It's almost impossible to love the V8, but not love muscle cars. What is a muscle car? Well it's basically a normal American family saloon with a huge V8 crammed in on the production line. Since yank tanks were built out of cast iron and other heavy metals back then, not many other mods had to be done. Of course you had your decorative trim to make it stand out and a couple of bigger bits of metal here and there to stop it bending or taking off, but not that much different really.

My personal favourites were usualy built before exhaust emissions testing came in and were therefore no compromise street fighting machines. Ahh those were the days... When you could design a car and all you had to do was make it look good and go fast. No emissions, no fuel economy, hardly any saftey testing, etc etc.

Anyways, even if you dont own an American or a V8 there's nothing better than going to see them and listen to them at a show, and if you do own one, get it down there on display and you never know you might even get some bits for it! The shows have plenty to do and see for the whole family and are generally a good day out. These are the dates that stand out in my diary.

AACI Spring Nationals - Billing Aquadrome

The Spring Nationals are much like the Summer Nationals at Billing but occasionally without the great weather. The appropriatly named 'Aquadrome' fields at Billing can sometimes catch you out, being a little boggy to say the least. If you wanna go check the weather and remember your Wellington boots!

NASC Swap Meet - Brafield International Raceway

If you're gonna race em you need parts. The NASC swap meet is quite a young event but is gaining popularity quite quickly as one of the few places where you can go and pickup rare parts for your latest project. With everything from turn signals to blowers, you never know you might find that long lost part you've always been after!

MMA Mopars at Brooklands - Brooklands Museum

If cowboy hats and rock'n'roll do your head in and all you really want do is see and hear big thirsty V8's, this is where you wanna be. No frills, no fins, no line dancing, just the best selection of purebread Mopar muscle you will EVER see. A chance to get up close to some true motoring legends.

The venue itself includes the brooklands museum which provides a pleasant environment and has lots of historical vehicles and aircraft. Overall a great day out with friendly people that all share a fantastic enthusiam for the greatest motor vehicles ever made. If you didnt want to own a Muscle car when you went in, you will by the time you come out.

AACI Summer Nationals - Billing Aquadrome

There are a few regular events in the UK, but by far the biggest is the AACI Summer Nationals at Billing Aquadrome. Its a simply immense gathering of yankee iron in just about every imaginable form from motorbikes, to sports cars, to muscle cars to pickup trucks. If its metal and it moves it will be there, something for even the strangest of tastes.

As well as the cars at Billing there is loads of things to do for the whole family from Jet Ski's to the fairground, along with the great weather it means everyone truly has a great time.

One thing that amazes me every year is the sheer turn out for this event. Not only the cars but the stalls, events and sheer quantity of members of the public. Who can blame them though, for only £10 a car to get in, it is an absolute bargain for a great day out!

Mopar Euro Nationals - Santa Pod Raceway

Sometimes just looking at cars isn't enough. You wanna hear em, you wanna see em, you wanna RACE em!

The Mopar Euronationals are something for the true V8 lover. Loud noisy and dirty. The drag racing, the fantastic burnout competition and features such as the awesome jet car mean there is plenty to watch and damage your health with!

Unfortunatly Santa Pod is a bit expensive to get in compared to the other events, but then drag strips usually are expensive. However if you want to see plenty of loud Mopars in their true home on the strip, this is the place to be!