Meet Our 2026 Velocity Collectors | Rare Cars. Remarkable Stories. A Lifetime of Adventures Together.

There are collectors who acquire automobiles. Then there are collectors who build stories.

When Mike and Debbie Rogers arrive at the Hilton Head Island Concours d’Elegance & Motoring Festival this fall as our 2026 Velocity Collectors, they won’t simply be bringing six extraordinary automobiles to the show field. They’ll be bringing decades of passion, friendship, adventure, research, and memories wrapped in aluminum, leather, horsepower, and history.

One of the rarest Shelby Cobra collections in the world is coming to Hilton Head Island. Among the vehicles arriving on the show field is a 1966 Shelby Cobra 427 “Narrow Hip”, one of just 33 built and one of only 10 believed to remain unmodified today. Beside it will sit a trio of aluminum-bodied 50th Anniversary Cobras, a Ferrari 599 six-speed, a Ferrari F430 Spider six-speed, and one of the final projects Carroll Shelby personally touched before his passing.

What makes the Rogers Collection so captivating isn’t just its rarity, although rarity certainly plays a role. It’s the stories behind each vehicle, the roads they’ve traveled together, and the shared belief that some automobiles deserve to be preserved not only as machines, but as pieces of living history. After spending time with Mike and Debbie while they unloaded one of their vehicles for last year’s show, one thing becomes abundantly clear: while the cars may have brought them into the collector world, it’s the people, experiences, and friendships that have made the journey truly unforgettable.

The Pursuit of Rare

Among the six automobiles visitors will experience this fall is one that tells perhaps the most personal story in the entire collection.

The 1999 Shelby Series One.

For decades, Carroll Shelby had transformed existing production cars into automotive legends. But the Series One was different. It was the first and only automobile Shelby designed from the ground up, built entirely around his own vision rather than an existing platform.

To bring that dream to life, Shelby became a manufacturer, obtaining his own federally recognized 17-digit Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) designation. Before the car could be offered to the public, prototypes had to endure extensive crash testing, a process that became enormously expensive and ultimately limited production to just 249 examples.

Mike purchased Series One #155 twenty-five years ago, making it one of the longest-held automobiles in his collection. Displayed alongside the car at Hilton Head will be something equally meaningful, the original jacket Carroll Shelby presented to the engineers who helped make the Series One possible, thanking them for turning his dream into reality.

The Cobra That Changed Everything

Of all the remarkable cars they own, both Mike and Debbie immediately point to the same one when asked which automobile they’ll still be talking about twenty years from now.

The 1966 Shelby Cobra 427 “Narrow Hip.” Only 33 were originally built. Today, only a handful remain in their original configuration.

“No side pipes. No roll bar. No hood scoop,” Mike explains. “Only ten are believed to still exist unmodified.” For Mike, acquiring the car wasn’t just about owning something rare. It came with an invitation to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the 427 Cobra at Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, an event he describes as magical and one that had long been on his bucket list.

When Debbie recalls the moment they learned the car came with an invitation to Pebble Beach, she still smiles. “He immediately knew he wanted that car,” she says. “Pebble Beach was a bucket-list concours for both of us.”

Today, the Cobra continues to captivate crowds wherever it appears. “The most common thing people say is, ‘I’ve never seen a real one,’” Mike says. And that’s exactly why he loves sharing it.

Carroll Shelby’s Lasting Influence

It's impossible to look across the Rogers Collection without seeing the lasting influence of Carroll Shelby. From the legendary Cobra to the groundbreaking Series One, Shelby's vision is woven throughout the collection, telling the story of a man who continually challenged convention and redefined American performance.

For Mike, that admiration began decades ago.

“I’ve always been a great fan of Carroll Shelby,” he says. “I’ve owned many of his creations and even had the opportunity to meet him twice.”

Like many spouses of passionate collectors, she learned through immersion.

“Mike taught me so much about Carroll Shelby,” she says. “I may not have known much about the man initially, but I loved the look and the sound of the cars.”

She credits the film Ford v Ferrari for deepening her appreciation. “That movie wasn’t just about racing. It was a great friendship story and a great love story too.”

More Than Cars

Perhaps the most beautiful part of Mike and Debbie’s story is that these automobiles have become something much bigger than the machines themselves. For Mike, the greatest surprise has been watching society begin to recognize exceptional automobiles as works of art. For Debbie, the greatest gift has been time.

“Time together. Time with amazing people. Time spent making memories,” she says.

Some of their closest friendships began because of cars.They’ve traveled to extraordinary places, driven incredible roads, and shared experiences that might never have happened otherwise. “The car community is filled with some of the most passionate and fun people I’ve ever met,” Debbie says. “I love hearing people’s stories.”

That sentiment may explain why both describe themselves not simply as owners, but as caretakers, historians, and stewards of automotive history. These aren’t possessions. They’re pieces of a larger story.

Why Hilton Head?

The Rogers have attended some of the most prestigious concours events in the country, including Pebble Beach and The Amelia. Yet year after year, they continue returning to Hilton Head Island.

For Mike, the answer comes down to something simple. “The Hilton Head Concours is ascending to that level of style and elegance,” he says. “But your greatest asset is your people.”

For Debbie, it’s the atmosphere. The Lowcountry setting. The oak trees. The golf course lined with extraordinary automobiles. The conversations, the friendships and that feeling that everyone belongs. 

“When you look across the show field and see thousands of people stopping, talking, meeting people, and admiring these cars, it’s breathtaking,” she says.

The couple loves Hilton Head Island so much that they spend nearly a month on the Island each year leading up to the event. The Concours has become the exclamation point on their annual Lowcountry stay. “We look forward to seeing old friends, beautiful cars, and car friends every year.”

A Collection Built on Dreams

Ask Debbie to describe the Rogers Collection in just three words and she doesn’t hesitate.

“Beautiful. Fast. Dreams.”

It's difficult to find a better summary and this fall, visitors to the Hilton Head Island Concours d'Elegance & Motoring Festival will have the rare opportunity to experience those dreams firsthand.

See the Collection in Person

The 2026 Hilton Head Island Concours d'Elegance & Motoring Festival takes place October 31-November 1 at Port Royal Golf Club.

Join us as we celebrate our 2026 Velocity Collectors, Mike and Debbie Rogers, and experience six extraordinary automobiles that represent some of the most significant milestones in American performance and collector car history.

From one of the world's rarest Shelby Cobras to Carroll Shelby's dream car, this remarkable collection offers an opportunity to experience automotive history through the eyes of two passionate collectors who believe the greatest privilege isn't owning these automobiles.