********25TH ANNIVERSARY SHADES OF THE PAST********** 

There must have been 10,000 cars and trucks in Pidgon Forge, this particular weekend, for this year's 25th anniversary, of the "Shades Of The Past", street rod event. With classics, antiques, vintage, rods, and everything else, the GALAXIES were out in full force as well. I lost count of what I saw, but there were many...

This '70 2 DOOR HARDTOP, was tucked away, in a parking lot, as was this one..

With HEAVY traffic, on U.S. 441 through out Pidgon Forge, that was the place to be, as was this '63 FOUR DOOR...

Looking for an event t-shirt, my better half and I, encountered this couple...

This '61 Starliner ROCKS... with a 4 speed, of course...

Anyone that tells you a '61 is their favorite... it is because of the rear fins...

AND... tucked away, in a motel parking lot, sitting with a small group of folks, showing their street rods, was THIS guy. I recognized him right away, even with a straw hat. See, HE.. was my racing hero.. my all time favorite NASCAR driver...

 This guy is a 3 TIME NASCAR champion, and is SECOND, on the all time race WIN list.. and he even ran a part time schedule. His name... DAVID PEARSON... and yes, I DID get his autograph...

The return trip leaving the "Shades Of The Past", was also interesting.

There were other shades of the past...

BEFORE, the commercial hotel motel industry took over, this was the kind of place one WOULD stay, 40 years ago. This famous Warrior Motel, just north of Bryson City, N.C. was THE place to stay, during your visit to Cherokee...

The famous Warrior Motel, is closed now, another type of "Shade Of The Past"...

I remember as a child, in the early 60's, going on vacation with my parents. When the destination was Cherokee, I remember always looking for the neon swinging tomahawk, and I knew we were almost there. Heading south, on U.S 19, a few miles from here, yet another kind, of "shade of the past" appeared. How many different "shades" do YOU see?...

Used to keep the river from washing out the side of the mountain, and the road, theses "shades of the past" are permanent fixtures...

Further south, there were more...

We stopped for a closer look, and found out, there were GALAXIES in there...

A 1961. Wonder if it is a convertible...

This second '61, WAS.... a STARLINER. There were other years, too...

"SHADES OF THE PAST" are in all types of form. We hope you have enjoyed your trip through the "shades of the past".