Shades of the Past and Fall Grand Rod Run in the Pigeon Forge Great Smoky Mountains.

Though the Shapes of the Past Rod Run XXXI in the Pigeon Forge Smokies is now over, there are still hundreds and hundreds of museum quality cars from the 1930's to classic muscle cars of the 1970's parked along the Pigeon Forge Parkway and cruising all around the Great Smoky Mountains and the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Why are these classic car owners sticking around the Great Smoky Mountains still and what are the Pigeon Forge Rod Runs?

Could they be sticking around the enjoy the great weather we have here in the Smokies during September where it's warm enough to be wearing short sleeves and enjoying outdoor activities, but much cooler than the dog days of summer.

It's also a great time to take in the sights in and around the Great Smoky Mountains National Park or a long breathtaking cruse with your classic car or hot rod along the Blue Ridge Parkway which is right next to the national park.

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is bathed in the color green everywhere you look, except for the occasional burst of color from wildflowers still blooming. Look carefully and you will see a few leaves here and there just starting to lighten and are a prelude to the fall colors soon to come.

The waterfalls and streams in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park are running higher than they will in a few months when the dry winter season begins and the sky still fills with the sights and sounds of birds now ready to migrate to warmer places for the winter.

The bear and deer are very active in the park now as a few green acorns have started to fall and make for an easy snack and in the North Carolina parks eastern parts, the bugling of rutting elk can be heard as these massive animals chase one another trying to collect as many females into their harems as they can.

All of this beauty and excitement means that it is a perfect time to cruise through the park and see the sights in a gleaming classic vehicle. There are not 1 but 5 great auto tours to take in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park: The Cades Cove Loop, the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail of Cherokee Orchard Road, Cataloochee Tour, Newfound Gap Road and finally the Tremont Auto Tour.

The longest of these scenic drives is Newfound Gap Road which is 35 miles of climbing, twisting, and turning roadway with spectacular views from Sunrise to Sunset off its many overlooks. Some of the views are beautiful at night where you can see the city lights twinkling below.

Just as the Newfound Gap Road ends, or begins, depending which way you come is the 469 mile long Blue Ridge Parkway which is beyond compare. You can keep the top down on your sports car right now when riding along the Blue Ridge Parkway, but in another few weeks you will need a jacket and you may need to put the top down.

Thousands of visitors with their beautiful cars came for the Shades of the Part Rod Run which took place along the parkways and events were held at the Dollywood's Splash Country, but in 2 more days from September 12th to the 16th the Grand Fall Rod Run will take place!

We here in the Smoky Mountains look forward to both the Spring Road Run and the Fall Rod Run as we not only enjoy seeing miles and miles of cherry car, trucks and motorcycles, the Rod Runs are always taking place during moderate temperatures with the beautiful backdrop of the Smokies, along with the most fun roads to cruise along.

Whatever American made car floats your boat, you will be sure to find it here and more than likely, a bunch of them together. This year for example I say more 1930s Ford's and Packard's than I have in years, many in showroom or better condition.

There were also more classic pickups, tow trucks, delivery trucks from the 40's and 50's than I have ever seen here as well. Already trailer loads of motorcycles have been making their way into Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg as well as more muscle cars from the 60's and 70's than were here last week.

So you now see what so many who were showing their cars for the Shades of the Past are sticking around for the Fall Rod Run in Pigeon Forge right around the corner!

The Spring Rod Run: Cruzin the Strip on the Pigeon Forge Parkway in Tennessee in style

Twice a year the Pigeon Forge Smoky Mountains becomes a classic car and hot rod Mecca for car enthusiasts and gear heads of all types. If Detroit made it, you will find it here on display or for sale at the Spring Rod Run.

All weekend long Pigeon Forge is playing host to the 2009 Spring Rod Run in the Smokies and in a matter of hours hundreds and hundreds of cars of all makes models and year - detailed to the max will be cruising up and down the Pigeon Forge Parkway US 441. This is a sight to behold whether you love classic cars or not!

If you miss the show of mile and miles of killer cars cruising the parkway at night, you can catch it tomorrow night. Since many people who come to the spring rod run stay longer to take a vacation in the Smokies, expect to see beautiful cars all around Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg and Sevierville all week long.

It's sure great to have one of the biggest car shows in the Southeast going on in the beautiful Smoky Mountains during spring while the weather is comfortable and the scenery is breathtaking. Between the fresh green grass of spring and the blooming cherry, dogwood and redbud trees and the majestic Smoky Mountains. Even without all the cherry cars, there is beauty everywhere you look!

Thousands of cars line up along the Parkway in Pigeon Forge - most with the showroom quality shine and gleaming chrome - tons of it! So much bright gleaming chrome a dark pair of sunglasses is in order for anyone wanting to look at all the cars in the Rod Run show.

Side to side the cars are lined up and you will see miles of the most incredible cars from every era and in all sorts of condition along the parkway and as many cars as there are here for the show, there are stories about each car and an owner wiling to bend your ear about it.

Most of the cars are heavily customized or completely restored - some are even rotisserie restorations where the car is stripped down to the frame and one part at a time restored to what it looked like when it rolled off the assembly line decades ago.

First of all you can't see the whole spring rod run in one day - it's impossible. While the whole Pigeon Forge Parkway has cars parked along side it with the owners relaxing in folding chairs many with umbrellas, the show really begins at traffic light #3. In Pigeon Forge and in Gatlinburg the traffic lights are numbered so you don't have to remember street names.

Some cars are grouped together by make and model as clubs tend to stick together: the Ford pickup trucks, corvettes, California hot rods, Packard's, old Caddies, new Mustangs they're all here!

Count of having to move your car a few times as you certainly won't want to walk the whole way both sides and the back to your car. Yes, there are classic cars for the Pigeon Forge rod run on BOTH sides of the parkway!

If you want a snack or a meal during the day or into the night you have hundreds of restaurants or places to buy a snack or a refreshing cool drink along the parkway in Pigeon Forge.

What could be more fun than the family friendly Rod Run in Pigeon Forge? And the price - it's free!

If you are bringing a car to the Smokies to show off at the Rod Run, why not stay in a beautiful private chalet less then 5 minutes from the parkway in a location with no hills, all paved streets and driveways and enough room to park a trailer sheltered under the chalet? Rent a vacation home in Riverpoint.

Hundreds of hot cars to Cruise the Smokies at the Fall Rod Run

Did you miss the rod run this fall in Pigeon Forge Tennessee? Don't despair as Cherokee North Carolina only an hour away is expecting more than 800 classic and souped up custom cars for the Cruise the Smokies Cherokee rod run.

With fall leaf season at its peak in the Smoky Mountains, this will be a perfect time to come out and see the beautiful classic cars and watch them later on motor around the Smokies.

This is also a prefect time for photography enthusiasts to catch special shots of these classic cars against the stunning backdrops of the of the Blue Ridge Parkway, the Great Smoky Mountains national park and the Foothills Parkway. Some of the finer autos are going to take on the famous tail of the Dragon.

We are expecting at least 3,000 attendees to show up for the Cherokee Rod Run and if your wheels are older than 1972 or your car is heavily customized you can register to show you car and compete for cash drawings totaling $15,000 for only $40.

The fall rod run is a great place to meet and network with car lovers, shop at the swap meet, enjoy the daily entertainment. If all of this is not enough to get you excited, The Temptations and The Platters are going to play Saturday night at Harrah's Cherokee Casino.

The Cherokee rod run for classic cars in the Smoky Mountains will be held from October 31st to November 2nd at the Cherokee Indian Fair Grounds. On Friday and Saturday the fairground gates are open from 9-5 and on Sunday from 9 until noon. Tickets for adults and kids 7 and up cost $5 and kids 6 and under are free.

The fall rod run in Cherokee North Carolina is sponsored by Cherokee Travel and Tourism and Harrah's Casino and for more information visit Cherokee Web Site or call (828) 438-1601.