Every fall the most amazing group of vintage, modern and extraordinary cars, new and old trucks, and powerful racing bikes come to Tryon for a Saturday automobile show. The Rolling Art Car, Truck, and Motorcycle Show will take place on Nov. 4 this year at the Thompson’s Garden Gallery at 83 Palmer Street, Tryon. Registration begins at 9 a.m. and the show runs from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. with judging at 1 p.m. To pre register your car, truck or motorcycle email rollingarttryon@gmail.com.

Roland Linder, a world famous motorcycle and racecar driver, offers his expertise and energy as one of the car show organizers. Linder has had a long-standing love affair with motorcycles. Linder grew up in Belgium and as a boy raced his friends on scooters.  His first real motorcycles were two gleaming Harley-Davidsons. He had a 10-year motorcycle-racing career in Europe. From 1968 to 1975 Linder worked as a mechanic for Le Mans racing teams, his Porsche-sponsored team winning the GT class twice.

Linder moved to Colorado in 1980. There he raced GT and GTP cars (LeMans-type cars) and started a driving school. Linder also competed in endurance races and other events. Eleven years ago in 2006 he settled just outside Columbus in Polk County. While immensely talented, he is likeable and fun to be with–and generous with his time. He helps out at neighboring horse farms to stay busy. Linder last raced cars professionally in 2012, and his team placed second in the 24 Hours of Virginia Endurance Race. He is very active with Ferraris and the Lotus Car Club of the Carolinas.

Linder remains in demand as a driving coach working for Mercedes Benz and Ferrari. He continues to operate his own driving school training people who have purchased powerful automobiles how to drive them. Linder prides himself on being a safe, if lead-footed high performance car driver whether it’s a vintage Jaguar or a McLaren super car. And in 37 years he has never received a speeding ticket.

In the early 1990’s Linder felt he was too old for motorcycles and sold his collection. He focused his attention on cars and continued to work as a driver and run his driving school. However, a few years ago a friend, Dr. Laura Ellis, took Linder to a dirt bike track in Tryon and let him ride her KTM two-stroke 250. That’s all it took! Today Linder owns a 1991 Harley-Davidson Sturgis, a 2000 Harley-Davidson Dyna Glide, a 2001 Harley-Davidson Road King, a 1982 Honda Ascot, a Honda Elite 50 cc and a 2005 Kawasaki 636. Linder likes to restore older bikes and sell them after enjoying them first. Linder defends his love of bikes. “All I know is riding and driving.”

Linder plans to bring his Ferrari Testarossa and several H-D motorcycles and his Kawasaki 636 to the show on November 4. He also is networking with his contacts all over the area to come and bring their amazing automobiles to the show.

The Rolling Art Car, Truck and Motorcycle Show is free. Advanced registration is requested. Email Rollingarttryon@gmail.com. Ten awards will be presented including People’s Choice Best Car, Best Truck, and Best Motorcycle plus a Sponsor’s Best of Show award. Participants and spectators are asked to bring a donation of non-perishable food for the Thermal Belt Outreach Ministry. Thompson’s Landscaping & Stone is located at 83 Palmer Street in downtown Tryon.

– submitted by Lucy Brannon