Car Shows 2026
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Windy Miller

Original Poster:

306 posts

243 months

Thursday 1st January
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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. frown 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. redface 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. frown May try taking the car into the ring at Crufts this year to see what the reaction is! biggrin

Windy Miller

Original Poster:

306 posts

243 months

Sunday 29th March
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Seem to be struggling to muster up enthusiasm for shows this year. frown 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! smile

beambeam1

1,616 posts

68 months

Windy Miller

Original Poster:

306 posts

243 months

Tuesday 31st March
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Now that looks a lot more suitable, and less commercial than the rash of other shows. Sensible entry price, proceeds to charity and no dogs allowed! clap Looks a lot more car enthusiast oriented rather than a dog show!

beambeam1

1,616 posts

68 months

Wednesday 1st April
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Scottish Italian Car Day at Hopetoun House, Queensferry on 24th May. I really enjoyed this one last year, nicely laid out and a decent tea room to grab a coffee and settle the kids with some snacks. I especially loved the Italia 90 themed Fiat Panda that was there.

woodysnr

1,129 posts

253 months

Thursday 2nd April
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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

Windy Miller

Original Poster:

306 posts

243 months

Monday 13th April
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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. frown 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!

Tam_Mullen

2,711 posts

197 months

Tuesday 14th April
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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 smile

Windy Miller

Original Poster:

306 posts

243 months

Tuesday 14th April
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Not critical at all! smile

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. biggrin 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....

Tam_Mullen

2,711 posts

197 months

Tuesday 14th April
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Yeah noted the HSV subsection, I'll keep an eye on it smile

No worries, I was there last year so will likely have seen your 'cat!

Windy Miller

Original Poster:

306 posts

243 months

Tuesday 14th April
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Hellcat at last years Rallye at the River alongside Nigel from Banff's 5G GT;


Windy Miller

Original Poster:

306 posts

243 months

Wednesday 15th April
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Windy Miller said:
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.
Gonna be the Hellcat again at RATR again this year. Booked today. Gonna be south with it anyway at that time, so makes sense to come round with it. May see you there Tam_Mullen!

Tam_Mullen

2,711 posts

197 months

Thursday 16th April
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Sounds good, fingers crossed for nice weather! smile

Lefty

20,180 posts

227 months

Thursday 16th April
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Buckie is usually quite good, I’ve given up on the various ones at castle Fraser and Alford - same stuff every year largely


Windy Miller

Original Poster:

306 posts

243 months

Thursday 16th April
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Buckie is an excellent show, and not part of the "XXXX Performance Car Show" franchise. Immensely popular though, and the over 800 spaces 'sell' out in hours. Took the Monaro and the Hellcat there in 2023 and the Hellcat there in 2024, but on a bit of a break from it at the moment to give others a chance to attend and hopefully avoid the "its always the same stuff" syndrome. May try for Buckie again next year, but you do need to be sharp to get in!


Garemberg

462 posts

114 months

Thursday 30th April
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Retroste's ste in the Park had an excellent turn out on Sunday, some properly interesting cars there. This V8 powered Coupe Quattro was utterly sublime


Lefty

20,180 posts

227 months

Thursday 30th April
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I’ve been meaning to go down to one of those, don’t realise they’d started up again

Interesting cars are what I want to see at shows, not rows of barried civics or leons hehe

Davie

6,032 posts

240 months

Thursday 30th April
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Garemberg said:
Retroste's ste in the Park had an excellent turn out on Sunday, some properly interesting cars there. This V8 powered Coupe Quattro was utterly sublime

Yup, good selection of cars and finally some decent weather.




This 190 was lovely... as was the white 940 estate with the 2JZ and 730bhp.

Nice!

woodysnr

1,129 posts

253 months

Friday 1st May
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A few shows coming up Bridge of Allan Sunday 10th May suspect full now for displaying your cars
The Largest Porsche only show in Scotland is on Sunday 17th May PITG in East -Kilbride .
Lombard Rally stages Drumlanrig Castle a 2 day event 30/31 May.
Milngavie Classic show Town centre Sat 6th June.
Braehead centre Grid show Sat 27th June
Moffat Classic show Sat /Sun 27/28 June
Glamis Castle the biggest in Scotland Sat/Sun 11th /12th July

Garemberg

462 posts

114 months

Friday 1st May
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woodysnr said:
A few shows coming up Bridge of Allan Sunday 10th May suspect full now for displaying your cars
The Largest Porsche only show in Scotland is on Sunday 17th May PITG in East -Kilbride .
Lombard Rally stages Drumlanrig Castle a 2 day event 30/31 May.
Milngavie Classic show Town centre Sat 6th June.
Braehead centre Grid show Sat 27th June
Moffat Classic show Sat /Sun 27/28 June
Glamis Castle the biggest in Scotland Sat/Sun 11th /12th July
Thanks that is really handy:

This is also on - outskirts of Edinburgh
https://charity-motor-show.scottishroadrunners.co....