Among the seemingly endless assortment of classic and modern vehicles on display at Summit Racing Equipment Atlanta Motorama, select vehicles are highlighted and celebrated during the massive celebration of anything with a motor.
In 2020 Georgia's Motoring Festival will recognize the 80th anniversary of the 40's Fords, the Ford Galaxie, and the Young Gun Builders and Owners under age 27. They'll be among the large contingency of vehicles on hand for the massive celebration of anything with a motor, with more than 1,000 vehicles like head-turning classics, modern muscle cars, and cool customs anticipated to pack Atlanta Motor Speedway's infield.
Registrations for the 7th edition of Summit Racing Equipment Atlanta Motorama are already stacking up. Among them is a Ford Galaxie that has a backstory to match its stunning looks.
Nicknamed "Code Blue", this 1963½ Galaxie appropriately sports a stunning blue paint job, but its beauty isn't just surface level. Just about every part has been given special care and attention, and the result is a sight to behold.
Code Blue belongs to Ken Hollingsworth of Dover, Del. From the very beginning this car has been in his family; his father bought the car new and ultimately passed it on to his son on his 16th birthday.
"He told me when I was 10 years old that if I made straight-As when I turned 16 he would get me whatever I wanted," Hollingsworth recalls. "I went ahead and did that and when I turned 16 he brought me outside and asked me what I wanted. I said, 'I want a '69 Corvette 427 with a four-speed.'
"Well that was a little expensive so my dad said, 'I can't do that son, so how about I give you my car instead,' and I said I'd be glad to take it. So he gave me the keys and that car became mine that day."
Hollingsworth drove his first car for about a year and a half before another car rear-ended it, forcing him to take the Galaxie off the road. While the car lay dormant for years, Hollingsworth knew that wasn't going to be the end for his first car.
"I knew that someday I was going to restore that car," he said.
About three decades later, Hollingsworth began the restoration process with his friend Ed Denkenberger, who runs a restoration shop called Superior Autoworks by Denk. Over the course of several years the project evolved from an attempt to restore the Galaxie to its original stock condition to a higher, and even more attractive level.
"This is a car that the more you look at it the more you see. Once it draws you in it won't let you go," Denkenberger said. "The main thing that catches people's eye is the custom blue pearl tri-coat paint color that I made for the car. The car just glows."
It took several years to get the old Galaxie that Hollingsworth drove in high school to true show car status, but Hollingsworth says the time and effort was well worth it to bring his first car back to life. With Motorama fast approaching, he's looking forward to sharing Code Blue with attendees of the massive motoring festival.
"I love Atlanta, I love the South, and I love Speedway-related shows, especially with the NASCAR tie that the Galaxie has," Hollingsworth said. "I can't wait to get down there."
Summit Racing Equipment Atlanta Motorama returns for its seventh year on April 25-26, 2020. For more event information and to purchase tickets, visit www.atlantamotorama.com or contact the Atlanta Motor Speedway ticket office at 770-946-4211 or 877-9-AMS-TIX.