Classic Japfest 2024 Event Report

Classic Japfest 2024 enjoys a celebration of Japan’s golden era at Goodwood…

On October 6th, the inaugural Classic Japfest 2024 made its grand debut at Goodwood Motor Circuit, and what an incredible start it was! Fast Car Events brought together fans of Japanese motoring history for a day packed with iconic cars, club displays, and much more. As part of a double-header weekend, following the German Car Festival, Classic Japfest lived up to the hype, giving us a nostalgic dive into the golden era of Japanese automotive culture.

The eBay Garage at Classic Japfest 2024

Building on the huge success of Japfest Silverstone earlier in the year, eBay made their mark as the Headline Partner for our latest Japfest event. Their impressive eBay Garage was a big draw, with attendees enjoying interactive games and winning exclusive eBay merchandise throughout the day.

The bustling eBay Garage was also a place where enthusiasts connected with fellow car lovers, received advice on sourcing the right parts for their cars, and learned how eBay can support their restoration projects with the wide range of products and features available on their website.

Top 10 Rosettes

As if the club displays weren’t impressive enough, the Top 10 Rosettes gave us the chance to celebrate some of the absolute best builds found on display. Our editorial teams had their work cut out choosing the most unique and immaculately presented cars from a sea of stunning contenders.

Whether it was a rare model, outstanding craftsmanship, or original modifications, these top 10 cars stood out from the crowd and were awarded rosettes to commemorate their efforts. Owners were also treated to a cool goodie bag packed with quality service additives and branded merch from Liqui Moly too. Congratulations to these brilliant builds – your hard work and dedication to your rides did not go unnoticed!

Car Club Displays & Awards

The heart of Classic Japfest was the stunning array of car club displays, and they did not disappoint. From meticulously restored Toyota Supras to the rarest Nissan Skylines, the club stands were a testament to the dedication and passion of Japanese car enthusiasts. Clubs from all corners of the UK came together to show off their finest vehicles, with many showcasing models over 20 years old in pristine condition.

With so many eye-catching displays, the competition was fierce for the coveted Club Awards. Our judges had a tough time picking winners, but here are the clubs that took home top honours:

Best Club Club of the Show: Nissan S15
Best Large Club Stand: KentishUK
Best Small Car Club Stand: GTO UK
Best Regional Car Club Stand: Bath & Bristol Car Club
Best Presented Club Stand: Garage Street Sports
Most Varied Car Selection: Rival Worx
Club Spirit: The Outcast Crew
Best Charity Support Award: The Outcast Crew
Distance Travelled Award: Mazda 323 Turbo, Ronnie Peters (travelled from the Netherlands)
Heritage Award: Honda Z600, Alan Stanyon
Club Hero Award: Dave Pleszko, MX-5 Europe

Congratulations to all the winners! Your dedication and effort helped make Classic Japfest an incredible experience for everyone involved.

Icons Display

The Classic Japfest Icons Display, sponsored by Meguiar’s, brought a special level of prestige to the event, with hand-picked cars vying for the title of the best classic Japanese icon. The judges carefully selected a range of vehicles that exemplified the golden era of Japanese engineering, and these cars were proudly showcased for all to admire.

After a difficult decision, the top three Icons were chosen, with one standout vehicle crowned the Icons Display Champion:

Icons Display Champion: EK9 Civic Type R,
Icons Runner Ups: Mazda RX-7 FD, Datsun 510

It was a real treat to see these rare and unique cars up close, reminding us of the innovation and beauty that defined Japanese automotive design.

Classic Japfest 2024 Retail Village

Of course, no car show would be complete without a bustling Retail Village, and Classic Japfest delivered. Unlike Japfest Silverstone where the retail village is huge, the smaller Goodwood venue meant the Retail Village had more of a ‘quality over quantity’ vibe with a select choice of household names in attendance. But it still offered everything you could ever need, and more. Whether you were hunting for new parts, cool merchandise, or expert advice on your next mod, this was the place to be. Enthusiasts had the chance to speak directly with brands like RamAir, eBay, and Meguair’s, picking up tips and even scoring some special event discounts on the products they love. From performance upgrades to essential restoration tools, the village was the ideal spot for sourcing everything you need to keep your classic Japanese car in top condition.

Simulator Experience

The Simulator Experience – sponsored by Tillett racing Seats – was another highlight of the show, giving visitors a chance to virtually race around the famous Goodwood Circuit. The Exsim VR5 Motion Simulators offered a truly immersive driving experience, allowing participants to feel every turn and acceleration as if they were on the track themselves. Many took advantage of this unique opportunity to test their driving skills in one of the most advanced racing simulators around. Prizes were given to the fastest times recorded on the day.

Fast Car Display at Classic Japfest 2024

As always, Fast Car brought our own flair to the event with the Fast Car Display, featuring both past and future feature cars. This display was a tribute to the best of classic Japanese car culture, featuring a selection of cars that have graced the Fast Car channels over the years (if you don’t know, that includes this website, our YouTube channel, and our social pages on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok) The display gave showgoers a glimpse of what’s to come, as well as a look back at some of the most iconic builds in the scene.

A Legendary Start to a New Tradition

In its debut year, Classic Japfest 2024 delivered a fantastic celebration of classic Japanese motoring culture. With stunning cars, buzzing club displays, an engaging retail village, and an unforgettable presence from all the show’s sponsors and traders, the event set a high bar for the future. As the newest addition to the Fast Car Events calendar, Classic Japfest has already cemented itself as a must-attend for Japanese car enthusiasts.

We can’t wait to see how this event evolves next year. Thank you to everyone who made Classic Japfest 2024 a success—see you at Japfest Silverstone on April 13, 2025!