LocostUSA.com

The Hemmings Motor News Great Race presented by Hagerty will enter the New Year with at least 86 paid entries for the 2014 event, Director Jeff Stumb has announced.

That is more than 30 ahead of the pace at the same time last year. That also means that there are only 14 more spots available for the 2014 race from Maine to Florida since the cutoff is 100 cars.

Chad and Jennie Caldwell will be participating in the 2014 Great Race in their 1931 Auburn, but not the one you may have seen in previous Great Race events. Chad traveled to Montana earlier this month and bought this 1931 Auburn speedster and is already tearing it down and restoring it for next year’s Great Race.

He has been looking for an Auburn speedster for several months, and he wanted one that had not already been restored. “I wanted one done the way I wanted it and the color combination I wanted,” Chad said. Word is he is considering a bright green body with black fenders.

For years, the Caldwells have competed in their 1931 Auburn, a re-creation of the Awesome Auburn that competed in the 1931 Indianapolis 500. In fact, they just had their best finish ever in the car back in June in the 2013 Great Race when they finished in the Top 5 overall.

Now they will have fenders and a top. “We really wanted an Auburn with a top,” Chad said.

GREAT RACE:

The 2014 Great Race will be coming to Jacksonville on Saturday, June 28. The 9-day, 2,100-mile antique car race with a $150,000 purse starts in Maine on June 21 and will end in Florida on June 29 and the winning team will take home a $50,000 check.

They are coming down Main Street on June 28th during the HISTORIC SPRINGFIELD MAIN STREET CRUISE!! LET'S LINE MAIN STREET AND MAKE THEM WELCOME!!