The life of a gearhead involves a considerable amount of dreaming about the best destinations you could visit if you had the time and the money. Some trips cost more than others, especially if they involve getting behind the wheel of a luxury vehicle. The following 10 must-visit destinations, however, focus more on the sights and sounds that create memorable experiences.
No. 10 – Memory Lane Museum
A hidden gem of NASCAR country, the Memory Lane Museum resides in Mooresville, North Carolina. This is not the standard museum solely featuring iconic cars from racing history; it also features dozens of other unique vehicles. The list includes go-karts, classics, and movie cars, among many other examples. Who doesn’t want to go see the “Talladega Nights” Wonder Bread car in person?
No. 9 – Detroit Auto Show
The automotive industry hosts numerous car shows throughout the year, which companies use to unveil their upcoming products. All are interesting, but the Detroit Auto Show is in a class of its own. This annual event features more than 34 car brands, nearly 500 vehicles on display, and multiple indoor tracks. Attendees can even ride in the passenger seat as a professional driver takes them around these indoor tracks.
The Detroit Auto Show has a reputation for being one of the five most prestigious auto shows in the world.
No. 8 – SEMA Show
While the Detroit Auto Show provides a look at new vehicles, the SEMA Show goes in a completely different direction. This show highlights the numerous ways to customize and personalize vehicles. This show has everything from aftermarket parts to completely custom builds. Do you want to see a 1976 Toyota Celica with a V12 engine? What about a Volkswagen Bug converted into a trophy truck? It’s possible at SEMA.
No. 7 – Petersen Automotive Museum
A beautiful place in the heart of Los Angeles, the Petersen Automotive Museum is an ever-changing tribute to autos. This carefully curated museum features displays highlighting hypercars, race cars, EVs, classics, and many, many others. The exhibits regularly change, so gearheads never run out of reasons to revisit the Petersen. One trip may feature a celebration of the late Ken Block. Another may celebrate lowriders. One trip could center around a Porsche exhibit. The options are endless.
No. 6 – National Corvette Museum
Are you a major fan of Chevrolet Corvettes? How do you feel about Kentucky? Depending on your answer, we have the perfect destination for your next family trip. The National Corvette Museum resides in Bowling Green, Kentucky, and it serves as the home of Corvette history. This museum has dozens of vehicles on display, as well as blueprints, manuals, and a Hall of Fame dedicated to those who shaped the history of the sports car. The National Corvette Museum also has its own race track offering driving experiences for gearheads.
No. 5 – 24 Hours of Le Mans
The 24 Hours of Le Mans is the biggest and most prestigious endurance race. It takes place each summer in France, and it features competitors from all over the world putting their race cars through grueling tests. Although the biggest draws may be the events leading up to the actual races. The 24 Hours of Le Mans features parades, autograph sessions with top teams, and a pit stop competition.
No. 4 – Daytona 500
The biggest race on the NASCAR schedule, the Daytona 500 officially kicks off the season each February. It’s a chaotic superspeedway event that starts during the day and ends under the lights. It takes place at Daytona International Speedway, an iconic location for NASCAR fans and casual viewers alike. This is a track where celebrities like Dwayne Johnson and Creed will explore the garage before joining more than 100,000 fans to watch 40 cars go nearly 200 mph.
If the race itself isn’t enough, NASCAR also goes all out with its festivities. It brings in some of the biggest names in music to perform concerts, and it packs the fan zone with attractions.
No. 3 – Nürburgring
The Nürburgring is hallowed ground for gearheads. This circuit in Germany provides the opportunity to race around a bona fide medieval castle. Visitors can rent cars to drive around the same track where manufacturers try to break records. They can also ride in the passenger seat as a professional racer completes a hot lap in a truly gorgeous environment. And if visitors grow tired of track time, they can attend the 24-hour Nürburgring endurance race and see the professionals in action.
No. 2 – Goodwood Festival of Speed
The Goodwood Festival of Speed is an outright celebration of the automotive world. This event, a creation of the Duke of Richmond, brings together thousands of people and hundreds of vehicles at the Goodwood Estate. Attendees then watch a staggering assortment of vehicles tackle rally courses, a hill climb, and other arenas. Within the span of a few hours, they can watch prototype cars, race cars, electric vans, and historic motorcycles race past while trying to post the fastest laps. Although some choose the more entertaining route and just do burnouts.
No. 1 – Indianapolis 500
The biggest race in America, the Indianapolis 500 is a can’t-miss event for motorsports enthusiasts. This race pits the biggest names in the NTT IndyCar Series against each other at one of the world’s most famous race tracks. This is the event that every IndyCar driver wants to win, and it is one that competitors from all over the world want to attempt. It’s an event that fans want to watch, which roughly 350,000 prove each year as they flock to Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
The Indy 500 is an event unlike any other. And if the race itself isn’t enough of a draw, IMS also has its own museum filled with incredible items from racing history.