Category: Collectible Automotive

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904 Events Calendar September 28, 2021

Previous Calendars

Jacksonville Car Culture events calendar:

Jacksonville Car Culture events calendar:

  • Caffeine and Octane Jacksonville – One week away – the fourth edition of the new Caffeine and Octane Jacksonville cruise-in goes a bit “BUG”gy from 8 to 11 a.m. on Sat. Oct. 9 at the Avenues Mall at 10300 Southside Blvd., as it celebrates vintage and/or modified Volkswagens in a special display within the Central Lot.

And the owner who displays the oldest VW gets a Caffeine and Octane hat.

Every kind of classic, hot rod, truck, Jeep, kei car and ride is welcome, even Zs.

 Submit your ride for consideration at firstcoastcarculture.com/contact-us.

Admission is free.

  • Fifty classics, muscle cars and exotics ranging from race-prepared 1966 Sunbeam Tiger and 1971 Fiat 600 Abarth 1000 TC to Camaro Z-28, Shelby GT350H and one-of-50 1992 Maxton Roller Skate rolled into last Saturday’s Cars and Cannons Vintage Car Show at Fort Clinch in Fernandina Beach.
  • Special cruise to honor Nassau County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Joshua Moyers

The Callahan Cruisers will hold a classic car cruise on Oct. 9 in support of Deputy Moyers and his family. The deputy was shot on Sept. 24 during a traffic stop and died two days later. The cruise begins at 2 p.m. at the Target at 463737 Florida 200 in Yulee, then drives to the Hardee’s restaurant at 542309 U.S. 1 in Callahan where the group’s monthly cruise-in takes place. Donations collected at the event will go directly to his family.

Car Shows:

Cruisin’ to the Creek 2021: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday at Trout Creek Memorial Park and Marina at 6550 Florida 13 North in Saint Johns. The annual show benefits the Ronald McDonald House of Jacksonville.

JEA Drive Electric: 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday at Jacksonville’s Museum of Science and History at 1025 Museum Circle. Electric vehicles of all kinds will be on display as the JEA Drive Electric team offers test drives of locally available EVs. Local EV drivers will be on hand, along with information on plug-ins, hybrids and more. JTA will show off Olli, its fully autonomous electric people mover, with North Florida TPO and Clean Fuels Coalition to discuss EV possibilities in the community. All attendees and volunteers are required to wear face masks whenever they are within six feet of another person at all National Drive Electric Week 2021 events.

American Legion 401 Car, Truck and Bike Show: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at American Legion Riders Post 401 at 37405 Henry Smith Road in Hilliard. Hosted by Callahan Cruisers of North Florida, spectators are free and show vehicles are $20, proceeds to benefit Wreaths Across America and 5 Star Veterans.

Azalea City Cruisers Car & Truck Show: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday at the Putnam County Fairgrounds at 118 Fairgrounds Road in East Palatka. Free to spectators and $25 per show vehicle day of show.

Buggies on the Beach 7:  9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Show ‘n Shine show on Sunday at Kraft Athletic Club, 961023 Buccaneer Trail in Fernandina Beach. The Volkswagen show includes a Poker Run at 9 a.m. Saturday, proceeds going to the Nassau Humane Society. 

Clay County Shrine Club Oktober Fest Car Show and Craft Market: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sat. Oct. 9, at 2471 Russell Road in Green Cove Springs.

25th Annual Amelia Cruizers 8 Flags Car Show: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sat. Oct. 16 along Centre Street in historic Fernandina Beach. Free to spectators and $25 for show vehicle if pre-registered at https://bit.ly/3zXA7pw. The annual show benefits the Justin Hess Scholarship Foundation.

A Car Show For A Cause: 2 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 16, at First United Methodist Church of Jacksonville, 225 E. Duval St. Spectators are free, with $25 registration for show vehicles day-of-event. Presented by Resurrection Car Club and Next Generation Outreach Ministry.

Evangel Temple Assembly of God Middleburg Car Show: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sat. Oct. 16 at the church at 5040 County Road 218. Spectators are free; show vehicles are $20 per, the event hosted by Clay County Cruzers. 

Annual Car Show: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sat. Oct. 23, at Paxon Revival Center Church, 5461 Commonwealth Ave. Free.

St. Augustine Fall Fling Car Show: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 24, at the St Johns County Fairgrounds, 5840 Florida 207 in Elkton. Free to spectators and $20 day of show for display vehicles.

Southside Business Men’s Club Annual Car Show: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 30, at Fields Cadillac at 7999 Blanding Blvd.

Trunk or Treat Car & Bike Show: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 31, at Adamec Harley-Davidson, 380 Outlet Mall Blvd. in St. Augustine. Free for spectators and $20 for show vehicles, with live music from “Bluesdog 66.” Hosted by Callahan Cruisers of North Florida.

Dixie Chapter Pontiac Club Fall Classic: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sat. Nov. 6, at the Classic Car Museum of St. Augustine, 4730 U.S. 1 S./Dixie Highway South in St Augustine. Open to all Pontiacs, Overland or GMC truck, it’s free to spectators and $25 for show vehicles day of show.

Hobos, Hot Rods and Heroes Festival and Car Show: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 6, at the West Nassau Museum of History 45383 Dixie Ave. in Callahan. Live entertainment, arts and crafts, model trains and a car show hosted by Callahan Cruisers and Cochrane’s Collision Center. 

Jtech Cars, Stars and Stripes Car Show and Drive-in Movie: 3 p.m. Sat. Nov. 6, at Jtech at 8813 Western Way. Double feature with “Cars” and “Thunder Road, starts at dark, $15 per car. Hosted by First Coast Car Council.

10th Annual Exotic & Luxury Car Show: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 13, at Porsche Jacksonville, 11211 Atlantic Blvd. Fre for specttaors and $50 registration for show vehicles. Proceeds will benefit Homes For Our Troops.

Cecil Pines Antique Car Show: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 13, at Cecil Pines Adult Living Community, 6008 Lake Cove Ave. Free to spectators and show vehicles.

14th Annual Back to the Fifties Car Show: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 13, at Moosehaven at 701 Park Ave, Orange Park. Hosted by the Clay County Cruzers, NASCAR Cup Series driver Ross Chastain and his No. 42 car will be there.

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.

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.

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. 

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, 1803 East-West Parkway in Fleming Island; 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 at Gator’s Dockside Oakleaf, 316 Merchants Way, Jacksonville.

First Coast Car Council events: 5 to 8 p.m. every first Saturday at Mission Barbecue, 8440 Blanding Blvd., Jacksonville; and 5 to 8 p.m. each second Saturday at Medical & Merchants Center of Mandarin, 11701 San Jose Blvd.

Cruise Night at Beachwalk: 5 to 8 p.m. every second Friday at the Beachwalk Amenity Center, 1000 County Road 210 in St. Johns.

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.

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, 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.

White Brothers Auto Parts Cruise-in: 5 to 8 p.m. every second Friday at 405 Lane Ave. N.

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.

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904 Events Calendar – September 21, 2021

Caffeine and Octane — The fourth edition of the new Caffeine and Octane Jacksonville cruise-in goes a bit “BUG”gy from 8 to 11 a.m. on Sat. Oct. 9 at the Avenues Mall at 10300 Southside Blvd., as it celebrates vintage and/or modified Volkswagens in a special display within the Central Lot. And the owner who displays the oldest VW gets a Caffeine and Octane hat.

 Submit your ride for consideration at firstcoastcarculture.com/contact-us.

Admission is free.

Car Shows:

Jacksonville’s MAD DADS (Men Against Destruction Defending Against Drugs and Social Disorder) annual Peace Ride for Life: 11 a.m. Saturday, starting at Adamec Harley-Davidson at 8909 Baymeadows Road. Registration for the police-escorted motorcycle ride will be that morning at the dealership, kickstands up at 10:45 a.m. Rider registration is $10 per motorcycle and $5 more for a passenger. Registration can also be done via email at maddadsjacksonville@gmail.com. The annual ride circles through the city past sites where people have been murdered, organizers said.

Cars and Cannons Vintage Car Show at Fort Clinch: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday at Fort Clinch State Park, 2601 Atlantic Ave. in Fernandina Beach. More than 50 vintage and classic cars will be displayed inside the historic 19th Century fort. Park entry fee is $6 per vehicle (2 to 8 people), or $4 single-occupant vehicle along with $2.50 per person for fort admission. The park is open from 8 a.m. to sunset, while the fort is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information on registering a pre-1996 show vehicle by a Sept. 21 deadline for $35 per car, go to www.friendsoffortclinchinc.org. There will be no day of show registration. Registered participants receive a one-year membership with the Friends of Fort Clinch which includes 12 FREE park visits for the year.

Shindler Drive Baptist Church Community Cruise-in/Car Show: 8 to 11 a.m. Saturday at the church at 7100 Shindler Drive.

JEA Drive Electric: 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 2, at Jacksonville’s Museum of Science and History at 1025 Museum Circle. Electric vehicles of all kinds will be on display as the JEA Drive Electric team offers test drives of locally available EVs. Local EV drivers will be on hand, along with information on plug-ins, hybrids and more.

JTA will also show off Olli, its fully autonomous electric people mover, with North Florida TPO and Clean Fuels Coalition to discuss EV possibilities in the community. All attendees and volunteers are required to wear face masks whenever they are within six feet of another person at all National Drive Electric Week 2021 events.

Cruisin’ to the Creek 2021: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sat. Oct. 2, at Trout Creek Memorial Park and Marina at 6550 Florida 13 North in Saint Johns. The annual show benefits the Ronald McDonald House of Jacksonville.

American Legion 401 Car, Truck and Bike Show: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sat. Oct. 2, at American Legion Riders Post 401 at 37405 Henry Smith Road in Hilliard. Hosted by Callahan Cruisers of North Florida, spectators are free and show vehicles are $20, proceeds to benefit Wreaths Across America and 5 Star Veterans.

Azalea City Cruisers Car & Truck Show: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sat. Oct. 2, at the Putnam County Fairgrounds at 118 Fairgrounds Road in East Palatka. Free to spectators and $25 per show vehicle day of show.

Buggies on the Beach 7:  9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Show ‘n Shine show on Sunday, Oct. 3, at Kraft Athletic Club, 961023 Buccaneer Trail in Fernandina Beach. The Volkswagen show includes a Poker Run at 9 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 2, proceeds going to the Nassau Humane Society. 

Clay County Shrine Club Oktober Fest Car Show and Craft Market: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sat. Oct. 9, at 2471 Russell Road in Green Cove Springs.

25th Annual Amelia Cruizers 8-Flags Car Show: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sat. Oct. 16 along Centre Street in historic Fernandina Beach. Free to spectators and $25 for show vehicle if pre-registered at bit.ly/2UsiI9l. The annual show benefits the Justin Hess Scholarship Foundation.

Evangel Temple Assembly of God Middleburg Car Show: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sat. Oct. 16 at the church at 5040 County Road 218. Spectators are free; show vehicles are $20 per, the event hosted by Clay County Cruzers. 

Annual Car Show: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sat. Oct. 23, at Paxon Revival Center Church, 5461 Commonwealth Ave. Free.

St. Augustine Fall Fling Car Show: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 24, at the St Johns County Fairgrounds, 5840 Florida 207 in Elkton. Free to spectators and $20 day of show for display vehicles.

Southside Business Men’s Club Annual Car Show: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 30, at Fields Cadillac at 7999 Blanding Blvd

Dixie Chapter Pontiac Club Fall Classic: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sat. Nov. 6, at the Classic Car Museum of St. Augustine, 4730 U.S. 1 S./Dixie Highway South in St Augustine. Open to all Pontiacs, Overland or GMC truck, it’s free to spectators and $25 for show vehicles day of show.

Hobos, Hot Rods and Heroes Festival and Car Show: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 6, at the West Nassau Museum of History 45383 Dixie Ave. in Callahan. Live entertainment, arts and crafts, model trains and a car show hosted by Callahan Cruisers and Cochrane’s Collision Center. 

Jtech Cars, Stars and Stripes Car Show and Drive-in Movie: 3 p.m. Sat. Nov. 6, at Jtech at 8813 Western Way. Double feature with “Cars” and “Thunder Road, starts at dark, $15 per car. Hosted by First Coast Car Council.

Cecil Pines Antique Car Show: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 13, at Cecil Pines Adult Living Community, 6008 Lake Cove Ave. Free to spectators and show vehicles.

14th Annual Back to the Fifties Car Show: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 13, at Moosehaven at 701 Park Ave, Orange Park. Hosted by the Clay County Cruzers, NASCAR Cup Series driver Ross Chastain and his No. 42 car will be there.

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.

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.

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. 

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, 1803 East-West Parkway in Fleming Island; 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 at Gator’s Dockside Oakleaf, 316 Merchants Way, Jacksonville.

First Coast Car Council events: 5 to 8 p.m. every first Saturday at Mission Barbecue, 8440 Blanding Blvd., Jacksonville; and 5 to 8 p.m. each second Saturday at Medical & Merchants Center of Mandarin, 11701 San Jose Blvd.

Cruise Night at Beachwalk: 5 to 8 p.m. every second Friday at the Beachwalk Amenity Center, 1000 County Road 210 in St. Johns.

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.

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, 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.

White Brothers Auto Parts Cruise-in: 5 to 8 p.m. every second Friday at 405 Lane Ave. N.

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:

“Inside the 59” episode premieres  — The Brumos Collection has released  the latest episode of its popular “Inside the 59” video series, profiling the fastest production Porsche ever manufactured: the 2015 plug-in hybrid Porsche 918 Spyder. One of dozens of classic, specialty and racing machines on display at the museum at 5159 San Pablo Road S., the video piece on the white, red and blue hypercar is on The Brumos Collection’s three social media sites:  Facebook: @thebrumoscollection; Instagram: @thebrumoscollection; and YouTube: The Brumos Collection.

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A Lost Art Found Again: Hagerty Driving Experience Teaches Youth How To Drive A Manual Transmission Vehicle

Let’s face it, the manual transmission is on life support as only a handful of automakers offer such in their new vehicle lineup. The take rate for manual transmissions is at an all-time low, and unfortunately, manufacturers have devoted their R&D into other automatic transmission types, such as the traditional automatic transmission, CVTs (Continuously Variable Transmissions), and automated dual-clutch units.

However, there are still a select number of manufacturers that still offer a manual transmission, the most notable ones being Porsche, BMW, Subaru, and even Toyota who are still churning out a few manual transmissions to keep the enthusiasm alive among purists. Additionally, manual transmissions are still a very relevant thing among a multitude of pre-own vehicles and classics.

Read More at AutomotiveAddicts.com

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2021 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Redeye Widebody Offers 797 Horsepower and Much More

The automotive world took notice when Dodge introduced the first “Hellcat” vehicles in 2014 for the 2015 model year. With a supercharged 707-horsepower V8 engine, the Hellcat Charger would become the most powerful production sedan ever created. Anticipation of seeing the new “cats” on the public roadways was palpable and their e arrival was loud, aggressive and often scary. Dodge’s new cats sent power to the rear wheels with a smoke-inducing vengeance, even with the tiniest of throttle.

Six years have passed and Dodge has expanded the Hellcat line up to include SUVs and with the all-new Dodge Ram 1500 TRX, pickup trucks. All of the variants boast over 700 horsepower. We’ve enjoyed doing the homework while reviewing the Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk and we’re currently testing the ferocious TRX, but nothing pulls our enthusiast heartstrings like the tried and true four-door-five-passenger SRT Hellcat Charger.

Unsurprisingly, the 2021 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Redeye Widebody with its unique bodywork that features massive fender flares, put a smile on our faces that wouldn’t go away until we had to give it back. Even then we’d sit around and say things like “remember when we had the Hellcat Redeye Widebody?” and the goofy perma-grin would return.

Otherworldly Power and Performance

Powered by a 797-horsepower and 707 lb-ft of torque version of the inspired 6.2-liter supercharged V8 engine, the Redeye retains the title of the “most powerful and fastest mass-produced sedan in the world.” For lack of a better word, this engine is a beast. The supercharger whine is haunting. The exhaust sets off the neighbor’s car alarms and rattles house windows.

There is a good reason the Dodge marketing team opted to include the word “hell” in the sales brochure. Put the HP90 8-speed automatic transmission in drive, tap the throttle and the 20-inch wheels wrapped in 305/35ZR20 tires start to spin, usually without the car going anywhere. They will get traction eventually and when they do the car launches like a rocket ship. It is often scary as _ _ _ _.

Spacious Interior and Plenty of Cargo Space

While the supercharged V8 tends to get most of the attention, the Charger’s ponies are capable of more than a single trick. The spacious interior and ample cargo space make the Hellcat Charger one of the more useful family sedans on the market.

Considering the already family-friendly V6-powered Charger starts right around $30k, the Hellcat Widebody’s base price of $70k and the Redeye’s $80k jumping off point gives Dodge plenty of capital for improvement. With a long list of additional upgrades, our well-equipped test vehicle rang in at $87,165. At that price you expect more than a pretty face and a massive engine. For almost $90k you want heated and ventilated leather seats, suede and carbon fiber trim and unique visual cues. You are looking for that kind of substance and the Redeye delivers.

Rear seating is truly three people ready and the Charger’s trunk offers an incredible 16.5 cubic feet of useable cargo space. That’s enough room to accommodate a long weekend’s worth of luggage for a family of five.

Infotainment that Shines

We are longtime fans of Dodge’s intuitive and easy to navigate infotainment. The “Uconnect” system features at 8.4-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability. The system is found in much cheaper Dodge products where it completely rises above most of the competition. At $87k the system still shines, but feels more like it is “enough” than the segment show stealer that it is in a $25k vehicle. That said, the Hellcat’s special system features a long list of SRT performance apps that the lesser offerings don’t have.

We were also pleased with the optional 19-speaker Harman/Kardon audio system. The premium audio upgrade gives the speakers a chance to rise above the raucous of the supercharged V8, most of the time anyway.

Active Safety Technology

Dodge’s SRT Hellcat is equipped with blind-spot monitors, rear parking sensors and rear cross-traffic alert. Options include automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control and forward collision warning.

Do You Need a 2021 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Redeye Widebody?

Obviously the 797-horsepower Redeye isn’t for everyone. That said, it is a lot more useful than the initial marketing would suggest. How many drag strip ready cars are also perfectly equipped for the elementary school car pool lane? How about a rear seat that has room for THREE adults? Or a trunk that fits seven carry on bags?

Seems like we all need one…

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5th Annual Mopars on the Beach: A Myrtle Beach “Vacation for Mopar Enthusiasts”

Words and Photos by Erik Azar

Erik Azar is a motorsports enthusiast living in Northeast Florida. He is presently the VP of the Jacksonville Corvette Club and an active member of JAMS – Jacksonville Area Mopars where he enjoys attending motorsport events in his Jeep JK and Dodge Challenger Hellcat Redeye.

The 5th annual Mopars on the Beach in Myrtle Beach, SC – tailored as a Vacation for Mopar Enthusiasts took place from November 10-15, 2020. Like so many other motorsport events this year, Mopars on the Beach was postponed from its usual June timeframe. 

Mopars on the Beach was founded in 2016 by Tommy and Cathy Bridges of the Coastal Carolina Mopars, and with the help of their club members pulled off a successful event as they had to be agile and creative dealing with the current Covid-19 climate. This year saw over 300 attendees from 17 states traveling from as far away as Nevada and Arizona.

The week’s activities consisted of various Cruise-ins, Dyno Day, Charity Ride, and a Car Show. It’s a great way for Mopar enthusiasts to meet other like-minded people from all over the United States and develop new friendships.

This year even the late season Hurricane Iota wouldn’t put a damper on the activities and fun. The rain stopped Thursday evening allowing Friday’s Charity Ride and Saturday’s car show to take place with beautiful weather. 

Friday’s charity ride to the small town of Georgetown, SC ended up having more than double the number of attendees expected. The organizers did an excellent job coordinating with the local police departments to arrange police escorts and blocking major intersections for more than 100 cars to travel from site to site. The evening ended at The Landing at the Boathouse for dinner and prizes.

The main event and largest generator of donation funds for the charities was Saturday’s car show that hosted over 300 cars on display. The cars ranged from classic 60s-70s Mopar muscle, to modern muscle and custom Mopars – which provided something for everybody to enjoy.

For 2020 the event raised $13,000 that was evenly divided between two local charities:

·      Quilts of Valor local chapter – provides volunteer handmade quilts to service members and veterans that have been touched by war.

·      Lowcountry Food Bank – provides both the education and nutritious options needed by partner agencies and schools that serve our community

Next year’s Mopars on the Beach is scheduled for Nov 2-6, 2021 and will move to Broadway at the Beach, a popular tourist destination with shopping and entertainment. There will also be Drag Strip day on Thursday, Nov 4, 2021 at Darlington Drag Strip.

For additional information for Mopars on the Beach 2021 visit their website at https://moparsatthebeach.org. Or directly contact Tommy and Cathy Bridges – Coastal Carolina Mopars – (864)325-9660        coastalcarolinamopars@gmail.com

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FREE DOWNLOAD: Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance 2021 Calendar from Deremer Studios Photography

Deremer Studios Photography – Automotive, Commercial & Fine Art, Jacksonville Car Culture’s official photographer, has created a stunning 2021 calendar showcasing the 25th Annual Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance that is FREE to download! FREE!

Deremer Studios offers incredible automotive photography packages for collectors and enthusiasts. If you’ve been looking for a wonderful way to showcase your ride online or in print, Deremer Studios is the way to go. Great photos can also help you sell you car if/when the time ever comes.

Here is a link to the 2021 Amelia at 25 Calendar:
https://www.deremerstudios.com/Freebies/Calendars/2021-The-Amelia-at-25-Calendar/

Deremer Studios 2021 Fine Art Desktop Wallpapers
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Jacksonville Car Culture Jekyll Island Holiday Lights Cruise Shines Bright

Many thanks to everyone who participated in the Jacksonville Car Culture Holiday Lights Cruise on Jekyll Island. The overnight invite-only event provided a much needed break from the day-to-day routine and the often depressing reality that is 2020. Masks were required at all events and physical distancing was encouraged at all times.

A stunning BMW i8 sparkles under the holiday lights. Photo courtesy of Deremer Studios, LLC

We are grateful for the amazing team at The Westin Jekyll Island. Our host hotel worked diligently to help us put this wonderful event together. Whether is was hot cocoa and cookies around the courtyard fire, lining up the cruise vehicles in front of the hotel, late night drinks from the bar or a hot coffee from The Westin Cafe, the incredible hospitality, luxurious accommodations and idyllic setting were the perfect match for our exclusive event. We honestly couldn’t have asked for anything more.

View the weekend highlights video by Deremer Studios, LLC.
The Westin Jekyll Island, our host hotel. Photo courtesy of Deremer Studios, LLC.
The Westin Jekyll Island, left photo courtesy of Deremer Studios, LLC.

Thank you to Mosaic, Jekyll Island Museum for opening up after hours for our group. The time outside under the beautiful lights and touring the incredible museum that tells the story of the Island was one that we will not soon forget.

Mosaic, Jekyll Island Museum. Photos courtesy of Deremer Studios, LLC
The Ford GT, an instant holiday classic. Photo courtesy of Deremer Studios, LLC

Special thanks to the Hampton Inn & Suites Jekyll Island for providing a delicious breakfast for our group on Saturday and to Life is Good for offering a wonderful little memento of our trip to the entrants.

  • Hampton Inn & Suites, Deremer Studios, LLC
  • Life is Good
Acura’s new NSX in a very festive Santa-approved red. Photo courtesy of Deremer Studios, LLC

Last but not least, thanks to Deremer Studios, LLC., the official photographer of Jacksonville Car Culture.

Don’t worry if you missed this adventure, the Jacksonville Car Culture team is already planning the next one! Stay tuned to our social media channels or this website for details.

Happy Holidays,
Chris, Abbi and the entire team at Jacksonville (First Coast Car Culture)

To view the Jacksonville Car Culture Jekyll Island Holiday Lights Cruise photo gallery visit:

https://www.deremerstudios.com/Automotive-Photography/Car-Culture-Events/2020-12-Jax-Car-Culture-Jekyll-Christmas-Cruise/

The formidable Porsche GT2, about as 911 as it gets. Photo courtesy of Deremer Studios, LLC

Thanks to Hagerty for being a long-time Jacksonville Car Culture partner and supporting the cruise.

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Matchbox Find: Ewy Rosqvist 1962 Mercedes-Benz 220 SE Sedan

“They Said I Could Never Finish; So I Finished First.”

Ewy Rosqvist, winner of the 1962 Argentinian Touring Car Grand Prix with Ursula Wirth in a Mercedes-Benz 220 SE.

Stumbled upon this very cool 1962 Mercedes-Benz 220 SE Matchbox at my local Walmart. Not a bad way to invest $1. Ewy’s story is legendary. She was the first female Touring Car Grand Prix Winner, proving the “experts” wrong and breaking barriers along the way. This little toy is worth having simply as a reminder that anything is possible with hard work, dedication and believing in yourself.

From Mercedes-Benz Classic (Daimler:AG): “The first race for Rosqvist and Wirth in their top-end Mercedes-Benz 220 SE (W 111) Saloon was the four-day Swedish Rally to the Midnight Sun (12 to 16 June 1962) where they immediately secured the women’s cup. They took 6th place in the 22nd Rajd Polski (2 to 6 June 1962) and then came in 12th in the Liège–Sofia–Liège Rally (29 August to 3 September 1962) before going on to win the Argentinian Touring Car Grand Prix. Ewy Rosqvist and Ursula Wirth won all six stages of this 4,624-kilometre race in course records, triggering enthusiastic celebrations on their arrival in Buenos Aires. It was probably the biggest success in Ewy Rosqvist’s glittering career. To seal this victory Ewy Rosqvist not only succeeded in dominating the race, she also increased the average speed from 121.234 km/h to 126.872 km/h compared to the previous year’s winning duo (Walter Schock and Manfred Schiek in a Mercedes-Benz 220 SE).”

See the full story at https://media.daimler.com/marsMediaSite/en/instance/ko.xhtml?oid=9919981

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Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance Announces Special Classes for 2021

Jacksonville, FL – Announcing the special classes for the 26th Annual Amelia Concours d’Elegance, May 20-23, 2021.

1938 Hispano Suiza DuBonnet Xenia. Photo by Michael Furman.

Hispano-Suiza
The fabled Spanish-Swiss grand marque remains the only car named for a king, Alfonso XIII of Spain, himself a Hispano enthusiast, who owned as many as 30. His enthusiasm for the marque and its reputation for exquisite engineering made it a favorite of royals, celebrities, heroes of all stripes and even a few literary characters who drove Hispanos across the pages of bestselling fiction when the need to project a sense of wealth and style was required. Every famous European coachbuilder of the custom body epoch dressed Hispanos. Their V-8 engines helped win the air war in WWI. That elegant engineering blood gave the cars that wore the “flying stork” mascot, as the sales brochure put it . . . “vitesse, securite, confort, silence, elegance.” It wasn’t hyperbole. Even today the reputation of Hispano-Suiza ranks it with the greatest, most respected and revered names at the pinnacle of the auto industry.

The Porsche 935. Photo courtesy of The Brumos Collection.

Porsche 935
“The Racers’ Concours” honors and celebrates the 45th anniversary of the long-lived, fire-belching 200-plus mph Porsche 935 turbos that once ruled international endurance racing. The 935 was the backbone of international endurance racing for nearly a decade and owned championship titles from Daytona to Le Mans and back. Its popularity remains so potent that nearly five decades after its debut Porsche is creating 77 tribute cars to the 935/78 Moby Dick Le Mans racer based on the 911 GT2 RS.

1977 Chevrolet Corvette Supervette. Photo courtesy of Canepa Motorsport.

Chevy Thunder
Truly the “heartbeat of America” from Indy, Sebring, Daytona, Le Mans, Pro Stock, Can-Am, Trans-Am, club racers, Sprint Cars, Baja & Desert racers, IROC, F5000, Swamp Buggies, Dune Buggies, Hot-Rods, Kit Cars and even to off-shore powerboats, Chevy’s small blocks, big-blocks and pure racing engines set records, crushed competitors and dominated practically every type of motorsport for well over half a century. Chevy’s small block V-8 of 1955 was the elegantly simple engineering masterpiece that inspired hot rodders and race car builders alike. Chevy small block power even sat on the front row of the Indy 500 (1981), outran the fabled Offys on dirt tracks, ruled NASCAR’s high banks, short tracks and road courses, won the 24 Hours of Daytona, the 12 Hours of Sebring and owned the Can-Am (at one point winning 33 races in a row).

Chevy Thunder is the soundtrack of NHRA Pro Stock competition winning the championship 24 times, more than any other manufacturer. Its impact on American culture even extends to popular music; in 1962 the Beach Boys composed a song commemorating the power of Chevy’s big block Turbo-Thrust V-8 entitled, appropriately, “409.” Specifically songwriter Gary Usher’s “ . . . 4-speed, dual-quad, positraction four-oh-nine!” Since its first V-8 in 1917, Chevy V-8 power has touched practically every facet of American life towing trailers, delivering groceries or taking the likes of McLaren, Scarab, Lola, Chaparral, Eagle, Corvette and Camaro to scores of racing victories and championships; some Chevy V-8s even replaced those legendary Italian V-12s in American sports car racing.

Ferrari 275 GTB. Photo Courtesy of Peter Harholdt.

Ferrari 275 GTB
It’s hard to imagine a tougher automotive act to follow than Ferrari’s landmark 250 GTs. From the mid-fifties to the immortal GTO of 1962, Ferrari 250 GTs set the standard, won the races and were the fast moving targets of every GT builder from Los Angeles to Coventry to Stuttgart. Unveiled in Paris in 1964 the 275 GTB became Ferrari’s first GT to fit modern alloy wheels and wear independent suspension at each corner. It proved itself in June 1965 with the Belgian racing yellow #24 275 GTB/C finishing third overall and eclipsing the Le Mans distance record of every previous class-winning GTO.

The 275 won Le Mans’ GT class again in 1966 and 1967. Easily the most famous 275 GTB — one of just ten NART Spiders built — was Steve McQueen’s signature ride in the 1968 double academy award nominated film The Thomas Crown Affair.

The 1909 Columbia Electric. Photo courtesy of Hyman LTD.


It’s Electric
The Amelia’s “It’s Electric” Class showcases the development of the electric car from the beginning of the automotive age when it was a viable alternative to steam and internal combustion automotive power. Fast evolving highway and road infrastructure and the rise of the petroleum industry eased the electric car aside turning its advantages and strengths into liabilities. Times and technologies have changed. So have the mission and operational envelope of the automobile and its place in society. Fast evolving technologies and acute civic awareness of environmental trends stand poised to return the electric car to mainstream motoring life well beyond its original duty as short range urban transportation

1970 Dodge Charger R/T. Photo Courtesy of Peter Harholdt.

1970s Muscle Cars
Purely American, the Muscle Car brought horsepower to the people with low monthly payments and practically unlimited brute force. Every manufacturer from Chevrolet to Ford, from Buick to Dodge offered an alternative and competitor to the Pontiac GTO, the car that started it all in the mid-sixties. The peak of the Muscle Car Era was 1970, just before emission laws and the fuel crisis hobbled Detroit’s horsepower warriors. Amelia 2021 will host a special display class from the renowned Wellborn Musclecar Museum in Alexander City, AL including a Muscle Car from every manufacturer that played Detroit’s high stakes high horsepower game at the overpowered breed’s showroom apogee in 1970.

1989 Ferrari F40. Photo by Deremer Studios LLC/Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance.

Supercars of the 80s and 90s
While the term “supercar” dates back to 1920, the descriptor is often associated with the debut of the mid-engine Lamborghini Miura in 1966. The rules to play the supercar game were simple: big exotic engines between the driver and the rear wheels and a body shape that echoed Le Mans prototype contours: the wilder the better. Enter the Lamborghini Countach, Ferrari F40, Bugatti EB110, Jaguar XJR-15 and the Ferrari F50.

Over time the term “supercar” expanded to describe an elite group of sports cars that stand apart in terms of design, performance, technology and price. For 2021, The Amelia will gather some of the world’s most iconic supercars of the 1980s and 1990s onto the main showfield.

Shadow DN4. Photo courtesy of Peter Harholdt.

Shadow
In 1970, the wildest year of Can-Am competition, everybody seemed to have a better, wilder or weirder idea. None more so than a radical, bizarre, unloved and evil handling little doorstop of a race car spawning a family that would claim the Can-Am Championship, deliver a future World Champion his first F1 victory and compete at the top level of Grand Prix racing. Don Nichols, Shadow Cars chief and a genuine international man of mystery, loved the Shadow radio serials and named his cars and team accordingly. The 2021 Amelia Concours will feature a special Shadow class including the bizarre and radical AVS — Advanced Vehicle Systems — Shadow Mk 1 of 1970, the 1974 Can-Am champion DN4 and Alan Jones’ 1977 Austrian Grand Prix winner, the Shadow DN8A. Shadow designers were an all-star team with world class credentials and imaginations: Trevor Harris, Peter Bryant and Tony Southgate drew the sinister shapes that were instantly recognizable as Shadows, right down to the team’s famous cloaked spy logo.

For tickets and more visit: http://www.ameliaconcours.org