Southeastern Classic XXXVII

Mountains – Merlot - Mayberry

October 31st – November 3, 2024 | Yadkin Valley of North Carolina

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Mountains – Merlot – Mayberry:  It’s that time once again for Southeastern, its 37th edition.  For this year, the Triad Austin Healey Club invites you to an all-new location in what is known as the Yadkin Valley of North Carolina, its premier region for winemaking.  Located literally in the shadow of the Blue Ridge, you can go from the valley to the top of the mountain within half an hour.  Mt. Airy, the real-life town that ‘Mayberry’ was based on is only 15 miles away.

Sunset on the Blue Ridge Mountains

Hotel: The Host hotel will be the Hampton Inn and Suites at Shelton Vineyards, a freshly remodeled hotel within sight of the Blue Ridge Mountains. 

 The hotel offers 106 rooms, and we will cap registrations at 106.  The Hampton Inn offers an included hot breakfast, indoor pool, fitness center, free wi-fi and pet friendly rooms.  There is generous parking with space for your trailers too!  Two restaurants (A Dairy Queen and Coach’s Neighborhood Grill) are within walking distance, and the Vineyard (where the Harvest Grill restaurant is located) is only three miles away.

Shelton Vineyards:  If you love wine and nature, you’ll enjoy a visit to Shelton Vineyards. You can explore the beautiful grounds, learn about the winemaking process, and taste some of their award-winning wines. Whether you’re a wine enthusiast or a curious traveler, you’ll find something to suit your palate and your budget. You can choose from different tour options, ranging from a self-guided walk to a guided tour with a wine expert. You can also sample five wines for free, or pay a small fee to taste more varieties. Don’t miss the chance to experience one of the best wineries in North Carolina!  Visit our Vinyard Activities page to learn more.

Welcoming Party – Thursday, October 31st:  Dinner will be on your own, but we will have a complimentary Endless Charcouterie board in the Atrium for ‘grazing’.  Also, visit the Hotel Wine and Craft Beer bar for drinks.  After that we will host a welcoming party for the group to share last minute announcements and to introduce our first time Southeastern participants.

Tour to Mayberry – Friday, November 1st:  The hotel includes a free hot breakfast for the entire weekend to help you get ready for the day.  After breakfast we will hold a drivers/navigators meeting in the Madison Lee room for those who want to tackle the Tour to Mayberry.  This will be a roughly two hour drive that will end in downtown Mt. Airy just in time for lunch.  Spend the afternoon checking out all of the Mayberry attractions, most of which are within walking distance of your car! For other options you can strike out on your own and check out the Wine Trail (there are at least 21 wineries in Surry County alone), the Sonker Trail (a local dessert, similar to cobbler) or even the Ground Steak Trail (imagine hamburger chopped up like BBQ, yeah, it’s a thing).  There are brochures and maps in your Goody Bag that have all of the information you need.

Pizza and Live Auction – Friday, November 1st:  Once back at the hotel, make reservations at the Harvest Grill, or come by the Madison Lee room for a pizza buffet sponsored by Hendrix Wire Wheel.  At 8pm we will start the live auction with both Allen Hendrix and Gary Brierton at the lectern.

Car Show – Saturday, November  2nd: On Saturday take your car down to Shelton Vineyard for the popularity car show.  While you are there, sign up for one of the Vineyard tours, or even for a ‘Grand Tasting’ where their experienced staff will pour pre-selected wines paired with a selection of artisan cheeses and meats. We will distribute the car show awards there onsite shortly after lunch.

Self Directed Mountain Tour – Saturday, November 2nd : Come the afternoon, for those saying “Mountains, Please” we will provide a route and map for a self-directed tour up into the Blue Ridge Mountains, with some interesting stops along the way. 

Hospitality – Thursday / Friday / Saturday, October 31st – Saturday November 2nd (times TBD):The focal point of every Austin Healey event is the Hospitality Room where attendees can relax with a cold drink and some fantastic & delicious snacks (or more likely, fabulous delicacies) while meeting with fellow enthusiasts to discuss the events of the day.

Closing Banquet – Saturday, November 2nd : At 6pm we will make our way to The Depot at Cody Creek, a Dobson landmark that offers some of the best steaks and ribs in the State. Dinner will start at 7pm, and we will have some short remarks to announce a few special awards plus information about next year’s Southeastern.

  • Rib-eye Steak
  • Half Rack of Ribs plus Grilled Chicken Combination
  • Lemon Pepper Salmon

Each will be served with red skin mashed potatoes and baked cinnamon apples, and includes soft drinks, tea and coffee.  A cash bar will also be available.

If you have any questions about our SEC, please contact us at [email protected]