What better way to spend a summer’s day than with likeminded folk, taking in the atmosphere at a motoring event?

On any given weekend, you can likely find a gathering within a few miles – and this summer will be no different. Here, we share some of our most highly anticipated car events for summer 2018.

Goodwood Festival of Speed – 12th – 15th July 2018

Image Credit: www.goodwood.com

 

Location: Goodwood house, Chichester, West Sussex

Price: From £37

Perfect for: Motorsport fanatics

What to expect: The Goodwood Festival of Speed is as prestigious as a car event can get. This year’s is set to be even more special, given it’s the 25th anniversary. The 2018 event will incorporate a “Silver Jubilee” theme to celebrate FOS’s history and heritage – so fans of nostalgia, buckle up!

Whether you attend just one day or go the whole hog and grab a weekend ticket, there’ll be plenty to do, see and enjoy across the long weekend. Perhaps the most iconic aspect is the famous Hillclimb – where new and classic cars blast up a hill course, culminating in the Sunday Shoot-out, with star appearances also taking place.

Don’t forget to check out the F1 Paddock and other attractions such as the Rally Stage and Off-road Arena.

CarFest North/South – 27th-28th July and 24th-26th August

Image Credit: www.carfest.org

 

Location: North – Bolesworth, Cheshire (27th-29th July); South – Laverstoke Park Farm, Hampshire (24th-26th August).

Price: From £67 for adults, £16 for children and £143 for a family of 4 (2 adults and 2 children). Weekend tickets are also available.

Perfect for: Families with a passion for cars and music.

What to expect: Founded by broadcaster, presenter and petrol head Chris Evans, CarFest returns in 2018 for a sixth year. Handily placed in two locations – Cheshire in the north and Hampshire in the south – the festival combines a heady mix of motoring interest and live music. It’s all for a good cause too, with funds raised for the BBC’s Children in Need charity.

On the motoring front, you’ll find plenty to see in The Paddock, with the theme on the track sprint this year celebrating “Body Types” – ideal for those of you who are suckers for great bodywork.

There’s also a great range of new and established music acts to enjoy, with both North and South events featuring two stages. 2018 acts will include Status Quo, The Proclaimers, Madness, The Coral, Richard Ashcroft – and many more!

For families, there are lots of child-friendly attractions, as well as a host of delicious food stalls.

Camper Jam – 6th-8th July

Image Credit: www.camperjam.com

 

Location: Weston Park, Shropshire.

Price: Weekend tickets are £42 for adults (over 16), £5 for children, and under 5s go free. There’s a £20 charge for vehicles, though this is halved to £10 if you bring a VW Camper.

Perfect for: Camping enthusiasts and VW Camper owners.

What to expect: For a fun-filled family weekend with a focus firmly on the iconic VW Camper, Weston Park in Shropshire is the place to go. Camper Jam comprises of a range of activities for likeminded individuals, from admirers all the way to VW Camper fanatics.

Shop the motoring trade stalls, enjoy a bite to eat at the food village, and kick back to some tunes with a range of bands playing live music. On the bill this year are bands playing 80s music, 90s Britpop anthems and much more.

There’s also a “cooking in a camper” competition – so if you’re bringing your bus, get involved!

FittedUK – 29th July

Image credit www.fitteduk.com

 

Location: Event City, Manchester.

Price: Advance tickets are £17, or £20 if bought on the day. Children under 15 go free with a paying adult.

Perfect for: Car modifiers, supercar fanatics and radio-controlled (RC) car enthusiasts.

What to expect: FittedUK is one of the UK’s largest indoor automotive events, and showcases some of Europe’s most stunning performance and supercars. Okay, you might not want to be indoors during the summer, but it is in Manchester – it’ll probably be raining anyway.

Alongside the fantastic collection of cars on display, you’ll find a host of trade stands featuring automotive merchandise and products. There’ll also be live music and DJ sets, food and drinks stalls, and live demos from featured automotive companies. And don’t forget to check out the RC drift track – have a go with one of the radio-controlled cars available or bring your own if you’re a seasoned RC hobbyist!

If you’re a car club member, you can even apply to have a pitch where you can display up to 10 vehicles, with a prize for the ‘Best Club Stand’ awarded on the day. You can also apply to have your vehicle displayed in one of the 600 ‘show and shine’ spaces.

Concours of Elegance – 31st August-2nd September

Image credit www.concoursofelegance.co.uk

 

Location: Hampton Court Palace, Surrey

Price: Adult day tickets are £40 or £25 for afternoon admission. Senior citizens (over 60) are £25, with children’s and students’ tickets £17.50. The Friday preview day costs £50.

Perfect for: Prestige car fans and lovers of posh picnics.

What to expect: If you’re into rare and classic cars, Concours of Elegance is a motoring event to consider this summer. Set in the salubrious environs of Hampton Court Palace, this is one to get dolled up for.

The event sees 60 of the world’s rarest cars converge on the Palace, with many never having been seen on UK shores before. The cars are judged by the owners themselves, with the winner awarded the Best of Show award.

Throughout the weekend there are other awards given out, and there are plenty of exhibitors and stalls to browse throughout the weekend. Stick around on the Sunday for one last spectacle; The Grand Depart. This is a sight to behold as the 60 cars leave in a cavalcade to bring the curtain down on the year’s event.

If you want to make a real weekend of it, you can upgrade to a champagne picnic package – an ideal way to spend quality time with friends and family.