COMING UP
The end of the year is in sight, but there’s still plenty to look forward to before 2018
30 September – 1 October Prescott American Autumn Classic
Action on the hill, a ‘show ’n’ shine’, a wall of death, and more hot rods and Yank tanks than you can count: this is as good as American car shows get on this side of the pond. prescott-hillclimb.com
5 October Octane Track Day
Before Mother Nature declares the British racing season well and truly over for another year, we decamp to West Sussex to enjoy Goodwood circuit one more time. If you’d like to join us, places can be booked online. octanetrackday.eventbrite.com
5-8 October Malta Classic
Combining the Mdina Grand Prix, the Mdina Concours d’Elegance and the Mellieħa Hill Climb, the Malta Classic offers more than enough to make the flight worthwhile, with locals turning out en masse to watch some spirited driving. maltaclassic.com
5-8 October Zoute Grand Prix
Another multi-attraction event, with less chance of warm sunshine but a guarantee of top-quality cars. Over four days the Zoute Top Marques motor show, the Zoute Rally, the Zoute Concours d’Elegance, and the Zoute GT Tour turn the seaside resort of Knokke-Heist in Belgium into a car-lover’s playground. There’s a Bonhams auction, too. zoutegrandprix.be
13-15 October Motorclassica
Far and away the biggest classic car show Down Under and held at the spectacular Royal Exhibition Building in Melbourne. This year’s event will feature displays marking 70 years of Ferrari and 110 years of Lancia. motorclassica.com.au
20-22 October Dix Mille Tours du Castellet
Peter Auto’s traditional seasoncloser is a magnet for car clubs as well as keen racers, with more than 500 classics gathering at the Paul Ricard circuit in the South of France. peterauto.peter.fr
21-22 October Espíritu del Jarama
The oldest permanent circuit in Spain – largely unchanged in layout – turns 50 this year and will be visited in October by many of the cars and bikes that raced there half a century ago. espiritudeljarama.com
27-29 October Algarve Classic Festival
Much loved by Brits seeking top-notch racing and sunshine during the gloomy autumn months, the ACF is held at Portugal’s Portimão Circuit, a favourite of both Walter Röhrl and Sir Stirling Moss. algarveclassicfestival.com
5 November National Restoration Show
Held at Stoneleigh Park in Warwickshire, this show does exactly what it says on the tin, offering novice and expert restorers alike the chance to pick up project vehicles and hard-to-find parts from a large indoor autojumble and trade village, as well as helpful advice from a variety of marque club representatives. restoration-show.co.uk
5 November London to Brighton Veteran Car Run
This is a celebration of motoring more joyous than any other, featuring hundreds of pre-1905 cars puffing, popping and wheezing their way from Hyde Park in central London to the South Coast. It is sponsored by Bonhams, which will offer a selection of eligible veterans on 3 November just a stone’s throw from the start line, and preceded on 4 November by the Regent Street Motor Show. veterancarrun.com
8-12 November Classic 24 Hour at Daytona
Run in conjunction with the Daytona Historics meeting, this is a great opportunity to see some of the old monsters of motor sport thundering around Florida’s most famous circuit, with an open paddock adding to the experience. hsrrace.com
9-12 November RAC Rally of the Tests
HERO’s revival of the RAC Rally is a suitably challenging event, with regularities, special tests and night driving keeping crews on their toes as they head from Chester to Harrogate. heroevents.eu
10-12 November Classic Motor Show
The UK’s biggest indoor show returns to fill Birmingham’s cavernous NEC with cars of all kinds and many attractions besides. Club displays, trade stands, an autojumble, live demonstrations and special guests are all on the menu. necclassicmotorshow.com
16 November Octane Awards
Shakespeare’s Globe is this year’s venue for the Octane Awards, as the International Historic Motoring Awards will henceforth be known. The winner in most categories will be decided by a panel of judges, but Car of the Year is voted on by Octane readers. Stay tuned to find out which cars have made the shortlist and how to cast your ballot. octaneawards.com
29 November De Dion Motor Tricycle Races
A celebration of the 120th anniversary of Britain’s very first motor races (themselves held to mark the anniversary of the first Emancipation Run), with at least a dozen tricycles competing on a quarter-mile oval circuit in sprints and the Five Mile Championship. brooklandsmuseum.com
29 November – 3 December Sebring Classic 12 Hour
The organisers of the aforementioned Classic 24 Hour at Daytona convene another enjoyable meeting, this time at Sebring, where the racing cars will be joined by a large display of classic military vehicles and planes. hsrrace.com
8-10 December Retro Classics Bavaria
The organisers of Retro Classics Stuttgart bring their brand of entertainment two hours east to the exhibition centre in Nuremberg. There will be themed displays, a large club presence, good grub, and many opportunities to lighten the wallet: cars, parts and automobilia will all be on offer. retro-classics-bavaria.de
8-12 December Le Jog
HERO’s Land’s End to John O’Groats Reliability Trial is one of Europe’s toughest – but most satisfying – Historic rallies. Crews drive through the night on notoriously difficult regularity sections, usually in the most adverse of weather conditions. heroevents.eu
1 January Brooklands New Year’s Day Gathering
Classic car owners and enthuiasts wrap up warm and head to Brooklands to kick off 2018. Pre-’88 cars will assemble on the circuit’s famous banking, and the museum will be open all day, too – so it’s worth going along even if the weather is less than friendly. brooklandsmuseum.com