When you think of homecomings, you may think of your alma mater, or possibly a gathering of your family and friends. For Unique Motorcars, based in Gadsden, Alabama, it's a combination of all three.
In the business of building replicars since 1979 (probably the oldest company still doing so), Unique is now in its third decade of providing customers a well-founded base of operations for all things Cobra, including its kits in pallet or turnkey form.
Run by brothers Maurice and Alan Weaver, along with Momma Jean, Unique decided a few years back to organize an annual gathering of its friends and customers, so the Homecoming was born. The 2005 edition saw perfect roadster weather greet more than 50 Unique roadster owners who attended the Friday/Saturday event.
Though the schedule of events has changed over the years (the group used to travel to a local track to do some racing), it all comes down to enjoying your car instead of just looking at it while parked in the garage. Sure, the idea is to build them, but driving them can be fun, too-a sensation that gets multiplied when there are dozens of friends around you driving to the same place. (And there's nothing like a caravan of Cobras!)
Unique's Homecoming is actually two different mini events, one each day. The first day is for showing, with hoods up and the cars lined up around the Unique facility (it's a wonder no accidents happen when "civilians" drive by and gawk), taking in what's new in the shop and catching up with folks you met last year. The second day is for driving-a 100-mile cruise through the Alabama countryside with a stop at the picturesque DeSoto Falls.
Both days end with food (a catered menu at a park on Friday; a restaurant lunch buffet on Saturday, followed by margaritas and Mexican food in the evening), and lots of it. But the key to this event has always been friends-either ones you just meet or the ones you get reacquainted with (many of whom stay in touch on the www.uniquecobra.com Web site forums)
There are only three awards handed out at the event: Favorite 289, Favorite 427, and People's Choice, and all three are voted on by the attendees. This year's winners were Earle Timothy from Merritt Island, Florida, for his 289; Tracy Arrington from Standardsville, Virginia, for his 427; and Hal Burton, who picked up the People's Choice award after driving his ride in from his home in Austin, Texas.
But homecomings aren't about awards. They are supposed to extend and embrace feelings of camaraderie and family-exactly what you get at the Unique Homecoming. You can find out more about the company, its cars (two roadsters plus a '36 Ford cabriolet), and its event at www.uniquemotorcars.com.