Special events in vintage automobile racing are most often national or international in scope, generally occurring once a year or sometimes even once every two or three years, due to their significant themes and the ambitious reach of their historical cars, milestones and drivers.
Case in point, the 50+ year-old Monterey Motorsports Reunion on the USA west coast is an annual “signature” event that draws legendary cars and notable drivers from throughout North America and around the world, commonly with an all-encompassing annual theme. For 2025, as an example, “75 Years of Formula 1” is this event’s theme, celebrating the cars, designers, drivers and lore of Formula 1 from its beginnings on the world stage to the pinnacle of motor racing that it is today. The cars, races and happenings of this once-a-year extravaganza feature actual racecars from multiple eras, driven by highly skilled drivers and racing each other as they did in their heyday time periods.
On the USA east coast, another notable annual event is the Pittsburgh Grand Prix, a week-long auto racing festival that takes place on two racetracks, one a “street course” that utilizes the traditional roadways of Pittsburgh’s traditional University sector, and the other at Pittsburgh’s dedicated racetrack, the Pittsburgh Auto Racing Complex. Automobile racing festivities throughout the week comprise a fair-like experience of auctions, museum-like displays, dining, social and business activities and more.
A global granddaddy of vintage auto racing special events, staged in June each year, is the Goodwood Festival of Speed, an event that blends the harrowing majesty of WWII war-bird aircraft with extraordinary racecars from early eras to present day, demonstrating their prowess with fantastic performances from legendary drivers amid an atmosphere made-up of cultural recreations of time, place and happenstance.
In parallel to the annual special events that are staged each spring and summer, vintage clubs and organizations in particular regions of the USA and abroad stage colorful vintage racing events which represent legendary cars, drivers and time periods that mark the milestones of automobile racing that paved the way to the present day and are never to be forgotten.
July 10 – 13, 2025
F1 75
The 2025 Festival of Speed will present its most spectacular celebration yet, marking the 75th anniversary of the Formula 1 World Championship. Legendary drivers, iconic cars, and prestigious teams will take to the hillclimb in a show-stopping tribute to the sport.
HILLCLIMB
An iconic Festival of Speed feature, the hillclimb sees road and race cars and bikes, old and new, racing up the hill. In 2022, the McMurtry Spéirling set an impressive record pace in Shootout Sunday. Will the record be broken the next time cars take to the hill?
July 17 – 20, 2025
International Challenge presents the WeatherTech® Vintage Weekend with Brian Redman at Road America, taking place July 17-20, 2025, is one of the largest vintage racing events in the United States. The WeatherTech® Vintage Weekend road race features over 400 vintage and historic racecars competing across several days.
The WeatherTech Vintage Weekend presented by International Challenge is a premier vintage gathering featuring everything from the sights and sounds of the past 100 years of racing to a special Concours d’Elegance on Friday and Saturday along the streets of Elkhart Lake. The 2025 event is a can’t miss spectacle for any racing enthusiast. Come out to Road America to witness this impressive racing legacy
August 13 – 16, 2025
The annual Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion is a museum revving to life with hundreds of historic and period-correct race and sports cars from nearly every era. It is one of the world’s most prestigious motorsport lifestyle gatherings that this year will celebrate the 75th Anniversary of Formula One®. Experience race cars driven as they were originally intended to do among a festival environment. Also, see NASCAR legends racing in their original IROC cars for the first time in Monterey. It is a full sensory experience with family activities, refined food options, world renowned hospitality and opportunities to rub shoulders with legendary drivers and to see, and hear, the world’s best race cars.
September 12 – 14, 2025
The world’s best historic motorsport event, Goodwood Revival is an immersive celebration of iconic cars and fashion. Revive & Thrive is the modern community that drives Revival forward, inspiring us all with creative ways to rethink, repair and re-wear.
The smell of engines mingles with the roar of iconic race cars at Goodwood Revival, a three day September festival celebrating the halcyon days of motor racing. The 2025 Goodwood Revival is set to bring together one of the most impressive line-ups of racing drivers and riders in the event’s history. It’s a list of motorsport legends that comprises World Champions in Formula 1, IndyCar, sportscars, touring cars, World Superbikes, the Isle of Man TT and NASCAR.
