Ready to mark your calendars for 2020’s best auto shows and racing events? Here’s a guide to get you started. Start booking as soon as possible!
When: Various Dates
Where: United States, New Zealand, Australia
Least, but also first on this list, the 24 Hours of LeMons is a down and dirty $500 car endurance race series with events ALL YEAR. And $500 is the upper limit, unless you want to face some lap penalties.
Get your team together, build a ridiculous (and totally safe car…) and bring that LOW POWER TO THE PEOPLE! No racing license required.
The cheapest way to get involved in racing on this list and one of the most absurdly fun.
When: January 25th - 26th
Where: Daytona, Florida
Since 1962, Daytona International Speedway has hosted the Rolex 24, a 24 hour endurance race. A great way to inject a concentrated dose of auto racing into your year as soon as possible.
Not just a race, but a cultural experience in and around the Daytona Speedway. It’s 24 hours of racing you’ll never forget!
Nitto King of the Hammers
When: January 31st - February 9th
Where: Johnson Valley, California
Do you have your ticket to HAMMERTOWN?!
King of Hammers claims it’s the “toughest one-day off-road race on the planet” and it’s certainly no joke. Four wheel drive cars competing in rugged events like technical rock climbing to desert endurance racing.
In the desert of Johnson Valley, California, Hammertown’s pop-up city is the Burning Man of the automotive world. Attendees are in for some hardcore camping with a cultural scene to match.
Do you have true grit? Then Hammertown is your new home.
Chicago Auto Show
When: February 8th - 17th
Where: Chicago, Illinois
Chi-town ain’t shy when it comes to wheeling and dealing.
“First staged in 1901, the Chicago Auto Show is the largest auto show in North America and has been held more times than any other auto exposition on the continent. This year marks the 112th edition of the Chicago Auto Show.”
Daytona 500
When: February 16th
Where: Daytona, Florida
The “World Center of Racing” gets two mentions on this list and for good reason. Ever since the first Daytona 500’s photo finish between Lee Petty and Johnny Beauchamp 62 years ago, “The Great American Race” has been an event you don’t want to miss.
Enough said.
RADwood
When: February 29th
Where: Austin, Texas
One of the newer events on this list, but no slouch.
“RADwood is a celebration of '80s and '90s automotive lifestyle.
The car show that blends period correct dress with automotive awesomeness. A period correct event for cars, trucks, and bikes from 1980-1999 that captures the essence of a bodacious era.”
Radical, dude.
New York International Auto Show
When: April 10th - 19th
Where: New York City, New York
A big car show fit for the Big Apple.
“Ushering in the latest automotive trends, the 2020 New York International Auto Show showcases an incredible collection of cutting-edge design and extraordinary innovation. More than four floors of displays from the world’s automakers feature the newest vehicles and latest futuristic concept cars. Nearly 1,000 cars and trucks will be on display at North America’s first and largest-attended auto show dating back to 1900.”
Indianapolis 500
When: May 24th
Where: Indianapolis, Indiana
Everyone has heard of the Indy 500, even if they don’t know about the milk…
“Thirty-three drivers. 200 laps. 500 miles. One bottle of cold milk. The only thing missing from this magical Indianapolis 500 mix is you. Don't miss out on another incredible edition of ‘The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.’”
NAIAS
When: June 7th - 20th
Where: Detroit, Michigan
The North American International Auto Show in Detroit is an institution and one of the largest auto shows in North America. A part of the Motor City’s rich and revitalized history.
“Witnessing the premiere of a newly designed vehicle is one thing. The opportunity to take it for a spin is another. From concepts to concerts, there will be more to experience than ever before at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit in June 2020. It’s going to be an event like the automotive world has never seen before.”
Monterey Car Week
When: August 7th - 16th
Where: Monterey, California
The American Car Collector mecca. A posh celebration of the finest cars in the world.
Car shows, auctions, and vintage racing events that climax with the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. Expect to see your fair share of luxury cars in the parking lot alone and plenty of big automakers pulling out all the stops to impress the affluent crowd.
And so much more.
When: August 8th - 14th
Where: Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah
Trying to set a new land speed record? Or maybe you just gotta go fast? The salt flats in Utah host the Bonneville Speed Week and it’s as exciting as the name implies.
“Bonneville Land Speed Racing is a unique sport that consists of very determined people who drive hot rods, roadsters, belly tankers, lakesters, motorcycles, streamliners, and even diesel trucks to "shoot the salt" in a simple quest to have their name added to the list of many record holders.”
Expect to rub elbows with the engineers and racers too; a real salt-of-the-earth event.
Woodward Dream Cruise
When: August 15th
Where: Ferndale, Michigan
What started as a small fundraiser to raise money for a soccer field in Ferndale, Michigan, has become arguably the largest one-day car event IN THE WORLD!
1.5 million people and 40,000 classic cars each year from around the globe come for a cruise down Woodward Avenue, America’s first highway. Expect a blast from ‘50s and ‘60s Detroit Motor City past!
When: September 30th - October 4th
Where: Wildwood, New Jersey
Gentlemen, start your engines.
T.R.O.G. is a Hot Rod and motorcycle-racing throwback to pre and post-war Americana. It’s a beach party unlike any other. Expect to see pre-1936 cars and pre-1947 motorcycles racing the tides until sundown and cap the day off with a sandy bonfire.
Hershey National Fall Meet
When: October 7th - 10th
Where: Hershey, Pennsylvania
The largest classic car show AND largest classic car part flea market in the world. The perfect place for aficionados of bygone makes and models.
Expect a turn out of “over 9,000 vendors, over 1,000 cars for sale in the car corral, and approximately 1,200 cars at the car show on Saturday.”
Formula One United States Grand Prix
When: October 23rd - 25th
Where: Austin, Texas
The U.S. portion of the 2020 Formula One World Championship takes place in October, but there are events around the world from March to November. One of the highest class races in the world and the longest racing championship around.
A globetrotting event you’ll want to keep track of!
When: November 3rd - 6th
Where: Las Vegas, Nevada
A Tire Stickers favorite and industry-professional exclusive. This is where new innovations are unveiled and the real deals go down.
“The SEMA Show is the premier automotive specialty products trade event in the world segmented into 12 sections with over 2,400 exhibitors and a New Product Showcase featuring nearly 3,000 newly introduced parts, tools and components.
The SEMA Show draws the industry's brightest minds, hottest products and over 70,000 domestic and international buyers to one place, the Las Vegas Convention Center. In addition, the SEMA Show provides attendees with educational seminars, product demonstrations, special events, networking opportunities and more.”
Los Angeles Auto Show
When: November 20th - 29th
Where: Los Angeles, California
All the glitz and glamour you’d expect from a Hollywood-based auto show.
“Founded in 1907, the Los Angeles Auto Show (LA Auto Show®), is one of the most influential and best-attended auto shows globally and spans more than 1,000,000 square feet. Each fall, show creator ANSA Productions gathers the who’s who of the auto industry to unveil the future of mobility in the car culture capital of the world.
Delivering worldwide media exposure, global industry networking and experiential marketing, AutoMobility LA™ (formerly Press and Trade Days) draws more than 26,500 auto industry decision makers and influencers including 4,400 media from more than 58 countries. It brings together the entire ecosystem driving the convergence of technology and the automobile.”