Chattanooga, Tenn. (June 2007) – On behalf of the Great American Race, Coker Tire Company is inviting everyone to join them on Sunday, July 1st as nearly 100 antique race cars make their way to Chattanooga. The Scenic City has been honored to host the 2nd stop in the 25th annual Great American Race, a timed endurance rally across America. “We encourage you to bring the whole family down to this free event and witness the cars as they take the checkered flag for the day,” says Corky Coker, president of Coker Tire. Continue reading
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Hornets Nest Chapter of the AACA were having fun to be a little more clear. If you are part of the antique car- hot rod swap meet culture, then you should know that there are some really special swap meets that you GOTTA go to! You gotta attend the best ones like Hershey, Portland Oregon, all the Carlisles and of course the Charlotte Auto Fair at Humpy’s place: the Charlotte Motor Speedway. Humpy Wheeler and his team have a lot to do with this huge swap meet now too but it was started and still run basically by the Hornets Nest Region of AACA. AACA stands for Antique Automobile Club of America. The national club has about 60,000 members but the HN region has some number north of 500 members.
Because it was there! Remember…when referring to the reason why George Mallory climbed Mount Everest… because it was there! “Iron Man” Fred Ham rode a newly designed Harley Davidson EL (commonly called a knucklehead) model for 1825 miles setting a 24 hour solo record back in 1937. You can read more about Fred and his story at Motorcycle Museum Hall of Fame. My friend Dale Walksler of Wheels Thru Time Museum in Maggie Valley, North Carolina has had a dream to challenge Fred Ham’s record set in 1937 for some time now. It would be quite an accomplishment, and would take a lot of preparation and planning. He planned to use exactly the same model bike, but this time the bike would be 70 years old but completely rebuilt at his Wheels Thru Time Museum. He had told me his plans a number of months earlier.
Theresa and I loaded up our Shafer 8 and headed to Dallas Wednesday afternoon with the Texas Great Race in our sights. The venue was changed this year to Irving which is also home to the famous Curtis Graf. Curtis is one of our Rally Partners buddy’s, who run Great Race.
We saw our buddy Thom Wells, now from Hendersonville NC on the road headed west too. Then when we finally stopped at a hotel, there he was again! He and Steve Wilson have a new business restoring vintage cars and supporting Great Racers.
CHATTANOOGA, TN (March 2007) – Coker Tire, the world’s largest supplier of collector vehicle tires, announces the availability of its new BFGoodrich Silvertown Blackwall to complete any street rod or hot rod design. Recognized as a great choice for fitment on street rods, hot rods, customs or quality restorations, these tires deliver a street-mean look coupled with modern reliability, safety and a comfortable ride.Coker’s new BFGoodrich 285/70R15 Silvertown Blackwall is S-Speed rated and features the popular V-Block tread pattern to maintain an authentic, timeless look. At 30.75-inches in diameter, with a cross-section of 11.5 inches and a tread width of 8.60 inches, the Silvertown Blackwall delivers a wide and tall, aggressive stance, making it easy to achieve a “natural rake” on hot rods and customs when matched up with a smaller front tire in a Big-Little Combo.
Coker’s BFGoodrich Silvertown Blackwall tires, in the popular 285/70R15 size, feature four-ply, polyester belted, tubeless construction and retail for $143 per tire.
Coker Tire Company, Inc. of Chattanooga, Tennessee is the world’s largest supplier of collector vehicle tires, with distributors in more than 30 countries. The company offers vintage bias-ply and nostalgia-style radial tires for collector vehicles from the late 1890s through the mid 1970s, including products for hot rods, sprint and dirt-track race cars and motorcycles. Coker Tire also markets vintage-style wheels and rims, novelty bicycles and unicycles. Corky Coker, ownerCoker Tire recently initiated its Coker Golden Tire Award, an annual award to honor people who actively drive and show their collector cars. Contestants can submit entries, photos and documentations through the Coker website. Customers can visit www.coker.com to shop, request a catalog, and place an order or call (800)-251-6336 for more information.
March 2 (3-2) marked the opening breakfast of the Hot Rod and Restoration Show in Indianapolis, which this year focused on a celebration of the 32 Duece to us Car Crazy folks. Debbie Lewis, the producer of HRR, is truly one of the treasures of our automotive aftermarket with her relentless pursuit of success for HRR. Deb and her husband, Jim did this deal together as a team until a few years ago when Jim died suddenly. Deb has picked up the reins all by herself and continues to do a great job!
My dad, Harold Coker, started Coker Tire Company in 1958. Dad was raised along with his two brothers, Bob and Bill Coker with an appreciation and love for old cars. Their dad (my grand dad) was an long time mechanic and loved Model A Fords. Known by many as “Pop” Coker, it was rumored he was able to make a Model A Ford run better by simply leaning against its fender!! A couple of years ago, a bunch of folks were touring our offices while Pop was around. I told the group about his legendary Model A mechanical expertise to which someone asked him, “How long you been working on Model A’s, Pop?” Pop scratched his bald head but quickly answered, “I reckon since they was new”!
CHATTANOOGA, TN (January 8, 2007) – Coker Tire, the world’s largest supplier of collector vehicle tires, is now offering three new American Classic brand wide whitewall radials designed to complete the nostalgic look and complement the retro design of DaimlerChrysler’s PT Cruiser models.
Manufactured in the U.S. and S-speed-rated, the new American Classics for the PT Cruiser combine the classic look of wide whitewalls with the performance and handling of a new, modern radial tire. Featuring an attractive all-season tread design and backed by the company’s absolute guarantee of quality and reliability, Coker offers three tire sizes with varying whitewall widths that will fit all PT Cruiser models, including:
- 205/55R16s with 1.5-inch whitewalls – for 2001-2003 PT Cruisers with the Touring or Limited Package ($177.00)
- 205/60R15s with 2.0-inch whitewalls – an upgrade option for 2001-2003 PT Cruisers without the Touring or Limited Package ($170.00)
- 205/50R17s with 7/8-inch whitewalls – for 2003-2005 PT Cruisers fitted with the Turbo Package or 2005 models with the Cruiser GT and Cruiser GT Convertible Package ($188.00)
“The PT Cruiser is an iconic car that has captured the imagination of a new generation of enthusiasts,” says President Corky Coker. “We created these wide whitewalls to allow owners to enhance and maximize their car’s retro look. After all, it’s the craving and appreciation for classic design that draws people to these exciting modern versions.”
Coker Tire Company, Inc. of Chattanooga, Tennessee is the world’s largest supplier of collector vehicle tires, with distributors in more than 30 countries. The company offers vintage bias-ply and nostalgia-style radial tires for collector vehicles from the late 1890s through the mid 1970s, including products for hot rods, sprint and dirt-track race cars and motorcycles. Coker Tire also markets vintage-style wheels and rims, novelty bicycles and unicycles. Coker Tire recently initiated its Coker Golden Tire Award, an annual award to honor people who actively drive and show their collector cars. Contestants can submit entries, photos and documentations through the Coker website. Customers can visit www.coker.com to shop, request a catalog, and place an order or call (800)-251-6336 for more information.
My friend, Billy F Gibbons is an artist. A music artist. You might know him from ZZ Top fame. But he is also a car guy too. Now, I have lots of friends who are car guys–in fact most of my friends are car guys. I like hanging out with car guys. They buy tires. And they like what I like. Billy plays a mean blues guitar, and has some outstanding rods and customs including famous icon cars like Kopperhead, CadZilla, and the famous Eliminator Coupe. Billy is a hot-rodder, but he is more than just a music artist, he is a car artist.
CHATTANOOGA, TN (Oct. 31, 2006) – Corky Coker, president of Coker Tire, the world’s largest supplier of collector vehicle tires, recently announced the launch of a new campaign and namesake award that he hopes will get America’s driving heritage back on the road. Through a series of speaking engagements and appearances at auto industry and collector car events across the U.S., Coker will be urging classic auto owners and enthusiasts to get their cars out of garages and onto the road.
“I just feel like this is one of those use it or loose it situations,” said Coker. “It’s our job as collectors and car enthusiasts to pass this love of chrome and rubber on to the next generation. That will never happen if we keep our classic cars hidden under cover in a garage.”
Coker’s plan takes a two pronged approach, the first being his “Sunday Drive” initiative. Coker Tire is already outreaching to major car collections, auto museums, and even private owners to open up their collections on Sundays free of charge for anyone who arrives in their own classic car.
“The idea is to get everybody out on the road on the same day, and for them to have somewhere to go. Just like Sunday dinner used to be a huge family tradition, we’ll be starting a new one. It gives everyone in the car ‘family’ a day to look forward to all week,” said Coker.
The second part of Coker’s plan to end the reign of “trailer queens” will be an annual award called the Coker Golden Tire. This award will honor two people annually who actively drive and show their collector cars and urge others to do the same. Whether it’s using their car as daily transportation, vacations, or for cross country road-trips, contestants would submit photos and documentations to the Coker website at www.coker.com starting October 31st showing their efforts to further the hobby.
All makes and models are open to receive the award, from muscle cars, lowriders and hot rods, sports cars and exotics to Concours-quality classics. The winner, judged by a panel of collector car VIP’s, will receive an all-expenses paid trip to the Coker Tire headquarters in Chattanooga, TN, where they will be given their award, a tour of the Coker facilities and dinner with the Coker family.
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