Hendersonville residents Thom and Ouarda Wells hope to do well in a cross-country competition of time and endurance for classic cars known as the Great Race.

Thom Wells is a lifelong collector of vintage cars. A few years ago, while living in Colorado, the Hendersonville resident and owner of Vintage Motorcars saw a motorcade of vintage cars.

"The minute I saw them I said, 'I have to do this,'" Wells said.

What Wells saw that day was cars involved in the Great Race, a cross-country competition of time and endurance for classic cars. The event is in its 25th year.

Great American Race 2007 begins today in Concord and will finish in three weeks in Anaheim, Calf.

Thom and his wife, Ouarda, are participating in the race this year.

"The Great Race celebrates the 1908 race around the world," said Mike Ewing, director of marketing and communication for Great Race. "Every year we take a field of cars across America in a rally. The Great Race will travel through 11 states, more than 40 communities while traveling 4,000 miles across America."

Following the start in Concord, the field of cars will head southwest to Spartanburg, S.C., then west, spending three days in Tennessee, with stops in Chattanooga, Nashville and Germantown. The race then moves on to Fort Smith Ark., Norman Okla., and then ends the first half in Lewisville, Texas. From there, the race continues across the southwest with stops in Albuquerque, N.M., Flagstaff, Ariz., Laughlin, Nev., and Pomona, Calif., before the finish in Anaheim.

The Wellses entered their 1939 Cadillac Model 61 Convertible Coupe, one out of eight left in the world, Mr. Wells said. It's named "Miss Emma," in honor of a Navajo Indian woman he grew up with, he said.

The drivers aren't in the race just for the glory. Most are participating for noteworthy causes, including the Wells.

"We're raising money for the Make-A-Wish foundation," Mrs. Wells said.

Still, the passion for vintage cars and racing adds weight to their involvement.

"Next year we're doing the race around the world from New York to Paris," Mr. Wells said. "I can't wait."