Competition Corner: October 2023 Auto Events
Don’t go putting that car away just because it’s October. There are still plenty of exciting and interesting automotive events on this month’s calendar that you don’t want to miss out on. (Besides, autumn is the best time of year for killer car pics.) So, let’s skip the preamble. Here are your must-see October 2023 auto events.
Cruisin’ The Coast
What’s not to love about classic cars and beautiful beaches? Cruisin’ The Coast has plenty of both. This week-long event is all about getting you together with like-minded folks to drive your favorite cars. Along the way, you’ll enjoy live entertainment in what’s known as America’s Largest Block party.
It’s the best last hurrah for many cars this season, and maybe even the trip you need to finally consider relocating a little more south on the map. It’s set to go down October 1-8 all along the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
California 300
A still-new addition to the Martelli Brother’s off-road racing lineup, the California 300 enters its second year this October 4-8 in Barstow. With two days of dirt-flinging fun on a punishing 70-mile race course, plus an off-road festival and public poker run, this is definitely an October 2023 auto event you won’t want to miss.
Better yet, this year, the brothers have packaged the event in the “Unlimited Off-Road Racing Triple Crown Championship,” a new three-race championship points series that also includes the Mint 400 and King of the Hammers. The California 300 marks the last leg of the championship, so you know competitors will be itching to put on a show. Stick around afterward for the desert cleanup put on by the non-profit organization Tread Lightly!
SVRA SpeedTour
And just like that, we’re into a twofer. This one’s coming in hot from the SVRA, the folks dedicated to keeping vintage racing alive. The first event is the VIR SpeedTour, running October 5-8 at the VIRginia International Raceway. Next up is the Spring Mountain SpeedTour, which hits the Spring Mountain Motorsports Ranch on October 20-22. Boom. All the classic action you could ask for.
Southeast Gassers Gulfport MS
Need a different kind of classic racing in your life? Don’t worry. We’ve got you covered. Well, the Southeast Gassers Association does. This month, the crew hits the GulfPort Dragway for a showdown you don’t want to miss. The cars battling it out aren’t failed mockups built to replicate a gasser for style points with zero regard for accuracy. These are true gassers, running hard and keeping history alive, and they’re waging war October 6-7.
Overland Expo East 2023
Overlanding may be big out west, but there’s still a ton of fun going down on the East Coast. Don’t believe me? Then maybe you need to check out Overland Expo East in Arrington, Virginia, this October 6-8. The legendary event rounds up pros, vendors, and enthusiasts for a weekend of teaching the best practices and showcasing the best gear. There’s no better place to be if you’re ready to start your Overlanding career. And as far as October 2023 auto events go, it’s also guaranteed to be one of the most picturesque.
Stampede of Speed
What we’ve got here is a threefer. However, it doesn’t look like one on account of the first of the three being so big it warrants its own space. The Stampede of Speed is exactly what you think it is — a ten-day festival leading up to the NHRA Texas Fall Nationals.
Oh, is that not what you guessed? Well, from October 6-15, the Texas Motorplex will be jam-packed with live music, all kinds of racing and sideshows, and even a cattle drive. It’s about as Texas as it gets.
NHRA
I’m sure you already know what the next part of that split-up threefer is. The Texas Fall Nationals pick up where the Stampede of Speed leaves off. The showdown takes over the Texas Motorplex October 12-15, and you can bet it’s going to get brutal. If that doesn’t quench your thirst for speed, you can get another dose at the Nevada Nationals when the NHRA hits the strip October 26-29.
Rendezvous in the Ozarks
The Ozarks don’t get as much love as the other mountain ranges of the US, and it makes no sense. It’s a beautiful place, loaded with opportunities to get out and explore America. If doing so in a four-wheeler is your cup of tea, then Rendezvous in the Ozarks is where you need to be this October 12-14.
This event rounds up enthusiasts and vendors for a weekend of education and enjoyment of the outdoors at the Mulberry Mountain Lodge in the Ozark National Forest, Arkansas.
2023 Laughlin Desert Classic
As much as we love racing, we need to pass the torch to the next generation at some point. Events like the Laughlin Desert Classic help us find exactly who to pass it to. This BITD entry is a youth series event that sees the baddest youngsters battle it out in everything from motorcycles and ATVs to UTVs, cars, and trucks. Yeah — you need to see it for yourself this October 12-15.
Rebelle Rally
People are just too soft these days, am I right? If you agree, then you’ll love the Rebelle Rally. This ladies-only showdown is the longest competitive off-road rally in the United States, spanning 1,500 miles of California and Nevada. Competitors cannot use a GPS or a phone, instead relying only a map and compass to guide them. Who will earn the badge as Queen of The Desert? Tune in October 12-21 to find out.
Lake Superior Performance Rally
The Great Lakes region is among the most beautiful segments of the United States. All those winding back roads, cutting through the iconic scenery… just begging to be torn up with finely-tuned machines piloted by the maddest drivers in the world. That’s what the Lake Superior Performance Rally is all about. Round 8 of the ARA National Championship Series hits the nastiest track in the circuit, October 13-14.
Chattanooga Motorcar Festival
The Chattanooga city limit signs might inspire thoughts of a rough and rowdy duo hauling a hungover Johnny Cash in a clapped-out muscle car, but that’s not what you’ll find here. The Chattanooga Motorcar Festival is all about the finer classics with a grand prix to match, and live entertainment like no other. The heat these engines will be pumping out this October 13-15 is more than enough to stay warm for a little longer.
NSRA Southwest Street Rod National
What’s the best part about the fall and winter? The influx of swap meets. They may not be as large as the summer events, but the quality skyrockets. NSRA Southwest Street Rod Nationals in Oklahoma City is a prime example of that. Here, you’re sure to find the equipment your custom is longing for, and there’s a pretty stellar show attached to the swap meet. If you’re in need of some parts and inspiration this October 13-15, you know where to go.
Trucks Gone Wild – Plant Bamboo Okeetoberfest
With a name like that, you know you’re all-in. The Trucks Gone Wild Plant Bamboo Okeetoberfest is the southern-Floridian event you need it to be. While there are plenty of official events like a tug of war and show like no other, it’s essentially the big blow-out mud party of your dreams, and it happens twice a year. Don’t miss your chance to check it out this October 19-22.
Overland at the Red
What’s an overlanding weekend without a little challenge? That’s what you’ll get when you check out the Overland at the Red in Red River Gorge, Kentucky, this October 19-22. The event sets you off on the Daniel Boone Byway. And when you’re done there, you’ll have the chance to relax, enjoy the weekend, and touch base with fellow overlanding fans and vendors who keep the sport alive.
King of the Kastle Rage in the Sage
Yeah, it’s another desert race for you to get in on. But, no, it’s not quite like the others. King of the Kastle Rage in the Sage is a SxS-only event. Why’s that a great thing? Because the drivers here are on a more focused format to really give it their all. That format is a 200-mile desert race cutting through the sands of Millican, Oregon. You can count on it being an all-out war this October 19-22.
Death Week
Yeah, that’s really the name. And you know you’re already all about it before you even learn what it is. Death Week is an eighth-mile drag-and-drive event spanning October 20-29 that takes the hardest running cars across 2,000 miles of interstate, covering three different states and hitting ten different tracks. Sounds awesome, right? Well then, you’d better check it out. It’s a one-and-done ordeal, never to return after this brutal showdown.
SEMA Show 2023
Yes, SEMA 2023 is really already here!! It runs October 31-November 3, which means it’ll be a full-fledged holiday season once it concludes, so it might be your last chance to indulge in industry action until next year. Countless vendors and show cars make it the place to be to calibrate your future plans and hit 2024 harder than ever with automotive goodness.
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If there’s one thing we’ve learned over the years, it’s that car culture is meant to shared. Competition Corner is a monthly column in which we, auto enthusiasts, give you, our fellow car lovers, the rundown on what’s what in the world of upcoming events across the country. From racing to off-roading, car shows to swap meets, we aim to include something for everyone to enjoy. If you’re eager and ready to get out and experience the action, check out these must-see listings and be sure to tune in next month for another round-up.
