Jacksonville Car Culture events calendar
Caffeine and Octane
A brace of Brits are the celebrated class of classics and moderns at the next Caffeine and Octane Jacksonville as it embarks on its second year under that epic moniker. Set from 8 to 11 a.m. on Saturday August 13, at The Avenues mall’s Southside Boulevard parking lots, British cars can display in a special feature lot.
And a special Ford will be in the feature lot – the second of only an estimated 30 custom Ford GT roadsters licensed by the company. This GTX1 was designed by Kip Ewing and completed in 2005 by the Genaddi Design Group. This red GTX1 with stripe delete is one of three GTX1’s with a removable roof and luggage carrier. It has custom exhausts and carbon fiber front and side plates.
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!
There was everything from armored police SWAT units to the Trauma One air ambulance at last weekend’s most unique show – Clay County’s Touch-A-Truck at the Clay County Fairgrounds at 2497 Florida 16 in Green Cove Springs. The Clay County Sheriff’s Office and Fire Rescue Department joined Green Cove Springs, Florida Department of Law Enforcement and many other local and county work vehicles and trucks on display. Here are just a few of the vehicles on display, almost all of them open for kids (and adults) to get in…
Now the car shows:
PLAYLOUD 9 Car and Truck Show: 10 a.m. onSaturday at 1118 Bee St. in Jennings. The event raises school supplies for children, show vehicle owners asked to bring $10 in school supplies as the registration fee, those items then put in backpacks and given to children in need.
Brewz Bartram Park Car Show: 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday at Brewz Bartram Park at 14866 Old St. Augustine Road. Classic car owners, bring your vehicles and get a free cocktail, organizers said.
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.
Fall Cruisin’ to the Creek 2022: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sat. Oct. 1, at Trout Creek Memorial Park and Marina at 6550 Florida 13 North in Saint Johns. Spectators are free; $25 show vehicle registration pre-show, and $30 day of show – register at carcouncil.org/show-registration. The annual show benefits the Ronald McDonald House of Jacksonville.
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.
20th Annual Ponte Vedra Auto Show: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 13, at the Nocatee Station Event Field at 400 Nocatee Center Way in Ponte Vedra Beach. If you have a classic vehicle, a modern collectible or a supercar, you are encouraged to register your car for the show PVautoshow.com.
Fort Clinch State Park Cars and Cannons: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, September 24, at Fort Clinch State Park at 2601 Atlantic Ave. at Fernandina Beach.
Image courtesy: Friends of Fort Clinch
All show vehicles must pre-register online at $50 per at fortclinch.org/Cars-and-Cannons, proceeds to benefit the Friends of Fort Clinch. Spectator fort admission is $6 per vehicle (up to 8 persons); $4 single-occupant vehicle or $2.50 per person.
Riding into History Concours D’Elegance: Set for April 15, 2023, at the World Golf Village in St. Augustine, with Competition Motorcycles as the featured class and Grand Marshal Mary McGee, AMA Hall of Fame and Off Road Motorsports Hall of Fame inductee. McGee will join the Grand Marshal Tour that weekend, as well as the Grand Marshal Banquet. 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.
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.
North Florida Domestic Car Club’s new cruise-in: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. this and each first Saturday of the month at the PDQ at 4816 Gate Parkway.
NEW – Gripping Gears Car Meet: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday at Adamec Harley-Davidson at 380 Outlet Mall Blvd. in St. Augustine, presented by Jacksonville Headturners. This car, truck and motorcycle event will be the first Saturday of each month.
First Coast Car Council: 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, 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.
New cruise-in: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 13, at Mr. Chubby’s Wings, 2349 Village Square Parkway in Fleming Island. Also presented byClay County Cruzers.
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.
And finally…
The 1960 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider Competition of Jon and Kim Shirley takes in the sights on the SCM 1000. (James Parker image)
The 2022 edition of the SCM 1000 Classic tour saw 48 cars, from a 1925 Amilcar to a 1974 Porsche 911 2.7 Carrera, take a 1,000-mile voyage through scenic roads in the Pacific Northwest. And along with this year’s theme, Cars of Italy, the 4-day event honored Hagerty Grand Marshals Bill and Jane Warner, founders of The Amelia Island concours d’elegance 28 years ago.
To honor the theme, many Enzo-era Ferraris were on the run including three Ferrari 365 GTB/4s, aka Daytonas, joined a 250 GT California Spider, 330 GTS and GT 2+2, 365 GT4 BB and a 400 Superamerica. Other classics included a Lancia Flaminia Zagato, multiple Alfa Romeos, a Lamborghini 400GT and Islero, and several Jaguar E-types, Aston Martins, Porsches and a Shelby Mustang. Images used here courtesy of James Parker and Bruce Sweetman.
“The SCM 1000 is a celebration of both the magnificence of the geology of the Pacific Northwest as well as a chance to exercise our classic cars on two-lane roads that took us from Timberline Lodge on Mt. Hood to the Astoria Column on the Oregon coast,” said Keith Martin, Editor and Publisher of Sports Car Market magazine.
“It was a really fun event,” said Warner, who started the rally in SCM’s 1971 Citroen DS21 Pallas, and ended it in a 1971 Jaguar V12 coupe. “Each evening had a program that was both entertaining and informational. It is really about people who love to drive their cars. The countryside was beautiful as were the various historical stops. All in all, a great event.”
Other special guests included journalist Ken Gross and Jay Ward, Creative Director of Franchise, Pixar Animation Studios.
“The cars were among the best in the world.” Ward said. “The group included all fun, engaged drivers there to have a good time, and the entire event was a balance of driving time with meals and social hours as well. I would do it again in a heartbeat.”
The 2023 SCM 1000 is scheduled for June 11-16 in Spokane, Washington, with German cars as the event’s theme. For more details and to join the mailing list, visit scm1000.com.
Sponsors supporting this event include Hagerty, RM Sotheby’s, WeatherTech, Reliable Carriers, Inc., Putnam Leasing, Rallista and Vintage Underground.
And Jacksonville’s EV Rider teamed up with AutomotiveAddicts.com to do a video road test of Hyundai’s top trim Ioniq 5 Limited AWD.
EV Rider’s Bill Bortzfield, whose website looks into electric vehicles and other EV trends, joins AutomotiveAddicts.com’s Malcolm Hogan for a video review and in-depth online look at the angular 5-seat EV crossover.