RADwood UK Brings The '80s And '90s Car Culture To Life This September

Published: Friday, August 2, 2024, 14:06 [IST]

Hagerty’s 2024 RADwood UK event is scheduled for Saturday, 7th September at The Historic Dockyard in Chatham, Kent. This unique event celebrates the automotive culture of the 1980s and 1990s. Tickets are available now, starting from £15.

RADwood was conceived by Californians Art Cervantes and Warren Madsen. They noticed a gap in the automotive culture scene that wasn't being addressed. "A few friends and I realised there was a big gap in automotive culture," Cervantes explains. "There was a lot of interest in what I call metal bumper classics – pre-1975 and older cars. Then there's also the modern supercar world, which of course, always has a place, but nothing in between."

The duo used their podcast, Driving While Awesome, to gauge interest in their idea. The response was overwhelming, prompting them to organise an event. "We wanted to create an event that celebrates the era like the Goodwood Revival," Cervantes says. They combined "RAD" with "wood" to form RADwood, inspired by Goodwood.

The first RADwood event took place in June 2017 at a marina in south San Francisco with 150 cars and 400 attendees. By December of the same year, they hosted another event in Orange County, attracting 400 cars and 2,000 people. The concept quickly gained popularity across the USA.

In 2019, RADwood made its debut in the UK at Goodwood. In 2022, it came under Hagerty's umbrella, allowing Cervantes and Madsen to focus on enhancing the brand and creating better experiences for fans.

Event Highlights

RADwood is more than just a car show; it's a celebration of '80s and '90s lifestyle. Attendees dress in period-correct clothing while enjoying music and entertainment from those decades. The event features a mix of cars from BMWs to BMXs, showcasing the era's automotive diversity.

Cervantes notes that their main demographic is around 45 years old but includes many younger enthusiasts as well. "Pop culture in general is really into retro stuff right now – '90s is super popular, '80s is still popular," he says.

UK Enthusiasts Embrace Retro Culture

The UK has embraced RADwood enthusiastically. The opportunity to dress up in retro style and enjoy arcade games and music from the '80s and '90s appeals to a wide range of enthusiasts.

Tickets for this year's event at Chatham Historic Dockyard are on sale now. Entry starts at £15, with Show and Shine tickets priced at £35.

"We were not only super interested in '80s and '90s cars ourselves because they were relatively attainable," Cervantes adds. "They were also the most relevant to us from an era standpoint."

Hagerty's mission is to save driving and car culture for future generations while building a global business to support this purpose. They offer integrated membership products and programs alongside specialty insurance for automotive enthusiasts worldwide.

The upcoming RADwood UK promises an exciting day filled with nostalgia for car lovers of all ages.