Cars & Guitars 2025 Breaks Records and Celebrates the Best in Show

Cars & Guitars 2025 Breaks Records and Celebrates the Best in Show

Downtown Hartwell roared to life this Memorial Day weekend for the annual Cars & Guitars festival, drawing a record-breaking crowd and maxing out participation with 158 cars on display—overflowing into the First Citizens Bank parking lot. The atmosphere was electric, blending the rumble of vintage engines with the sounds of live music and a patriotic opening ceremony.

Top Honors

Best in Show went to Todd Haagen for his immaculate 1969 Ford Bronco, sponsored by McGee Heating & Air.

Class awards were presented as follows:

• Best GM: Greg Cheek – 1955 Chevy Truck (sponsored by Segars Garage)

• Best Ford: Todd Hammond – 1933 Ford Coupe (sponsored by Crown Chasers)

• Best Mopar: Tyler McClure – 1969 Plymouth GTX (sponsored by Blazers)

Era-specific favorites included:

• Best Vintage (pre-1950s): Mike Toberman – 1948 Chevy Coupe (sponsored by Anderson Pumping & Septic)

• Best 50s: Doug Switzer – 1959 Oldsmobile Dynamic (sponsored by Wilson Industrial Electric)

• Best 60s: Larry Sheriff – 1962 Chevy Truck (sponsored by A&A Towing)

• Best 70s: Billy Segars – 1973 Chevy Camaro (sponsored by Peach State Auto Parts & Recycling)

• Best 80s: Robert Hart – 1987 Chevy K5 Blazer (sponsored by Fabritex)

• Best Modern (90s and newer): Lee Adams – 2019 Chevy Corvette ZR1 (sponsored by Hartwell Cabins & RVs)

Specialty awards celebrated unique qualities of show entries:

• Most Unique: Michael & Sherri Ferrell – 1923 Ford T-Bucket (sponsored by Phillips Appliance & Plumbing)

• Best Paint: Randy Thornton – 1956 Ford F-100 (sponsored by EG & K Paint Specialist)

• Best Truck: Mike Griffin – 1955 Ford F100 (sponsored by Modern Tire & Alll Terrain)

• Best Engine: David Thompson – 1966 Chevy Nova (sponsored by Eagle Oil Change)

• Best Stock: Phil Whitt – 1969 Chevy Camaro (sponsored by Smith Automotive Service)

• Best Custom: Lee Adams – 1971 Chevy Camaro (sponsored by Smith Automotive Service)

Other crowd favorites included:

• Lady's Ride: Lane Wood – 1985 Chevy C10 (sponsored by Backstreet BBQ)

• Kids' Choice: Tom Fansher – 1961 Triumph TR3A (sponsored by Discover Hartwell, selected by local kids with help from our Chamber Ambassadors)

People’s Choice was determined by public ballot, with the Top 10 as follows:

1. Manny Martinez – 1965 Chevy C10

2. Larry Skelton – 1957 Chevy Nomad

3. Kayla Segars – 2019 Chevy Corvette Grand Sport

4. John Hines – 1950 Buick Super

5. Jimmy Durham – 1965 Ford Fairlane

6. Robert Kesler – 1984 Chevy Monte Carlo SS

7. TJ Lovelace – 1980 Toyota Tercel Corolla

8. James Brown – 1948 Chevy Truck

9. Sam Heaton – 1983 Porsche 944

10. Sondi Abbott – 1955 Chevy 210

Community Thanks

This event would not be possible without the generous support of our title sponsor, McGee Heating & Air, and our awards sponsor, Fabritex, who also donated this year’s handcrafted trophies—made right here in Hart County. We also thank Karew Sports and Imprinting for custom name plates and banners.

A big shoutout to Hart County High School’s College & Career Academy student entrepreneurs at Bulldog Printing for designing and producing the official event shirts, and to DJ Tommy Landrum for keeping the energy high with classic hits all day long.

Our heartfelt thanks to the VFW and HCHS JROTC Cadets for helping us honor our veterans during the opening ceremony, and to Jackson Ford for an unforgettable guitar rendition of the national anthem.

We appreciate the efforts of the Hartwell Police Department, City of Hartwell Fire Department, and City Council for ensuring safety and street closures, as well as Hart County Recreation Department's Jim Owens and County Administrator Terrell Partain for logistical support.

Special thanks to our media partners WKLY, WLHR, The Hartwell Sun, and HTC Channel 3’s Wes, Doc, and Wyndee for their generous coverage and promotion.

And the biggest thanks of all goes to our incredible Board of Directors, Ambassadors, and the Discover Hartwell crew who poured countless hours into planning and executing this event to perfection. Your passion and hard work made this record-breaking year one for the books.

To all the volunteers, car owners, sponsors, and attendees—thank you for continuing to make Cars & Guitars a signature Hartwell tradition.

We’ll see you next year for more chrome, horsepower, and community in the heart of downtown Hartwell!