Jacksonville Car Culture events calendar
Caffeine and Octane
Caffeine and Octane Jacksonville embarks on its second year under that epic moniker from 8 to 11 a.m. on Saturday August 13, at The Avenues mall’s Southside Boulevard parking lots.
And this time, it celebrates British cars in a special feature lot…
An estimated 1,000-plus cars, trucks, motorcycles and more come to the all-makes, all-models free show, with all parking spots first come/first serve. Cars should start arriving by 7 a.m. each Saturday to the Southside Boulevard side of the shopping mall, the best way in through Malabar Boulevard. As always, there will be a Porsche Jacksonville corner, exotics area, Classics Rows and more at the August C&O. And look for literally hundreds of vintage and classic cars, muscle cars and so much more.
Official Caffeine and Octane merchandise is on sale at all Caffeine and Octane Jacksonville events.
Gentle reminder – All vehicles parked in the Central Lot must remain in place until the show concludes at 11 a.m. Please Park in the Exhibit Lot if you need to leave prior to 11 a.m. Those parking in the Exotics Lot and the Porsche Corner are free to arrive and leave at any time!
Local motorcycle concours announces 2023 Grand Marshal
Mary McGee somewhere along the 1975 Baja 500/Photo courtesy Riding into History Concours D’Elegance
Competition Motorcycles are the featured class at the next Riding into History Concours D’Elegance, set for April 15, 2023, at the World Golf Village in St. Augustine. And just announced is Grand Marshal Mary McGee, AMA Hall of Fame Inductee, Off Road Motorsports Hall of Fame Inductee, Trailblazer, FIM Legend and one of the greatest women competitors in motorcycling history.
McGee will join the Grand Marshal Tour on Friday, April, as well as that evening’s Grand Marshal Banquet. Then on Saturday April 15, she will be doing autograph during the Concours D’Elegance.
Riding into History is a non-profit organization with its primary charity, K9s for Warriors, which provides service dogs for disabled veterans. Riding into History has donated more than $600,000 to local charities since its founding in 1999.
Dozens of classics, rat rods and customs showed up last Saturday for the Nassau Moose Rider’s Dreams Come True Show in Yulee. Held at the Nassau Moose Lodge, it was presented by the Callahan Cruisers of North Florida, and here’s a few of the rides on show:
Now the car shows:
Import Evolution: 2 to 7 p.m. Saturday at the Prime Osborn Convention Center, 1000 Water St. Classes from Acura TL and Skyline to Best JDM and Bing Bong will be on display at the show, which is $25 (cash only) admission for adults and $15 for children. Imports, Racing, Stance, Hot Rods, Low-Riders as well as exotic and domestic brands. For registration info, go here.
Staker Productions X Autobahn: 7 to 10 p.m. on Friday, July 29, at Autobahn Indoor Speedway & Events, 6601 Executive Park Court N. off Philips Highway north of Butler Boulevard. Staker Productions partners with Autobahn for a monthly (last Friday of each month) car and truck meet at the electric go kart racing and axe throwing venue, with discounts at its restaurant.
Touch-A-Truck: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Clay County Fairgrounds at 2497 Florida 16 in Green Cove Springs. Local and county work vehicles and trucks will be on display. Quiet time is 9 to 11 a.m., then lights and sirens sound off until 2 p.m. Free for spectators.
African American Culture Fest and Car/Bike Show: noon to 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 13, at Camden County Public Service Agency at 1050 Wildcat Drive in Kingsland, Ga. Free to spectators and $25 for show cars, or $20 for display motorcycles.
Exchange Club of Jacksonville’s Family Center Car Show: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 20, at St. John the Divine Greek Orthodox Church at 12760 Beach Blvd. Free for spectators and $25 day of show for display vehicles.
7th Annual Freedom Fest Car Show: 4 to 8 p.m. on Saturday, September 10, outside the JCPenney at the Orange Park Mall at 1910 Wells Road. This year presents the Truck and Off-Road Edition, although show vehicles of all kinds are invited. The show highlights the service that firefighters, police officers, active duty, reserves armed forces, and first responders provide. Free to spectators, registration is $25 in advance and $35 day of show here.
Best Of the Nest Car Show: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, September 17, at Yulee High School, 85375 Miner Road. The Yulee High School Cheerleaders and Amelia Island Cruisers present the show to benefit the YHS Cheer program.
Car Truck and Motorcycle Show: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 1, at American Legion Post 401 at 37405 Henry Smith Road in Hilliard. Free for spectators and $20 registration for show vehicles. Callahan Cruisers proceeds benefit the building find for American Legion Post 401.
43rd annual Azalea City Cruisers Car and Truck Show: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 1, at the Putnam County Fairgrounds at 118 Fairgrounds Road in East Palatka. Free for spectators and $25 day-of-show for display vehicles.
38th annual Ancient City Auto Club Show: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5, at the Classic Car Museum of St. Augustineat 4730 U.S. 1 S./Dixie Highway South in St Augustine. Free to spectators and $25 day of show for display vehicles.
The FIRM (Florida International Rally and Moto Park): Open Track Days held most weekends at the road course and rally course at 7266 Airport Road in Starke.
All the Cruise-ins
First Coast Car Council, Clay County Cruzers, Callahan Cruisers and Amelia Cruizers all hold regular weekend cruise-ins, so check their Facebook pages.
Caffeine and Octane Jacksonville: 8 to 11 a.m. every second Saturday at The Avenues Mall at 10300 Southside Blvd. Information: https://bit.ly/3gPRvVQ.
First Coast Car Council: The second Saturday cruise-in is from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Medical & Merchants Center of Mandarin, 11701 San Jose Blvd.
The Part’s House/The Brothers Banter Podcast Cruise-in: The renamed White Brothers Auto Parts Cruise-in at the same time – 5 to 8 p.m. every second Friday at 405 Lane Ave. N.
Callahan Cruisers: 5 to 8 p.m. every second Saturday at Hardee’s at 542309 U.S. 1 in Callahan.
Auto Legends Amelia Cars and Coffee: 9 a.m. to noon every second Saturday at Mocama Beer Company, 629 S. 8th St. in Fernandina Beach.
Johnny Angels: 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. every third Friday at Johnny Angels diner at 3546 St. Johns Bluff Road S.
Returned cruise-in: Jax Beach Classic Car Cruise: 5 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 16, at Latham Plaza, 11 Ocean Front N. in Jacksonville Beach. Thanks to the support of the City of Jacksonville Beach, the Sea Walk Pavilion and Latham Plaza (across from the Pavilion between 1st and 2nd St on the corner of 2nd Ave. North can be used to showcase pre-registered cars.
Cruise Fruit Cove: 3 to 7 p.m. every third Saturday at the PDQ at 194 Florida 13 in Saint Johns, just south of Julington Creek.
Amelia Cruizers: 3 to 6 p.m. every third Saturday at Cold Stone Creamery, 808 Sadler Road, Fernandina Beach.
Yulee Cars and Coffee: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. every third Sunday at the Sonic Drive-In at 463939 Florida 200 in Yulee.
Clay County Cruzers’ events: 3 to 6 p.m. every first Saturday at Big Dawg Sports Restaurant, 1330 Blanding Blvd. The Cruzers’ other events: At 3 to 6 p.m. on the second Saturday, the cruise-in returns to Dick’s Wings Fleming Island at 1803 E. West Parkway; 5 p.m. every third Friday at Freddy’s Steakburgers at 386 Blanding Blvd.; and 2 to 5 p.m. every fourth Saturday at Gator’s Dockside Oakleaf, 316 Merchants Way, Jacksonville.
Classic Car Museum of St. Augustine monthly cruise-ins: St. Augustine Cruiser’s “Cruise In” from 5 to 7 p.m. every third Saturday, and Cars and Coffee from 8 to 10 a.m. every fourth Saturday, both at 4730 U.S. 1 S./Dixie Highway South in St Augustine.
Cars and Coffee Fleming Island: 8 a.m. every fourth Sunday of the month at 2310 Village Square Parkway, Fleming Island.
New cruise-in: 1 p.m. on Saturday, July 16, and every third Saturday at Hardee’s at 6852 Wilson Blvd.
New cruise-in: 6 p.m. every fourth Saturday at Mission BBQ, 8440 Blanding Blvd. in Jacksonville, hosted by Modern Mustangs of Jacksonville.
New cruise-in: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. every fourth Saturday at the Rockin’ 50’s Eatery at 3501 N. Ponce De Leon Blvd. in St. Augustine.
New cruise-in: Custard Cruise-in from 5 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, July 5, at Culver’s, 3433 U.S. 1 in St. Augustine.
Show and Tell, 6 to 9 p.m. every fourth Thursday at Advance Auto Parts at 10014 Atlantic Blvd.
Historic Springfield Main Street Cruise: 4 p.m. every fourth Saturday between 8th and 17th streets at Main Street in Jacksonville’s Springfield community.
North Florida Domestic Car Club’s new cruise-in: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. each first Saturday of the month at the PDQ at 4816 Gate Parkway.
And finally…
The 40th Hemmings Motor News Great Race presented by Hagerty will launch on June 24, 2023, from historic St. Augustine as it begins its classic rally across the U.S., to finish on July 2 in Colorado Springs.
Organizers announced the annual classic car even this week, which routinely sees more than 120 vehicles no older than model year 1974 compete in a timed, controlled-speed endurance rally. Each vehicle must follow a prescribed common route while attempting to maintain assigned average speeds. For purposes of scoring, the older the vehicle, the better the age factor adjustment the team will receive. Newer vehicles are permitted in Regional Rallies.
The Great Race has visited the Jacksonville area numerous times in recent years, with 122 classics launching in June 2017 from the Historic Springfield Main Street Cruise on a 1,200-miles rally at Hagerty headquarters in Traverse City, Mich. Legendary drag racer “Big Daddy” Don Garlits flagged off the first cars during the event’s fourth Jacksonville visit in 20 years. Ohio.
Automotive lifestyle brand and specialty insurer Hagerty has competed numerous times in a huge 1917 Peerless Speedster nicknamed “The Green Dragon” with a 330 cu.-in. V-8 and three-speed Peerless non-synchromesh manual.
Hundreds went to The Jacksonville Landing when the Great Race ended there in 1997, and large crowds gathered there again when it launched its 2004 cross-country rally. Then in 2014 the Great Race, competitors drove through the Main Street Cruise as thousands lined Main Street en route to the Landing again.
And a reminder, An Evening with Brumos is a social gathering set for 5 to 8 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 5, at The Brumos Collection at 5959 San Pablo Road S. in Jacksonville. Jacksonville’s only automobile museum has cars from the Brumos Racing team’s past, plus historic Indy racers and classics in a 35,000-square-foot museum. Tickets are $29.59 each, and include to the collection and a workshop open house with technical staff available for questions, as well as two drink tickets per guest for brews from Intuition Ale Works, wine, soft drinks or water.
The event is for guests 21 and older. Tickets for the Brumos evening event, as well as the museum itself, can be found here.