Jacksonville Car Culture events calendar
Hundreds of cars and spectators enjoyed a crisp morning at last Saturday’s Caffeine and Octane as classic pickup trucks were just a part of the fun from the First Coast Car Council, which was the club of the month. But then there were MOPARS, and Lamborghinis, and lots of exotics with wings.
Then there was this long-nose, chopped cabin hot rod 1934 Buick, we are told, with a very appropriate license plate and an oh-so-grand interior for two.
And since last Saturday’s highlight at Caffeine and Octane Jacksonville were Classic Japanese Vehicles, many were in a special display within the Central Lot, like a rare Ariel Atom with Acura powerplant, multiple Datsun/Nissan Zs, a retro-styled three-door hatchback 1990’s Nissan Pao, some more modern Hondas and Toyotas, and a stunning Datsun 510.
The next Caffeine and Octane is from 8 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, February 12, at The Avenues mall’s south side at 10300 Southside Blvd., an estimated 1,000-plus cars, trucks and more expected 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.
Event news
The Amelia is its new name, with a new logo for the soon-to-be 27-year-old Concours d’Elegance. And racer and racing legend Chip Ganassi has been named as the honoree for The Amelia, set for Thursday, March 3 through Sunday, March 6, according to the event’s new owner, Hagerty.
“Honoring a hero from the racing community is an important component of The Amelia DNA. From the inaugural honoree, Sir Stirling Moss, to the recent celebration of Lyn St. James, The Amelia has anchored the celebration of the automobile to the incredible people who have devoted their lives as ambassadors for driving,” Hagerty CEO McKeel Hagerty said. “We are thrilled that Chip Ganassi accepted our invitation. His racing legacy represents Hagerty’s love of driving and passion for the wellness of others.”
Compliments of Chip Ganassi Racing
Ganassi has is a familiar name in motorsports, fielding very successful teams in everything from the 24 Hours of Le Mans to IndyCar, NASCAR, the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and Extreme E. A former IndyCar driver himself, he founded Chip Ganassi Racing in 1990, among his many accomplishments becoming the only team to win the Daytona 500, Indianapolis 500, NASCAR’s Brickyard 400 and the 24 Hours of Daytona, in a 12-month span.
Other updates –Saturday, March 5th’s big event is now called Cars & Community, a suite of things to do for all ages that will include the long-running, renamed Cars & Caffeine, plus a 1980s and ’90s-focused RADwood display, the fun and low-brow Concours d’Lemons, and The Amelia’s first-ever Kids Zone. Cars & Community tickets are $20 for adults, $10 for youth as well as military and first responders, and free for children 12 and under. A portion of every Cars & Community ticket sold will support local and national charitable partners.
Hagerty/Deremer Studios
A NASCAR Saturday Seminar hosted by Ray Evernham is scheduled, as well as the long-running RM Sotheby’s auction, and the annual Silent Auction.
And of course, expect a celebration of the automobile featuring more than 300 vehicles at the Sunday Concours d’Elegance; special concours classes including anniversary celebrations of the 24 Hours of Daytona (60th) and the 12 Hours of Sebring (70th), as well as the 75th anniversary of Ferrari, 100th anniversary of Lincoln, and the 90th anniversary of the 1932 Ford.
Additional concours features will include the interesting 3-wheeled vehicles of the Davis Motorcar Company.
A 1947 Davis Divan
Other special classes: Indy roadsters, aluminum Porsche race cars, Waterhouse Coachwork, and more.
Sunday Concours tickets are: Adults (ages 23+): $150, price increases to $175 on March 1, 2022; Military and First Responders: $85, with verification at check-in; Younger Enthusiasts (ages 13-22): $75; and children 12 and under are free. And a big FYI: every concours ticket purchase also includes free admission to Cars & Community.
Tickets for all concours events are also available at the website.
Sign up to be a Concours volunteer at ameliaconcours.com/event/volunteer.
Now the Car Shows:
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.
Yulee Coolee Floyd Garrett Memorial and Car Show: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 29, at Laytn’s Land-n at 67760 Owens Farm Road. The Garrett memorial starts at 10:30 a.m. in the barn. Donations will be collected for an automotive mechanic school scholarship.
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.
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.
10th annual Kruisin 4 Kids: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 26, at Dinsmore Baptist Church at 10500 Old Kings Road in Jacksonville. Burnout contests and barbecue chicken dinners for sale.
17th annual Railroad Day Festival and Classic Car Show: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 2, at the1881 Callahan Train Depot at 45383 Dixie Ave. in Callahan. Live entertainment, arts/crafts and food vendors, model trains and a classic car show hosted by Callahan Cruisers and Cochrane’s Collision Center from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. All proceeds will go to the West Nassau Historical Society.
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.
Third annual Hot Rodz 4 Kids Car and Bike Show: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday May 28, at First United Methodist Church of Callahan, 449648 U.S. 301. Proceeds go to children’s medical, educational and nutritional needs.
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. Information: https://bit.ly/3gPRvVQ.
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.
Sinister Saturday: 8 p.m. on Saturday at the Buc-ee’s at 200 World Commerce Parkway in St. Augustine. Hosted by the Sinister Horseman Car Club.
Amelia Cruizers: 4 to 7 p.m. every third Saturday at Cold Stone Creamery, 808 Sadler Road, 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.
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. And its cruise-in from 5 to 8 p.m. every second Saturday returns at the Medical & Merchants Center of Mandarin, 11701 San Jose Blvd.
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: cancelled
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.
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….
The DriveTribe blog, an online social media site for gearheads for the past five years created by the gang at The Grand Tour – you know, the former Top Gear trio – will close up shop at the end of this month. In announcing the move this week, DriveTribe said it’s been “facing significant industry challenges” for many months, plus the protracted global shortage of computer chips has caused “a number of challenges for the automotive industry, and led to severe reductions in marketing budgets across the industry.”
That said, the Grand Tour’s own Hammie – Richard Hammond – will be keeping the DriveTribe community alive through its social media channels with video reviews, his new projects including his Smallest Cog Workshop, and even some appearances by Jeremy and James from time to time. Hammond even promised he’s revisiting a jet dragster that almost killed him – watch his video for the rest of the news.