Where Horsepower Meets Heart: Speed, Style, and Philanthropy Take Over Old Town
Alexandria, VA – For one weekend each spring, the historic roads of Old Town Alexandria come alive with car enthusiasts and classics like the Italian V12s, Jaguars, and more. But beneath the style and the glamour, the Old Town Festival of Speed & Style is more than a celebration of automotive specialties, it is a community driven engine powered by vision, resilience, and purpose.
At the heart of it stands Rick Myllenbeck, a retired Navy Captain, former Silicon Valley communications executive, and restaurateur.
The Humble Visionary
Myllenbeck’s vision that sparked what has grown into one of the region’s most stylish cultural events was founded in 2019. The Old Town Festival of Speed & Style draws tens of thousands each year, featuring rare and exotic cars, fashion showcases, and charitable endeavors that have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for Alexandria-based nonprofits.
What began as an idea inspired by European conqueror events has matured into a cornerstone of the city’s annual cultural calendar. “This isn’t just about cars,” Myllenbeck has said. “It’s about bringing people together, and doing good while we’re at it.”
Myllenbeck’s journey toward this enterprise started long before the first Ferrari rolled down King Street.
After a distinguished 42-year career in the U.S. Navy and Navy Reserve, which included deployments during Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom, Myllenbeck retired as a Captain (O-6) in 2018. His civilian career ran parallel, marked by decades of innovation leadership in Silicon Valley, including at Apple Computer during its formative years.
But it wasn’t just tech and tactics that shaped him. In 2015, he and his wife, Beth, opened Sonoma Cellar, a wine-centric restaurant tucked into a historic Old Town building. Bringing California’s flavors eastward, the restaurant quickly became popular with locals, something that would become a motif in Myllenbeck’s many projects.
More Than a Car Festival
The Festival of Speed & Style does what few modern festivals can: it activates both the aesthetics and purpose.
Local businesses, particularly those along King Street, report a measurable boost. “The Old Town Festival of Speed & Style didn’t just pack King Street with gleaming sheet-metal, it pulled people into unexpected places, including our corner showroom at Alexandria Fine Rugs,” said Douglas Christian, a Capitol Hill correspondent who also works at the rug store part time.
Christian described a kind of retail cross-pollination. “Classic-car fans spotted vintage Persian and Caucasian rugs rolled out on the brick sidewalk. Dozens stepped inside “just for a peek,” and many stayed to swap restoration tips or admire the symmetry between automotive and textile design.”
The festival, he said, turned casual foot traffic into something more intimate. “We logged several same-day sales from first-time visitors, with one rug selling for $4,000. Even the shop owner, Michael Fadaifar, stepped outside to greet passersby. It became a celebration for everyone.”
A Festival With a Purpose
It’s easy to mistake the festival for a high-style auto show. But beneath the aesthetics lies a profitable charitable machine. The event operates under a 501(c)(3) structure, with a core mission to support Alexandria-based nonprofits, particularly those focused on health, housing, and youth.
Beneficiaries this year were ALIVE!, Community Lodgings, and the National Breast Center Foundation.
“It’s an honor to be selected as a beneficiary of support from the High Octane and Speed & Style event, knowing that every dollar raised fuels real change for families in our community,” said Lynn Thomas, Executive Director of Community Lodgings. “At Community Lodgings, we believe that stable housing and strong support systems are the foundation for brighter futures—and this event brings us one step closer to that vision.”
The event has become a key revenue stream for these nonprofits and a critical platform for community visibility and its many causes.
This year’s High-Octane Ball, the festival’s gala event held on Saturday evening, raised tens of thousands of dollars in a single night, thanks in part to a live painting auction by renowned performance artist David Garibaldi. The painting, which depicted a car specially created for the event, sold for $10,000 to the Yates family.
While the Sunday showcase may be Rick Myllenbeck’s brainchild, the High-Octane Ball is very much the work of Beth Myllenbeck. Since its inception, she has led the Committee and shaped the identity of the gala, from the annual theme and decor to music, food, layout, and fashion.
This year’s “Casino Royale” theme brought James Bond elegance to Land Rover Alexandria’s showroom. Last year’s Austin Powers–inspired event was equally well-received. Behind the scenes, Beth handled everything from communications and venue coordination to decor alterations and catering logistics, often down to the final detail.
A high school social studies teacher with the Department of Defense Education background, and a former restaurateur herself, Beth brings both vision and operational discipline to the event. Volunteers describe her work as indispensable.
“She’s involved in everything, models, food, lighting, the experience,” said one committee member. “Beth doesn’t just help run the ball. She makes it happen.”
Style, Speed, and Substance
There’s something to be said about the vehicles themselves, symbols of craftsmanship, innovation, and human aspiration. This is not lost on Myllenbeck, whose own collection includes a 1962 Ferrari 250 GTE 2+2, a car he has owned for more than 40 years.
But the Festival of Speed & Style, he insists, is not about the cars alone. It’s about what they create when brought together and the foot traffic they generate every year.
Cars featured in the awards show:
1967 Mercedes-Benz 250SE Coupe
Todd and Mark O’Leary, arriving in timeless fashion, pose beside their 1967 Mercedes-Benz 250SE Coupe, a pillarless icon of postwar European luxury. Powered by a 2.5-liter inline-six engine and noted for its elegant W111 chassis design, the car epitomizes pre-AMG era refinement. As The Doors’ “Light My Fire” lingers in the air, it’s a nod to the era’s unfiltered cool and a car that still smolders with understated charisma.
1957 Jaguar XK140 Drophead Coupe
Sarah Lysaker and Drew Altizer accompanied the 1957 Jaguar XK140 Drophead Coupe—a sleek, open-top grand tourer that helped define British motoring excellence. With a 3.4-liter straight-six engine capable of 190 hp and handcrafted wood-and-leather interior detailing, the XK140 is every bit as cinematic as “Skyfall” itself.
1997 Ferrari F355 Spider
Adrian Kamel and Holly Ahrens bring rock-star attitude to the red carpet in their 1997 Ferrari F355 Spider, a V8-powered Italian masterpiece that marked a turning point in Ferrari’s design evolution. Its 3.5-liter engine revs to a symphonic 8,250 rpm, pushing 375 hp through a gated six-speed manual transmission. With U2’s “Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me”
1998 Aston Martin DB7 Vantage Coupe
Jackie and Joe Haggerty channel pure Bond energy beside their 1998 Aston Martin DB7 Vantage, a muscular British coupe that combined heritage with then-modern Ford-backed innovation. Its 5.9-liter V12 delivers 420 horsepower, cloaked in the kind of leather-and-walnut luxury MI6 would approve of. As Chris Cornell’s “You Know My Name” pulses, so too does the quiet power of Aston’s enduring mystique.
2002 BMW Z8 Roadster
Caitlyn De Witt, Abaya Ibrahim, and Gaëtan George arrive in high style with their 2002 BMW Z8, a neo-retro homage to the 1950s 507 roadster and one of the most collectible BMWs ever produced. Beneath the sculpted aluminum body lies a 4.9-liter V8 borrowed from the M5, good for 400 hp and a 0–60 mph time under 5 seconds. With Nelly Furtado’s “Maneater” as backdrop, this machine is every bit as bold and beautiful as its legacy suggests.
2025 Land Rover Defender 110 X-Dynamic SE
Zeinab Ibrahim and Kevin Alexandre with the latest 2025 Land Rover Defender, blending iconic British off-road capability with contemporary luxury. The 110 X-Dynamic SE model shown here boasts a turbocharged inline-six mild hybrid engine and Terrain Response 2 system for effortless adaptation, whether on Bond’s escape route or Alexandria’s brick streets. Set to Felix da Housecat’s remix of Nina Simone’s “Sinnerman”
1967 Pontiac GTO Convertible
The Yates family — Jason, Loren, Jason Jr., and their red fox Labrador, Nacho strike a classic pose in front of Loren’s 1967 red Pontiac GTO Convertible during the 6th Annual Old Town Festival of Speed & Style. Often hailed as the original muscle car, this GTO features a 400-cubic inch V8 and embodies American automotive swagger in its golden age. As owners of Yates Automotive, the family brings both horsepower and heart to the community’s celebration of speed, style, and legacy. When it comes to stepping up for the Alexandria community, few do so with as much heart and as little fanfare as the Yates family of Yates Automotive. Whether it’s sponsoring local events, lending a helping hand, or launching grassroots efforts like the Give Your Two Cents campaign, their commitment is consistent and deeply personal.
“I’ve known Jason Yates for nearly 30 years, and his philosophy has always been about serving the customer and the community,” said Linda McKenna, a longtime colleague and friend. “He doesn’t just talk about making a difference, he actively invests in it. From sponsoring the High-Octane Ball to countless acts of kindness I’ve witnessed over the years, Jason leads by example.”
At this year’s Festival of Speed & Style, the Yates family didn’t just show up, they made a statement, both with their signature red 1967 Pontiac GTO Convertible and their unwavering support for the event’s charitable mission. In a town built on tradition and trust, the Yates name continues to stand for both.
1957 AC Ace Bristol (Chassis AEX 142)
Alex Leventhal accepts the Chairman’s Award for the Straylight Collection’s 1957 AC Ace Bristol, chassis #AEX 142. A rare example of British racing heritage reborn. Originally campaigned in U.S. races during the late 1950s, AEX 142 underwent a meticulous restoration in the early 1990s and went on to win its class at Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in 1994. After years of quiet stewardship, it returned to action in 2024, completing the grueling California Mille and then driving cross-country to Maryland, an odyssey that mirrors the endurance and elegance that define this storied marque.
Looking Down the Road
Now in its sixth year, the festival shows no signs of slowing. Its scope continues to grow, incorporating more fashion partnerships, youth programming, and regional tourism initiatives. But even as it evolves, its foundation remains clear.
It’s a festival built on intention and collaboration.
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