Competition Corner: September 2023 Auto Events
Whoa – September, already?! Time is flying by at an almost freakish rate. We’re not complaining, though. With momentum like this, we’ll blast right back to peak auto season in no time. Speaking of which, we’re not through just yet. Not even close, actually, with overlanding season entering full swing, legendary drag-and-drive events underway, and all the usual suspects still running strong. That said, we’ve got a lot of ground to cover this month, and there’s no time to waste. Here are your must-see September 2023 auto events.
Descend on Bend
Before you hardcore overlanders get bent out of shape, the van life community isn’t trying to get a piece of your pie. They’re just living their best lives, enjoying a forgotten and even taboo part of the automotive scene. If you’re among that crowd, all you need to know is that Descend on Bend is your Mecca, and it’s going down September 1-4 in Oregon Outback.
Mustang Week
Who can get enough Mustang? Not the American public. More than 10,000,000 roam the streets, which is a massive accomplishment by Ford. Mustang Week is about rounding up many of these wild ponies for a make-exclusive drag and drive, show and cultural celebration event you horse people can’t miss. It’s set to tour Myrtle Beach this September 4-9.
Charlotte Auto Fair
The Charlotte Auto Fair is the place for anyone building a car south of the Mason-Dixon line to be this September 7-9. It’s set to go down at the Charlotte Motor Speedway, rounding up vendors selling parts and memorabilia for any make you can think of. And if you’re tired of building cars, it’s also a good chance to buy, with countless cars going up for sale and even a car corral for the best of the bunch.
SVRA
Can we talk about the SVRA without running through a multi-event discussion? No. For those of you on the outs, the SVRA is all about putting vintage cars on legendary tracks to remind us what real grit is all about.
This month, we’re looking at a twofer. First up is the Watkins Glen SpeedTour running September 6-10. As far as September auto events go, this is one you won’t want to miss, as the classics will reclaim the iconic street circuit as part of the Hilliard U.S. Vintage Grand Prix Weekend. If that doesn’t jive with your schedule though, don’t worry. The Gateway SpeedTour runs September 22-24 and sends drivers to conquer the World Wide Technology Raceway in Madison, Illinois.
Red Clay Rally
Next up is an overlanding rally race set to turn Appalachia on its head. The three-day trek runs September 8-10 and sees drivers push it to the limits on a 250-mile course cutting through winding terrain. Designed to separate the best from the rest, the Red Clay Rally is not for the faint of heart – or beginners. Think you have what it takes?
SCORE Baja 400
We do indeed have another off-road race to drop on your desk. The SCORE Baja 400 is here, and it’s going to be glorious. Drivers of all the baddest machines are facing down a 400-mile closed-loop course designed to break everything they’re throwing at it. You already know it’s going to be the best sand-filed weekend of your life when you head to Baja, California, this September 13-17.
Keweena Overland Adventure Retreat
Michigan’s upper peninsula is an exotic region of the United States. Like a grassy carpet rolled out from the great north, encouraging you into an adventure. Keweena Overland Adventure Retreat is your chance to take it up on that offer. September 14-17, you and like-minded adventurers will get to explore the region in your prized vehicles, sharing stories, tips, and passion for the great outdoors along the way.
Detroit Auto Show
No, your calendar isn’t shot. Nor are we stupid. The Detroit Auto Show really is upon us. As opposed to running the world’s largest auto show in the middle of January, in Detroit, the folks behind the show opted for something a little warmer in recent years. It’s now an indoor/outdoor exposition set to run September 13-24. More welcoming conditions will surely make for an even greater show.
NHRA
If you don’t know what the NHRA is, we can’t help you. Though, you might benefit from checking out one of the THREE showdowns set to run this month. First up is the Pep Boys NHRA Nationals running September 14-17 at the Maple Grove Raceway in Mohnton, Pennsylvania. After that, the NHRA Carolina Nationals take the zMAX Dragway in Concord, North Carolina, September 22-24. Finally, the NHRA Midwest Nationals, are going down September 29 – October 1 at the World Wide Technology Raceway, rock Madison, Illinois.
Trucks Gone Wild – Sand Scorpions
Mother Nature crafts up some beautiful landscapes many of us know not to disturb. There are some spots, however, just begging for big trucks and rowdy drivers to show us all how it’s done. The folks behind Trucks Gone Wild are pros at finding those spots and putting on the show you’re dying for. On September 16, Trucks Gone Wild Sand Scorpions hits the Moses Lake Mud Flats, and you already know you can’t miss it.
O’Reilly Auto Parts Grand National Truck Show
Real gearheads appreciate all makes and types. Still, there are times when you want to keep them separate. The O’Reilly Auto Parts Grand National Truck Show is here for truck lovers. It’s a truck-only event that’ll totally submerge you in the paradise of beds and engines you’ve been running to. It’s set to go down September 16-17 at the Fairplex in Pomona, California.
HOT ROD Drag Week
It’s HOT ROD Drag Week! This is the 19th time the madmen behind the publication are rounding up the best drag-and-drive cars in the United States to see who wears the crown. With over 1,000 miles of road to cover in total, you know there will be carnage, there will be madness, and there will be glory. You’d better get on it now if you want in on the action this September 18-22.
NMCA World Street Finals
If you can’t make it to Drag Week or simply prefer a more dedicated form of competition, you’ve got options. The NMCA World Street Finals are set to go down September 21-24. As always, you can count on seeing the best of the best from every class battling it out for the title of quarter-mile king/queen. Just know you’d better be in Indianapolis, Indiana if you intend to bear witness.
Great American Mountain Rally Revival
Keeping the classics alive is something we can all get behind. We shouldn’t just limit it to muscle cars and trucks, though. The Great American Mountain Rally Revival is a celebration tour/timed event that calls back to one of the northeast’s greatest races. Drivers will traverse 400 miles of Vermont countryside in period-correct cars from the 1953-1957 races it celebrates all the way up to modern-day marvels. If that sounds like your dig, you’d better head north this September 25-27.
NMRA Ford World Finals & Holley Ford Festival
The NMRA Ford World Finals & Holley Ford Festival might sound like a typical event, but it’s not. It sounds like a drag race and show combo, and it is, but it’s also much more. For one, BIGFOOT is going to be there. Two, there’s going to be drifting and autocross. Three, Vaughn Gittin, Chelsea DeNofa, Adam LZ, and Loren Healy will be making appearances. So, you real Ford fans better be in Bowling Green, Kentucky, come September 28-October 1.
American Speed Festival
Few things in life are as special as auto racing culture. It’s a sport driven by passion and heritage, which is not easily forgotten. Events like the America Speed Festival serve as proof that there’s still a ton of appreciation for the glory days. This September 28-October 1st, it hits the asphalt at M1 Concours in Pontiac, Michigan. This event puts cars from all eras on the track to carry the torch once more, kindling passion both new and old.
Big Iron Overland Rally
No, this isn’t a Marty Robbins festival. It’s a giant camping event set around a giant piece of machinery. Big Brutus is a massive electric shovel that’s the crown jewel of West Mineral, Kansas. The Big Iron Overland Rally goes down in its presence for a three-day camping and concert experience like none other. And since this is a MOORE event, you can plan on checking out some trick vendors and getting in on all kinds of miscellaneous action during your stay. Be there September 29-30.
State Fair of Texas
It’s Texas, okay? You really can’t be surprised that the State Fair is bigger than what you expected it to be. This behemoth of an event runs 24 days long, spanning September 29-October 22. And we’re talking about it here in our round-up of September auto events because it’s so darn big that truck manufacturers routinely make appearances to show off their latest creations. So, see you in Dallas.
Rocky Mountain Race Week
Let’s wrap it up with one last drag-and-drive event. This epic run puts drivers on at least 1,000 miles of roadways between tracks for a total of seven days. It’s called Rocky Mountain Race Week and is known as the ultimate endurance drag racing challenge. So, if you’re coming hot off Drag Week feeling like a champion, September 30-October 6 is your chance to prove it.
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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.
