Wheels in Motion
By Mike Gillespie
For some of us, the automobile is merely a means of transportation, a method to get from point A to point B. But for the rest of us, the automobile is a fascination-turned-love affair that can shape our lives. The good news is that ‘car culture’ is exploding in middle Tennessee, so whether you’re a true gear head or just an admirer, there are plenty of ways for autophiles to get their fix.One Eleven Motorcars
Summer 2024 brings a brand-new country club for car enthusiasts right here in Franklin, Tennessee. More destination than dealership, One Eleven Motorcars is the brainchild of longtime Nashville luxury car expert, Jeremy Scates. This nearly 75,000 square foot facility off Columbia Avenue will do everything a car dealership does (such as sales, financing, service, body work and more) while also providing a luxury private club experience. In addition to an auto spa, rotating car photo booth, VIP cigar lounge, pool tables and private locker rooms on the six-acre site, One Eleven Motorcars will also host events such as high-stakes poker and monthly live music. Sounds like the ultimate man cave and social club in one, but we’re told women are also welcome.
Nashville Cars & Coffee
It started back in 2008 when Nissan North America moved its headquarters to Franklin. Many of the Nissan employees were car enthusiasts and would gather in the Panera parking lot so they could see each other’s cars and enjoy a cup of coffee. Hence the term ‘Cars and Coffee’. As more and more gear heads found out about the Saturday morning event, the numbers continued to grow. Now, with more than 1500 people in regular attendance, the official Nashville Cars and Coffee is held at the Nashville Speedway on the first Saturday of every month from 8am - 11am.
Columbia, Cars & Coffee
In 2017, Mike Wolfe (of American Pickers fame) bought and restored a 1947 Chevy Dealership on the east side of Courthouse Square in downtown Columbia, Tennessee. Columbia Motor Alley as it is now called, has a gift shop for car enthusiasts and also hosts Columbia, Cars & Coffee on the third Saturday of every month from May to October. Car lovers can enjoy viewing classic cars, trucks and motorcycles alongside local vendors, food trucks, live music and of course coffee from 8am - 11am.
Fairgrounds Speedway
Automobile racing has a long history in middle Tennessee, starting with the Fairgrounds Speedway in Nashville. The track is the second-oldest continually operating track in the United States, getting its start in 1904, and holding the NASCAR Grand National/Winston Cup (now NASCAR Cup Series) races from 1958 to 1984. With races and events happening all the time and a capacity of 15,000, you are sure to find an event your whole family will enjoy. Tickets are $10.
Nashville Superspeedway
The Nashville Superspeedway opened in 2001 and plays host to the NASCAR Truck series, Xfinity series and Cup series. IndyCar ran at the Nashville Superspeedway from 2001 - 2008. In 2021, IndyCar came to downtown Nashville in the form of the Music City Grand Prix. For 2024, the Music City Grand Prix moved to the Nashville Superspeedway because of the construction of the new Titans Stadium downtown, and the Superspeedway just announced it will host the 2025 Big Machine Music City Grand Prix as well. This venue also offers camping packages to keep the party going! A must on any Nashville To-Do list, visit nashvillesuperspeedway.com for ticket and pricing info.
Lane Motor Museum
We are very lucky to have one of the top ten automobile museums in the country right here in Nashville: the Lane Motor Museum, located at 702 Murfreesboro Pike. Tickets are only $15 and the museum features 150 unique cars and motorcycles. Home to the largest European automotive collection in the United States, the vehicles date from the early 1900s all the way up to modern day and feature a varied collection of microcars, amphibious vehicles, military vehicles, one-of-a-kind prototypes and more.
National Corvette Museum
The National Corvette Museum is just over the state line in Bowling Green, Kentucky. The museum’s mission is to educate worldwide audiences on the evolution of the Corvette, also known as “America’s Sports Car,” through collection, preservation, and celebration of its legacy. The National Corvette Museum also features special exhibitions, including the upcoming “Ground to Sky: The Sinkhole Re-imagined,” which opens June 14th and will showcase one-of-a-kind Corvettes recovered from a sinkhole in 2014. Tickets to the National Corvette Museum cost $25.
Tennessee Downs Auto Club
Currently under construction in Shelbyville, Tennessee Downs Auto Club will be a high-end automotive club for car enthusiasts. This membership-driven track club will feature garage condos (think car-storage-meets-man-cave) and a two-mile track where owners can drive their cars at speed. There will also be an event center, Sunoco Fueling station and more. With Uncle Nearest Whiskey Distillery and Music City Motorplex (the soon-to-be Karting facility) both nearby, Shelbyville is on our radar to be a true car lover’s destination!
