They’ve finally put Jay Leno in his rightful place

“I tell jokes at night, and then during the day, I like to come to the garage and work on stuff because when you work on things, it gives you a perspective of how hard it is to make money. You need to look at things from a normal perspective. And comedy is only funny when it comes from an every man point of view. So when you work with your hands and you do mechanical things, you just appreciate the every man point of view.” — Jay Leno

The words above come from an interview Jay Leno did with SiriusXM Business Radio’s host Jason Stein on the eve of Leno’s induction last week into the Automotive Hall of Fame, an institution that honors the contributions of such automotive pioneers as Henry Ford, Soichiro Honda and Armand Peugeot.

But like his fellow Bostonians (and Auto Hall of Famers) Click and Clack (Tom and Ray Magliozzi), Leno has expanded car culture well beyond the scope of driving or dealerships. 

“Leno has used his celebrity status to heighten interest in the history off all things automotive,” notes the Hall of Fame, which calls Leno “a global  automotive ambassador.” 

“Leno’s work pulls the unconvinced into the fold of the car obsessed, opening up the marvels of historic innovation to new audiences. He has inspired people to enjoy automobiles.”

HSR to stage inaugural Street Stock reunion

Historic Sportscar Racing has announced the first Street Stock Road Racing and RS/International Sedan Reunion to be held as part of the HSR Classic Daytona 24 Hour Weekend in late October.

Among the cars eligible, and they range from AMC Gremlins to Honda Civic Si’s and Porsche 944s, are those that raced back in the day in IMSA Firestone Firehawk, SCCA Escort, Canada’s Motorola Cup and other such road racing series.

“We have seen increasing interest from competitors and fans alike in providing a showcase for Firehawk, Escort, RS/IS and the other street stock road racing and sedan series that were at the foundation of these popular and competitive segments of sports car racing,” HSR president David Hinton is quoted in the announcement.

“The timing is right to literally drop the green flag and we couldn’t think of a better venue than Daytona International Speedway during the HSR Classic Daytona presented by IMSA weekend.”

Street stock cars were basically regular passenger vehicles with some modifications, including safety equipment for racing. As a result, races would include as many as 100 cars and competition was close. 

It’s Hot August Nights in Nevada

The annual Hot August Nights hot rod and custom car celebration begins July 30 and 31 in Virginia City, Nevada, and then moves a short distance August 3-8 with events in Reno and Sparks.

Events celebrate classic cars and rock ’n roll, and include a MAG collector car auction. Headline entertainers for 2021 include Gladys Knight, Peter Noone’s Herman’s Hermits and tributes to the Rolling Stones, Elvis, Buddy Holly and others.

’59 Morris Minor is best in show

The 10^th-anniversary Classic Nostalgia gathering at the Shelsley Walsh hill climb circuit featured vintage racing and rally cars storming up the hill, but there also was a Classic & Sports Car concours where a 1959 Morris Mini-Minor won Best in Show honors. 

The concours was open to cars built before 1985 and the Clipper Blue Mini impressed the judges with its story: It was a pre-production model originally supplied to John Bolster, technical editor of Autosport magazine for a long-term test. 

While the Mini led a parade of concours winners up the hill, it was at a much slower pace than the fastest time of the weekend, 29.29 seconds by George Brown in a Mallock Mk17, a front-engine single-seater. George’s father had been fastest up the hill at Shelsley in 1992 when he set the hill record of 25.34 seconds.

Drive Toward a Cure sets Sonoma tour

The Taste of Motorsports event scheduled for September 18-19 kicks off with a 4-hour scenic drive through Napa/Sonoma wine country to benefit Drive Toward a Cure. The tour will be limited to 60 vehicles.

Clarity coming for collector community in India

The Hindu reports that India’s Law Ministry has approved an amendment to that country’s Central Motor Vehicle Rules that will regulate the registration of vintage vehicles. The rules, which are expected to be approved by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, will define all  2- and 4-wheel vehicles at least 50 years old that have not undergone “any substantial overhaul” as Vintage Motor Vehicles. 

Vintage vehicles will not be permitted on roads for “regular purposes,” but will be allowed to take part in special exhibitions. Owners will be exempt from having to purchase one of the country’s new “High Security Registration Plates.” The new rule will also allow for the buying and selling of vintage vehicles.

Vintage vehicle owners will pay an initial registration fee of around $270 with an annual renewal of around $70.

Royal Concours plans to expand for 2022

Although it’s 2021 event isn’t scheduled until September 3-5, organizers of England’s Concours of Elegance (aka the Royal Concours) already are planning for an even more spectacular event in 2022, the concours’ 10th anniversary year.

In addition to “the most remarkable cars” from the previous concours, a display of 70 cars, one from each year of the Queen’s reign, will be featured. There also are plans for a special display of vehicles from royal households, and not only from England but from royal garages from around the world.

The 2022 Concours of Elegance is scheduled for September 2-4 at Hampton Court Palace.

New York hot rods headed to Salon Privé

“Rolling Bones set to rock Salon Privé as Bonneville meets Blenheim” is the headline on a news release from the concours scheduled for September 1-5 at Blenheim Palace in England.

“The pristine grounds of the historic venue will… be rocked by the unforgettable sight and sound of hot rods created by the Rolling Bones,” the announcement continues.

“Based in an old cow barn in Upstate New York, the Rolling Bones Hot Rod Shop is run by Ken Schmidt and Keith Cornell, owners and enthusiasts who have been creating bespoke works of automotive art for more than 20 years. 

“Firmly rejecting any notion of building trailer queens or street rods with new or reproduction parts, they instead produce hot rods that can be driven during the week but are bordering on being a full-on race car. 

“Raw, pure and built to be used, they perfectly evoke the golden era of hot rodding in the years immediately following World War Two, when American servicemen returned from duty with a passion for speed and adventure, and turned their attention to the old Fords that were cheap and plentiful during that era.”

Donington Historic Festival shares dates

Mark your calendar: The Donington Historic Festival has announced its event dates for 2022 as April 30 to May 1. The Festival also announced a new 3-year contract extension for Historic Promotions and MotorSport Vision to stage festival events.

2021 car show and concours calendar

The following are dates currently set (but subject to change) for a variety of concours d’elegance, car shows and driving tours scheduled during 2021:

July

30-31 — Hot August Nights, Virginia City, Nevada; 31 – Hagerty Festival of the Unexceptional, Linconshire, UK.

August

1 – GM/Chevy Show, Hickory Corners, Michigan; Goodwood Breakfast Club, UK; 3-8 — Hot August Nights, Reno/Sparks, Nevada; August; 5-8 – Motor City Car Crawl, Detroit; 6 – Concours at Pasadera, Carmel Valley, California; 6-8 – Carlisle Truck Nationals, Pennsylvania; 7 – Red Barns Spectacular, Hickory Corners, Michigan; 7-8, Supercar weekend, Beaulieu, UK; 13 – The Quail, Carmel Valley, California; 14 – Lincoln Homecoming, Hickory Corners, Michigan; Concorso Italiano, Seaside, California; 13-15 – Goodguys Great Northwest Nationals, Spokane; 14-15 — AACA car show, Lindsay, Ontario; VW (Transport) Chill, Beaulieu, UK: 15, Pebble Beach Concours, Monterey, California, 15 – Graham Walker Run (vintage motorcycles), Beaulieu, UK; 20-22 – Goodguys Great American, York, Pennsylvania; 21 – Woodward Dream Cruise, northern Detroit suburbs; Back to the Bricks, Flint, Michigan; Relix Riot (hot rods and customs), Hickory Corners, Michigan; San Marino Motor Classic, Pasadena, California; 22 – Simply Mercedes, Beaulieu, UK; 24 – Import Showcase, Seal Cove, Maine; 26-28 – Corvettes at Carlisle, Pennsylvania; 27-29 – Goodguys WEst Coast, Pleasantom, California; 28 – Automobilia: Art & Design, Carmel, Indiana; RADwood, Chicago; 28-29 – Taste of Motorsports, Portland, Oregon; 29 – Pierce-Arrow Gathering, Hickory Corners, Michigan

September

3-5 – Concours of Elegance, Hampton Court, UK; 4-5 – International Autojumble (swap meet), 10 – Luftgekuhlt 7, Indianapolis; 10-12 – Goodguys Colorado Nationals, Loveland; 

Porsche Sportscar Together Festival, Indianapolis; 11-12 – Off-Road Expo Arizona; 12 – Muscle Cars, Hickory Corners, Michigan; Simply French, Beaulieu, UK; 12-17 – Revival AAA Glidden Tour, Saratoga Springs, New York; 17-19, Goodwood Revival, UK; Oregon Festival of Cars, Bend; Vail Automotive Classic, Colorado; 18 – Ford Model A Day, Hickory Corners, Michigan; 18 –Musik-Stadt PCA Club Concours, Nashville, Tennessee; 18-19 – Taste of Motorsports, Sonoma, California; 19 – EyesOn Design, Grosse Pointe Shores, Michigan; RADwood, Seattle; Simply BMW, Beaulieu, UK; 21-26, Motor Bella, Pontiac, Michigan; 24-25 – Cadillac-LaSalle Fall Festival, Hickory Corners, Michigan; 24-26 – Detroit 4Fest, Mt. Holly, Michigan; Goodguys Lone Star Nationals, Fort Worth; 26 – Catskill Conquest Rally, Saratoga, New York; Camaros at the Corners, Hickory Corners, Michigan;  Simply British Classics, Beaulieu, UK; 29-October 3 – Fall Carlisle, Pennsylvania; 30-October 3, American Speed Festival, Pontiac, Michigan; Audrain Newport Concours & Motorweek, Rhode Island

October 

1-2 – La Jolla Motor Car Classic, California; 1-3 – Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, Italy; Goodguys Del Mar Nationals, California; 6-10 – Zoute concours, Belgium; 8-9 – Z Nationals, Road Atlanta; 9 – RADwood, Austin, Texas; DesutscheMarques Oktoberfest, Hickory Corners, Michigan; 13-14 – Goodguys Get-Together, Pleasanton, California; 16 – Gilmore Fall Color Tour, Hickory Corners, Michigan; 19-21 – Goodguys Southwest Nationals, Scottsdale; 21-24 – Las Vegas Concours d’Elegance, Nevada; Auto e Moto d’Epoca, Padua, Italy; 22-25 – Greenwich Concours d’Elegance, Connecticut; 23 – RADwood, Greenwich, Connecticut; 29 – Fort Lauderdale Concours, Florida

Have an event to add? Email details to journal@classiccars.com