Jacksonville (First Coast) Car Culture

Jacksonville Car Culture events calendar

Caffeine and Octane

The next Caffeine and Octane is set from 8 to 11 a.m. Saturday, December 10, at The Avenues mall’s Southside Boulevard parking lots.

Image courtesy Caffeine and Octane

This month, we celebrate MOPARS in a special display within the Central Lot. Submit your ride for consideration at www.caffeineandoctane.com. And it’s a holiday toy drive, so bring a new unwrapped toy for donation.

Cars should start arriving by 7 a.m. each Saturday to the Southside Boulevard side of the shopping mall, the best way in through Malabar Boulevard. As always, there will be a Porsche Jacksonville corner, exotics area, Classics Rows and more at the August C&O. And look for literally 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.

Gentle reminders – All vehicles parked in the Central Lot must remain in place until the show concludes at 11 a.m. Please Park in the Exhibit Lot if you need to leave prior to 11 a.m. Those parking in the Exotics Lot and the Porsche Corner are free to arrive and leave at any time.

And check out the official photos of last weekend’s C&O as lensed by Deremer Studios.

20th Annual Ponte Vedra Auto Show: Here’s some of what was arrayed across the Nocatee Station Event Field at 400 Nocatee Center Way in Ponte Vedra Beach a week ago.

Here’s the full list of winning classes, and a gander at some of them and more:

Yes – THAT Bobby Rahal – IndyCar legend and Ponte Vedra Beach resident – and his 1965 AC Cobra named Best of Show.

And here’s a sampling of the incredible 180-plus cars and specials on display:

Upcoming car events:

  Images courtesy Deremer Studios

Jacksonville Car Culture holds its annual December 2 and 3 Holiday Lights Tour and motoring event on Jekyll Island, with an optional cruise up to the site from the River City Marketplace at 5:30 p.m. the first night.

Jekyll Island is about 70 miles from downtown Jacksonville, a small fee required to enter the former winter vacation spot for the millionaires of old. The run includes the Jekyll Island holiday event, while participants can also reserve an overnight stay at the Courtyard Jekyll Island or Residence Inn Jekyll Island on December 2 and an exclusive Caffeine and Octane event on that Saturday.

The cruise is limited to 50 vehicles, cost:$100 for driver and passenger, plus the cost of the hotel room, base rate $169 plus fees/taxes. Participants are asked to bring an unwrapped toy for Wolfson Children’s Hospital. For full information and to register, go here.

And the upcoming cars shows….

Of course, it’s the Daytona Turkey Rod Run all weekend long at Daytona International Speedway: Get all your information, schedule and ticket costs right here at https://www.turkeyrun.com/.

Fall Cruisin’ to the Creek 2022: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, December 3, at Trout Creek Memorial Park and Marina at 6550 Florida 13 North in Saint Johns. Spectators are free; $25 show vehicle registration pre-show, and $30 day of show – register at carcouncil.org/show-registration. The annual show benefits the Ronald McDonald House of Jacksonville.

Jacksonville Corvette Club Toys for Tots/Safe Harbor Cruise-in: 10 a.m. to 1 pm. On Saturday, December 3, at the Classic Car Museum of St. Augustine at 4730 U.S. 1 S./Dixie Highway South in St Augustine. Spectators are free, show vehicles can offer an unwrapped new toy to enter. There’s a $100 prize for the best Christmas car decoration.

Holiday Matsuri Car Show at The FIRM (Florida International Rally and Moto Park): 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, December 3, at the road course and rally course at 7266 Airport Road in Starke. Called the largest single day drift event in Florida, it includes a Toys for Tots toy drive. No charge to be in the car show, with free parking. Drift event tickets are $20 per person at the gate ($15 if purchased online, see link).

Cruisin’ and Crossin’ 4 Kids Car, Truck and Motorcycle Show: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday Dec. 4, at the WW Ranch Motocross Park at 1439 Otis Road in Jacksonville. Spectators are $5 per adult. Kids under 10 free, while show vehicle are $30 each. Burnout contest at 1 p.m.

Riding into History Concours D’Elegance: Set for April 15, 2023, at the World Golf Village in St. Augustine, with Competition Motorcycles as the featured class and Grand Marshal Mary McGee, AMA Hall of Fame and Off Road Motorsports Hall of Fame inductee. McGee will join the Grand Marshal Tour that weekend, as well as the Grand Marshal Banquet. Riding into History is a non-profit organization with its primary charity, K9s for Warriors, which provides service dogs for disabled veterans. Riding into History has donated more than $600,000 to local charities since its founding in 1999.

The FIRM (Florida International Rally and Moto Park): Open Track Days held most weekends at the road course and rally course at 7266 Airport Road in Starke.

All the Cruise-ins

Clay County Cruzers, Callahan Cruisers and Amelia Cruizers all hold regular weekend cruise-ins, so check their Facebook pages.

Caffeine and Octane Jacksonville: 8 to 11 a.m. every second Saturday at The Avenues Mall at 10300 Southside Blvd. Information: https://bit.ly/3gPRvVQ.

North Florida Domestic Car Club’s cruise-in: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. each first Saturday of the month at a new site – the Crossroad Church UMC, 10005 Gate Parkway.

Caffeine and Gasoline: Free first Saturday of the month cruise-in at 7 to 10 a.m. Saturday November 5, at J-Tech Institute at 8813 Western Way in Jacksonville. House rules – “respect the property.”

Gripping Gears Car Meet: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the first Saturday of each month at Adamec Harley-Davidson at 380 Outlet Mall Blvd. in St. Augustine, presented by Jacksonville Headturners.

First Coast Car Council: All cruise-ins postponed

Callahan Cruisers: 4 to 7 p.m. every second Saturday at Hardee’s at 542309 U.S. 1 in Callahan.

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.

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

Cruise Fruit Cove: 3 to 7 p.m. every third Saturday at the PDQ at 194 Florida 13 in Saint Johns, just south of Julington Creek.

New cruise-in: 1 p.m. every third Saturday at Hardee’s at 6852 Wilson Blvd.

Amelia Cruizers: 3 to 6 p.m. every third Saturday at Cold Stone Creamery, 808 Sadler Road, Fernandina Beach. The Amelia Cruizers Car Club will stage a cruise to the ice cream store, staging at 2 p.m. in the parking lot next to the closed Krystal’s (2020 Sadler Road), then make an informal parade along the ocean and on Centre Street through downtown to end at Cold Stone.

Yulee Cars and Coffee: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. every third Sunday at the Sonic Drive-In at 463939 Florida 200 in Yulee.

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 Fleming Island at 1803 E. West Parkway; 5 p.m. every third Friday at Freddy’s Steakburgers at 386 Blanding Blvd.; 8 to 10 a.m. every fourth at Nicole’s Café at 1101Blanding Blvd. in Orange Park; and 2 to 5 p.m. every fourth Saturday at Gator’s Dockside Oakleaf, 316 Merchants Way, Jacksonville.

Classic Car Museum of St. Augustine monthly cruise-ins: St. Augustine Cruiser’s “Cruise In” from 5 to 7 p.m. every third Saturday, and Cars and Coffee from 8 to 10 a.m. every fourth Saturday, both at 4730 U.S. 1 S./Dixie Highway South in St Augustine.

Cars and Coffee Fleming Island: 8 a.m. every fourth Sunday of the month at 2310 Village Square Parkway, Fleming Island.

New cruise-in: 6 p.m. every fourth Saturday at Mission BBQ, 8440 Blanding Blvd. in Jacksonville, hosted by Modern Mustangs of Jacksonville.

New cruise-in: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. every fourth Saturday at the Rockin’ 50’s Eatery at 3501 N. Ponce De Leon Blvd. in St. Augustine.

New cruise-in: Custard Cruise-in from 5 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, July 5, at Culver’s, 3433 U.S. 1 in St. Augustine.

Show and Tell, 6 to 9 p.m. every fourth Thursday at Advance Auto Parts at 10014 Atlantic Blvd.

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…

Get your NASCAR motor running as the 28^th edition of The Amelia hosts stock car legend Jeff Gordon as will serve as honoree on March 2-5.

Photo courtesy The Amelia

The weekend’s events include a Saturday seminar featuring Gordon and NASCAR Hall of Fame crew chief Ray Evernham; chances to meet the legendary driver at Sunday’s concours; and a class of vehicles he drove and won in during his career.

“Jeff embodies the spirit of The Amelia, often referred to as ‘the racer’s concours,’” said McKeel Hagerty, CEO of Hagerty. “His incredible success on the track has made him a household name, but Jeff is more than a legendary driver. His charitable heart is on display at Jeff Gordon Children’s Foundation, where he has led the battle to find a cure for childhood cancer for more than two decades.”

Gordon joins a long line of racing honorees including Sir Stirling Moss (1996 & 2015), Richard Petty (2010), Roger Penske (2020) and Chip Ganassi (2022). Gordon’s former crew chief, Ray Evernham, is an Amelia regular. This year he will lead That Saturday seminar, “Jeff Gordon: The Hendrick Motorsports Years

Gordon is NASCAR’s winningest driver on road courses (nine wins) and restrictor-plate tracks (12). In January 2017, he became the first NASCAR Cup Series champion to win overall at the Rolex 24 at Daytona, joining A.J. Foyt, Mario Andretti and Jamie McMurray as the only drivers to win the prestigious sports car race and the Daytona 500.

In other news from The Amelia, Broad Arrow Auctions has been named the official auction house of the event, its inaugural auction set for March 4 at The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island.

As for The Amelia weekend, there’s the Porsche Winemaker’s Dinner, followed by Friday’s seminar: “Corvette at Le Mans,” plus a movie night featuring the film, “The Quest.” On Saturday, there’s Cars & Community includes RADwood, Concours d’Lemons, Youth Zone, Ride & Drives, a Bavarian beer garden and a curated Cars & Caffeine. On Saturday night, it is the Honoree Dinner at The Ritz-Carlton and Gordon.

On Sunday, The Amelia Concours d’Elegance will showcase 250 historically significant vehicles in 32 classes, including: Cars of Jeff Gordon, 120th Anniversary of Buick, Supercars Limited Production and Le Mans Winners.

Details and tickets are at AmeliaConcours.com.

An offroad supercar?

Yes – Automobili Lamborghini’s first super sports “all terrain” concept will be shown Nov. 28 to Dec. 4 at Art Basel in Miami Beach – the Huracán Sterrato.

Photo courtesy Lamborghini

The 2019 Huracán Sterrato concept combined the power of the V-10 engine, ground clearance increased with the approach and departure angle. The track width was increased on both axles, wide-walled tires inside wider wheel arches with integrated air intakes

The underbody and front frame of the Sterrato concept was reinforced, with integrated aluminum elements protected by an aluminum bulkhead, with the same material used for the side skirt reinforcements.

Finally – could they; would they?

Photo courtesy Mazda/EV Rider

A recent video from Mazda reported on by Jacksonville’s EV Rider Mazda just might have given us a brief glimpse of a future electric MX-5 Miata – check it out here.