Racing driver Lyn St. James, the 1992 Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year, a member of the ACCUS board on the FIA Women Motorsports Commission, and most recently inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame, has been named Grand Marshal of the 2022 Chattanooga Motorcar Festival. The third annual event held in the heart of the City of Chattanooga, known as Gig City, is scheduled for October 14-16, 2022.
St. James becomes the third Grand Marshal since the Festival was established in 2019, following Brian Redman and Corky Coker in those roles, respectively. The Festival was not held in 2020 due to the pandemic.
Redman returns this year as Grand Ambassador and Coker is named Grand Marshal Emeritus.
“We at the Chattanooga Motorcar Festival are proud to have Lyn St.
James as Grand Marshal of our third annual Festival,” said Byron DeFoor, founder of the event. “She is a great ambassador to the sport and an outstanding spokesperson for the Festival. Her racing achievements and contributions to the sport are recognized around the world.”
DeFoor added: “We’re also privileged to have Brian Redman continue to support the Festival. He’s been an integral part of the operation since the beginning, and his input is invaluable. And, what can I say about Corky Coker? He’s our local hero whose knowledge about the business of collector cars is unsurpassed. He’s one of us, and we’re honored to have him on board.”
Anyone reading St. James’ resume would be awed by her accomplishments since starting her career in 1973 as an amateur Sports Car Club of America competitor while living and working in Florida. Today she resides in Arizona.
She eventually turned pro and went on to race in 53 SCCA Trans-Am races, scoring seven top-five finishes; 62 IMSA GT races, earning seven wins; and became the only woman to win an IMSA GT race driving solo (Watkins Glen in 1985). St. James found her niche in Indy Car competition, racing in the Indy 500 seven times in nine years, claiming the 1992 Indy 500 Rookie of the Year honors in her first Indy Car race.
The former piano teacher and business owner (Dynasales of Florida and Autodyne) held 21 international and national closed circuit speed records over a 20-year period. She’s competed at the 24 Hours of LeMans, the Bonneville Salt Flats, Goodwood Revival, among other major events, and has been recognized by Sports Illustrated and numerous publications throughout her career.
A highlight of St. James’ career was her invitation to the White House to meet with three Presidents: Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush and William Clinton.
“After attending the 2021 Chattanooga Motorcar Festival I was so impressed with how many different activities and events they had going on for anyone and everyone!,” said St. James, a celebrity guest at last year’s Festival. “It’s difficult to do that, and they did it well.
“It was my first time in Chattanooga, and I’m looking forward to being back as the 2022 Grand Marshal. Byron DeFoor is passionate about the event and having it make a positive impact on the community, and those are the things that make for a successful event,” adding, “I was also quite impressed with the mega-screens located throughout the Festival venues last year.” The screens are powered again in 2022 by EPB Chattanooga, home to Gig City’s fastest Internet in the world.
The Festival will feature three days of family-friendly activities. Chattanooga’s Gallery 1401 will host a curated collection in West Village from internationally-renowned Fine Artists and Jewelry Designers, including Pop Artist DeVon and Celebrity Jeweler Paula Crevoshay, among others.
Vintage/historic car racing returns on Friday and Saturday with new race groups at the Pace Grand Prix at the Bend on its newly-lengthened course, including an infield loop and other track enhancements.
This year the Festival is partnering with Canossa Events to offer a premier road rally through the Tennessee countryside on Thursday and Friday.
Sunday’s Concours d’Elegance will incorporate more classes, and the Festival welcomes Justin Bell’s The Torque Show, which will live stream the Festival to audiences around the globe with the help of EPB Chattanooga.
For more information visit chattanoogamotorcar.com
