The news that Marietta was chosen as the best overnight stop during this year’s Great Race makes me proud, but not surprised. The first Year Team Pioneer competed in the Great Race was 2012, that year the race went around the Great Lakes. It was a wonderful experience. Other years were different routes such as: Route 66 from Missouri to California and The Lincoln Highway from The Golden Gate Bridge to Iowa. Perhaps you remember the daily updates that aired on WMOA. Every Great Race focused on what I will call Traditional Americana. We stayed off the interstates and away from the big cities, following the “country” roads going into small towns that make up America, places where old cars and history are important. We knew from the first Great Race we did, that Marietta would be an ideal stop. Dave Archer and I talked with Corky Coker, the owner of the rights to the Great Race at that time and later with Jeff Stumb, the Director of the Great Race since 2012 about including Marietta. It became an annual discussion. These races are planned years in advance and Jeff always said they would consider Marietta. He first called me in late 2022 and said he thought Marietta would work for the 2024 Great Race if we were up to it. Since I now live in South Carolina, there was no way I could organize the community, this was truly up to Dave Archer. When I called him to discuss it, I could feel the “Pioneer Spirit” through the phone. Dave said, “We will do it, and it will be the best Great Race stop ever.” They formed a committee and planned just that. 15,000 or so people came out and enjoyed this Traditional Americana event. Racers I have known since 2012, including this year’s winning Team told me one on one, that Marietta was the best stop ever! I want to express my sincere Thanks to Dave Archer, the entire committee, the Sponsors and the Community at-large for showing that Marietta still has the True Pioneer Spirit! Well Done!

So long everybody,

Marietta will always be my “Hometown”