THE ST JAMES'S MOTORING SPECTACLE: SATURDAY 2 NOVEMBER 2024
Building on the successes of the Regent Street Motor Show and St James’s International Concours, the Royal Automobile Club is proud to announce the St James’s Motoring Spectacle, an exciting new free-to-attend, car-themed, family-friendly street show, set right in the heart of London and taking place on Saturday, 2 November.
The exciting new St James’s Motoring Spectacle is the event you can’t afford to miss… and you can afford to attend!
With most of Pall Mall closed for the day, the famous central London street will greet families with a special free-to-attend celebration of motoring through the ages and into the future.
The stunning collection of amazing cars on display will span from pioneering Grand Prix winners dating back to the dawn of motorsport right up to the very latest supercars, showcasing revolutionary technologies for a more sustainable future.
The not-to-be-missed, single day automotive experience is organised by the Royal Automobile Club and, aptly, it takes place right on the doorstep of the organisation’s clubhouse in the heart of Westminster.
Running from 10am to 3pm on Saturday 2 November, the stellar eye-catching event is one of the many highlights during the Club’s busy London Motor Week 2024, which also includes lectures, award presentations, the Art of Motoring Exhibition in the Iconic Images Gallery and concludes with the annual RM Sotheby’s London to Brighton Veteran Car Run.
While the incredible selection of cars will be the stars, the Spectacle will also put the spotlight on sustainability and skills, providing visitors with the opportunity not only to explore career opportunities within the sector but also an intriguing insight into alternatives to fossil fuels.
“The Spectacle really will live up to its name,” enthused Duncan Wiltshire, Chairman of the Royal Automobile Club. “Whether it’s the extraordinary collection of Victorian and Edwardian pioneers or the glittering array of equally innovative hypercars furthering the ground-breaking technologies to come, Pall Mall will be packed automotive legends past, present and future. And, best of all, everyone can enjoy the Spectacle for free!”
VISITORS WILL BE TREATED TO FOUR DEDICATED ZONES ON PALL MALL:
ZONE 1: THE ST JAMES’S CONCOURS
The Spectacle takes place on the eve of the world-famous RM Sotheby’s London to Brighton Veteran Run and around 75 of the remarkable pre-1905 motoring trailblazers will be sparkling on Pall Mall for the St James’s Concours, the premier evaluation of its kind for veteran cars anywhere on the planet. This year’s judging panel includes television personalities Edd China and Alan Titchmarsh as well as Doug Hill, Chief Engineer from the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu. Among the coveted awards to be presented are special accolades for female drivers in recognition of the 120th anniversary of the Ladies’ Automobile Club being honoured on the following day’s London to Brighton.
ZONE 2: SKILLS AND SUSTAINABILITY
The Spectacle also provides a valuable educational insight into heritage skills required to preserve automotive history, and the cutting-edge technologies of the future. Organisations including Imperial College, the Royal College of Art, the Heritage Skills Academy and the Worshipful Company of Coachmakers will all promoting career opportunities for the next generation of heritage engineers. With an eye on the future, SUSTAIN Fuels will provide insight into its game-changing sustainable fuels, amply demonstrated by the four veteran cars entered by the Royal Automobile Club on the following day’s trip from capital to coast.
ZONE 3: HERITAGE DISPLAY
Illustrating the history of powered travel, the Heritage Display will include an easy-to-follow timeline. This follows the car’s evolution from the days of horse-drawn carriages and bicycles, though early steam and electric vehicles right up to the latest, fast-charging Nyobolt battery technology. Adding further interest, Zone 3 will also put the spotlight on three major automotive anniversaries: 125 years of both Fiat and Renault as well as 50 years of the much-loved VW Golf. All three gatherings will include past and present models with standout highlights including Renault’s new all-electric Renault 5 and the legendary 16.2-litre Fiat 130HP, one of the greatest racers from motorsport’s early days.
ZONE 4: MODERN DESIGN
Exemplifying just how far the car has come over the past century – and previewing what is to come – the Modern Design Zone to the west end of Pall Mall features a mouth-watering line-up of the latest generation of high-tech supercars plus a smattering of design classics from the past. The latter will include a 1904 Mercedes Simplex, a 1931 Bentley 8-Litre, a Subaru Impreza rally car and one of the gadget-laden Aston Martin DB5s built to promote the James Bond movie Goldfinger. The modern supercar showcase is equally star-studded. It includes an Aston Martin Valkyrie, Lamborghini Huracan STO, Pagani Huayra Roadster, Koenigsegg Regera, McLaren P1 and a rare UK opportunity for visitors to relish a Porsche 963 prototype from this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Maximising its pole position outside the Royal Automobile Club’s historic clubhouse on Pall Mall, the St James’s Motoring Spectacle will also engage with local retailers and businesses. As an example, the Iconic Images Gallery on Waterloo Place will host a world-class exhibition of motoring and motorsport-themed art from leading artists in the immediate run-up to the Veteran Car Run.
The Royal Automobile Club has always been at the forefront of promoting excellence and innovation within motoring. This wonderful new show will not only celebrate the freedoms motorised transport has provided but also forecast the car’s future role within a fast-changing world.
The creation of an inclusive event celebrating the motor car, its cultural impact and the important part it will continue to perform in the years ahead will also further promote the special theme of the 2024 London to Brighton. This November’s Veteran Car Run is honouring the 120th anniversary of the Ladies’ Automobile Club, which staged its first ever event at The Athenaeum Club on Waterloo Place and the Carlton House Terrace in 1904.
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