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Jacksonville Car Culture events calendar

Caffeine and Octane

The next Caffeine and Octane is set from 8 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, October 8, at The Avenues mall’s Southside Boulevard parking lots. And this time, it’s all things VW in the feature display area, from Beetle and Bus to Scirocco or Thing.

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.

Check out more at firstcoastcarculture.com.

Gentle reminders – 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!

Upcoming car events:

Nitro Extreme 2022 Tour: Saturday and Sunday at the Orange Park Mall at 910 Wells Road. To quote organizers, the show brings “Big-Budget Movie Stunts” such as high-speed spins, two-wheeled driving, jumps over obstacles and pyrotechnic explosions as well as motorcycle tricks and acrobatics.

Tickets can be bought here — they are $40 for adults and $15 for children, with VIP admission at $55 for adults and $40 for children. Show times are 7:30 p.m. on Saturday; plus 1:30 and 4:30 p.m. Sunday and a 4:30 p.m. Saturday show.

And the upcoming cars shows….

Fort Clinch State Park Cars and Cannons: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Fort Clinch State Park at 2601 Atlantic Ave. at Fernandina Beach. 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.

North Jax Baptist Church Car Show: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday at the church at 8531 N. Main St. Free for spectators.

Rev Out Cancer Car, Truck and Bike Show: noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday at Adamec Harley-Davidson at 8909 Baymeadows Road. Free to spectators and $20 for show vehicles. Presented by Jacksonville Headturners.

MAD DADS Jacksonville Ride to Raise Violent Crime Awareness: The motorcycle ride starts at 10:45 a.m. on Saturday, at Adamec Harley-Davidson at 8909 Baymeadows Road. It ends at Edgewood and Highway avenues. This ride is all about our families and bringing attention back to the unsolved murders and violent crimes in our city. Registration for the police-escorted ride can be made by emailing MADDADSJAX@gmail.com.

ALR Chapter 283’s 14^th annual Poker Run: 8 a.m. this Saturday starting at American Legion Post 283 at 9459 Ft. Caroline Road. The ride is $25 per person and $10 for a passenger.

UPS Fall Classic Car Show: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, October 1. at UPS Customer Center at 5255 James E. Casey Drive in Jacksonville. Free.

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.

POSTPONED UNTIL DECEMBER 3, 2022: Fall Cruisin’ to the Creek 2022: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday 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.

43^rd 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.

Callahan Cruisers Car and Truck Show: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, October 1, at the American Legion Post 401 at 37405 Henry Smith Road in Hilliard. Motorcycles are also accepted, proceeds to benefit the American Legion post’s building fund.

Rescheduled — J-Tech/First Coast Car Council Drive-In Movie: East bound and down, the Car Council just announced another drive-in movie night cruise-in on Saturday October 8, at J-Tech at 8813 Western Way. The movie starts at dark – $10 per carload, or $5 per staff and student carload, showing the original “Smokey and the Bandit.”

Second annual Next Generation Outreach of F.U.M.C. Car Show: 4 to 8 p.m. on Saturday, October 8, atFirst United Methodist Church of Jacksonville, 225 E. Duval St. in downtown Jacksonville. Spectators are free, with $20 registration for show vehicles.
Michael Riley Car Show Fundraiser & First Responders Day: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, October 8, at the Classic Car Museum of St. Augustine at 4730 U.S. 1 S./Dixie Highway South. The show benefits retired, disabled firefighter Michael Riley, critically injured responding to a 2011 gas station explosion. The show also honors all first responders in the community.

2022 All Pontiac Car Show: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, October 15, at the Classic Car Museum of St. Augustine at 4730 U.S. 1 S./Dixie Highway South. More details to come.

26^th annual 8 Flags Car Show: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, October 15, on Centre Street in Fernandina Beach. Free for spectators, it is $25 pre-registration for show vehicles by October 9, and $30 day of show. Show benefits local charities.

The British Car Classic (All British Car & Bike Show): 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, October 22, at the King’s Head Pub, 6460 US-1, St. Augustine. More details to come.

Suwanee High School NJROTC Boosters Car Show: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, October 22, at the Suwanee Coliseum at 1302 11 Street in Live Oak. Free for spectators, $20 for show entries.

Trunk Or Treat Car & Bike Show: 10 a.m. To 3 p.m. on Sunday, October 30, at Adamec Harley-Davidson, 380 Outlet Mall Blvd. Free for spectators and $20 car and bike registration. Live music from Fratello; presented by Callahan Cruisers.

38^th 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.

11^th annual Cars for our Troops Exotic and Luxury Car Show: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday November 5, at Porsche Jacksonville, 11211 Atlantic Blvd. Funds raised this year will help provide a mortgage-free, specially adapted home for Master Sgt. Christopher Blauvelt, seriously injured in 2010 while on patrol in Afghanistan. Free for spectators and $50 registration for show vehicles. To register, go to: Cars For Our Troops – Welcome to Cars For Our Troops.

Hobos, Hotrods, and Heroes Festival, Car Show and Veterans Appreciation: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, November 5, at the West Nassau Historical Society at45383 Dixie Ave. in Callahan.

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.

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

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.

Staker Productions X event at Autobahn Speedway: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. this Sunday at 6601 Executive Park Court N. Autobahn is off Philips Highway just north of Butler Boulevard, with the cruise-in outside, and electric go cart racing, axe throwing and more inside.

NEW SITE – North Florida Domestic Car Club’s cruise-in: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. each first Saturday of the month at the Crossroad Church UMC, 10005 Gate Parkway.

NEW – Caffeine and Gasoline: Free first Saturday of the month cruise-in returns at 7 to 10 a.m. this Saturday at J-Tech Institute at 8813 Western Way in Jacksonville. FYI – a detour has blocked Western Way between Baymeadows Road and J-Tech, so access the site from Southside Boulevard at Western Lake Drive. House rules – “respect the property.”

Gripping Gears Car Meet: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the first Saturday of each month at Adamec Harley-Davidson at 380 Outlet Mall Blvd. in St. Augustine, presented by Jacksonville Headturners.

First Coast Car Council: All cruise-ins postponed

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: 4 to 7 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.

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.

New cruise-in: 1 p.m. every third Saturday at Hardee’s at 6852 Wilson Blvd.

Amelia Cruizers: 3 to 6 p.m. every third Saturday at Cold Stone Creamery, 808 Sadler Road, Fernandina Beach. The Amelia Cruizers Car Club will stage a cruise to the ice cream store, staging at 2 p.m. in the parking lot next to the closed Krystal’s (2020 Sadler Road), then make an informal parade along the ocean and on Centre Street through downtown to end at Cold Stone.

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.; 3 to 6 p.m. every second Saturday at Dick’s Wings Fleming Island at 1803 E. West Parkway; 5 p.m. every third Friday at Freddy’s Steakburgers at 386 Blanding Blvd.; 8 to 10 a.m. every fourth at Nicole’s Café at 1101Blanding Blvd. in Orange Park; 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: 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…

A new pony is coming to Ford for 2024, and here’s a good look at that seventh-generation coupe, with turbocharged and naturally-aspirated engines.

“Investing in another generation of Mustang is a big statement at a time when many of our competitors are exiting the business of internal combustion vehicles,” Ford CEO Jim Farley said. “Ford, however, is turbocharging its ICE growth plan, adding connected technology, opinionated derivatives, and hybrid options to our most profitable and popular cars – all in the Ford Blue family – on top of investing $50 billion in electric vehicles through 2026.”

The new Mustang once again comes in convertible or coupe, V-8 or turbocharged 4-cylinder, manual or automatic models. And the next-gen gets what Ford calls a “fighter jet-inspired digital cockpit” with two flowing, curved and configurable displays.

The car’s 12.4-inch digital instrument cluster can be customized with different animated designs and drive-mode dependent visuals, and is based on the same Unreal Engine 3D creation tool used in modern video games. The car’s current setup is displayed on the 13.2-inch center stack as real-time graphical renderings, settings adjusted by swiping the graphic to rotate the car virtually in a true gamified style.

“We are taking advantage of every pixel,” Ford Mustang interaction design manager Craig Sandvig said. “We can be creative in showing necessary driving information and give the driver control of selecting colors, classic Mustang gauges or even a ‘calm’ screen where only minimal details are displayed.”

Mustang has a standard cloth interior featuring all-cloth seats with optional Micro Suede vinyl inserts and black seat belts, while Premium models benefit from upgraded wrapped and accent stitched across the instrument panel and door trim. EcoBoost models feature Ford’s ‘ActiveX’ synthetic leather upholstery with multiple color options, while GT models gain leather seat inserts. Higher series models offer an upgraded, full-leather steering wheel, as well as a choice of color accent stitching and a unique upholstery perforation across the seat inserts, complemented by color-coordinated, asymmetric accent striping on the seat belts.

The center console can also incorporate an available wireless mobile phone charging pad while new overhead USB ports are installed above the cockpit, conveniently placed for track cameras and other devices, helping prevent wires from draping across the cabin.

The car’s low, horizontal brow across the front emphasizes overall frontal width, while the upper grille design shape is influenced by the original 1960s design. The Tri-Bar LED headlamps continue the Mustang’s classic lighting signature. Each model in the Mustang lineup carries its own unique front end. GT is differentiated from EcoBoost models by larger, more aggressive grille openings, engineered to allow increased airflow, reflecting the increase in power and performance.

Mustang GT gets an advanced, 5-liter Coyote V-8 with 10-speed automatic transmission available. The EcoBoost is a new turbocharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine. Both are both available with an optional Performance Pack, which adds a front Tower Brace, Torsen Limited Slip differential and optional MagneRide active suspension, wider rear wheels and tires, and larger Brembo brakes.

Then there’s the Dark Horse with a specially modified 5-liter V-8 with 500 hp.

A team of Ford engineers, designers and experts worked for more than three years to create Dark Horse, a street and track-capable performance Mustang with available carbon fiber wheels from Carbon Revolution; the first new performance name for the brand since Mustang Bullitt was introduced in 2001.

Spina Bifida of Jacksonville received a $78,000 donation when artist Kelly Telfer’s painting, “Butzi Porsche – Designer Extraordinaire,” was sold at the RM Sotheby’s auction in Monterey during Monterey Car week.

Spina Bifida thanked Telfer, plus Peter Sachs, RM Sotheby’s and William Warner after the auction, “grateful for the opportunity to recognize amazing people in the automotive world and giveback to a great charity!”

Autocross, drag racing and a car show as the Grassroots Motorsports $2000 Challenge presented by Tire Rack returns to Gainesville Raceway on October 22 and 23. The formula for this event is simple – build a car for less than $2000, enter it in the 9 a.m. Saturday autocross, then in the 6 p.m. drag race to see if money equals speed and agility. Here’s just some of what’s been brung and run in recent years:

Watch this video to see what some of the action was like at that 2017 Challenge.

Spectators are welcome at the $2000 Challenge at the track, paddock, pits and more.

The racers also show their creations during Sunday’s 9 a.m. $2000 Challenge concours, joined now by the Cars & Caffeine Powered by Hagerty on Sunday at the famed dragstrip at 11211 N County Road 225 in Gainesville. Registration is free, and all cars are welcome – includes free spectator entry (Sunday only) for everybody in your car. Attendees must pre-register here due to our limit of 500 cars.

For all event and ticket information, go here.

A couple of months ago we were handed the keys of the all-new 2021 Kia Sorento Hybrid and discovered that Kia’s latest take on the mid-size SUV is its best yet. This time we spend some time with the non-hybrid model, namely the turbocharged Sorento SX S-Line AWD. Built to be the most off-road friendly of the lineup, the SX S-Line with all-wheel-drive adds a bit more all-purpose usability to Kia’s already wonderfully practical family-friendly machine.

The all-new Sorento SX S-Line includes a powerful drivetrain, seating for six, plenty of cargo space, tons of tech and it looks fantastic. Add in the all-weather all-wheel drive and the Sorento is ready for just about anything a daily-driving situation can throw at it and a bit more.

Kia’s incredible warranty takes away the reliability worry. As far as we are concerned, Kia’s Sorento is a nearly-perfect daily driver for a relative bargain with a starting price of less than $30k.

A Powerful Turbocharged Engine and Impressive Dual-Clutch Transmission

Kia’s X-Line Sorento is powered by a 2.5-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine that produces 281 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque. Thanks to the 8-speed automated dual-clutch transmission, 0 to 60 takes place in a rather brief 6.3 seconds. That’s very respectable for a mid-size relatively affordable SUV. To be fair, mashing the throttle pedal from a green light is less than exhilarating, the engine seems to take a second to build power before unleashing all 311 lb-ft of torque. But once you’re moving the Sorento gets up and goes really well.

Fuel economy is also noteworthy. The Sorento’s 2.5 liter turbocharged 4-Cylinder and 8-speed dual-clutch transmission provide strong acceleration, but also use the latest technology to provide optimal fuel economy. Take it easy and the EPA-rated fuel economy is rated at 21/28/24 MPG (city/highway/combined). Given the utility, all-wheel-drive capabilities and power, 28 on the highway is a great number.

That said, if fuel economy is THE factor, the hybrid we previously reviewed is rated at an impressive 35/39/37 MPG (city/highway/combined).

An Interior for Families

Our mid-level SX trim offers one of the nicer non-premium interiors currently available. The materials are high quality and Kia’s attention to detail is apparent throughout. Seating is comfortable, the second row mimics the front rows great support and just enough padding. Like every mid-size SUV third row seating is limited in space, but Sorento does have a bit up on much of the competition when it comes to the ease of getting in and out.

Cargo space is 12.6 cubic feet with all the seats in place, that number jumps to 38.4 cubic feet when the second row is folded and 75.5 cubic feet when the back two rows are folded down.

Benchmark Technology and a Bigger Screen

While the Sorento’s performance and comfort have already won us over, the mid-size SUV’s incredibly long list of standard technology solidify zeal. The standard 8-inch touchscreen display is sharp, easy to read and intuitive. Infotainment features include satellite radio, wireless Apple CarPlay and ireless Android Auto.

Our SX model featured an even bigger 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen. The larger screen gives the entire interior a more premium feel. Perhaps the 8-inch screen has almost become “normal” at this point. Adding a considerable amount of real estate to the screen makes the entire experience feel upgraded. Bluetooth hands-free connectivity and 8 USB ports make connecting devices a straightforward process. The abundance of USB connections allows the whole family to charge smart phones between destinations.

Kia’s “Drive Wise Driver Assist Technology” includes blind spot collision avoidance, rear cross traffic collision avoidance, auto emergency braking, automatic high beams, lane keeping and following assist. While many other manufacturers will include one or two of these safety technologies as standard, Kia has decided to open the feature faucet wide.

Pricing that Agrees with (most) Wallets

It’s no surprise that Kia’s formula for success relies heavily on strong value. A warranty that provides worry-free repair costs (or lack thereof) doesn’t hurt either. Kia’s industry-leading warranty program consists of a 10-year/100,000 mile limited powertrain warranty, a 5-year/60,000 mile limited basic warranty, a 5-year/100,000 mile limited anti-perforation warranty and a 5-year/60,000 mile roadside assistance plan.

Base LX trim Sorento has a starting price of $29,390, which represents excellent value for a new and well-equipped 2021 mid-size SUV. Our Sorento SX X-Line test vehicle, which is one trim below the top SX Prestige trim, costs $44,285 including the $1,170 freight and handling charge.