Here’s an idea we encourage all sorts of car clubs and event organizers to consider: The Zoute Grand Prix is a multi-event vintage vehicle celebration scheduled for August near the North Sea coast of Belgium. Among those events is the Zoute Generations Rally, scheduled for August 28.
“Beautiful to look at, tricky to master: driving a classic car requires skill and experience, qualities that age like fine wine,” the organizers note. “Because we want to pass on the passion for classic cars from generation to generation, we present to you, the Zoute Generations Rally, a concept that will fit your enthusiastic spirits.”
This rally is restricted to cars produced between the start of 1920 and the end of 1975 and is open to family teams and designed “to introduce the younger generations to the love of historic cars.”
There actually will be two rallies under the generations banner — a regularity rally with timed events, and a touring rally, a slower and shorter event.
With safety in mid, there were will be a series of what the organizers are calling “tests,” explaining that these rally stages are designed with the idea of “teaching our younger amateurs how to properly drive and master their beloved oldtimer” vehicles.
The rally begins at 7 a.m. in Ronse and ends with a barbecue at 7 p.m.
“Whether you want to participate together with your son, daughter, godson, goddaughter, (step)mom, (step)dad or grandparents, everyone is welcome at this wonderful summer rally,” the organizers add.
This is a wonderful idea that other classic car groups can and should emulate.
Fort Lauderdale concours set for October 29
In 2019, Maria Jannace created the New York Concours and on October 29 she plans to expand what she’s coined the Rooftop Concours Series with a new event in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
“As a former resident and small business owner of Fort Lauderdale, I’m thrilled to bring our concours series to my other favorite city which so perfectly mirrors the vibrant art scene and pulsating energy of New York.” Jannace is quoted in the announcement.
Jannace founded Maxim Creative and Sports Management groups and also has previous experience with Lime Rock Park and the Greenwich Concours d’Elegance.
“The concours features a lively party atmosphere that celebrates the country’s love affair with the car and the special place it holds in our zeitgeist. Displaying a sophisticated gallery of automobiles that overlooks the ‘Venice of America’ during sunset, creates a truly stunning visual and emotional experience.”
The rooftop to be used for the concours is the Las Olas Parking Garage at the Intracoastal Waterway, which Jannace says will offer a 360-degree view of the skyline, beach and marina.
The concours is scheduled to coincide with the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, October 27-31.
Nocona celebrates Great Race visit
In its heyday, the north Texas town of Nocona was known for producing cowboy boots and baseball gloves. In 2013, native son Pete Horton returned and opened a car museum and staged the Cruisin’ Nocona weekend.
On June 18-20, the town of 3,000 hosts Cruisin’ Nocona, Great Race Edition as the cross-country event for vintage vehicles visits the community.
The weekend program includes burgers and dogs at the VFW Post, a cruise, fish fry, street dance, church service and car show.
Vintage red-bus tours resume at Glacier park
Once upon a time, people touring national parks in the west were carried on White Motor Company buses, yellow buses for Yellowstone National Park and red ones at Glacier National Park. For the 2021 season, Glacier again is offered Red Bus tours in vintage equipment.
The Glacier buses were introduced in 1914. The current fleet includes buses produced in the 1930s.
Buses in the Glacier fleet, comprising 33 White Model 706 units, each seat 17 people and have roll-back canvas roofs for optimal viewing. The buses operate on gasoline and propane for a 93 percent reduction in emissions.
Lotus Eleven is London’s Best in Show
A well-preserved Lotus Eleven LM50 that was a works entry for races in France in 1957, and later was owned by Carroll Shelby Sports Cars, won Best in Show honors at the London Concours 2021.
The car originally was driven by Herbert Mackay-Fraser, an American known as “Mac” Fraser, concours officials noted – he also was the first Lotus works driver to die in competition. In addition to being owned by Shelby, the car was driven in US races by Jim Hall.
The Lotus returned to the UK in the 1970s and was restored in 2006. Since then, has competed in vintage racing events, winning the Madgwick Cup race at the 2017 Goodwood Revival.
Scrambles return to Bicester Heritage
Bicester Heritage, the British RAF training site that has been transformed into a collector car event facility and business center, staged its first post-pandemic Scramble earlier this month with around 4,000 visitors attending each of two days.
Among the highlights was a reunion involving an original Blower Bentley, team car No. 2, and relatives of driver Tim Kirkin, including his grandson and great grandson, who arrived in their own 1927 3/4.5-liter Bentley.
Audrain Newport Concours adds auction
The Audrain Newport Concours & Motor Week, scheduled for September 30 to October 3 in Rhode Island, will include a Bonhams collector car auction, organizers have announced. The auction, featuring as many as 30 collector vehicles, will be held at the International Tennis Hall of Fame on October 1.
Off-Road Expo moves to Phoenix Raceway
The Off-Road Expo Arizona, a major showplace for off-road vehicles and equipment, will move to a new location for its 2021 event scheduled for September 11-12. The new location is Phoenix Raceway, the NASCAR track.
Britain’s Auto Royale concours canceled
With the British government extending its coronavirus pandemic restrictions, organizers of the Auto Royale Concours have announced the cancelation of that event, which was scheduled for July 16-18.
“Months of planning went into making sure that this was going to be something different on the British motoring calendar,” organizer Paul Mathers was quoted in the announcement. However, he added, “Our prime responsibility is making sure that people are safe and that the event that we organize works for our sponsors, participants and the general public and as things stand, we felt that we were unable to meet these obligations to the degree that we would wish.”
2021 car show and concours calendar
The following are dates currently set (but subject to change) for a variety of concours d’elegance, car shows and driving tours scheduled during 2021:
June
17-19, AACA Eastern Spring Nationals, Saratoga, New York; Simply VW, Beaulieu, UK; 18-19 – Micro-Mini Car World, Hickory Corners, Michigan; 19 – All Air-Cooled Gathering, Hickory Corners, Michigan; 19-27 – Great Race, Texas to South Carolina; 20 – Father’s Day, KC Auto Museum, Olathe; Blackhawk Museum, Danville, California; Rodeo Drive tour, Beverly Hills, California; Hot Rod & Custom cars, Beaulieu, UK; 25-26 – Carlisle GM Nationals, Pennsylvania; Star City Motor Madness, Roanoke, Virginia; Congress of Motorcars, Hickory Corners, Michigan; 26 – Miles through Time, Clarkesville, Georgia; Community Car Show, Barrington, Illinois; 27 – Oldsmobiles & Orphans, Hickory Corners, Michigan; Simply Jaguar, Beaulieu, UK
July
1-3 – AACA Central Spring Nationals, Auburn, Indiana; 2-4 Goodguys Heartland Nationals, Iowa; 3-4 – Austin 7 Rally, Beaulieu, UK; 8-10, Iola Car Show, Wisconsin; 8-11, Goodwood Festival of Speed, UK; 9 – Collector Car Appreciation Day; 9-11 – Carlisle Chrysler Nationals, Pennsylvania; Goodguys, Columbus, Ohio; 10 – Steam Day, Seal Cove, Maine; DeutscheMarques, Hickory Corners, Michigan; 11 – Mad Dogs & Englishmen, Hickory Corners, Michigan; Simply Land Rover, Beaulieu, UK; 11-16 – AACA Vintage Tour, Lock Haven/Wellsboro, Pennsylvania; 16-17 – Horseless Carriage Club, Hickory Corners, Michigan; 16-18 – Street Machine Nationals, St. Paul, Minnesota; Hillsborough concours, California; 17 — Philadelphia Concours d’Elegance, Pennsylvania; Albaugh Classic Car Show, Ankeny, Iowa; Simply Vauxhall, Beaulieu, UK; 17-18 – Classic Nostalgia, Shelsley Walsh, UK; 18, The Great Car Show, Kansas City; Classics on Main Street, Forest Grove, Oregon; Simply Ford, Beaulieu, UK; Corvette Envy, Hickory Corners, Michigan; 21 – Woodward Dream Cruise, Michigan; 22-24 – AACA Grand Nationals, New Ulm, Minnesota; 23-25 – Concours d’Elegance of America, Michigan; Goodguys Pacific Northwest, Payallup, Washington; 24 – Mopars At the Red Barns, Hickory Corners, Michigan; 25 – Simply Japanese, Beaulieu, UK; Ultimate Truck Show, Hickory Corners, Michigan; 31 – Hagerty Festival of the Unexceptional, Linconshire, UK.
August
1 – GM/Chevy Show, Hickory Corners, Michigan; 5-8 – Motor City Car Crawl, Detroit; 6 – Concours at Pasadera, Carmel Valley, California; 6-8 – Carlisle Truck Nationals, Pennsylvania; 7 – Red Barns Spectacular, Hickory Corners, Michigan; 7-8, Supercar weekend, Beaulieu, UK; 13 – The Quail, Carmel Valley, California; 14 – Lincoln Homecoming, Hickory Corners, Michigan; Concorso Italiano, Seaside, California; 13-15 – Goodguys Great Northwest Nationals, Spokane; 14-15 — AACA car show, Lindsay, Ontario; VW T(ransport) Chill, Beaulieu, UK: 15, Pebble Beach Concours, Monterey, California, 15 – Graham Walker Run (vintage motorcycles), Beaulieu, UK; 19 – EyesOn Design, Grosse Pointe Shores, Michigan; 20-22 – Goodguys Great American, York, Pennsylvania; 21 – Woodward Dream Cruise, northern Detroit suburbs; Back to the Bricks, Flint, Michigan; Relix Riot (hot rods and customs), Hickory Corners, Michigan; San Marino Motor Classic, Pasadena, California; 22 – Simply Mercedes, Beaulieu, UK; 24 – Import Showcase, Seal Cove, Maine; 26-28 – Corvettes at Carlisle, Pennsylvania; 27-29 – Goodguys WEst Coast, Pleasantom, California; 28 – Automobilia: Art & Design, Carmel, Indiana; 28-29 – Taste of Motorsports, Portland, Oregon; 29 – Pierce-Arrow Gathering, Hickory Corners, Michigan
Have an event to add? Email details to [email protected].
