Car Shows 2026
Discussion
It seems to be the 1st of January, so Happy New Year!
As is becoming tradition, my first post of the year to enquire who is doing what car shows this year - Assuming you have even started thinking about it.....
Might be a bit of toning back this year - Inverness Performance Car Show is apparently not happening.
Some other events are just too early in the year to be venturing out in the salt and potential wintry weather - Aberdeen Autofest and the Highlander Track and Show for example.
Also, after a few years of shows, the concern over dog owners and their dogs at shows is mounting up. Last year, a Mustang next to me was badly scratched up a door at a show by a dog that was allowed to jump up on it, with the owner caring not a jot. And have seen too many dogs on extending leads with chains in the middle going round the corner of a car from where its owner is, scrubbing the chain around the corner.
So may be a case of avoiding ("dog friendly") shows whilst still ahead and with intact paint. Not sure why such a push on "dog friendly" car shows these days - Presumably to try an up the footfall and thus the gate takings. May try taking the car into the ring at Crufts this year to see what the reaction is! 
As is becoming tradition, my first post of the year to enquire who is doing what car shows this year - Assuming you have even started thinking about it.....
Might be a bit of toning back this year - Inverness Performance Car Show is apparently not happening.
Some other events are just too early in the year to be venturing out in the salt and potential wintry weather - Aberdeen Autofest and the Highlander Track and Show for example. Also, after a few years of shows, the concern over dog owners and their dogs at shows is mounting up. Last year, a Mustang next to me was badly scratched up a door at a show by a dog that was allowed to jump up on it, with the owner caring not a jot. And have seen too many dogs on extending leads with chains in the middle going round the corner of a car from where its owner is, scrubbing the chain around the corner.
So may be a case of avoiding ("dog friendly") shows whilst still ahead and with intact paint. Not sure why such a push on "dog friendly" car shows these days - Presumably to try an up the footfall and thus the gate takings. May try taking the car into the ring at Crufts this year to see what the reaction is! Seem to be struggling to muster up enthusiasm for shows this year. All of the bigger shows in Scotland, the North at least, seem to be run by the same commercial operation on the same commercial terms. OK, there are a few independant shows like the Highlander Track and Show, Buckie and Rallye at the River, or of course the Cars and Coffee events in Inverness. The latter being a bit more personal, where you don't get the feeling you are there just to encourage more paying spectators through the gate to fill the coffers of the organisers. Sure these bigger shows will take a huge amount of organising and resources, but they all just seem to now follow the same commercially driven format. Even their websites are all out of the same mould.
So may be a bit quieter on the shows this year for a break and see how other years go. Not been to the local one here in Orkney since 2023, so must be due a look back at that!
All of the bigger shows in Scotland, the North at least, seem to be run by the same commercial operation on the same commercial terms. OK, there are a few independant shows like the Highlander Track and Show, Buckie and Rallye at the River, or of course the Cars and Coffee events in Inverness. The latter being a bit more personal, where you don't get the feeling you are there just to encourage more paying spectators through the gate to fill the coffers of the organisers. Sure these bigger shows will take a huge amount of organising and resources, but they all just seem to now follow the same commercially driven format. Even their websites are all out of the same mould.So may be a bit quieter on the shows this year for a break and see how other years go. Not been to the local one here in Orkney since 2023, so must be due a look back at that!
Looks a lot more car enthusiast oriented rather than a dog show!Classic on the Clyde Saturday 4th April at Riverside Museum 11-3 organized by Lanarkshire CCC
Think is now fully booked .
www.gvvt.org are having an open day on Sunday 12th April at Bridgeton Bus Garage 11-4 as well as Vintage buses there will be displays of Model cars ,boats, Lego anything model related .
Sunday 24th May is there open day including a Classic car show so contact themmfor details on how to display your car
Think is now fully booked .
www.gvvt.org are having an open day on Sunday 12th April at Bridgeton Bus Garage 11-4 as well as Vintage buses there will be displays of Model cars ,boats, Lego anything model related .
Sunday 24th May is there open day including a Classic car show so contact themmfor details on how to display your car
Got to both the "Crimond Drift Fest" on Saturday then the "Highlander Track and Show" on Sunday. What a difference....
Former was run by the "XXX Performance Car Show" franchise in conjunction with Drift Events Scotland, whilst the latter, independant.
£13 entry at the Drift Fest, for access to an old bit of scabby concrete that used to be part of an airfield, surrounded by mostly wet mud, interspersed with bits of grass. Then some nearly dead BMWs that charged round the 'track' losing bits of bodywork and mechanical parts on the way. Left after an hour and a half.
£10 entry at the Track and Show, for access to a proper track with proper and decent facilities (indoor toilets, sit down cafe, all parking on the hard for entrants and spectators alike). Much better value for under 12's as well. Stayed pretty much the whole day from 0845 to about 1545.
"Drift Fest" just felt like a rip off. so not likely to be going back there. Felt more like a weekly banger racing meet at an old airport than a proper event.
Meanwhile, will be heading back to the Highlander Track and Show - Part 2 event on 20th September!
Former was run by the "XXX Performance Car Show" franchise in conjunction with Drift Events Scotland, whilst the latter, independant.
£13 entry at the Drift Fest, for access to an old bit of scabby concrete that used to be part of an airfield, surrounded by mostly wet mud, interspersed with bits of grass. Then some nearly dead BMWs that charged round the 'track' losing bits of bodywork and mechanical parts on the way. Left after an hour and a half.
£10 entry at the Track and Show, for access to a proper track with proper and decent facilities (indoor toilets, sit down cafe, all parking on the hard for entrants and spectators alike). Much better value for under 12's as well. Stayed pretty much the whole day from 0845 to about 1545.
"Drift Fest" just felt like a rip off.
so not likely to be going back there. Felt more like a weekly banger racing meet at an old airport than a proper event.Meanwhile, will be heading back to the Highlander Track and Show - Part 2 event on 20th September!
Without wishing to be critical Windy, thats exactly what I would have expected at Crimond, I suspect you're not into drifting but if so 'Driftland' at Lochgelly is a much much better facility.
My car comes out of storage this weekend, there's a Cars and Coffee event in Montrose and a couple weeks later I've got it booked into Rallye at the River at Crathes. I've never had a car to 'show' before so looking forward to them
My car comes out of storage this weekend, there's a Cars and Coffee event in Montrose and a couple weeks later I've got it booked into Rallye at the River at Crathes. I've never had a car to 'show' before so looking forward to them
Not critical at all!
And as correctly deduced, first time at Crimond Raceway, though not by a long shot the NE area. Having had a Monaro since 2005 and a Hellcat since 2023, then quite a bit of interest in keeping the back end of a big V8 under control. With the Hellcat, its more a case of trying to keep it from drifting rather than encouraging it, whilst the Monaro is altogether more manageable. Though I do recall it coming sideways out of a roundabout at Blackburn on the A96 rather unexpectedly in the wet once. Fortunately, both lanes were empty at the time!
I see from your profile, you have a VXR8. If you haven't seen the subsection already, https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/forum.asp?h=0&... is where us Australian car owners hang out.
I may also be at Rallye at the River - Not sure which car - Was Hellcat last year, so maybe Monaro this year, which is still in storage down Inverness way and will be coming out to play at the start of May. Will drop you a private message....
And as correctly deduced, first time at Crimond Raceway, though not by a long shot the NE area. Having had a Monaro since 2005 and a Hellcat since 2023, then quite a bit of interest in keeping the back end of a big V8 under control.
With the Hellcat, its more a case of trying to keep it from drifting rather than encouraging it, whilst the Monaro is altogether more manageable. Though I do recall it coming sideways out of a roundabout at Blackburn on the A96 rather unexpectedly in the wet once. Fortunately, both lanes were empty at the time!I see from your profile, you have a VXR8. If you haven't seen the subsection already, https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/forum.asp?h=0&... is where us Australian car owners hang out.
I may also be at Rallye at the River - Not sure which car - Was Hellcat last year, so maybe Monaro this year, which is still in storage down Inverness way and will be coming out to play at the start of May. Will drop you a private message....
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