904 Automotive Events Calendar July 25, 2024

Jacksonville Car Culture events calendar 

The next Caffeine &Octane has new summer hours – set for 7:30 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 10, at The Avenues mall at 10300 Southside Blvd. 

Gentle reminders – All vehicles parked in the Central Lot must remain in place until the show concludes. If you cannot stay until then, please park in the exhibit lot. Those parking in the Exotics Lot and the Porsche Corner are free to arrive and leave at any time.

Past events:

Cruise Fruit Cove: Last Saturday at PDQ in Saint Johns, presented by Sunshine State Chevelles.

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Upcoming events:

Benefit Car Show: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday at a gated property at 2352 Florida 13 in Fruit Cove in St. Johns County. Free for spectators and $25 per show car – all proceeds benefit longtime Sunshine State Chevelles member David Knecht.

Forrest High School Class Reunion car show: 2 to 4 p.m. on Saturday in the back parking lot at the Southpoint Marriot, 4670 Salisbury Road. All cars are welcome, focusing from 1960-1977 in conjunction with the Multi-Class Reunion. There is no entry fee. For more information, contact Forrestfriends@comcast.net.

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Car and Airplane Show: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 17, at Fernandina Beach Municipal Airport, 700 Airport Road. Free for spectators and $20 per show vehicle, presented by the Amelia Cruizers and Friends of Fernandina Aviation.

Second annual Endless Summer Showcase: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 17, at the Seawalk Pavilion at 75 1st Street N. in Jacksonville Beach. Free for spectators, and $60 for cars and trucks, or $35 for motorcycles and UTVs.

Sunday Brunch with Cars: 12 to 3 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 18, at Pink Salt Restaurant at 1557 University Blvd. W. Free car meet.

Rodders for Christ: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 31, at Journey Church West at 550974 U.S. 17 in Hilliard. Free for spectators and $20 per show vehicle. Proceeds benefit Nasau County Sheriff’s Office’s Shop with Cops program.

The Barn at Maple Car and Bike Show: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 21, at 545 Cathy Tripp Lane.

NJBC Car Show: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 28, at Jax Baptist Church, 8531 N. Main St. Free for spectators and show vehicles.

R.A.W. Music Festival and Car Show: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sat. Sept 28 at Flamingo Lake RV Park at 3640 Newcomb Road. 

45th annual Azalea City Cruisers Car Show: 9 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 5, at the Putnam County Fairgrounds at 118 Fairgrounds Road in East Palatka. Spectators free; $20 pre-registration.

Morocco Shriners Fall Car Show and Festival: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 12, at Happy Brew Coffee shop at 3200 Hendricks Ave. Spectators free; $20 registration for show vehicles.

Rev Out Cancer Pink Out Show: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 19 and 20, at Clay County Fairgrounds, 2463 Florida 16 in Green Cove Springs. 

U.S.S. Orleck Car Show: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 7, at the U.S.S. Orleck ship museum at 610 E. Bay St. Presented by Napa Auto Care and Jacksonville Corvette Club, it is free for spectators (ship admission excluded) and $25 show vehicle pre -registration, or $30 day of show. Questions  – email events@Jaxnavalmuseume.org.

Down at the Bay Car Show: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Jan. 25, at Cedar Bay Baptist Church, 11553 N. Main St. Free for spectators and $20 per show vehicle.

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: SUMMER HOURS – 7:30 to 10:30 a.m. every second Saturday at The Avenues Mall at 10300 Southside Blvd. Information: https://bit.ly/3gPRvVQ.

Brand new – Pharaohs St. Johns cruise-in: 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Aug. 31 and Nov. 30, at Trout Creek Memorial Park, 6550 Florida 13 North in Northwest St. Johns County, just past the Shands Bridge.

Saturday Morning Cruise-and-Chill: 9 a.m. to noon on the third Saturday of the month at Big Boy Airbrush in a neighborhood at 7822 Fox Tail Lane. 

Sunshine State Chevelles: 4 to 7 p.m. every third Monday of each month at 1937 Spirits and Eatery, 1842 Kings Ave in the San Marco area.

Players Grille Mandarin at 10140 San Jose Blvd., 4 to 7 p.m. every third Wednesday.

New – Fernandina Beach Car Meet: 6 p.m. on the first Saturday of the month at Famous Quick Lube, 1707 8th St. Fernandina Beach.

Returning – Jax Beach Classic Car Cruise: 4 to 7 p.m. each fourth Tuesday at the Seawalk Pavilion at 75 1st Street N. in Jacksonville Beach.

Classic Car Cruise-in at Orange Blossoms Beach Boulevard: 8 a.m. to noon each third Saturday of the month at Orange Blossoms, 14329 Beach Blvd.

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.” And J-Tech will be holding events to coincide with C & G with staff on site to give tours of the campus.

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, includes Pop-Up Shop.

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.

Kingsland Cars & Coffee: August: 8 to 11 am (9-12am every other month) first Saturday at the Harbor Freight Parking lot in Kingsland, GA 1601 GA HWY 40, Suite 2B1, Kingsland, GA 31548

Cruise Fruit Cove: The Sunshine State Chevelles’ cruise-in hours are 1 to 5 p.m. (winter hours) 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.

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;  New – 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. every third Saturday at Mr. Chubby’s Wings at 2349 Village Square Parkway in Fleming Island; 5 p.m. every third Friday at Hooter’s/Miller’s Ale House at 1756 Well’s Road – replaces Freddy’s; 3 to 6 p.m. every third Saturday at Woody’s BBQ at 1301 N. Orange Ave. in Green Cove Springs; 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 cruise-ins are 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.

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.

Wait, there’s more…

Photos courtesy Cadillac

Stop teasing us, and just build it…

Build the Cadillac SOLLEI concept vehicle, we mean, which Cadillac calls “the ultimate design expression of a coach-built luxury electric convertible.” SOLLEI conceptualizes an all-electric, 2+2 convertible, equipped with exterior lighting chorography for arrival and departure, and intuitive front and rear command console.

Defined in its name sun (‘SOL’) and leisure (‘LEI’), SOLLEI “reimagines the discovery of travel, envisioning a personalized driving experience that connects one with the natural world around them,” said Erin Crossley, design director, Cadillac. “The concept celebrates Cadillac’s pedigree of elegant convertibles in a modern form by cultivating high luxury through design expressions and experiences.” 

The exterior’s low, elongated body is accentuated by a wide stance and long coupe door, with uninterrupted surfaces and stretched A-line emphasizing the vehicle’s length. The low tail design creates dynamic yet elegant proportions, while the mid-body line seamlessly connects the headlamp to the taillight. It is finished in “Manila Cream,” a color originally used on Cadillacs in 1957 and 1958. 

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The interior channels Cadillac’s “art of travel” design philosophy, wrapped in unstained wood veneers, while surfaces feature open pore finishes that can be felt by touch. Each piece is hand-cut and hand-laid. The windshield is framed in milled brushed aluminum continuing Cadillac’s use of natural materials. A custom brushed metal and leather-wrapped case houses 3D printed acrylic bird calls, a leather-bound journal with hand painted bird illustrations and a leather tool roll for pens and pencils, made to custom match the vehicle interior, allowing enthusiasts to capture their bird-watching experiences. Interior Nappa leather features a pink iridescent pigment that creates a subtle color-changing sunrise effect. The convertible metallic roof fabric is called “Daybreak”, whose name ties to the functionality of the convertible roof; as the roof pulls back, sunlight can pour over the interior.

Alas, Cadillac calls this a “convertible exercise” that represents the brand’s vision to offer modern design this time in an open-air format, inspired by iconic Cadillacs from the past.

Photos courtesy Lime Rock Park

IROC returned to historic Lime Rock Park in Connecticut last weekend, for the first time in nearly two decades. The brainchild of NASCAR great Ray Evernham, the weekend featured a highly anticipated exhibition race on the shirt, winding road course.

Highlighting the event was the 1973 Porsche RSR, originally driven by Mark Donohue, crossing the finish line first as driven by the car’s owner Bob Woodman. This victory was a fitting tribute, as Donohue was the first ever IROC winner in 1973, and secured three additional IROC race wins in the same Porsche.

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The event also celebrated the reunion of several original racers with their iconic cars. Among them was Mark Martin, a celebrated name in motorsports with 96 victories across NASCAR’s top-three series, 13 IROC race wins and five IROC series championships. Martin was reunited with his No. 14 Dodge Avenger, donning his original 1995 True Value driver suit to complete the time-period look.

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Supercar Xperiences – Dec. 13 to 15 – YOUR turn to get behind the wheel of a fleet of exotic cars at The FIRM’s 1.5-mile race track at 7266 Airport Road in Starke . Prices do not include Track Insurance (Starting at $39 per Car) which is required for drivers.

SPECTATOR PIT PASS – $10.