The Heritage Invitational - an EXCLUSIVE EVENT THAT TOOK PLACE AT THE TEN TENTHS MOTOR CLUB HERE IN CHARLOTTE, North Carolina. I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO ATTEND THE EVENT OVER THE SPAN OF A COUPLE OF DAYS AND COVER IT IN ITS ENTIRETY. The invitational CONSISTED OF HISTORIC TRANS AM RACING ON THE FIRST DAY, AND A CONCOURSE ON THE TRACK THE NEXT DAY. BOTH DAYS WERE EXHILARATING AND KEPT ME MOVING AROUND THE ENTIRE COMPLEX, seeing what there was to capture and trying to find new perspectives from which I could view things.

BEFORE THE MAIN EVENTS OF THE FIRST DAY STARTED, I TOOK A WALK AROUND THE MOTOR CLUB TO FAMILIARIZE MYSELF WITH IT. THIS ALSO INCLUDED GETTING A RIDE AROUND THE TRACK IN A MCLAREN ARTURA, WHICH WAS AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE. AFTERWARDS, A RUF SCR WAS TAKEN OUT FOR SOME LAPS AROUND THE TRACK.

The first day consisted of historic trans am racing. You could tell these cars were purpose built - it was like watching old time capsules roar down the track. all you could hear (even if you were in the clubhouse) was the sound of big block v8’s in all their glory being sent down the track. The first couple of hours were qualifying races before the primary race took place. The main race was the last event on the itinerary for that day, and it was definitely an experience. tight corners, fast straights, and bumper-to-bumper racing fighting for podium positions.

THE SECOND DAY OF THE INVITATIONAL WAS A CONCOURSE THAT TOOK PLACE ALL ALONG THE TRACK. THIS WAS A ONE-OF-A-KIND EXPERIENCE, SEEING CARS THAT I HAD NEVER SEEN IN MY LIFE BEFORE. THERE WAS A CLAIMED VALUE OF $500 MILLION WORTH OF CARS ALL LINED UP ALONG THE TRACK TO SHOW OFF FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC. EVERYTHING WAS ORGANIZED BY CATEGORY, SO YOU COULD WALK FROM END TO END AND KNOW WHAT YOU WERE LOOKING AT. EACH CAR HAD A STORY, WHETHER IT WAS THE CAR’S HERITAGE OR THE OWNER. OLD RACE CARS, MODERN SUPER AND HYPER CARS, YOU NAME IT. THE CONCOURSE ALSO INCLUDED AN AWARD CEREMONY AT THE END, WITH THE LIKES OF ED BOLIAN AND TIM BURTON BEING THERE TO PRESENT ALL THE DIFFERENT KINDS OF VEHICLES THAT WERE THERE.

THERE WERE SO MANY RARE CARS ALL IN ONE SPACE, IT WAS HARD TO KEEP TRACK OF EVERYTHING. THE PODIUM VERY QUICKLY BECAME A MAIN POINT OF INTEREST, WITH VEHICLES DRIVING IN AND OUT, claiming their awards.

THE BEST WAY TO DESCRIBE THIS ENTIRE CONCOURSE IS “CURATED”. THERE WAS SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE. JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING THAT YOU COULD HAVE WANTED WAS HERE, AND IT WAS HARD TO NOT TAKE A PICTURE OF ALMOST ALL THE CARS.

THE INVITATIONAL WAS CONCLUDED WITH A SMALL PHOTO-OP WITH TWO OF THE MOST NOTABLE CARS THERE. BOTH CARS TOOK HOME AWARDS THAT WERE PRESENTED TO THEM, AND THE OWNERS CAME TOGETHER for a shared moment among enthusiasts.

WRAPPING UP THE INVITATIONAL WITH SOME FINAL PICTURES OF THE CEREMONY

FIND FULL COVERAGE OF BOTH DAYS OF THE HERITAGE INVITATIONAL HERE:

THE HERITAGE INVITATIONAL & THE TEN TENTHS MOTOR CLUB