How to do Amelia on the cheap? Follow our Porsche 911.

Photography by David S. Wallens

Despite the chatter often heard, The Amelia weekend doesn’t have to be so expensive.

The cost to attend our Classic Motorsports Amelia Island Kickoff? Free.

And the cost to walk Radwood? Also free.

Where was our Porsche 911 Carrera on display this past weekend? At those two free events.

Did we have fun? Lots.

Car prep was our usual: Tim McNair’s One Hour Detail.


Mechanical prep? Check the tire pressures and give everything a quick inspection before the 2-hour drive.

Friday morning dawned early–like, before dawn–as we had to truck from our home base near Daytona Beach, Florida, to Amelia Island’s Main Beach Park. The magazine staff needed to be on site by 8 a.m.

The occasion? Our Classic Motorsports Amelia Island Kickoff Presented by Sunoco, where the Porsche–again with a BMX perched atop it–was placed among the German cars. The event welcomed hundreds of cars and thousands of guests–and, again, no charge to spectate.

Our judging crew included luminaries like Wayne Carini, Tom Cotter and Bill Warner. Did we win? Well, it wouldn’t be totally fair to enter our own event, right?

Actually, maybe we did win, as we spent the day with friendly faces and cool cars.

Saturday also dawned early, as we had a 7 o’clock load-in for Radwood. We splurged for Royalty parking and got a space at the head of the fairway. And once parked, again, more cleanup.

We broke out our ’80s best–we were there and don’t recall quite so much neon as others–while we welcomed kids and adults alike. What got people chatting? The bike and the old New York license plates. Like our Kickoff, Radwood was free to attend.

With the Amelia concours moved from Sunday to Saturday due to the forecast, that evening we headed back home–after some local cuisine with the gang. (Read: some Chinese buffet that totally hit the spot.)

Issues during the outing? Not a one. The car hummed along as planned.

And tomorrow–as in Wednesday–the Porsche heads out again to join our Orange Blossom Tour. Yep, a busy week.

Join Free Join our community to easily find more project updates.
More like this
Comments
David S. Wallens
David S. Wallens Editorial Director
3/11/25 11:05 p.m.

So, about that Chinese buffet.

Between Radwood and the concours, Saturday was busy for the crew. We missed lunch in the media center, and the pickings on the field seemed a little thin.

Let’s tough it out, I said, and then we’ll eat. I wanted to look at one more car, and then we could head back to our cars. We’d go back to the house, clean up, eat and then hit the road for home.

What to eat? At Amelia, it’s often a succession of fancy meals that seem to take forever. Or non-fancy meals that seem to take forever. 

Once back at the house, I half-jokingly suggested Chinese buffet. That’s fast comfort food, right?

James looks at his phone: There’s one three-tenths of a mile away from the house.

Sold.

We walk in around 4:15. Buffet only goes until 4:00, we’re told, but it’s still out and warm. Were we still interested? Or we could order off the menu.

So we looked it over. Yup.

Table 2, she said. 

Thank you, New China Buffet, for the hospitality. I have a feeling we’ll be back next year. 

You'll need to log in to post.

Sponsored by

Classic Motorsports House Ad

More like this
Our Preferred Partners
QJ4EfQbrK0p142SmV48TyzfqAiyFMTLS5rZuNyIb6l3gY1eYY3ByJzvIexRD10iy