From shows to festivals to small-scale meet-ups, countless auto events are held year-round, providing opportunities for car enthusiasts to meet and celebrate mutual passions. Usually organised over the course of a weekend at various sporting venues, race tracks and festival grounds, it may be high time you took yourself off to one of these fantastic events to revel in all things automotive.

Get Close To Iconic Vehicles

Attending a car show means getting up close and personal with your dream ride, particularly regarding events allocated to specific manufacturers. From rare, museum-quality classic cars to exotic state-of-the-art track superstars, there is something for everyone. You may never own a supercar, but at a show, you’ll get the opportunity to experience the fantasy - you might even be lucky enough to book a test drive.

Meet New People

One of the primary benefits of any car event is the chance to meet like-minded folk who share your interests. Bonding over a mutual love of cars can establish lifelong friendships. With abundant networking opportunities, you could even exchange contact details with members of the aftermarket community - handy if you ever need advice or to source a specific part.

Admire Creativity

Many car owners attend auto events to showcase their modified models, and you’ll be astounded at the excess of creativity and technical resourcefulness. From visionary bodywork to vastly improved performance, many enthusiasts view the modification process as a true art form and use auto shows to display the fruits of their labour. You may even happen upon some inspiration for customising your own ride.

Try Before You Buy

Although car shows and automotive trade events are separate entities, you may discover sale opportunities from fellow show attendees. Test driving a vehicle is the best way to ensure your personal tastes and needs will be met. Getting behind the wheel to experience a potential new ride may help you make some decisions about a purchase before you commit financially. After all, a new car is a serious investment.

Showcase Your Ride

Preparing the perfect show-quality vehicle can be quite a laborious undertaking. If you’ve worked tirelessly to enhance your ride with alloy wheels, coilovers, and a brand-new paint job, you’ll be keen to show it off. The excitement and gratification of having your prized possession admired and photographed is unparalleled. You might even win a ‘Best In Show’ trophy!

Family Fun

Weekend car events often feature amusements and entertainment for the whole family to enjoy, including fairground attractions, disco tents, live music and more. Dragging your entire family to a car-central event may not align with their individual interests. Still, with plenty of activities available to keep everybody happy, you can guarantee fun and festivity for all.

Enter Competitions

Many auto events feature a range of competitions where participants can pay a small fee to enter and win various prizes, from free entry to unique, high-performance cars. The chances of winning a dream car giveaway may be slim, but somebody has to come out on top, and that somebody could be you. Some competitions even hand a portion of the proceeds over to charity, so even if you don’t win a prize, your cash will go to a good cause.

Camping Fun

Outdoor weekend-long auto shows often involve camping facilities, allowing you to experience the event in full. Whether you opt for a tent, motorhome or caravan, you can stumble back to your temporary living quarters after experiencing on-site entertainment, ready to be up bright and early for another day of activities and exhibitions.

Exclusive Deals

Event-exclusive promotions, including discounts, competitions and freebies, are often implemented by event organisers to encourage ticket sales and let’s be honest, they’re usually incredibly tempting. You might also come across discounts on costly components and source rare classic car parts from fellow enthusiasts that may not be available elsewhere.

Expert Advice

Seeking reliable car advice from reputable sources can often feel like a gamble. If you’re a little dubious about accepting advice from strangers online, you may feel more comfortable discussing matters with legitimate experts and guest speakers at car events. Whether you’re after maintenance tips or ride-enhancing suggestions, you can guarantee good counsel from the auto show community.

Resources:

Aftermarket Wheels - Diary.By
Coil Over - Wakelet
KW Suspension - Telegraph
Aftermarket Steering Wheels - Talium
Sport Steering Wheel - Smore
Removable Steering Wheel - HackMD