The 2009 CHVA National Tour: The Appalachian Culture Tour TN, GA & NC rolled into Chattanooga and made a stop at Coker Tire’s headquarters. The group of 60 visitors spent some time in the restoration shop, museum and enjoyed some bench racing at Honest Charley Speed Shop as well. There are no better people than car people, and the CHVA group was no exception. Thanks to John Jolly and the CHVA group for making our place a stop on the tour!

Since the beginning in 1967, The Contemporary Historical Vehicle Association (CHVA) has encouraged a Family Involvement atmosphere. We love to ride, tour, and sometimes show our automobiles we love so much. Like Auburn, Buick, Cadillac, Duesenberg, Edsel, Ford, Graham, Hudson, Isetta, Jaguar, Kaiser, Lincoln, Mercedes, Nash, Oldsmobile, Packard, Rolls Royce, Studebaker, Tucker and etc. – all commercial, military, motorcycles and anything built for highway use from 1928 thru 1978. Our CHVA Club founders felt the need for one organization to represent all marques from those years in that they should have Historical Recognition.
CHVA is truly a national and an international club. Almost every state is represented along with Canada, Japan, Sweden, South Africa, New Zealand, Australia and more. The national club publishes an award winning magazine with free ads up to 25 words, sanctions shows and a tour each year. CHVAID offers help for members in distress traveling anywhere in the US and Canada. Regional clubs have monthly tours, outings, and have fostered lifelong friendships between families who might have never met had it not been for CHVA.

Honest Mike called me the other day to come down to the Honest Charley Speed Shop because a good friend to Mike and I had come by to see us and that he had “something” that he wanted to give us.    Mark Burdette is a top notch customer, friend, hot-rod ally and all round good guy!    He is pretty doggone good on all things flathead motor too!    Mark had a few spare parts laying around his garage so he determined that he would rather give them to Honest Charley than try to sell them off individually by himself or worse leave to his family to sell at auction when the Good Lord calls.  (am praying that ain’t no time soon brother Mark!)  I was absolutely blown away by Honest Mark Burdette’s generosity and kindness in thinking about Mike and I and our business.   He kept going on about how important it was that Honest do well and how important the role Honest Charley Speed Shop has for horsepower in general.

Well, all I wanna say is here are some pics of the “something” that Honest Mark Burdette brought us and I wanna thank him publicly for his generosity, kindness and most of all friendship to Mike and me.  Mark, you are absolutely the best!    BTW….if you wanna see something about horsepower… check out Mark and Frieda Burdette’s website! http://www.horsenaroundfarm.com/aboutus.htm

From the road,

Corky Coker

The man that is credited with being the innovator of modern day drag tires passed away on June 3, 2009 at the age of 94. Please see the article below regarding the SEMA Hall of Famer, and the legacy that lives on with the M&H brand that he created. Humble and hard working, Marvin was always quick to give credit to the racers that helped him test and develop tires through the years.

Godspeed Marvin

See Marvin’s SEMA Hall of Fame Profile