MONTEREY, Calif. (August 13, 2025) – With the Monterey Motorsports Festival opening its gates on Saturday August 16, we barely have time to review all the highlights! It’s going to be the biggest event of Monterey Car Week, running from 5-11PM at the Monterey Fairgrounds – 3 short miles from Cannery Row.
Rather than repeating the formula of stale car shows, MMF is living up to its name and will deliver a genuine festival, in every sense of the word. Come for the world-class cars and stay for the four live bands and three DJs, including headliner and platinum-selling artist, DJ Dillon Francis.
Top 17 highlights
- Mad Mike and 1000hp MADMAC McLaren P1 drift car
- US debut of Giugiaro-designed Peralta S hypercar
- James Kirkham from Race Service with his Unimog transporter
- Former Lamborghini test driver Valentino Balboni will make an appearance
- Autograph sessions with Mad Mike, James Kirkham, Valentino Balboni and NASCAR driver Jesse Iwuji
- Slate Auto displaying its electric SUV
- Stunning Nardone Porsche 928 resto-mod
- Donut Island – where guests will hear, see and smell the power
- More than 300 cars on display from a wide variety of automotive genres including supercars, off-road, JDM, Euro classics, lowriders, muscle cars, and more
- Global Reveal of new Davinci Motor electric motorcycle
- Headline act platinum-selling DJ Dillon Francis will close out the Festival
- Live bands playing throughout the night
- Muscle by Mecum display
- Live Workshops
- VIP Vino & Vibes area with access to seven wineries
- Locally-sourced craft food and drink
- Rollercoaster rides
- Even more highlights being finalized!
Where do you start with such a line-up? The award for furthest traveled goes to Mad Mike. The drift driver and Red Bull athlete is flying from New Zealand to appear exclusively at Monterey Motorsports Festival. He’ll be accompanied by his world famous MADMAC McLaren P1, which boasts a 1000hp turbocharged Mazda Rotary engine. Fans will be able to experience the power of this unique vehicle after Mike promised to spit flames from the exhaust.
Sadly, MADMAC is unable to perform at Donut Island, but the Festival organizers have promised a tantalizing selection of vehicles will perform donuts and burnouts in the specially designated area within the 22-acre Fairgrounds site. These will include the latest muscle cars and exotics for your entertainment and social media accounts.
At the other end of the spectrum, DJ Dillon Francis is the Festival’s headline musical act. Born in LA but recently relocated to Miami, the platinum-selling artist will close out the show with a live set from 9:45-11PM in the Arena – a venue made famous by Jimi Hendrix smashing his guitar and lighting it on fire!
In addition, DJ Khosmo and DJ Neato will performing during the evening, while live bands will appear on the Main Stage and Arena, including The Outlaw Mariachi (@theoutlawmariachi) with their own brand of Mariachi-style cover-band rock, as well as Don’t Stop Believing (@DSBband), rated as the best Journey cover band in the world. There’s also local bands Latin Jazz Collective and Sensory Tribe to keep the party going.
Back on the automotive side, Monterey Motorsports Festival will host the US debut of the Giugiaro-designed Peralta S. Designed in Italy for Mexican collector Carlos Peralta, the vehicle is based on the Maserati MC20 chassis and shares the same mid-engine, RWD layout and 621hp twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6. But it’s the peerless wedged-shaped, polished aluminum body that captures the attention, inspired by the 1972 Maserati Boomerang concept originally designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro.
If you prefer blunt force over wedged aero, don’t miss James Kirkham from Race Service. Not only will he be available for autographs but he’s bringing the Race Service Unimog used to transport their AMG GT3 Raw Spec program with its built-in crane, large carrying capacity and legendary off-road performance.
Fans who’d like to meet James in person are invited to attend an Autograph Session, taking place at approximately 6:30-7:30PM at the Main Stage area at Monterey Motorsports Festival. Made Mike will also be available to meet and sign autographs along with former Lamborghini test driver Valentino Balboni. And if we can tempt him away from Donut Island for long enough, NASCAR driver Jesse Iwuji will also be signing event posters and foreheads.
Other highlights include the only show appearance of the Slate Auto truck. Destined to be one of the most affordable utility electric vehicles available in North America, the Slate display will include a number of accessories including the “squareback” SUV kit, converting its pickup into a practical four-seater.
Another electrifying first will be the Global Debut of a new motorcycle from Davinci Motor. The company is bringing two models never seen before in North American along with an exciting new third motorcycle, which will take the brand to new frontiers.
In sharp contrast will be the Nardone Automotive 928: a stunning reimagining of the original front-engined Porsche V8 grand tourer. Boasting 450hp and full carbon fiber bodywork, the Italian resto-mod is estimated to cost from around $500,000.
Many more highlights are still being added, so follow @montereymotorsportsfestival for the latest info but visitors shouldn’t miss the Muscle by Mecum display or the Live Car Collecting Workshops. There will also be a rollercoaster for thrill seekers, but we advise visitors to enjoy the ride before sampling the locally-sourced craft food and drink, or the optional Vino ibes area with access to seven wineries!
EVENT SCHEDULE
MAIN STAGE & LAWN
| TIME | ACTIVITY |
| 5:15 | National Anthem |
| 5:17 | Paolo Manca Welcomes Visitors |
| 5:20 | Special Olympics Torch Run |
| 5:30 | Outlaw Mariachi performs on stage |
| 6:15 | Hypercar/Supercar Drive |
| 6:30-730 | Autograph sessions |
| 6:45 | Peralta S unveiled |
| 7:00 | Davinci motorcycle unveiling |
| 7:30 | Meet Mad Mike and MADMAC P1 |
| 8:30 | MMF Awards |
ARENA
| TIME | ACT |
| 5:00 – 5:15PM | DJ Khosmo Welcome Set |
| 5:30 – 6:15 | Outlaw Mariachi live stream on stage |
| 6:15 – 6:30 | DJ Khosmo & DJ Neato |
| 6:30 – 7:15 | Latin Jazz Collective live band |
| 7:15 – 7:45 | DJ Khosmo & DJ Neato |
| 7:45 – 8:30 | Sensory Tribe live band |
| 8:00 | Donut Island |
| 8:30 – 8:45 | DJ Khosmo & DJ Neato |
| 8:45 – 9:45 | Don’t Stop Believing – Journey cover band |
| 9:45 – 11:00 | DJ Dillion Francis closes the show |
TICKETS
Monterey Motorsports Festival on August 16 from 5-11PM is about cars, music and culture. Tickets are available from montereymotorsportsfestival.com at $129. Kids under 12 are admitted free, and there’s a Junior Ticket priced at $69 for 13-17 year olds.
Visitors can upgrade to the Vino & Vibes option at $229, which includes General Admission, access to a curated selection from seven top wineries, views of the event and exclusive winery access. Vino and Vibes is the perfect way to relax, unwind, and indulge in the finer things.
*Please note: Monterey Motorsports Festival is a private, ticketed event. Tickets will remain available while supplies last.
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