Jacksonville Car Culture events calendar
Caffeine and Octane Jacksonville: It is time to highlight Classic Japanese Vehicles in a special display within the Central Lot at the next C&O, from 8 to 11 a.m. on Saturday at The Avenues mall’s south side at 10300 Southside Blvd.
Submit your ride for consideration here to join the estimated 1,000-plus cars, trucks and more at the free cruise-in. And remember – Caffeine and Octane Jacksonville is an all makes, all models show, with all parking spots first come/first serve.
Cars should start arriving by 7 a.m. to the Southside Boulevard side of the shopping mall, the best way in through Malabar Boulevard.
As always, there will be a Porsche section, and an exotics area, as well as 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.
First Coast Car Council’s newest cruise-in, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. every first Saturday at The Beaver Street Farmers Market, saw some New Year’s Day action at 1810 W. Beaver St. last weekend.
Sunshine State Chevelle’s President Chris Conover was snapped as he drove Goldie, his just-restored classic, to the event:
First Coast Car Council president Lon Greenwood (left) talks to Jacksonville (First Coast) Car Culture’s Chris Brewer after he and family arrived in two Zs.
And the farmers market lot was filled with everything from a V-12 Aston Martin to rat rods, classics and hot rods.
Event news
The Amelia – it has a new name and a new logo just in time for the soon-to-be 27-year-old Concours d’Elegance: Watch this website – https://www.ameliaconcours.com – as tickets for The Amelia, set forThursday, March 3 through Sunday, March 6, go on sale in January.
Events now listed on the website include: Saturday’s Cars & Community, a celebration of the automobile featuring more than 300 vehicles on the same show field used for Sunday’s Concours d’Elegance; and a NASCAR Saturday Seminar hosted by Ray Evernham. The RM Sotheby’s auction, as well as the annual Silent Auction, will both be back in 2022.
Sign up to be a Concours volunteer at ameliaconcours.com/event/volunteer. More information on how to reserve spots for those events, as well as many others, is coming.
Nate Deremer photo
Bill and Jane Warner, founders of the award-winning 26-year-old Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance, now known as “The Amelia,” have been named Hagerty Grand Marshals for Sports Car Market Magazine’s 2022 SCM 1000 Classic.
The SCM 1000 Classic is a 1000-mile tour on Oregon’s scenic two-lane roads for classic American and European sports cars, limited to 45 vehicles as they explore the Columbia River Gorge and other highlights. Warner is a former motorsports photojournalist, race-car driver and an avid classic and significant car collector who handed The Amelia’s “keys” to Hagerty, which will now host the event with the purpose of saving driving and car culture for future generations.
“We are thrilled to have Bill and Jane Warner, as the Hagerty Grand Marshals,” SCM publisher Keith Martin said. “Bill’s passion for racing and cars has impacted the car collector and racing community in such a profound way. The Amelia Island Concours has become the playbook for other concours to follow.”
“I am honored that Keith has invited Jane and me to be the Hagerty Grand Marshals for the SCM 1000 Classic,” Warner said. “Jane is the patient and ever supportive wife of 55 years. Without her, things would not have been so fortuitous for me.”
The 6-day SCM 1000 Classic takes place July 17 to 22, featuring the cars of Italy through 1974, with others accepted by application. Registration is available at scm1000.com. The tour benefits the Oregon Wildfire Relief Fund.
The Warners will present “The Spirit of Amelia” award to the tour participants and car that most represent the enthusiasm and elegance of “The Amelia”
2022 Jacksonville RV MegaShow: Hosted by the Florida RV Trade Association from Thursday, Feb. 10 through Sunday, Feb. 13, at the Jacksonville Equestrian Center at 13611 Normandy Blvd. Show hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. Regular admission is $10 for adults and children 12 years or younger are admitted free. Active and retired military and first responders receive half-off the regular admission. Hundreds of new recreational vehicles will be on display. The February event marks the 13th consecutive year the show has been held at the Jacksonville Equestrian Center.
Now the Car Shows:
Third annual Car Show: 8 a.m. Saturday at the Suwanee County Coliseum, 1302 11th St. in Live Oak. Proceeds support RIVEROAK SkillsUSA for local veterans.
Amelia Cruizers Car Show: noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday at Townies Pizza, 819 T.J. Courson Rd, Fernandina Beach
Relay for Life Rod Run: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 22 at the Northeast Florida Fair at 543378 U.S. 1 in Callahan. Hosted by the Callahan Cruisers of North Florida.
North Florida Legends Car Show: 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 22, at Dee’s Music Bar and Grill, 2141 Loch Rane Blvd. in Orange Park.
Knights of Columbus Council 13337 Charity Car Show: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 29, at The Classic Car Museum of St. Augustine, at 4730 U.S. 1 S./Dixie Highway South in St Augustine. Free for spectators and $25 for show vehicles day of show.
Peterson’s Automotive Showcase: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 5, at the Frank H. Peterson Academies, 7450 Wilson Blvd. in Jacksonville. The show is free for spectators and $25 for show vehicles.
Rumble at the Ranch – Hot Rod vs Rat Rod: May 5 through 7 at WW Motocross Park, 1439 Otis Road in Jacksonville. The event features burnout contests with a $1,500 purse, car show and other events.
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.
The First Coast Car Council holds its newest cruise-in from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. every first Saturday at The Beaver Street Farmers Market, 1810 W. Beaver St. UPDATE: The Car Council’s second Saturday cruise-in suspended through the end of the year.
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 Gator’s Dockside Oakleaf at 8316 Merchants Way, Jacksonville; 5 p.m. every third Friday at Freddy’s Steakburgers at 386 Blanding Blvd.; 9 to 11 a.m. every fourth Saturday at Nicole’s Café, 2216 S. Mimosa Ave. in Middleburg; and 2 to 5 p.m. every fourth Saturday back at Gator’s Dockside Oakleaf, 316 Merchants Way, Jacksonville.
Cruise Night at Beachwalk: 5 to 8 p.m. every second Friday at the Beachwalk Amenity Center, 1000 County Road 210 in St. Johns.
Cruise Fruit Cove: 4 to 8 p.m. every third Saturday at the PDQ at 194 Florida 13 in Saint Johns, just south of Julington Creek.
Amelia Cruizers: 4 to 7 p.m. every third Saturday at Cold Stone Creamery, 808 Sadler Road, Fernandina Beach.
Jacksonville Caffeine and Gasoline: 7 to 10 a.m. on every first Saturday at the Orange Park Mall at 1910 Wells Road in Orange Park.
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.
NEW – 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.
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 resuming on Nov. 27 (see above), both at 4730 U.S. 1 S./Dixie Highway South in St Augustine.
Cars and Coffee Fleming Island: 7 to 10 a.m. every third Sunday of the month at the New Vision Theatre at 1820 Town Center Blvd., Fleming Island.
Johnny Angels: 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. every third Friday at Johnny Angels diner at 3546 St. Johns Bluff Road S.
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….
There’s a new blog in town for folks who groove on EVs (electric vehicles), slickly done by gearhead and retired journalist Bill Bortzfield. Called EV Rider – https://www.facebook.com/EVRiderFL – Bill’s blog looks at folks who have gone solar with an EV as well as a long-term test of his own 2021 MINI Cooper SE EV. Bill updates charging station status, looks at some new EV ATVs and motorcycles, and more.
Speaking of EVs, here’s Mercedes-Benz’s latest: VISION EQXX.
M-B says a single charge “would take you from Berlin to Paris; from New York City to Cincinnati, Ohio; or from Beijing to Nanjing.” That’s because the concept is highly efficient.
“Based on average distances driven per year, a driver in the U.S. or China would have to fully recharge the VISION EQXX only twice per month, and in Europe, just once per month,” Mercedes-Benz said. “It is the result of a mission we set to break through technological barriers and lift energy efficiency to new heights.”
The company says the very aero concept sedan can do more than 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) on a single charge using a battery that would fit even into a compact vehicle. It has energy consumption of less than 10 kWh per 100 kilometers (or more than 6 miles per kWh). output of around 150 kW. Its drive unit consists of the electric motor, transmission and power electronics featuring a new generation of silicon carbides. Inside, a dashboard-wide screen and sustainable materials from mushrooms to bamboo, cactus and vegan silk.