2012

We have just been informed that the Great Race television show will air on Speed Channel on Saturday, March 23, at 10:00am EST. It airs as a special episode of Hot Rod TV, and it's going to be awesome! Coker Tire is a major sponsor of the event and it's an extreme passion for all the folks involved in promoting the event, so seeing it on Speed will be great!

We often get opportunities to see great automobiles, but anytime a Packard pulls into the parking lot, we take notice. This one in particular caught our attention because it has a set of our tires and wheels on it! George Hubbert is the proud owner and drove it up from Duluth, Georgia to have a couple of new tires installed on the car. While he was here in Chattanooga, we took the opportunity to take pictures of his car and he even let us take it for a spin around the block.

For the past few decades, we've made the long trek to Las Vegas, Nevada for the annual SEMA Show and this year is no different. We just finished loading a couple of tractor trailers with our SEMA booth as well as a bunch of our toys and new product that we want to show off. We're very excited about the event, because there are thousands of great cars and a bunch of our good friends and business partners from around the world! The best part of the event is that we'll be covering it LIVE via the Coker Tire Facebook page!

Usually, a t-shirt doesn't rank highly on the scale of importance--we use 'em for work shirts, grease rags and whatever else. We recently encountered something that makes us think differently about the importance of a t-shirt. If you follow our blog, then most of you are familiar with the Chattanooga Cruise In, which is our open house and cruise in held right here at Coker Tire. Last month, we had an overwhelming turnout, with more than 700 cars and thousands of people in attendance. We printed a small quantity of special Chattanooga Cruise In T-Shirts, so with the larger-than-expected crowd, they sold out quickly.

If you've been keeping track of our Cruise In events here at Coker Tire, then you'll quickly realize that we have officially given it a name: the Chattanooga Cruise In. This event has taken off with great success, and we plan to hold more of them in 2013. We will soon be creating a website specifically for the Cruise In, so that we can efficiently handle requests for clubs, parking, etc. All of that aside, we prepared for a big crowd this past Saturday, and boy did we ever get one! With 700 cars on hand and more than 2,000 spectators, we had our hands full all day!

You've probably noticed that we've had a bunch of groups visit Coker Tire in the past few months. Today, we had the Eliminators Car Club, all the way from Bucyrus, Ohio! They came in a diverse group of cars, ranging from a '67 Mustang to some more obscure cars, like a '60 Pontiac and a '57 Ford wagon, converted into a sedan delivery. There was even a '64 Ford ex-drag racer, which had all of the documentation, old pictures and event decals to prove it! Other cars included a cool '57 Chevy 150 and a Ford panel truck, rolling on Coker Classic wide whitewalls.

We have a lot of visitors here at Coker Tire, and this week, we had a very special group of cars pay us a visit. A group of 11 Edsels rolled into our Chattanooga headquarters and wowed us with a great variety of the Edsel product line. It's hard to believe that these cars were regarded as "ugly" for quite some time, but they are super cool nowadays. They're also super rare, so we were excited to see a group of this many Edsels at one time!

It's that time of year again! Every September we host an event right here in Chattanooga, called the Coker Tire Challenge. It's a time, speed, endurance rally just like the Great Race, but on a smaller scale. It's a more local event, and it's a lot of fun! There are three days of rallying, and we saw a bunch of folks roll in today for registration and technical inspection. It was great to catch up with old friends! We also had Rally School and a short reception afterward to welcome the racers to our place! Check out a few pictures of today's highlights, and look forward to more updates tomorrow! Also, check out the Coker Tire Facebook page for ongoing updates!

Last year, we decided to hold a Cruise In event right here in Chattanooga, Tennessee. We held it in conjunction with the Coker Tire Challenge, which is our annual rally event. For a first-time effort, we did pretty good and had about 250 cars surrounding the Coker Tire complex that we affectionately call "Corkyville". Then we decided to have two Cruise In events per year, so we planned an event for April and 500 cars came out to join us! For the next Cruise In, we're hoping for even more, so come check it out on Saturday, September 29th, 2012! That's right, we're just a little over a month away, so go ahead and make plans to join us! We close off all of the streets surrounding Coker Tire and we also reserve many of the nearby parking lots, so we have plenty of room for this event to grow! In addition to hundreds of cars, trucks and motorcycles, we'll have live music by "The Other Guys"! There are restaurants positioned very close to our Cruise In area, but

[caption id="attachment_2796" align="aligncenter" width="640"] SHAY OWNER'S CLUB INTERNATIONAL Tour Group[/caption] Look closely and you'll see the lug count isn't quite what you expected. They're replicas! Harry Shay's Model A replicas were built between 1979 and 1982 and could be bought through Ford dealers and a group of Shay Model A enthusiasts found their way to Coker Tire Company today for a tour.

Dang! The US Senate does something for a change!

Today is National Collector Car Appreciation Day! The United States Senate recently did something worthwhile! Glory be! Wonders never cease! Senate Resolution 452 designates July 13, 2012 as Collector Car Appreciation Day as an acknowledgment of the importance that the automotive hobby has on our society.

Tuesday evening in Kanata, Ontario marked the finish of Stage Four of the 2012 Hemmings Motor News Great Race presented by Hagerty. What a reception we received from the hometown of our own Brian Goudge aka Motormouth in Kanata/Ottowa, Ontario!When our PA system malfunctioned and could not play the Canadian National anthem, "Oh Canada" I asked if there was anyone who could lead us in singing it. Our new best friend "Page" jumped right up and led the crowd with a beautiful rendition of the Canadian favorite. Thank you again Page! There were several thousand passionate old car fans and several hundred cruise in cars on display. Kanata did it up right too with a wonderful roasted chicken meal for all the Great Racers.

Now that the 2012 Hot Rod Power Tour is in the books, we wanted to do a quick recap and show off a few pictures that we snapped along the way. Coker Tire was a proud sponsor of the Day 2 stop in Muskegon, Michigan, which included a spectacular day of action. The weather was just right and we had a blast. Thousands of cars, and thousands of spectators came by for the day, and many of them stopped by the Coker Tire booth to check out what we had to offer. In addition to tire displays, we had Corky's brand new '54 Buick on display, as well as an 1908 American Simplex Indy racer and the Honest Charley rat rod pickup. [caption id="attachment_2560" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Corky's '54 Buick is awesome...just looks mean with those wide whites and black steelies!"]

This past weekend, Corky and son-in-law Greg Cunningham signed up to compete in a rally in Rogers, Arkansas. Also on the trip from Chattanooga was Great Race Director, Jeff Stumb and his wife Karen. So they packed up the whole gang and drove 13 hours to spend a few days in Arkansas. Greg and his crew at Honest Charley Garage built a '32 Ford pickup specifically for rallying, so it was the perfect vehicle for Corky and Greg. By the way, all the parts were purchased through Honest Charley Speed Shop or Coker Tire Company. Jeff and Karen piloted a cute

The Honest Charley Garage guys are getting my Honest '54 Buick ready for the Hot Rod Power Tour. Coker Tire Company is the official host and Cruise Night sponsor for the stop in Muskegon, Michigan. The folks at Coker are really looking forward to it! And...I have a big treat for those who come to Muskegon. You see, I love Bluegrass Music. So...I have secured my buddy Audie Blaylock and Redline to come to Muskegon to put on a show. Check his music out on youtube! They are awesome! They are car guys too! --Corky

Last summer we decided to hold a Cruise In event, in conjunction with the Coker Tire Challenge. It was a test to see if this sort of event could be manageable and fun on a small budget. It turned out to be a great event, so we planned for two in 2012, one of which occurred last Saturday, April 21st. It was an incredible turnout of nearly 500 car, with thousands of people roaming the streets of Corkyville!

If you were a part of the 2010 Hot Rod Power Tour, then you probably remember the awesome stop here in Chattanooga, Tennessee! We had a HUGE cruise in right here in Corkyville, and for 2012, we plan to hold a Coker Tire Cruise Night in Muskegon, Michigan on June 3rd! We'll have all sorts of cool stuff going on, including a live performance from Audie Blaylock and Redline! This highly acclaimed bluegrass band will show those Michigan folks how it's done! The best part about Audie Blaylock??? He's a CAR GUY! If you're in the area or on the Power Tour, do yourself a favor and join us on June 3rd for the Coker Tire Cruise Night!!!

We travel to more than 50 car shows a year with our tractor trailer rigs, and we're upgrading our fleet with fresh new designs! To give our trailers the "rolling billboard" affect, designer Michael Mattheiss gave each side a distinct look, and we couldn't be happier with the way it turned out! Our rigs are seen all over the country, so we want folks to see what we're all about. Check out this design, and look for it at a show near you!

Last year, we had our first cruise in here at the Coker Tire and Honest Charley headquarters in Chattanooga, Tennessee! We had experienced a few tour-related cruise ins, such as the massive Hot Rod Power Tour cruise in, but our event last fall was the first standalone cruise in for us! We had great results, so for 2012, we're having TWO cruise in events--one in the spring and one in the fall! Go ahead and mark your calendars for April 21st and September 15th! [caption id="attachment_2371" align="alignright" width="500" caption="Join Us for the Spring Cruise In....April 21st!"][/caption]

If you follow our blog, then you know that we're passionate about vintage automobiles. We're even more passionate about getting out and DRIVING these pieces of automotive history! Aside from casual driving to local car shows, what's the best way to get out and enjoy your old car??? Well, we might have a biased opinion, but the answer is the Great Race! [caption id="attachment_2366" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Check out the map for this year's Great Race!"][/caption]

The Marketing Department at Coker Tire is responsible for lots of cool stuff, as it is their job to get the word out about our great company. In doing so, the department participates in a number of promotional deals, giving Coker many opportunities to reach out and help charitable organizations, especially those who are involved in the old car hobby. One such group, the Chip Mill Charitable Foundation, contacted us a few months ago, regarding a Corvette project car that would be restored and sold at Barrett-Jackson Auto Auction Scottsdale in January.

Yep, it's that time of the year yet again....time for a new Coker Tire catalog! Our Marketing Department has been slaving away at the catalog, and there's no doubt that it's our best one yet. Graphic Designer, Aaron Wolfe worked alongside Corky and the gang to create a fresh look with all sorts of new products. The finished product is really cool, so we wanted to share it with you as a sneak peek. Check it out! [caption id="attachment_2320" align="alignleft" width="500" caption="On the cover is (Uncle) Bob Coker\'s beautifully restored 1955 Buick Motorama four door hardtop prototype! It rolls on Coker Classic bias ply whitewalls and Buick Skylark wire wheels."][/caption] [caption id="attachment_2321" align="alignleft" width="500"

Jeff Stumb's final blog about his planning trip for the 2012 Hemmings Motor News Great Race, presented by Hagerty. Ypsilanti to Dearborn, Mich. The last day of the 2012 Great Race will travel north back into the state of Michigan, marking the first time the Great Race has ever left a state and returned in the same event on a following day. The final day of Championship Run continues in Ohio before making its way into Michigan, and after the competition is complete the first stop is Ypsilanti (pronounced Ip-sah-lan-ah by the locals). And this is not just going to be any ordinary stop for lunch on the last day of the event while waiting for the scores to be tabulated. Ypsilanti is a car town that has produced millions of vehicles over the years, including the Corvair. But it is also home to the famous Ypsilanti Automotive Heritage Museum, better known as the Last Hudson Dealer. It is run by the equally famous Jack Miller, and he and the

Director of Great Race, Jeff Stumb, continues his trips and tells us a bit about the route for the 2012 Hemmings Motor News Great Race presented by Hagerty. Mansfield and Findlay, Ohio Warren, Ohio, was such a pleasant surprise yesterday, and today would deliver another one in Mansfield. Some may remember, although it has been more than 10 years, that there is a carousel in downtown Mansfield, Ohio. The Great Race made a pit stop there some years ago and racers got a few minutes to take a ride. Well, for anyone who is interested, you too can ride the Mansfield carousel when we stop for lunch on the 2012 Great Race. The run into Mansfield on next years event will also be the start of the two-day Championship Run, and if ever there was a perfect state to have a Championship Run it is Ohio. For the first time on the trip it made me sad that I cannot compete because the route was so wonderful. [caption id="attachment_2194" align="alignleft" width="500"

Director of Great Race, Jeff Stumb, continues his planning trip for the 2012 Great Race. Day 8--Franklin, Pa., and Warren, Ohio We left Buffalo early and got a great look at Lake Erie for the last time. Obviously, we cannot hug the shore of all of the Great Lakes all the way around, and at this point we will be traveling 50 miles or so away from Lake Erie all the way into Dearborn for the finish. Early on, like on the Trophy Run and the first couple of days of competition, we will be hugging the shoreline. In fact, several days we will be having lunch and dinner on the shoreline. And for the first time we are getting into some hills. This will probably be the flattest Great Race ever run since we will be spending so much time at sea level, but the morning into Franklin, Pa., will see a few rolling hills. Franklin is a scenic town that we have been to on a previous Great Race, but it has been a long time. The good folks there are planning a fantastic lunch and

More commentary from Director of Great Race, Jeff Stumb: Day 7--Fairport and Buffalo, N.Y. After spending four plus glorious days in Canada, it is back to some more familiar territory in New York state. While in Canada, we had to get used to buying gas by the liter and eating at Tim Hortons (sort of the Wendys of Canada). I learned what a Looney is (the nickname for the Canadian one dollar piece), and a Tooney (the Canadian two dollar piece). Since the Great Race has never been to the Upper Penisula of Michigan nor the first several days in Canada, the route will be all new roads for Great Racers. And only a few, like Curtis Graf and Dave Reeder, would have participated back in 1995 when the Great Race started in Ottawa to recognize any of the roads outside Canadas Capital City. Of the 19 cities hosting the 2012 Great race, the event is returning to only four cities for a second time (Franklin, Pa.; Mansfield, Ohio; Findlay,

Another quick note and a photo of a cool car seen on his Great Race planning trip! Canadians love old cars too! I took this photo of a sharp DeSoto Adventurer in the parking lot of a grocery store in Elliott Lake, Ontario. Somewhere, Great Racer Chad Caldwell is drooling and thinking about hooking up his trailer and heading north of the border to try and find this beauty. [caption id="attachment_2167" align="alignleft" width="500" caption="What an awesome Desoto...hard to beat those wild designs from the late \'50s and early \'60s!"][/caption]