Jacksonville Car Culture events calendar:
The next Caffeine & Octane Jacksonville, set for 7:30 to 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, at The Avenues mall at 10300 Southside Blvd. They will be collecting new, unwrapped toys to benefit Wolfson Children’s Hospital’s Child Life Programs! Bring your toy and drop it off at the checkered tent. And this event is celebrating vehicles that are decorated for the holidays in its Feature Area.
Gentle reminders – All vehicles parked in the Central Lot Features area must remain in place until the show concludes. If you cannot stay until then, please park in the exhibit lot. And please listen to C&O volunteer staff.
Past events:
Jacksonville Car Culture held its 5th Jekyll Island Christmas Light tour – and lots of friends rolled in for the holiday road:
There was even time for a car show of rides that rang in the season…
Upcoming events:
Frank Petersen Career Academy Showcase: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, at the academy at 7450 Wilson Blvd. Free for spectators and $25 to register show vehicles.
Morning Motor Social “EURO NITE 2”: 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 20, at Carroll Autowerks at 545 International Golf Parkway in St. Augustine – free for spectators and show vehicles. Pre-register at morningmotorsocial.com.
Import Expo Jacksonville Car Show: 5 to 10 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 20, at the Prime Osborn Convention Center at 1000 Water St. Open to imports, domestics, modified and sports cars, registration free (pre-registration required at this link), and $35 admission day of show. Info at importexpo.net/jacksonville.
Southeast Eurofest + Volkfest: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 17, at the Classic Car Museum of St. Augustine
at 4730 U.S. 1 S. Dixie Highway South in St. Augustine.
**Rescheduled — Mandarin Athletic Association Car Show: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 18, at Burnett Park, 3740 Burnett Park Road. Free for spectators and $20 per show vehicle – proceeds benefit MAA.
: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 24, at The Journey Church at 95707 Amelia Concourse in Fernandina Beach. Free for spectators and $30 per show vehicle.
2nd annual Down at the Bay Car Show: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 24, at Cedar Bay Baptist Church, 11553 N. Main St. Free for spectators and $20 per show vehicle.
Photo by Endurance Karting
Time to sign up for the 24th Annual Jacksonville Grand Prix, set for Friday and Saturday, Feb. 27 and 28, at North Florida Kart Club at 10244 103rd Street in Jacksonville. Endurance Karting’s longest-running event is back at a track with banked turns and a lengthy 1,000-foot straightaway. All entries drive 10 hp Honda Powered Dino Racing Karts provided by Endurance Karting. Race Pricing – 50 Minutes Practice & Qualifying + 6 Hour Race + All Safety Gear included – $1950/Team Entry with $500 benefiting Spina Bifida of Jacksonville.
Registration is open for the annual Classic Motorsports Amelia Island Kickoff presented by Sunoco: Set for Friday March 6, the day before The Amelia concours on Saturday. About 150 must-see cars, from legendary collector cars to iconic race machines, are expected starting at 1 p.m. that Friday on Fernandina Beach’s Main Beach Park, just a few miles north of the Ritz-Carlton. Spectator entry is free, while vehicle entry, limited to 150 pre-registered cars, is $45 per. All cars must preregister.
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…
Clay County Cruzers, Callahan Cruisers and Amelia Cruizers all hold regular weekend cruise-ins, so check their Facebook pages.
Caffeine and Octane Jacksonville: 7:30 to 10:30 a.m. every second Saturday at The Avenues Mall at 10300 Southside Blvd. Information: https://bit.ly/3gPRvVQ.
Caffeine and Gasoline: 8 to 11 a.m. each first Saturday of the month at J-Tech Institute at 8813 Western Way in Jacksonville. House rules – “respect the property.”
Morning Motor Social: 8: to 11 a.m. every third Saturday of each month, at Park Place at Nocatee, 100 Palmetto Park Place in Ponte Vedra – free for spectators and show vehicles. Pre-register at morningmotorsocial.com.
North Florida Domestic Car Club’s cruise-in: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on each first Saturday of the month at Culhane’s Irish Pub, 9720 Deer Lake Court off Southside Boulevard.
UB Coffee & Cars: 6:30 to 8:30 a.m. every Sunday at the Urban Bean Coffeehouse Café at 2023 Park Ave. in Orange Park – sponsored by Classic Motorworks.
Duval Car, Truck and Bike Meet: noon to 5 p.m. every first Saturday at 10749 N. Main St.
Rides and Brews: 8 to 10 a.m. each first Saturday of each month at 10618 Deerwood Park Blvd. – held for car clubs and vehicles, organized by vehicle style, by the North Florida Type R/Type S community.
Mod Talk Tuesdays: 5 p.m. every first Tuesday at Tequila’s Mexican Restaurant at 10915 Baymeadows Road. For car, truck and bike enthusiasts.
Cruise-in at the Creek: 9 a.m. to noon every fifth Saturday at Trout Creek Park, 6550 Florida 13 N.
New – Fernandina Beach Car Meet: 6 p.m. on the first Saturday of the month at Famous Quick Lube, 1707 8th St. Fernandina Beach.
Jeeps and Java: 9 to 11 a.m. each third Sunday of the month at Rummies and Yummies bakery and coffee bar at 1580 Wells Road – a free cruise-in for Jeep owners.
Duval Car, Truck and Bike meet: Free cruise-in from noon to 5 p.m. each 1st and 3rd Saturday at the shopping center at 3000 Dunn Ave.
Orange Blossom Breakfast Show: 8 to 11 a.m. every third Saturday at Orange Blossom Diner at 14329 Beach Blvd., presented by Beaches Classic Cruisers and Carl Bush.
Beaches Classic Cruisers new event: Second Sunday Coffee and Carburetors, 10 a.m. Sunday Nov. 9, at the Hotel Palms at 28 Sherry Drive in Atlantic Beach.
Amelia Cruizers: 3 to 5 p.m. on the third Saturday of each month, meeting in the parking lot by the old Krystal’s (Citrona & Sadler) between 2-2:30. At 2:30 p.m., they cruise through downtown Townies Pizza, 819 T.J. Courson Road.
Jax Beach Classic Car Cruise: 4 to 7 p.m. every fourth Tuesday at Latham Plaza, 143 2nd St. N. in Jacksonville Beach. This is a City of Jacksonville Beach sponsored event, but November’s is the last cruise of the year because Deck the Chairs takes over Latham Plaza through December.
***Postponed for December – returns in January – Cruisin’ Classics Cruise-in: 1 to 4 p.m. the first Sunday of each month on the back lawn of the Elks Lodge at 1855 West Road, off Beach Boulevard – Hamburgers and more on sale.
Wings & Wheels Cruise-in: 2 to 6 pm. each first Saturday at Dicks Wings & Grill at 6055 Youngerman Circle.
Rides and Coffee: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. every fourth Sunday at Detail Garage, 9390 Arlington Expressway.
First Coast Car Council: All cruise-ins postponed.
Callahan Cruisers: 4 to 7 p.m. every second Saturday at Hardee’s at 542309 U.S. 1 in Callahan. The next cruise-in – Sat. Aug. 10 – is the event’s 10th anniversary.
Downtown Kingsland Cars & Coffee: New summer hours – 8 to 11 a.m. each second Saturday at the Historic Downtown Kingsland Homegrown Market at U.S. 17 and Georgia 40.
Cruise Fruit Cove: The Sunshine State Chevelles’ cruise-in hours are 12 to 4 p.m. every third Saturday at the PDQ at 194 Florida 13 in Saint Johns, just south of Julington Creek. BUT FYI – December’s Fruit Cove cruise-in will be the last until a new contract is signed between the Sunshine State Chevelles and Gate Petroleum. They will also postpone January’s cruise-in – more to come.
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.
Brunch with Cars: noon to 3 p.m. every third Sunday at Pink Salt Restaurant and Wine Bar, 1567 University Blvd. W.
Cars and Gars: noon to 5 p.m. every 1st and third Saturday at Allusion’s restaurant and bar at 5045 Soutel Drive.
Jeremiah’s Italian Ice cruise-in: noon to 3 p.m. every fourth Saturday at the business at 18111 Golden Eagle Way on Fleming Island.
Apex Auto Car Show and Cruise-in: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. every third Saturday of the month at Apex Automotive, 9962 San Jose Blvd.
Cars, Bikes and Burgers: 7:30 to 11 p.m. every last Friday of each month at Steak ‘n Shake at 10661 San Jose Blvd.
Clay County Cruzers’ events: 2 to 5 p.m. every first Saturday at Big Dawg Sports Restaurant, 1330 Blanding Blvd.; New – 1 to 4 p.m. the second Saturday of each month at Whitey’s Fish Camp at 2032 County Road 20 in Fleming Island; 2 to 5 p.m. every third Saturday at Callahan’s Irish Bistro, 2141 Loch Rane Blvd. in Orange Park; and 2 to 5 p.m. every fourth Saturday at Gator’s Dockside, 8316 Merchants Way, Jacksonville.
Oakleaf Classic Car Cruise-In: 5 p.m. every fourth Friday at Trinity Oakleaf, 710 Oakleaf Plantation Parkway in Orange Park, with food truck – Clay County Cruzers.
Classic Car Museum of St. Augustine events:
Ancient City Jeep Club’s annual Jeep Show: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Dec.13. The regular 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 cruise-ins are at 4730 U.S. 1 S. Dixie Highway South in St. Augustine. And the museum is open Tues.-Sat., 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Cars and Coffee Fleming Island: 8 a.m. every fourth Sunday of the month at 2310 Village Square Parkway, Fleming Island.
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.
Show and Tell: 6 to 9 p.m. every fourth Thursday at Advance Auto Parts at 10014 Atlantic Blvd.
Azalea City Cruisers: Monthly cruise-in from 5 to 8 p.m. every fourth Saturday at Velchoffs Corner, 105 N. 2nd St. in Palatka.
Historic Springfield Main Street Cruise: 4 p.m. every fourth Saturday between 8th and 17th streets at Main Street in Jacksonville’s Springfield community.
But wait, here’s more…
Britain-based Encor has done a carbon-fiber remastering of the iconic Lotus Esprit, 50 years after its Paris debut.
The Encor Series 1 gets modern engineering and a rebuilt 3.5-liter twin-turbo V-8, only 50 examples to be made.
The design and engineering team behind the project – drawn from experience with Lotus, Aston Martin, Koenigsegg and Skyships Automotive – had a goal to remaster it with the sensitivity, craftsmanship and capability of the present day, without disturbing the purity that made it so extraordinary in the first place.
“The S1 Esprit was forward-thinking, pure and utterly uncompromised,” says Daniel Durrant, Encor’s Head of Design and former Lead Designer at Lotus for the Emira. “To touch a shape like this is a huge responsibility. Every line we’ve refined, every decision we’ve made, is about honoring the original’s intent while letting the car perform, feel and function the way its silhouette always promised.”
The distinctive two-piece mold line of the 1970s fiberglass body is replaced by an uninterrupted autoclaved carbon-fiber shell that captures the purity of early sketches. Ultra-compact LED projectors are integrated into low-profile pop-up housings – retains the distinctive wedge front end, but with contemporary performance and a cleaner aerodynamic face.
Inspired by the original slot-mag design and the later Sport 350 five-spokes, Encor’s forged and billet-machined wheels reinterpret familiar cues with modern structural clarity and proportion.
The engine now produces approximately 400 hp, with 350 lb ft of torque, acceleration from 0-62 mph expected to take four seconds, with a top speed close to 175 mph. Suspension components are upgraded to Sport 350 specification; braking is delivered by AP Racing; steering remains hydraulically assisted rather than electric, preserving the tactile, driver-focused character fundamental to the original Esprit.
Inside, the Series 1 preserves the Esprit’s most memorable elements: the dramatically sloped dashboard; the cockpit-like wraparound instrument binnacle; the tartan accents; a floating instrument cluster machined from a single billet of aluminum and wrapped around a modern digital display. Seats are restored, re-foamed and re-trimmed. Deliveries will begin in Q2 2026.
The Amelia Concours – Three-time Indianapolis 500 winner Dario Franchitti is the 2026 honoree at the event in early March. And the concours d’elegance – the classic car gathering at the huge weekend classic car event on Amelia Island, is set for a Saturday, and not a Sunday as in past, Hagerty says.
Franchitti won the Indy 500 in 2007, 2010 and 2012, and is also a 4-time IndyCar champion. The concours on Saturday, March 7th will see a collection of his race cars joining the annual display of 200-plus classics this year including Can-Am Racers and Corvettes. More details and ticket pre-sales are at ameliaconcours.com.
Porsche Werks
Registration has opened for Porsche Werks Reunion Amelia Island 2026, always held the same weekend as The Amelia.
This event will celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the introduction of the 924 in 1976, as well as the series of transaxle Porsches, which will be the feature cars for Werks Reunion 2026.
To register your Porsche, go to https://www.werksreunion.com/amelia.cfm