Jacksonville Car Culture events calendar:
The next Caffeine & Octane is set for 7:30 to 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, February 8, 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.
Upcoming events:
Take Away Buffet Car Show: 6 to 9 p.m. on Friday at Take Away Buffet at 1805 East West Parkway in Fleming Island.
Eurofest St. Augustine: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, at the Classic Car Museum of St. Augustine at 4730 U.S. 1 S./Dixie Highway South in St Augustine. Free for spectators and any European vehicle on display.
Auto Legends Amelia “Cars and Conversations:” 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday at Canopy Way Adult Day Care, 5024 First Coast Highway.
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.
Tom Bush 55th Anniversary Car Show: 8a.m. to noon on Saturday, Feb. 1 at the dealership at 9850 Atlantic Blvd. Free for spectators and $20 per show vehicle.
Hot Rods and Hogs Car Show at the Creek: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, February 1, at Trout Creek Memorial Park, 6550 Florida 13. Free for spectators, and $30 registration for show vehicles – proceeds benefit K9s for Warriors.
Fourth annual Quake/X Winterfest: 9 a.m. Saturday, February 15 to 5 p.m. Sunday, February 16, at Northeast Florida Fairgrounds at 543378 U.S. 1 in Callahan. Car show and audio competition – .
Kruisin’ 4 Kidz: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 22, at Dinsmore Baptist Church, 10500 Old Kings Road. Spectators are free, and pre-registration is $20 per show vehicle.
Old Skool vs. New Skool Car, Truck and Bike Show: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, March 15, at Adamec Harley Davidson at 8909 Baymeadows Road. Free for spectators and $20 fee for show vehicles. Hosted by Callahan Cruisers of North Florida.
Armed Forces Motorcycle Club Car, Truck and Bike Show: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 22, at the club at 5444 U.S. 17 , Ga. Free for spectators and $20 for show vehicles. Held by the Callahan Cruisers.
Nease NJROTC Classic and Exotic Car Show: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 29, at the high school at 10550 Ray Road, off U.S. 1 in St. Johns County – more details to come.
20th Railroad Day Festival and Car Show: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 29, at the historic 1881 Callahan Train Depot at 45383 Dixie Ave. in Callahan. Held by the Callahan Cruisers.
Fourth annual Easter Showdown: 3 to 8 p.m. on Saturday April 19 at Dames Point Park at 9101 Dames Point Road – under the Dames Point Bridge. More details to follow
15th annual Rev It Up! Car Show: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 10 at Moosehaven, 1701 Park Ave. in Orange Park. Spectators free, and $25 pre-registration for show vehicles.
King of the South/Import Warz Car Show: 2 to 7 p.m. on Saturday, May 17, at the Northeast Florida Fairgrounds at 543378 U.S. 1 in Callahan. Spectator admission is $20 per person in advance, and varying entrant fees depending on competition entry – tickets at facebook.com/events/2254148474985115
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.
Mod Talk Tuesdays: 5 p.m. every first Tuesday at Tequila’s Mexican Restaurant at 10915 Baymeadows Road. For car, truck and bike enthusiasts.
Jeremiah’s Italian Ice Cruise-In: noon to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 25, at 1811 Golden Eagle Way, Fleming Island.
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.
Amelia Cruizers: 3 to 5 p.m. on the third Saturday of each month, now at Townies Pizza, 819 T.J. Courson Road.
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.
New location – 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.
New cruise-in – Cruisin’ Classics Cruise-in: 1 to 4 p.m. the first Sunday of each month on the back lawn of the Elk 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 1 to 5 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.
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. this and 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.
Clay County Cruzers’ events: 2 to 5 p.m. every first Saturday at Big Dawg Sports Restaurant, 1330 Blanding Blvd.; 2 to 5 p.m. every second Saturday at Tom & Betty’s in Orange Park. 2 to 5 p.m. every third Saturday at various sites; and 2 to 5 p.m. every fourth Saturday at Gator’s Dockside, 8316 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. And upcoming events include:
- Pedro Menendez High School Car Show – Feb. 1st (9 a.m.- 2 p.m.)
- 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.
Wait, there’s more…
The 2025 North American Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle of the Year winners were announced this week at the Detroit Auto Show. They are:
Courtesy: NACTOY
North American Car of the Year – Honda Civic Hybrid, with a total of 205 votes, called “a much needed affordable high-mileage family car” by juror and Tightwad Garage Editor-in-Chief Matt DeLorenzo.
Courtesy: Ford
North American Truck of the Year – Ford Ranger, with 183 votes, juror and America on the Road Radio/Sports Byline Radio Network’s Jack Nerad saying it “offers plenty of utility plus an added dose of comfort and convenience.”
Courtesy: VW
And North American Utility Vehicle of the Year is the Volkswagen ID. Buzz, with 187 votes. If you have to drive a minivan, “why not drive the one everybody waves to and just wants to hug?,” said juror and auto journalist Ken Gross.
NACTOY jurors have dedicated hundreds of hours to test driving, researching and evaluating vehicles on criteria including automotive innovation, design, safety, performance, technology, driver satisfaction, user experience and value.
Courtesy of The Amelia/Hagerty
The Amelia by Hagerty celebrates 30 years of global motoring excellence as it returns to Golf Club of Amelia Island and The Ritz-Carlton Resort from March 6 – March 9, tickets at AmeliaConcours.com.
And The Amelia announced that Hélio Castroneves will be the honoree for 2025, continuing the event’s longstanding tradition as “the racer’s concours.”
Castroneves’ wide-ranging racing and competition experience includes:
- 2001, 2002, 2009, and 2021 Indianapolis 500 wins
- 2020 IMSA championship with 4 victories and 4 pole positions with Acura Team Penske
- Minority partner and co-owner of Meyer Shank Racing
- Season 5 winner of ABC television series Dancing with the Stars in 2007
He was chosen as honoree for The Amelia in 2025 based on his dedication to excellence in racing as well as his unwavering competitive spirit that has made him one of the most successful drivers in IndyCar history.
The concours’ featured classes include:
- Corvette at Sebring.
- Alfa Romeos of the 1930s.
- Formula 1 Cars 1950-Present.
Another event is the Werks Reunion Amelia Island 2025: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Fri, Mar 7, at The Amelia River Club.
Porsche Club of America (PCA) welcomes all Porsche clubs, owners, and enthusiasts to the ninth annual Werks Reunion Amelia Island at 4477 Buccaneer Trail. Corral Parking (Porsche Only) early registration is $99 per car and includes a Werks event bag, reserved parking space, and automatic entry into raffle contests. Please note that after 1/31/25, Corral Parking increases to $114 per car. Onsite spectator parking fee – $40 per car – cash at the gate, day of the event.
And don’t forget – register your bucket of bolts for the Florida Concours d’Lemons on Friday, March 7, as part of the Classic Motorsports Magazine Amelia Kick Off Party at Main Beach Park in Fernandina Beach. Awful cars, great view of the ocean and our signature janky trophies.
And returning to The Amelia – the Broad Arrow Group’s annual auction.
Since its inception in 1996, The Amelia has donated more than $4 million to deserving non-profit and charitable organizations. In keeping with past tradition, The Amelia will continue to support Spina Bifida of Jacksonville, local Shop with Cops programs, and Community Hospice and Palliative Care.
Courtesy: David Green/Grassroots Motorsports
A lot can happen when building a race car for less than $2000–so Grassroots Motorsports is making it easier than ever to plan your entry into our annual low-buck motorsports festival, the Grassroots Motorsports $2000 Challenge Presented by Tire Rack, set for March 29-30 at Gainesville Raceway. Now when you register for the $2000 Challenge, your payment information will be saved, but you won’t be charged until a few days before the event – you can cancel up until three days before the start of the $2000 Challenge to get a full refund.
For more information about the $2000 Challenge, visit 2000challenge.com.