Category: Caffeine and Octane Jacksonville

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Jacksonville Car Culture events calendar January 19, 2022

Calling all classic Fords – the next Caffeine and Octane will feature Henry Ford’s (pre-1989) in a special display area of the Central Lot from 8 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, February 12, at The Avenues mall at 10300 Southside Blvd.

Submit your application to be considered for a reserved spot in this special section of the show at caffeineandoctane.com.

or simply click on: https://form.123formbuilder.com/6067165.

An estimated 1,000-plus cars, trucks and more are 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 shiny 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.

The concours’ official RM Sotheby’s auction returns with lot previews from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 3, and Friday, March 4, with an 11 a.m. Friday auction, all at the concours hotel: The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island, at 4750 Amelia Island Parkway. Some of the lots at the 23rd annual RM Sotheby’s Amelia auction include:

Of the many lots, here’s one: a 1985 Chevrolet Camaro IMSA GTO by Peerless Racing raced by multi-championship winner Jack Baldwin, the race cars a class awardee at the 2021 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance.

And there is this 1930 Duesenberg Model J Convertible Sedan by Murphy with plum leather interior and dark blue coachwork.

For auction information, go to rmsothebys.com.

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 Cars & Caffeine cruise-in for local and regional classics, hot rods and car clubs. Owners can register their rides here, then will be contacted to complete the reservation for the reserved spot and Cars & Community for $50.

There’s also a 1980s and ’90s-focused RADwood display and The Amelia’s first-ever Kids Zone.

The fun and low-brow Concours d’Lemons is part of the Saturday fun, and display vehicles can be registered for $15 each here at eventbrite.com/e/amelia-island-concours-dlemons-tickets-244581799747.

Cars & Community admission 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

The Amelia’s seminars start with the 3 p.m. Friday “36 Hours of Florida,” hosted by NASCAR Hall of Fame Crew Chief Ray Evernham, featuring a panel of the greats of sports car racing who were very successful at the “36 Hours of Florida,” which included both the 24 Hours of Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring.

The NASCAR Seminar is at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, also hosted by Ray Evernham and a panel of former NASCAR greats speaking about racing through the decades.

Admission is $50 per person per seminar, information on all The Amelia events and tickets at ameliaconcours.com/event/tickets.

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 3-wheeled vehicles of the Davis Motorcar Company, 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.

Other events on Amelia Island that weekend not associated with The Amelia:

Grand Motoring Hangar Night is from 5 to 10 p.m. on Thursday March 3, at the Amelia Aerodrome at the Fernandina Beach Municipal Airport. Returning for its sixth year, attendees have hors d’oeuvres, dinner and cocktails surrounded by an assortment of classic and collector automobiles, sponsor exhibits, auto-centric short films and more. Individual tickets are $50, address and parking instructions provided to registered attendees. Tickets can be reserved here.

22nd Annual Riding Into History Antique Motorcycle Concours

Motorcycle designer Paul Teutul Jr. will be the Grand Marshal for the annual Riding Into History concours on April 22 and 23 at World Golf Village, 1 World Golf Place in St. Augustine. On Friday, April 22, it is the Grand Marshal Tour Presented by Hagerty, allowing owners to ride their vintage bike through the back roads of historic Florida. Then comes the Grand Marshals Dinner at 6 p.m. Friday, April 22, at the World Golf Hall of Fame, Shell Hall, at $80 per person. Then hundreds of classic and special interest motorcycles will be on display from 1 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 23, around the lake at World Golf Village. There is no entry fee for qualified motorcycles – Registration closes at midnight, April 14. All donations go to K9s for Warriors. More information is at ridingintohistory.org.

Hagerty/Motorsport Reg

SCCA Autocross and Car Show, co-hosted by The Brunswick Lions Club: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, February 26, at the former St. Marys Airport at North Dandy Street in St Marys, Ga. The show is free to spectators and $20 per show vehicle. The SCCA Buccaneer Region Jax Solo is holding the autocross – more information and registration at motorsportreg.com/events/scca-buccaneer-jax-solo-st-marys-municipal-airport-autocross-607711.

Now the Car Shows:

Relay for Life Rod Run: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday 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 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.

11th annual Fly-In and Classic Car Show: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday Feb. 5, at Palatka Airport, 4015 Reid St. Free for spectators and $10 entry fee 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.

Troop and Pack 27 Car Show and Pinewood Derby: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 12, at Old Plank Road Baptist Church at 8964 Old Plank Road.

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.

Historic Springfield Main Street Cruise: 4 p.m. every fourth Saturday between 8th and 17th streets at Main Street in Jacksonville’s Springfield community.

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 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.

And finally…

Toyota Gazoo Racing and Lexus exhibited some wild stuff at the recent Tokyo Auto Salon 2022, and one was a Batmobile-like GR GT3 Concept TGR, which the company shows that it is “committed to further accelerating customer motorsports activities to make the world of motorsports sustainable.”

Promoting “driver first” car development with a “desire to provide attractive cars” for customers participating in GT3, there isn’t much more info on the sleek back car. But it does have side exhausts along with a plethora of ground effects. And while it’s a race car concept only, could a street-legal version be in the offing?

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904 EVENTS CALENDAR JANUARY 12, 2022

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.

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904 Events Calendar January 5, 2022

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.

Courtesy of Mercedes-Benz

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.

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904 EVENTS CALENDAR DECEMBER 29, 2021

Happy New Year’s edition!

Caffeine and Octane Jacksonville: Attention, all those owners of Crowns and Ceras, of GT-Rs and HiJets, of Autozams and Beats – it is almost 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, January 8 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.

Event news

Mecum Auctions

What could be the most legendary lead sled of them all, the 1951 Hirohata Mercury Coupe, is coming up for auction in Florida. And the sleek 2-tone coupe will have a sales estimate of $1 million to $1.25 million when it rolls onto the stage at the Saturday, Jan. 15 Mecum’s Kissimmee Auction.

The name “lead sled” came from the fact that customizers dropped, chopped and channeled Ford Chief Designer Bob Gregorie’s sleek 1949 Mercury design, using lead to smooth out its lines as they lowered the top for an even more dropped look. The Mercury, the centerpiece of a historic Great Mercury Customs class at the 2004 Amelia Island Concours, was named for original owner Bob Hirohata of Los Angeles, and custom built by Sam and George Barris. Seen in major car magazines of the day, like Hot Rod and Hop Up, it appeared in the 1955 film “Running Wild” starring Mamie Van Doren.

“The purpose of taking a production car was not that it wasn’t beautiful, but I wanted it to be different, look different and make it more aerodynamic. I wanted to proportion it within reason, not just because we lowered the top, or sectioned the body or got it low to the ground, but it had to have the perspective of being unique, attractive and aspirational to the people who look at it,” Barris told the Florida Times-Union in a story about the Hirohata Merc. “In my period, it was what we called pioneering. We had to pioneer customizing. Custom is spelled with a ‘C.’ When I did my cars, it stated with a ‘k.’ If I am going to change the car, I have to change the word.”

Californian Jim McNiel owned the spectacular 1951 Mercury Hirohata coupe since 1959, but his family is selling it after his death.

“It has been everywhere. I dated my wife in it. It has been part of me all these years,” he told the Times-Union in 2004. “It’s about time that people realize the amount of workmanship that went into these. This was young American kids doing what they thought was cool in the ’50s. George knew what was cool, and he captured that in what he built. All of these cars here are beautiful. They all have something unique, and it is the first time they have all been together.”

The coupe was radically re-sculpted by the King of Kalifornia Kustoms’ shop – 4 inches taken from the roof up front and 7 in the rear, a butted, V-type windshield finished the upper structure changes. Frenched Ford headlights and Lincoln taillights were added, plus 1952 Buick Riviera side spears with customized door skins and fender skirts. In recent years, the car was added to the National Historic Vehicle Register and displayed for a week in a glass enclosure on the National Mall in Washington D.C.

Car collector and historian Wayne Carini guides us through the classic coupe and its history in a Mecum video. And check out the full story on how the car came to be from Hagerty.

Speaking of The Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance: Watch this website – https://www.ameliaconcours.com – as tickets for the 27th annual Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance, 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.

Now the Car Shows:

Third annual Car Show: 8 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 8 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, Jan. 8, 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.

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. More info to follow at facebook.com/events/1252072518622329.ref=newsfeed.

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.

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.

Happy New Years – the First Coast Car Council holds its newest cruise-in from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. this and 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 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.

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.

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 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….

By now, everyone has seen the 1946 classic, “It’s A Wonderful Life,” and remembers George Bailey (Jimmy Stewart) crashing his 1010 Dodge brothers touring car into the tree, just before (SPOILER ALERT) he meets Clarence the angel.

Well, Hagerty has a story about that very same black Dodge, now owned by Keith Smith and complete down to its wood-spoked wheels, leather upholstery, and a small, circular brass tag on the dash that proves it was a Twentieth Century-Fox movie prop.

FYI – The Classic Car Museum of St. Augustine has an earlier version of the same car – a 1914 Dodge Brothers Touring Car – the second oldest car in the museum on U.S. 1.

Costing $800 when new, it is one of the first 249 cars built by Horace and John Dodge, with a 25-hp four-cylinder engine under its bonnet.

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904 EVENTS CALENDAR DECEMBER 21, 2021

Jacksonville Car Culture events calendar

Happy Holidays edition!

Caffeine and Octane Jacksonville: It’s 8 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, January 8 at The Avenues mall’s south side at 10300 Southside Blvd. Cars should start arriving by 7 a.m., the best way in through Malabar Boulevard off Southside Boulevard.

Next month, we highlight Classic Japanese Vehicles in a special display within the Central Lot.

Submit your ride for consideration here to join the estimated 1,000-plus cars, trucks and more at the free cruise-in. Caffeine and Octane Jacksonville is an all makes, all models show, and remember – parking spots are first come/first serve.

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 Concours d’Elegance: Watch this website – https://www.ameliaconcours.com – as tickets for The 27th annual Amelia, set for Thursday, 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.

More information on how to reserve spots for those events, as well as many others, is coming.

Honda will inspire young people to follow their dreams with its “Believe and Achieve!” float as it leads the 133rd Rose Parade at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 1 on ABC and NBC. And a Snapchat filter will enable viewers to build a virtual jet pack to fly over the parade route as a 2022 Acura NSX Type S and 2022 Honda Passport TrailSport (sound vehicle) serve as official parade vehicles as Honda celebrates its 12th years as a presenting sponsor.

 Image provided by Honda

The float will have four Honda women associates aboard as it celebrates science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM) education by depicting a young girl whose dreams have taken flight with a rocket pack she designed and built through her own efforts, ingenuity and passion. Sue Bai is a chief engineer and division director at Honda Research Institute in Ann Arbor, Mich.; Nicole Harvel is an engineering coordinator and lead material engineer of the Material Analysis Lab at Honda`s manufacturing plant in Timmonsville, S.C.; Melanie Morimoto is asenior fabricator at American Honda in Torrance, Calif.; and Yolanda Pate is the quality division lead for Honda`s Alabama Auto Plant in Lincoln, Ala.

More news:

Jacksonville’s Bill Warner donated his 93-year-old No. 88 Simplex Piston Ring Special, built and raced back then by Bert Moyers, to the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America at 1801 W. International Speedway Blvd. in Daytona Beach.

 Motorsports Hall of Fame/Thomas R. Miller Photography

Believed to be the last surviving race car of its kind, the car was built by Moyers in Jacksonville using a 1928 Chevrolet engine and brakes, a 1926 rear axle from the same maker, and a 1927 Whippet radiator, all atop a shortened, narrowed 1927 Essex frame. Moyers campaigned it on beach courses from Jacksonville to Daytona Beach as well as a track at what is Jacksonville Naval Air Station.

Warner, founder and chairman emeritus of The Amelia Concours d’Elegance, found the car partially restored in 2006 in a Jacksonville garage where Moyer’s son had begun restoration. He and others restored the car, unveiling it to the Moyers family at the 2007 Amelia Concours. Now he has donated it to the Hall of Fame at Daytona International Speedway.

“This car, well, it’s not something I can push a button and drive,” Warner said at the museum, according to a Facebook post. “I’m on the MSHFA Board of Directors. I’m 78 years old. If I died tomorrow, my family wouldn’t know what to do with this jewel. I felt like it had to go somewhere where it would be appreciated and tell a story. It was natural that it would come here. It’s here next to the Richard Petty (stock) car, the Mickey Thompson truck and Bob Tullius’ prototype sports car. It’s in a place with cars it belongs with. I’m glad this car has a really good home. It gives the public a chance to see exactly what racing was like back in those days.”

The Florida Times-Union documented the race cars’ discovery, restoration and reintroduction to the Pablo Beach sands it used to race on in a 2009 story.

Now the Car Shows:

Third annual Car Show: 8 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 8 at the Suwanee County Coliseum, 1302 11th St. in Live Oak. Proceeds support RIVEROAK SkillsUSA for local veterans.

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.

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.

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. More info to follow at facebook.com/events/1252072518622329.ref=newsfeed.

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.

Historic Springfield Main Street Cruise: 4 p.m. every fourth Saturday between 8th and 17th streets at Main Street in Jacksonville’s Springfield community. Yes, it will be held Christmas Day.

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: 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.

NEW – Crossroad Cruise-in: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. each first Saturday at Crossroad Church at 10005 Gate Parkway 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.

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 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.

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.

Johnny Angels: 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. every third Friday at Johnny Angels diner at 3546 St. Johns Bluff Road S. 

And finally….

Courtesy of Lotus

Lotus has released a new film of the Lotus Emira in action, showing the V-6 First Edition being put through its paces by Gavan Kershaw on the iconic Hethel test track.

Kershaw, the director of attributes and product integrity at Lotus Cars, leads the dynamic development of their products. Amid some sideways action at Hethel, he explains the Emira’s performance on both the track and the road on the video.

“With the 3.5-liter V-6 configuration and the supercharger, you start an acceleration from as low as 1,500 rpm,” he said. “The car just pulls and pulls and pulls, getting stronger and stronger as the revs increase. This is what a real sports car feels like.”

The video also allows Kershaw to expand on the car’s driving performance, and four different driving modes – Tour, for maximum stability and control; Sport, for increased body slip and throttle response; Race, with even greater motorsport-derived dynamics and a revised instrument cluster; and Fully Off, where the stability control is completely disengaged.

Posted on

904 EVENTS CALENDAR DECEMBER 15, 2021

Jacksonville Car Culture events calendar

Caffeine and Octane Jacksonville: It’s 8 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, January 8 at The Avenues mall’s south side at 10300 Southside Blvd. Cars should start arriving by 7 a.m., the best way in through Malabar Boulevard off Southside Boulevard.

Next month, we highlight Classic Japanese Vehicles in a special display within the Central Lot.

Submit your ride for consideration here to join the estimated 1,000-plus cars, trucks and more at the free cruise-in. Caffeine and Octane Jacksonville is an all makes, all models show, and remember – parking spots are first come/first serve.
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.

Event news

The Amelia Concours d’Elegance offers heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of racing superstar Al Unser Sr., the event’s 2017 honoree.

Unser Sr. died Dec. 9 at his home in Chama, New Mexico, his wife Susan by his side, according to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

“When we started to think about an honoree for 2017, Big Al seemed like the perfect choice,” Chairman Emeritus and concours founder Bill Warner said. “He proved us right, accepting our invitation with the modesty that has practically become his trademark. He always had time for his fans and was never too busy to stop and talk and sign as many autographs as necessary to keep his fans happy. He was a pure racer day or night, regardless of the venue or the weather. Big Al made us proud to be called ‘The Racers’ Concours’.”

Unser Sr. won the Indy 500 four times. Unser’s Indianapolis 500, and is the only Indy winner to have both a brother and a son who are “500” winners. “Big Al” led the most Indy 500 laps in history.

 Photo courtesy of The Amelia Concours d’Elegance/ Deremer Studios, LLC

 Al Unser Sr. at the 2017 Amelia Concours. Photo courtesy of The Amelia Concours d’Elegance/Deremer Studios LLC.

In 1970, the year of his first Indy 500 victory, Unser won a record 10 times to capture the United States Auto Club’s National Championship. In 1978 he became the only racer to win all three national championship 500-mile races in a single season. An accomplished road racer, Unser won the 1985 Rolex 24 at Daytona with AJ Foyt, Bob Wollek and Thierry Boutsen. Like his family, he had a genetic predisposition for winning multiple Pikes Peak Hill climbs (1964 & ’65).

“With Unser Sr’s passing, the racing community lost a hero and the world lost a true gentlemen,” Amelia chairman and Hagerty CEO McKeel Hagerty. “His inspirational prowess on the track and generous spirit towards his fans remind us that while we love great race cars, they need a gifted driver to become iconic.”

The Amelia Concours d’Elegance is less than three months away, and here’s the link for what’s coming up, including the growing schedule of events and 2022’s featured classes: Ferrari (75th Anniversary); Lincoln (100th Anniversary); Waterhouse; Gurney Eagles; NASCAR; Porsche (Aluminum Race Cars); Indy Roadsters; Davis; Motorcycles; the 60th Anniversary of the 24 Hours of Daytona and the 70th Anniversary of the 12 Hours of Sebring.

The Amelia’s Cars & Coffee at the Concours is set for Saturday, March 5, allowing people with vintage, exotic, and collectible vehicles to gather on the same show field used to display vehicles entered in the following day’s prestigious Concours d’Elegance.

And speaking about The Amelia, congratulations to Jacksonville’s Gemstone Media and Producer Ray Hays for their second Emmy for Special Event Coverage, namely “Winning Amelia,” all about the 25th annual concours. The Emmy was presented at last weekend’s National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Suncoast Emmy Awards.

Hayes, who had his Mercedes-Benz 190 SL Pagoda at Saturday’s Caffeine and Octane, called it “at once thrilling and humbling.”

“It is always a reminder that it is a team effort and Gemstone Media has one of the finest teams anywhere,” he wrote in announcing the award on Facebook. “I’m proud that my 6th Emmy was the second with Gemstone.”

What was his first with Gemstone?

“Winning Amelia,” another hour-long documentary that catalogued the 24th annual Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance, held in early March of 2019.

Here’s a trailer for the show: https://vimeo.com/442043990, which has a quick interview with honoree Roger Penske, and Al Unser Sr. in one of his Johnny Lightning Indy cars.

Now the Car Shows:

Third annual Car Show: 8 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 8 at the Suwanee County Coliseum, 1302 11th St. in Live Oak. Proceeds support RIVEROAK SkillsUSA for local veterans.

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.

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.

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.

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: 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.

NEW – Crossroad Cruise-in: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. each first Saturday at Crossroad Church at 10005 Gate Parkway 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.

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 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.

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.

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. Yes, it will be held Christmas Day.

And finally….

Speaking of Amelia again and another past honoree, something special occurred with the late, great Sir Stirling Moss’s most famous race car.

“The Last Blast” is a new short film by Mercedes-Benz Classic that shows Moss’s Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR, in which he won the 1955 Mille Miglia with Denis “Jenks” Jenkinson as his navigator, making its last run through London before it’s parked at a museum.

The police-escorted drive celebrates the life of Moss, who died on April 12, 2020 at the age of 90. Filming took place at the end of September in London, where he lived for more than 60 years. But it was a city that the famous Mercedes-Benz racing car, with its legendary Mille Miglia starting number of 722, has never been driven before.

It was a famous victory for Mercedes-Benz, surviving the 1955 road race from Brescia to Rome and back. And it is in Moss’s honor that the company had the straight-eight engine howl for one last blast on a drive across central London before the car is retired, returning to its permanent home in the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart.

This same car was the steed for Moss when he drove it onto the 2015 Amelia Island Concours show field, his second time as honoree after being feted at the inaugural event. Here is the car under the spotlights the night before at the Mercedes-Benz gala dinner, Moss and Lady Susie seated just a table away.

The new film sees No. 722 head past the Houses of Parliament, Trafalgar Square, the Royal Automobile Club and the Ritz hotel, even passing what was Sir Stirling’s very own 300 SL “Gullwing” before parking at his home in a Mayfair mews with his son, Elliot Moss, in front of the door looking at the watch his father wore for many years. It’s exactly 7:22 a.m., the original start time of Moss and Jenkinson’s Mille Miglia entry.

Posted on

904 Events Calendar December 8, 2021

Jacksonville Car Culture events calendar

Caffeine and Octane Jacksonville: It’s 8 to 11 a.m. this Saturday at The Avenues mall’s south side at 10300 Southside Blvd. Cars should start arriving by 7 a.m., the best way in through Malabar Boulevard off Southside Boulevard.

In anticipation of the Christmas holiday, please bring a new unwrapped toy in support of Toys for Tots.

Caffeine and Octane Jacksonville is an all makes, all models show, and remember – parking spots are first come/first serve.

This month, we highlight Cadillacs, Lincoln Continentals and Chevrolet Corvairs in a special display within the Central Lot.

Submit your ride for consideration.

Submit your Cadillac here: https://form.123formbuilder.com/6037066/

Submit your Continental here: https://form.123formbuilder.com/6037076/

Submit your Corvair here: https://form.123formbuilder.com/6037078/


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.

Event news

The Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance is less than three months away, and you can sign up for ticket information – coming soon – at ameliaconcours.org/ticket.aspx.

Meanwhile, the Porsche Club of America is hosting its annual Werks Reunion Amelia Island on Friday, March 4, at the Amelia River Golf Club. Not associated with the Amelia Concours, the event is open for Porsche owners interested in participating must register in one of two categories: Porsche Corral displayed alongside others in its model type. Corral participants are not considered in judged competition; and the Porsche Judged Field, competing against other owners to take home a Werks Reunion Award.

Car check-in starts at 7 a.m., all cars on field by 9 a.m. for judging from 9:30 a.m., to noon. Awards held from 2 to 3 p.m.

Youth Judging sponsored by Hagerty starts at 10:30 a.m.

Online registration for Werks Reunion Amelia Island opens on Wednesday, December 15, at motorsportreg.com/calendar.

Now the Car Shows:

Christmas on Call Street Car Show: 2:30 to 6 p.m. Saturday Dec. 11, in the Call Street Historic District bordered by Jefferson, Cherry, Madison and Temple streets in Starke. Free to cars and spectators, all vehicle types and years are welcome. All vehicles that participate can take part in a 6 p.m. holiday parade.

Toys for Tots car show: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday Dec. 11, at Golden Isle Church of God, 20 Boswell Lane in Brunswick, Ga. Free for spectators and $20 per show vehicle, or a new unwrapped toy. Donations go to the area Toys for Tots program.

Toys 4 Tots Car and Truck Show: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 12, at the WW Ranch Motorcross Park, 1439 Otis Road in Jacksonville. Spectators are asked to bring a canned good or donation for the needy, while show vehicle registration is $20. Live music from Beau and The Burners, sponsored by the Callahan Cruisers.

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.

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.

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: 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.

NEW – Crossroad Cruise-in: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. each first Saturday at Crossroad Church at 10005 Gate Parkway 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.

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 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.

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.

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….

Photo courtesy of Hagerty

There was a pretty special “Cars and Caffeine” event on Wall Street this week, to celebrate that shares of its common stock and warrants began trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbols HGTY and HGTY.WS, respectively.

The automotive lifestyle brand that recently purchased the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance, and is a leading specialty insurance provider focused on the global automotive enthusiast market, rang the opening bell during a unique “Cars & Caffeine Wall Street” featuring a special 1967 Porsche 911S, the first-ever production Duesenberg and the 24 Hours of Le Mans-winning 1966 Ford GT40 race car.

“This is a huge moment for our brand, our team and our purpose to save driving and car culture for future generations,” McKeel Hagerty said. “There are millions upon millions of people out there who love cars, not so they can get from Point A to Point B but because cars are fun, exciting and fulfilling. As a public company, we are well-positioned to give car lovers more of what they want – cool events, shared experiences, automotive intel and resources, along with best-in-class insurance and amazing service.”

Hagerty insures 2 million cars globally, the company’s portfolio of automotive offerings including Hagerty Drivers Club (1.8 million members), HDC magazine (1.2 million readership), Hagerty YouTube (1.75 million subscribers), three major concours events, a nationwide collection of premium social and car storage membership facilities called Hagerty Garage + Social, and DriveShare, a peer-to-peer service that lets people rent vintage and cool enthusiast vehicles.

“We have built Hagerty to optimize growth across the vast automotive enthusiast market, which today stands strong at over 69 million enthusiasts in the U.S. alone,” Hagerty said. “Our goal is not only to provide car lovers with great insurance, but to help them connect with one another and have fun with their cars. We are focused on preserving the parts of driving that created American car culture in the first place – family, fun, community, competition, road trips and so much more.

Hagerty said being listed on the NYSE marks the start of an exciting new chapter in the company history, adding he is confident that it has sufficient capital to advance its strategy. That strategy remains focused on investing in its digital user experience to support and accelerate membership growth while expanding its portfolio of engaging and exciting car-focused events and services, he added.

Posted on

904 EVENTS CALENDAR DECEMBER 1, 2021

Jacksonville Car Culture events calendar

Caffeine and Octane Jacksonville: It’s coming up soon — 8 to 11 a.m. next Saturday, Dec. 11, at The Avenues mall’s south side at 10300 Southside Blvd. Cars should start arriving by 7 a.m., the best way in through Malabar Boulevard off Southside Boulevard.

In anticipation of the Christmas holiday, please bring a new unwrapped toy in support of Toys for Tots.

Caffeine and Octane Jacksonville is an all makes, all models show, and remember – parking spots are first come/first serve.

This month, we highlight Cadillacs, Lincoln Continentals and Chevrolet Corvairs in a special display within the Central Lot.

Submit your ride for consideration.

Submit your Cadillac here: https://form.123formbuilder.com/6037066/

Submit your Continental here: https://form.123formbuilder.com/6037076/

Submit your Corvair here: https://form.123formbuilder.com/6037078/


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.

Event news

For 63 years, barring last year’s COVID-19 postponement, the Volusia Region Antique Automobile Club of America, city of Ormond Beach and local merchants host the annual Gaslight Parade down East Granada Boulevard on the day after Thanksgiving. The parade features antique cars that date to 1996 and older, and have featured everything from Stanley Steamers and Meyers Manx dune buggies to Ford Model Ts and hulking hard rubber-tired REO trucks. This year’s gathering, aimed at mostly un-hot rodded rides, began with Model Ts and ended with an assortment of buggies both domestic and foreign, to the delight of hundreds lining the Boulevard from the historic Casements mansion to Atlantic Avenue and south to the city limit.

Here’s just a handful of combustion-driven cars that took off on the nighttime cruise:

Highlights included:

  • An original Citroen 2CV
  • Grassroots Motorsports/Classic Motorsports publisher Tim Suddard’s red and white 1959 Edsel Villager with classic boat on board
  • An Amphicar Model 770, an amphibious car made from ’61 to ’68.
  • A 1954 Chevrolet Corvette
  • A Herbie the Love Bug recreation

Motorsports events:

Nitro Rallycross at The FIRM: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the Florida International Rally & Motorsport Park at 7266 Airport Rd, Starke. NASCAR star Chase Elliott just announced he will compete in the rallycross finale against drivers like Tanner Foust, Scott Speed and Travis Pastrana on steep berms, banked turns and 100-ft gap jumps at the track.

“I’m really looking forward to racing in Nitro RX at the season finale in Florida,” Elliott said it a news release. “I enjoy the challenge of trying out other forms of racing and have recently taken up dirt racing, so getting in a rallycross car is really appealing. Nitro RX is thrilling to watch and from what Travis Pastrana and some of the other drivers have told me, it is just as thrilling to be behind the wheel. I can’t wait.”

Two-day standing room general admission – $36 each. Two-day grandstand seating – $50 each. Two-day VIP with cash bar – $139 each. Get information here, while tickets can be purchased at nitrorallycross.com/calendar. Fans can also watch live on Peacock.

Now all the Car Shows:

Pearl Harbor Commemoration: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at The Military Museum of North Florida at 1 Bunker Ave, Green Cove Springs, off Florida 16. The event begins with a ceremony, plus car show, re-enactors and a military collector show.

Christmas on Call Street Car Show: 2:30 to 6 p.m. Saturday Dec. 11, in the Call Street Historic District bordered by Jefferson, Cherry, Madison and Temple streets in Starke. Free to cars and spectators, all vehicles types and years are welcome. All vehicles that participate can take part in a 6 p.m. holiday parade.

Toys for Tots car show: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday Dec. 11, at Golden Isle Church of God, 20 Boswell Lane in Brunswick, Ga. Free for spectators and $20 per show vehicle, or a new unwrapped toy. Donations go to the area Toys for Tots program.

Toys 4 Tots Car and Truck Show: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 12, at the WW Ranch Motorcross Park, 1439 Otis Road in Jacksonville. Spectators are asked to bring a canned good or donation for the needy, while show vehicle registration is $20. Live music from Beau and The Burners, sponsored by the Callahan Cruisers.

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.

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: 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.

NEW – Crossroad Cruise-in: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. each first Saturday at Crossroad Church at 10005 Gate Parkway 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.

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 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.

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.

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….

The man who unveiled his 1,817-hp Venom F5 hypercar at the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance earlier this year with its twin-turbo V-8 is showing off his next ground-bound rocket ship – a six-wheel-drive, fully electric Hyper-GT codenamed “Project Deep Space.” Texas-based John Hennessey revealed it as part of its 10-year product plan that will see three all-new ground-up models created over the next decade. Expected to start at $3 million. Hennessey calls it an ultra-luxurious grand tourer that can transport four along with four sets of golf clubs, plus luggage.

“Hennessey has spent more than 30 years building some of the fastest and most exciting vehicles in the world,” explains company CEO & founder, John Hennessey. “… We believe that ‘Deep Space,’ with six electric motors combined with six driven wheels, could be the world’s quickest accelerating four-seater from zero to 200 mph!”

The passenger cabin has diamond-shaped seating positions, with the driver centrally located. Hennessey Special Vehicles will construct the new electric hyper-GT at its production facility in Sealy, Texas, working with technology partners including Shell Pennzoil and Delta Cosworth to develop the electrified powertrain.

Full specifications are yet to be announced, but production will be capped at 105 units globally, planned to begin in 2026. HennesseySpecialVehicles.com.

Posted on

904 Events Calendar December 1, 2021

Jacksonville Car Culture events calendar

Caffeine and Octane Jacksonville: It’s coming up soon — 8 to 11 a.m. next Saturday, Dec. 11, at The Avenues mall’s south side at 10300 Southside Blvd. Cars should start arriving by 7 a.m., the best way in through Malabar Boulevard off Southside Boulevard.

In anticipation of the Christmas holiday, please bring a new unwrapped toy in support of Toys for Tots.

Caffeine and Octane Jacksonville is an all makes, all models show, and remember – parking spots are first come/first serve.

This month, we highlight Cadillacs, Lincoln Continentals and Chevrolet Corvairs in a special display within the Central Lot.

Submit your ride for consideration.

Submit your Cadillac here: https://form.123formbuilder.com/6037066/

Submit your Continental here: https://form.123formbuilder.com/6037076/

Submit your Corvair here: https://form.123formbuilder.com/6037078/


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.

Event news

For 63 years, barring last year’s COVID-19 postponement, the Volusia Region Antique Automobile Club of America, city of Ormond Beach and local merchants host the annual Gaslight Parade down East Granada Boulevard on the day after Thanksgiving. The parade features antique cars that date to 1996 and older, and have featured everything from Stanley Steamers and Meyers Manx dune buggies to Ford Model Ts and hulking hard rubber-tired REO trucks. This year’s gathering, aimed at mostly un-hot rodded rides, began with Model Ts and ended with an assortment of buggies both domestic and foreign, to the delight of hundreds lining the Boulevard from the historic Casements mansion to Atlantic Avenue and south to the city limit.

Here’s just a handful of combustion-driven cars that took off on the nighttime cruise:

Highlights included:

  • An original Citroen 2CV
  • Grassroots Motorsports/Classic Motorsports publisher Tim Suddard’s red and white 1959 Edsel Villager with classic boat on board
  • An Amphicar Model 770, an amphibious car made from ’61 to ’68.
  • A 1954 Chevrolet Corvette
  • A Herbie the Love Bug recreation

Motorsports events:

Nitro Rallycross at The FIRM: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the Florida International Rally & Motorsport Park at 7266 Airport Rd, Starke. NASCAR star Chase Elliott just announced he will compete in the rallycross finale against drivers like Tanner Foust, Scott Speed and Travis Pastrana on steep berms, banked turns and 100-ft gap jumps at the track.

“I’m really looking forward to racing in Nitro RX at the season finale in Florida,” Elliott said it a news release. “I enjoy the challenge of trying out other forms of racing and have recently taken up dirt racing, so getting in a rallycross car is really appealing. Nitro RX is thrilling to watch and from what Travis Pastrana and some of the other drivers have told me, it is just as thrilling to be behind the wheel. I can’t wait.”

Two-day standing room general admission – $36 each. Two-day grandstand seating – $50 each. Two-day VIP with cash bar – $139 each. Get information here, while tickets can be purchased at nitrorallycross.com/calendar. Fans can also watch live on Peacock.

Now all the Car Shows:

Pearl Harbor Commemoration: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at The Military Museum of North Florida at 1 Bunker Ave, Green Cove Springs, off Florida 16. The event begins with a ceremony, plus car show, re-enactors and a military collector show.

Christmas on Call Street Car Show: 2:30 to 6 p.m. Saturday Dec. 11, in the Call Street Historic District bordered by Jefferson, Cherry, Madison and Temple streets in Starke. Free to cars and spectators, all vehicles types and years are welcome. All vehicles that participate can take part in a 6 p.m. holiday parade.

Toys for Tots car show: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday Dec. 11, at Golden Isle Church of God, 20 Boswell Lane in Brunswick, Ga. Free for spectators and $20 per show vehicle, or a new unwrapped toy. Donations go to the area Toys for Tots program.

Toys 4 Tots Car and Truck Show: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 12, at the WW Ranch Motorcross Park, 1439 Otis Road in Jacksonville. Spectators are asked to bring a canned good or donation for the needy, while show vehicle registration is $20. Live music from Beau and The Burners, sponsored by the Callahan Cruisers.

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.

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: 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.

NEW – Crossroad Cruise-in: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. each first Saturday at Crossroad Church at 10005 Gate Parkway 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.

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 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.

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.

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….

The man who unveiled his 1,817-hp Venom F5 hypercar at the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance earlier this year with its twin-turbo V-8 is showing off his next ground-bound rocket ship – a six-wheel-drive, fully electric Hyper-GT codenamed “Project Deep Space.” Texas-based John Hennessey revealed it as part of its 10-year product plan that will see three all-new ground-up models created over the next decade. Expected to start at $3 million. Hennessey calls it an ultra-luxurious grand tourer that can transport four along with four sets of golf clubs, plus luggage.

“Hennessey has spent more than 30 years building some of the fastest and most exciting vehicles in the world,” explains company CEO & founder, John Hennessey. “… We believe that ‘Deep Space,’ with six electric motors combined with six driven wheels, could be the world’s quickest accelerating four-seater from zero to 200 mph!”

The passenger cabin has diamond-shaped seating positions, with the driver centrally located. Hennessey Special Vehicles will construct the new electric hyper-GT at its production facility in Sealy, Texas, working with technology partners including Shell Pennzoil and Delta Cosworth to develop the electrified powertrain.

Full specifications are yet to be announced, but production will be capped at 105 units globally, planned to begin in 2026. HennesseySpecialVehicles.com.

Posted on

904 Events Calendar November 17, 2021

Jacksonville Car Culture events calendar

Caffeine and Octane Jacksonville: The next one is set for 8 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 12, at The Avenues mall’s south side at 10300 Southside Blvd. Cars should start arriving by 7 a.m., the best way in through Malabar Boulevard off Southside Boulevard.

Cadillacs, Continentals and Covairs will be highlighted yet at this pre-holiday event, all showcased in a special display within the Central Lot. 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.

Jacksonville Car Culture Jekyll Island Holiday Lights Tour: Friday and Saturday, December 3 and 4.

The event begins at 5:30 p.m. on that Friday with a cruise up to Jekyll Island, departing from the River City Marketplace at 13221 City Center Blvd. starts at 5:30pm. The ride heads to Jekyll Island, Ga. to cruise among the holiday lights, then a one-night stay one night at the Courtyard Jekyll Island or Residence Inn Jekyll Island. Jekyll Island boasts more than 500,000 holiday lights, with more 35,000 on a great tree alone. The cruise is limited to 50 vehicles and will include a stop along the way, an outdoor patio reception at the Courtyard Jekyll Island.

Cost: $100 per vehicle plus hotel room, fees and taxes. Additional passengers are $20 per person. One night at Courtyard Jekyll Island or Residence Inn Jekyll Island is $159 plus fees/taxes. It includes two beverage tickets per vehicle for the patio reception at the hotel at the conclusion of the cruise on Friday night; digital photo of your vehicle by Deremer Studios; and exclusive 8 to 10 a.m. Saturday Caffeine and Octane for cruise entrants – entrants are asked to please bring an unwrapped toy for Toys for Tots.

Deremer Studios

The event wraps at about 11 a.m. on Saturday.

Show news

Ponte Vedra Auto Show: The 2021 Ponte Vedra Auto Show returned last Sunday under the direction of Justin Felker and St. Augustine’s Art ‘n Motion with almost 300 cars and trucks on show at the event field at 245 Nocatee Center Way in Ponte Vedra Beach, and it is free and open to any classic or modern sports car, motorcycle or specialty/exotic.

The Best in Show was a silver Mercedes-Benz 190SL roadster owned by   Sam Joiner.

The Classic European class winner – a blue Mercedes-Benz 280SE owned by Don Glisson.

The Best of Europe was a Mercedes-Benz SL 63 owned by David Wommer; the Jeep vs. Bronco Class was a CJ5 owned by Laura Geisel.

The Viper Class winner was Ben Bobbitt’s, parked next to a rare Brazilian-built Puma GTE sports car.

The American Classic class winner was Mark Becker’s Chrysler Town and Country Convertible.

The Most Super Supra was Loi Tran’s Toyota Supra, while the Pre-War Vintage class winner is a Cadillac Model 60 Convertible Coupe owned by Gregg Romero, and the Asian Excellence winner was a pristine white Toyota Crown owned by Alan Dickerson. The Classic Corvette class winner was owned by Ronnie Edge, while the Classic Porsche class winner was a Porsche 356SC   owned by Lew Bednarczuk.

The Most Original class winner was the  Jaguar D Type owned by Andre Desmarais, as seen behind this larger Jag.

And possibly the most amazing creation an actual street-legal 2001 Reynard IndyCar, which shot foot-long flames when revved as it entered the show field, painted in its original Visteon livery. Note the headlights, Mickey Thompson treaded tires for crucial ground clearance, and a taillight assembly in back, a stock block V-8 in place of the original’s Toyota race engine. Mariz Automobili just posted a video on the car as it left the show and hit the road at night, as filmed with a wicked BMW camera car also at the show, and edited by Fastrmedia @fastrmedia.

This was its second appearance that weekend for the IndyCar, having wowed crowds, and Caffeine and Octane Jacksonville chief honcho Chris Brewer, when it cruised in the day before at The Avenues.

And if that’s not enough, a 1966 Batmobile replica from St. Augustine – to the Bat Cave!

The show is held in association with the St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce and the St. Johns County Tourism Development Council.

Motorsports events:

Nitro Rallycross at The FIRM: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 4 and 5, at the Florida International Rally & Motorsport Park at 7266 Airport Rd, Starke. Teams with drivers like Tanner Foust and Travis Pastrana will race on steep berms, banked turns and 100-ft gap jumps at the track. Two-day standing room general admission – $36 each. Two-day grandstand seating – $50 each. Two-day VIP with cash bar – $139 each. Get information here, and reserve tickets here.

Now all the Car Shows:

24th Annual VW Turkey Run: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday at the Classic Car Museum of St. Augustine, 4730 Dixie Highway South/U.S. 1 in Saint Augustine. Proceeds benefiting the Spastic Paraplegic Foundation.

Pearl Harbor Commemoration: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 4, at The Military Museum of North Florida at 1 Bunker Ave, Green Cove Springs, off Florida 16. The event begins with a ceremony, plus car show, re-enactors and a military collector show.

Toys for Tots car show: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday Dec. 11, at Golden Isle Church of God, 20 Boswell Lane in Brunswick, Ga. Free for spectators and $20 per show vehicle, or a new unwrapped toy. Donations go to the area Toys for Tots program.

Toys 4 Tots Car and Truck Show: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 12, at the WW Ranch Motorcross Park, 1439 Otis Road in Jacksonville. Spectators are asked to bring a canned good or donation for the needy, while show vehicle registration is $20. Live music from Beau and The Burners, sponsored by the Callahan Cruisers.

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.

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: 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.

NEW – Crossroad Cruise-in: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. each first Saturday at Crossroad Church at 10005 Gate Parkway 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.

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 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.

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.

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….

Maserati showed off its new Grecale on Tuesday by arranging its 80 prototypes in the shape of the company’s famed logo, a trident, in a record-breaking shot. The outline was 328 feet long. Maserati says it has more than 250 development models distributed across Japan and the United States, United Arab Emirates and China, Finland and Italy.

The Grecale is a compact SUV due to be released this spring, its name derived a Mediterranean wind, which is a Maserati tradition, It slots below the Levante, sharing its platform with the Alfa Romeo Stelvio crossover. The Grecale was originally set to be unveiled officially this week, but supply chain problems have caused some of its key components to be lacking, it said.