Legends on Display: Third Annual Heritage Invitational Honors Automotive Icons at Charlotte Motor Speedway

The third annual Heritage Invitational roared into the spotlight this week at Charlotte Motor Speedway, celebrating a blend of heritage, horsepower, and high design with more than 70 world-class vehicles representing nine distinct classes. The prestigious three-day event marked the grand opening of the Ten Tenths Motor Club and showcased not just stunning machinery but the enduring passion behind automotive history.

Among the standout moments was Saturday’s concours d’elegance, where two extraordinary cars captured top honors. Bruce Meyer’s legendary 1979 Kremer Porsche 935 K3 earned the coveted Chairman’s Choice Sport award, while Chairman’s Choice d’Elegance went to Fredrick Fischer’s exquisitely restored 1957 Ferrari 250 GT Tour De France.

For Meyer—a respected collector and cofounder of the Petersen Automotive Museum—the award was deeply personal. “This has been, really, a religious experience,” he said, beaming after receiving the honor from Speedway Motorsports President and CEO Marcus Smith. “You have made us an Ultra VIP. It’s been a special day for me, but it’s so great to see what you have created here. This is Ten Tenths – maybe 11 tenths.”

Meyer’s 935 K3 is no stranger to the winner’s circle. Developed by Kremer Racing, the car made history with an overall win at the 1979 24 Hours of Le Mans—the first rear-engine car to do so. Restored by Bruce Canepa, the turbocharged Porsche is renowned for its innovative aerodynamic design and competitive legacy. “I can take no credit for what it’s done,” Meyer added. “I’m just a custodian.”

Fischer’s journey with his family’s Ferrari is equally steeped in emotion. Once raced by French driver Francois Picard, the car boasts an impressive pedigree, including a second-place finish at the 1957 Tour de France and entries in several other historic races. Purchased by Fischer’s father in 1970, the Ferrari sat dormant for years before undergoing a painstaking six-year restoration completed in 2012.

“It came into the U.S. when I was about to start my senior year in high school,” Fischer recalled. “It wasn’t in this sort of condition back then; it was a driver – and I did. I wish [my father] could be here today to see it.”

Beyond the concours, the weekend featured the first sanctioned racing event at Ten Tenths Motor Club with the Historic Trans Am Series bringing thundering V8s to the track. Saturday also played host to a thrilling charity Pro-Am race, where NASCAR icon Jeff Gordon and amateur driver Ryan Wildrick took the win in a 20-car field, raising more than $250,000 for Speedway Children’s Charities.

With its blend of rare automobiles, racing heritage, and heartfelt stories, the Heritage Invitational continues to solidify its place as a can’t-miss celebration of car culture. This year’s edition not only opened the gates to Ten Tenths Motor Club—it opened a new chapter for motorsports in the Carolinas.