Welcome to Knoxville, Tennessee, the site of the 2015 CORSA International Convention, the Smoky Mountain Vair-vention hosted by the Knoxville Area Corvair Club on June 24-27. Whether you drive, fly, or float to downtown Knoxville you will discover this city and east Tennessee as the friendliest and most interesting city you have ever visited. We are surrounded by natural beauty, history, and fun-filled attractions for the whole family to enjoy. The city is at the crossroads of two major Interstate highways, boat and barge access on the Tennessee River, and air service into McGhee Tyson Airport only a twenty minute ride to our convention host hotel.

The host hotel is the Marriott Knoxville, overlooking the downtown Knoxville skyline to the west and the banks of the Tennessee River to the south. We have 250 rooms reserved for our guests and plenty of on-site parking. The parking garage across the street has an open top for large RVs, UltraVans, and car haulers. One of the lower floors will be used for open air vendors and the swap meet, with security provided for the whole facility. The location is central to the convention events, the Concours 'd Elegance, car display, rally, economy run, and autocross, and all meetings and tech sessions are on the hotel site. The Concours and the Car Display will both be held on the large grass area adjacent to the four-level parking garage next to the Knoxville Coliseum across from the Marriott main entrance.

Three and a half miles away and
an easy drive for spectators and racers.

Preregistration has ended, although you can still register at the convention. The on-site registration form is available here. If you wish, the form can be completed beforehand and turned in at the convention registration desk in the Marriott Knoxville Hotel.

The Economy Run is going to leave the host hotel and cover some 90 miles round trip. During the ride, you are going to see some beautiful Smoky Mountain scenery. From the hotel we'll travel along the Tennessee River on our left and the University of Tennessee on our right.

The Tennessee River begins just a few miles east of downtown Knoxville where the Holston River and the French Broad River flow together. Knoxville is home to the Tennessee Valley Authority which is the largest public power provider in the country, operating hydroelectric dams along the 652 mile Tennessee River supplying electricity to over nine million people.

Home of the Vols, the University of Tennessee's enrollment is over 27,000. The iconic Neyland Stadium, fourth largest in the country and once home to our beloved Peyton Manning, seats over 102,000 on game day.

We will continue south on Highway 129 to Alcoa, passing McGhee Tyson Airport on the right. Nearly two million passengers passed through this small airport in 2014 and over 100,000 aircraft operations were handled here including activity from the Tennessee Air National Guard 134th Refueling Wing. Next on TN 35 we pass the home of the ALCOA Tennessee Operations plant. This facility produces sheet aluminum for cans enough to make 150,000 cans every minute. It is likely your favorite canned beverage began its journey right here in East Tennessee.

Riding through Alcoa, we'll pick up Highway 321 in Maryville, and will be passing Maryville College. This private liberal arts college, founded in 1819, is in the Top 50 Oldest Colleges in the country and is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church and home to 1,100 students.

Heading east on Highway 321, the scenery will become very rural with numerous mountain vistas. As we get to Walland, Tennessee, we'll soon come to the entrance of Foothills Parkway. We'll be climbing nearly 2,000 feet as we travel along the 18 mile ridge of Chilhowee Mountain in Blount County from Walland to Highway 129. Numerous picturesque pullouts and views of the Great Smoky Mountains will be perfect to get some great shots of your Corvair. At mile 11, we'll come to Look Rock parking area. The observation tower is a short half mile hike and offers 360-degree panoramic views. Foothills Parkway, operated by the National Park Service with no commercial access, will be a peaceful, scenic ride.

Continuing on, the Parkway winds around to Highway 129 at Chilhowee Lake. For those in the know, this is the beginning of the world famous "Tail of the Dragon" and its 318 curves in 11 miles. Motorcyclists and sports car enthusiasts from around the world come here seeking the thrill of the Dragon's Tail. Our economy run route won't be engaging in this adventure today, but will turn west on Highway 129 for 13 miles along the banks of beautiful Chilhowee Lake as we head back into the town of Maryville on Highway 411 and back to the Knoxville Marriott.

For the economy run participants and those just wanting to take the ride, you won't be disappointed.

The people here in east Tennessee are warm and polite. Don't be surprised if someone opens a door for you or offers to give you a helping hand. Just remember to thank them. And don't be surprised when someone asks, "Y'all ain't from around here, are ya?" It's just a warm way of telling you we enjoy having you, and "Y'all come back now, ya hear!"

We at the Knoxville Area Corvair Club are looking forward to meetin' y'all and sharing our bit of heaven on earth with you in June.

Dick and Amy Mohr

There is free trolley service from the Marriott front entrance with a route taking you to Gay Street, the main downtown thoroughfare with plenty of shops, restaurants, movie theaters, and historic sites. There are four separate trolley routes that will take you downtown, to the Market Square, to the University of Tennessee campus, and the Old City, all free of charge, so take time to explore. Within walking distance from the Marriott is the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame on East Hill Street, and just across the intersection is James White’s Fort, the territorial capital of the Southwest Territory in 1791. Just up the same street is Blount Mansion, built in 1792, the first frame home built west of the mountains and site where the Tennessee Constitution was drafted in 1796. Adjacent to the mansion is the Craighead-Jackson House built in 1818 and supposedly haunted by a servant who burned to death in the house. Across East Hill Street on the corner of Gay Street is the Andrew Johnson Hotel, completed in 1930, famous for being where the country singer Hank Williams spent his last night alive in 1952. This is the story of just a two block area of downtown Knoxville and there are many other tales in this “scruffy little city.”

Located within a day's drive of nearly half the country's population, Knoxville is pretty much the crossroads of the United States, and if you are looking for something to do, this city has a little bit of everything.

As you approach downtown Knoxville, you see a cityscape topped by an iconic golden orb. The Sunsphere is one of the most memorable structures remaining from the 1982 World's Fair, an event that brought in 11 million guests from around the world. The Sunsphere stands 266 feet tall and is topped by a 75-foot sphere featuring glass panels layered in 24-karat gold dust. It's the only structure of its kind in the world, and it's open free to the public. Take a trip up to the newly renovated observation deck and see an incredible 360-degree view of the city, or go up to the Icon Lounge and enjoy that same view with dinner and drinks. You'll see downtown Knoxville, The University of Tennessee's famed Neyland Stadium, The Tennessee River, and Rocky Top.

Yes, there really is a Rocky Top, Tennessee. The Great Smoky Mountains Thunderhead Mountain consists of three summits. The first summit is known as Rocky Top, that inspired Felice and Boudleaux Bryant to write the famous lyrics that are now the fight song for the University of Tennessee. One of the best times to hike to Rocky Top is in mid-June when the rhododendron is just beginning to bloom. The park is located just 45 minutes from Knoxville.

Warm weather calls for a visit to World's Fair Park Splash Pad and Playground. Fully interactive with a onestory high geyser, the state of the art dancing fountains are fun and safe for the whole family. Just beyond the park's festival lawn you will find the East Tennessee Veterans Memorial, a public plaza with a formal arrangement of granite pillars. The pillars bear the names of fallen heroes from 35 East Tennessee counties who died in military service during named conflicts since World War I. The names of East Tennessee's Medal of Honor recipients are inscribed on the reverse side of the pillars.

Overlooking the festival lawn is the Knoxville Museum of Art. The museum celebrates the art and artists of East Tennessee. Since its opening in 1990, the KMA has presented a lively and engaging schedule of exhibitions. The KMA is also home to the monumentally scaled sculpture by Knoxville resident and internationally acclaimed artist Richard Jolley, Cycle of Life: Within the Power of Dreams and the Wonder of Infinity. The sculpture is one of the largest figurative glass-and-steel assemblages in the world and will remain on permanent view at the museum.

No matter where you go in Knoxville, music is around every corner. The city is known as the Cradle of Country Music and some say the home of Americana Music. Truth is, Knoxville is one of America's most vibrant cities for live music. It's on streets and stages, and free at noon every day except Sunday on the WDVX stage at the Knoxville Visitors Center at the corner of Gay and Summit Hill. The WDVX Blue Plate Special showcases traveling and local artists and has fans listening online all around the world. From classical to bluegrass, country to rock, this city is like a jukebox full of options. It even has a jazz orchestra. Put simply, you're sure to find something to suit your taste in Knoxville.

And speaking of taste, if you like southern cuisine, Knoxville will have you eating out of its hand. Calhoun's on the river has an abundance of barbecue and craft beers, Café 4 has comfort foods with flair, and CRU has small plates for everyone to share. Outdoor dining is the way to go on Market Square. The people-watching is as enjoyable as the food.

Since the 1860s, Market Square has been one of Knoxville's most popular places to shop, work, play, eat, drink, and live. Market Square is home to outdoor concerts and movies, the Farmers Market, Shakespeare on the Square, and much more. From housewares to handbags, the stores here hold rare and unique finds. This kid- and petfriendly area is also an ever-changing anchor for a variety of festivals.

If you like the great outdoors, you're going to love Knoxville. The city's Urban Wilderness is a 1,000 acre playground located just five minutes from downtown. Hiking, biking, fishing, and boating are just some of the things you'll find. The trails are as easy or as hard as you want to make them: safe to travel alone, but more fun with friends. The quarries offer a lovely view for the paddleboard and kayak crowd. There's even a night set aside for trail bikers that includes food trucks and frosty beverages. It's the perfect way to relax after an adventuresome ride.

Knoxville is a city rich in history. The community is proud of its heritage and committed to preserving it. A great many visitors come to Knoxville to learn more about Civil War sites and tour earthworks, battle sites, and historic homes. While here, many stop by the East Tennessee History Center to learn about their own history through the center's genealogy research library. You can learn more about Knoxville on one of many walking tours, which feature sites and structures featured on the National Register of Historic Places.

Travelers should also plan a visit to the Knoxville Zoo, the city's largest attraction. Come face to face with more than 800 of the world's most fascinating animals. See elephants, gorillas, and chimpanzees as you travel through grasslands and forests of Africa. You can even ride a camel and feed a giraffe.

The friendly folks in Knoxville encourage visitors to explore all of the wonderful places and spaces this city has to offer.