04-21-2011, 02:45 PM
Touring Joara, a European and Sports Car Tour is set for October 1, 2011. This is the second annual tour to raise funds for Exploring Joara Foundation a 501-3c non-profit which supports the archeology at Fort San Juan and Joara. Joara is the name of the Native American village where the Spanish Captain, Juan Pardo, built Fort San Juan in 1567 making this the earliest European settlement in the interior of the United States.
The Tour will begin at the Switzerland Inn and descend Hwy 226 A, “The Diamondback�? one of North Carolina’s most challenging roads. From there participants will follow in the footsteps of Pioneers and Patriots as you follow sections of the Overmountain Victory National Trail. This trail is the route the Overmountain Men followed as they marched towards the Battle of Kings Mountain. In this pivotal battle, patriot backwoodsmen defeated a well-trained force of loyalists in an event Thomas Jefferson called the turning point in the War of Independence. On the tour you will visit Quaker Meadows, patriot leader Colonel Charles McDowell’s home, where the Overmountain Men camped the night of September 30, 1780. Step back into the 18th century with living history exhibits and tours of the historic McDowell House during the annual Revolutionary War Week events. At the Joara stop, travel further back in time to the 16th century. Joara is the Native American village where Spanish Captain Juan Pardo built Fort San Juan in 1567.
The first Touring Joara was a wonderful success with great cars, fun roads, interesting people, and beautiful weather. There were 59 cars registered on the tour and the cars were varied from Morgan’s, MGs, Fiats, Porches, BMWs, Jaguars, Volvos, Mini Coopers, Smart Cars, Mercedes-Benz, Austin Martins, an Aston Martin, Triumphs, Classic Mustangs, Corvettes, and Ferraris. At the end of the tour we had great music and announced the poker run prizes winners. To register for the tour and to check out last year’s tour photos and tour map visit www.exploringjoara.org.
Registration is just $75 per car; a percentage is a tax deductible donation to the Exploring Joara Foundation, a local nonprofit organization that supports public archaeology in the Catawba and Yadkin river valleys. Thanks to the following businesses who have donated poker prizes: ACE Hardware, Advance Auto Parts, AUTOZONE, LOWES, O’Reilly Auto Parts, and Radio Shack Electronic Depot.
The Tour will begin at the Switzerland Inn and descend Hwy 226 A, “The Diamondback�? one of North Carolina’s most challenging roads. From there participants will follow in the footsteps of Pioneers and Patriots as you follow sections of the Overmountain Victory National Trail. This trail is the route the Overmountain Men followed as they marched towards the Battle of Kings Mountain. In this pivotal battle, patriot backwoodsmen defeated a well-trained force of loyalists in an event Thomas Jefferson called the turning point in the War of Independence. On the tour you will visit Quaker Meadows, patriot leader Colonel Charles McDowell’s home, where the Overmountain Men camped the night of September 30, 1780. Step back into the 18th century with living history exhibits and tours of the historic McDowell House during the annual Revolutionary War Week events. At the Joara stop, travel further back in time to the 16th century. Joara is the Native American village where Spanish Captain Juan Pardo built Fort San Juan in 1567.
The first Touring Joara was a wonderful success with great cars, fun roads, interesting people, and beautiful weather. There were 59 cars registered on the tour and the cars were varied from Morgan’s, MGs, Fiats, Porches, BMWs, Jaguars, Volvos, Mini Coopers, Smart Cars, Mercedes-Benz, Austin Martins, an Aston Martin, Triumphs, Classic Mustangs, Corvettes, and Ferraris. At the end of the tour we had great music and announced the poker run prizes winners. To register for the tour and to check out last year’s tour photos and tour map visit www.exploringjoara.org.
Registration is just $75 per car; a percentage is a tax deductible donation to the Exploring Joara Foundation, a local nonprofit organization that supports public archaeology in the Catawba and Yadkin river valleys. Thanks to the following businesses who have donated poker prizes: ACE Hardware, Advance Auto Parts, AUTOZONE, LOWES, O’Reilly Auto Parts, and Radio Shack Electronic Depot.