Ray Cody believes cars evoke emotions. Cars, coupled with the splendor of fall, are the reasons for the Telluride Autumn Classic’s success each year.
Cody, a self-proclaimed “car guy,” co-founded the festival with his wife, Anita, 10 years ago. He said other prestigious automotive events, such as the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in California, can’t compete with the backdrop of Telluride.
“My approach to this festival is to exploit our community’s beauty in the fall,” Cody said. “If you can see a couple of cool cars, too, that’s even better.”
The Telluride Autumn Classic has gained recognition over the years, including being featured on the History Channel and British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) News.
As a result, in October, the festival will be inducted into the Colorado Motorsports Hall of Fame in Denver for bringing international exposure to the motorsports industry in Colorado.
“I’m really proud of that,” Cody said. “It just seems like Telluride is the very best place on earth for a car festival. USA Today recognizes it as one of the top [automotive] events in North America, and it’s because of the venue.”
The three-day festival returns Sept. 26 – 28 and features live music, art, contests and activities for all ages. Automobile enthusiasts can expect to see both vintage and exotic vehicles, plus motorcycles and aircraft.
As a grandparent himself, Cody expressed the importance of sharing a passion for cars with the younger generation.
“Kids like cars, and most of these car owners love to let kids sit in them,” he said. “How often does a 12-year-old get to sit in a Ferrari?”
The festival kicks off on Thursday with a welcome reception at Telluride’s luxury car storage and event venue, The Gated Shifter, in Ilium Valley. The building, constructed last year, allows collectors to store and showcase their vehicles.
The event will include live music, appetizers and an open bar, plus appearances by automotive artists Mike Zagorski and Camilo Pardo. Pardo, chief designer of the Ford GT, will have a gallery in Telluride.
Other events include the Silverton Poker Run, Concours on the Golf Course and the Autumn Classic Fine Arts Festival in Mountain Village.
A wide array of vehicles will be on display along Colorado Avenue on Friday from 4:30-6 p.m. The event is free to register vehicles and free for the public to view.
Cody said around 300 vehicles from all over the country attend the festival each year. That often includes luxury sports cars like Lamborghinis, Ferraris and Porsches, but also vintage cars and motorcycles.
Saturday’s Concours on the Golf Course in Mountain Village will showcase the very best vehicles at the festival. Featured speakers will include Jim Marietta, who worked alongside automotive designer Carroll Shelby to create the 1965 Shelby GT350.
Festival Director Chris Gamage said the arts festival in Heritage Plaza is another popular event and includes about 40 artists from around the country.
Cody is responsible for creating a culture that brings people back to the festival year after year, she said.
“We have a dedicated number of staff, volunteers and car owners that just love to come,” Gamage said. “There was a great car culture here already that we didn’t know about until starting the festival.”
Following the Covid-19 pandemic, the festival was rebranded from the Telluride Festival of Cars and Colors to the Telluride Autumn Classic because it’s a culmination of everything Telluride has to offer.
Cody said he hopes to highlight the community’s various vendors, hotels, restaurants and ski resort during the festival.
“This event brings notoriety to our community,” he said.
To see the full list of festival events and purchase tickets, visit www.tellurideautumnclassic.com.