“Due to the current situation in Europe,” Volkswagen’s commercial vehicles department is postponing the VW Bus Festival, scheduled for July 15-17, until late June 2023.
“We… understand the Bulli fans’ disappointment at the postponement,” said Lars Krause, VW commercial vehicles board member. “We hope that everyone will understand our decision. Today, no one knows what the situation will look like in July. However, we do not want to celebrate a festival when there is war in Europe and refugees arrive in Hanover and have to be cared for.”
The event typically draws thousands of VW camper vehicles (aka Bullis) to Hanover, Germany, the company noted.
Extreme E event race rescheduled
Another postponement due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is the postponement of the Island X Prix, second event of the Extreme E racing season, until July. The event had been scheduled for early May on an Italian military base on Sardinia, but the site has become too busy with military training activities, race officials said.
The new dates for the Island X event are July 4-10, during which there will be two racing events.
Extreme E also announced September 24-25 as the dates for the Copper X Prix in Chili and November 26-27 for the Energy X Prix in Uruguay.
New name for Monterey Jet Center event
What began as a pre-Monterey Car Week party at the Monterey Jet Center and grew into the McCall’s Motorworks Revival is getting a new name and some new features under its new ownership by Hagerty. The newly named Motorlux event is scheduled for August 17 and, Hagerty says, “remains faithful to its elegant entertaining roots while creating elevated and artfully curated experiences that celebrate automotive, aviation and culinary culture.”
“We are grateful to Gordon and Molly McCall for entrusting us as stewards of this prestigious gathering that they founded and grew into a world-class event,” Soon Hagerty, senior vice president of brand for the company led by her husband, McKeel, is quoted in the announcement. “Monterey Car Week is the most anticipated annual automotive event and we’re dedicated to ensuring that Motorlux remains the benchmark celebration of cars, craft and community that sets the stage for the days to come.”
In addition to “refinements throughout” the event, Motorlux in 2022 will include a live auction preview, displaying around 80 vehicles that will be offered up for bidding the following day in the inaugural Broad Arrow Auctions sale.
The Hagerty announcement noted that Motorlux will continue to raise funds for the CHP 11-99 Foundation, which helps families of California Highway Patrol officers in times of need.
Hagerty staging British hillclimb event
Hagerty promises “an eclectic mix of cars” will tackle the historic hillclimb course at Shelsley Walsh when the company stages its inaugural event at the British site on May 28.
The official competition will be open to 50 competition and road cars, but spectators will be offered three ticket options, one of which will include not only a special viewing area but the opportunity to drive their own vehicle up the hillclimb course.
Hagerty also will offer vehicle valuation inspections at the event.
“Hagerty has long championed for classic vehicles to be used as intended and what better reason than to drive the hill at Shelsley Walsh, one of the oldest motorsport venues in the country?” Hagerty International managing director Mark Roper is quoted in the company’s announcement.
British concours honors ‘pioneering women’
As part of its 10th anniversary celebration, Britain’s Concours of Elegance, aka the Royal Concours, will feature a concours within a concours. The Levitt concours is named for Dorothy Levitt, a land speed record-holder from the early 20th Century, and will celebrate pioneering women with a 30-car display of woman-owned vehicles.
The events are scheduled for September 3 at Hampton Court Palace in London.
71st Sacramento Autorama
The 71st annual Sacramento Autorama will be held inside the Cal Expo Fairgrounds from April 29-May 1, with more than 500 custom vehicles on display. Another 400 vehicles are expected for the 14th annual Sacramento Autorama Drive-In event held outdoors at the fairgrounds.
In addition to the vehicles, a pinstriper charity fundraiser will be offered with personal items striped for a small fee to benefit the University of California Davis Children’s Hospital.
5th Greenbrier concours is May 6-8
The fifth annual Greenbrier Concours d’Elegance is scheduled for May 6-8 at the famed resort in West Virginia.
The weekend begins May 6 with the Summit Drive tour to New River Gorge National Park May 7 features a Cars and Cocktails showcase and a charity dinner with a Kentucky Derby theme — and with pre-Derby races shown on televisions and a menu featuring mint juleps
The concours is May 8 and includes unrestored cars as the featured class.
76th Glidden tours ‘Revolutionary Roads’
The 76th Revival AAA Glidden tour is scheduled for September 25-30, with registration opening May 1. The 2022 event is based in Princeton, New Jersey, and the route will explore “Revolutionary Roads” in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
Porsche festival returns to Indy
The second Porsche Sports Car Together Fest, billed as the world’s largest gathering of GT cars, has been scheduled for September 2-4 and will spotlight the 50th anniversary of the RS model, Porsche has announced.
RS is short for Rennsport, the German word for “racing.” Events planned for the Indy event include a special exhibition of Porsche performance models, the Porsche Classic Restoration Challenge, an Esports championship, a Porsche lifestyle showcase, and Rounds 13 and 14 of the porsche Carrera Cup North America racing series.
Audrain, Bonhams extend partnership
Bonhams and the Audrain Concours Foundation have announced an extension of their partnership through 2024 with the auction house staging collector car sales annually at the Adrain Newport Concours & Motorweek in Rhode Island.
