packard Super 8 Boattail Speedster captivated audiences with its unique design and racing-inspired features. Narrower and lower than regular Packard’s, this example wasn’t designed to be practical – it was supposed to look and drive fast. Adding to the story, Marano explained that his Packard is one of only seven to have survived the Great Depression. 

“It’s just a special car,” said Marano. “There’s not many of them. Every time I look at it I just walk around it, look at it, and say ‘boy, if you could only talk.”

Twenty two cars complete the carefully curated collection including the first-ever winner of the Indianapolis 500, the last car to be personally approved for production by Enzo Ferrari, and an ultra-rare 1934 Jaguar with a rich history abroad. Marcus Smith, Wayne Carini, Ralph Marano, Barry Lowe, Paul Gould, Scott Bluestein, Mark Moskowitz, Rob Kauffman, Nick Soprano, Scott Borchetta, Rick Hendrick, JR Amantea, Mark Rein, Chip Perry, John Gillespie, the Ingram Brothers, the Stahl Museum, the Savoy Auto Museum, and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum each contributed pieces from their individual collections. 

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The AutoFair continues tomorrow with non-stop fun for the whole family. The J Creek Cloggers will stomp their way to Charlotte Motor Speedway’s Smith Heritage Stage on Sunday at 9 a.m., 11 a.m., and 1p.m., while dozens of glistening classic automobiles fill America’s Home for Racing in a battle for Best of Show. Sunday’s AutoFair hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Single-day tickets start at $10 for adults. Admission is FREE for children 12 and under with an adult. Tickets are available online at CharlotteMotorSpeedway.com or at the gate.

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