Join ClassicLine Insurance at Wheels Day, hosted by Surrey Street Rodders. As this annual car show celebrates its 50th anniversary, here’s a rundown of what you can expect and how you can attend Wheels Day at Newbury Showground.
Easter 1974. The three-day working week had been introduced. ABBA was about to win the Eurovision Song Contest. And American Graffiti had just been released. But there was one other significant event in 1974 which would go on to launch the annual classic and modified car show season calendar for the next 50 years.
Wheels Day, hosted by the Surrey Street Rodders, is a 100% charitable non-profit family friendly one-day show welcoming everything from street rods, custom cars, and American cars to classic bikes, vans, British vintage and classic cars, and historic vehicles and dragsters. The very first Wheels Day took place in Bracknell on Easter Monday in 1974. Since then, it has been held on Good Friday and is considered to be the ‘Hot Rod and Custom Car’ scenes season opening show. Although the first Wheels Day was held in 1974, the effects of the ongoing Covid pandemic meant that the show could not go ahead in 2021, making 2025 the 50th Wheels Day to be held.
A lot has changed over the last 50 years. Venues have changed. Trends in builds and customisation have come and gone. The weather has been glorious and atrocious – sometimes all in the same day – but the appreciation and excitement for the annual Wheels Day car show has remained at the heart of the community.
What is happening at Wheels Day 2025?
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Wheels Day, this year there will be a special Golden Ticket treasure hunt. 50 gold tickets will be hidden around the site for people to find. The tickets could be hidden anywhere, up a tree, under a car, on a trade stand, in an exhaust pipe, on the back of a club member’s high vis, anywhere!
Attendees are tasked with retrieving a ticket and redeeming it with John Price at the Surrey Street Rodders hospitality tent. Each ticket will have a unique number which corresponds to a prize. Prizes have either been kindly donated to or sponsored by the Surrey Street Rodders. But prizes are limited to one per lucky person!
The ‘HUGE Shed’ will play host to a collection of fantastic race cars, from dragsters to tractor pullers, circuit racers to rally cars. Joining the display will be a small selection of open-wheeled vintage cars, as well as a few other special vehicles.
As a specialist in hot rod, custom and American car insurance, ClassicLine Insurance is delighted to be joining this year’s celebration too. We will have our usual stand at the show, offering live insurance quotations, and we are excited to be sponsoring one of the prizes.
Plus, there’ll be all the usual entertainment, catering vendors, fun fair, autojumble area, traders, and of course the huge show area. With almost 2,000 vehicles booked to attend, this event is not to be missed!
Sounds great, right?
Take a look at our highlights from Wheels Day 2024 for a snapshot of what you can expect:
https://www.classiclineinsurance.co.uk/wheels-day-2024/
How to attend Wheels Day
Wheels Day is being held at Newbury Showground on Good Friday, Friday 18th April 2025.
Car Arena passes for display vehicles have now been allocated, and the showfield is full. In fact, the good folk at the Surrey Street Rodders have said they have had nearly 2,000 vehicles register this year, so as long as the weather holds, it’s set to be a massive show this year!
Public are welcome to come along and view the show. Public entry on the day is £10 adult, £5 for OAPs, and children under 16 are free.
The Surrey Street Rodders would like to thank:
Northhants Tyres, ClassicLine Insurance, NamCo, National Street Rod Association, Santa Pod Raceway, National Hotrod & American Car Show, Bagshot Breakfast Meet, Dave Biggadyke, John Hunt, Classic American Magazine, Custom Car Magazine, Motor Parts Direct LTD. Farnborough, Steve Oliver Supplies, Millhouse Promotions, Chatley’s Creations, Fashion Hut, Brilliant GB Ltd., Timeless Crafted Gifts, Rally Essentials, Smart Tech Car Care, The Number Plate Workshop, Key Restoration Services, NDP Tools, Wessex Park Models, and Classic Keys.
Good To Know
What: Wheels Day 2025, hosted by Surrey Street Rodders
When: Friday 18th April 2025
Where: Newbury Showground, RG18 9QZ
Times: 10am – 4pm
What does it cost: Car arena booking has now closed. Public viewing tickets are available on the gate, adults £10, OAPs £5, and kids under 16 free (cash only)
Find out more: wheelsday.co.uk
