Vintage car lovers rally together

Collectors of classic cars gathered with their machines for the inaugural Street Meet at the Dubai World Trade Centre on Friday.
A perfect curtain raiser to the 13th Dubai International Motor Show (DIMS), which opens next month, the Street Meet offered a new platform for local car enthusiasts to share their stories and passion for cars.
With limited space capped at 200 vehicles, the event was filled to capacity and included everything from a classic Ferrari Testarossa to the new 707bhp Dodge Hellcat along with Harley Davison motorcycles, the BMW Owners Club, Porsches, Lamborghinis, bespoke Pick-up trucks, SUVs and even a few highly modified Japanese imports on display.
"These are always great fun and a chance to see cars that I might not normally see in everyday life. I've been to a few car meets and they are also very social. It's great to feel the passion and share ideas with the other car owners. They are also very creative and an ideal opportunity to swap ideas and see what can be used on my own car," says Hamad Al Hammadi, owner of a Porche 911 Turbo S.
Muhammed Usman, owner of a Corvette C7, said: "The best thing about coming to these car meets is speaking with other car enthusiasts and sharing car stories. Most people here have spent a lot of love and hours to tune their vehicle to meet their needs. This has whetted my appetite for the Dubai International Motor Show."
The DIMS has grown to become the largest automotive event in the Middle East and North Africa. It will not only focus on latest products from around the world but also include auto-themed family attractions such as the new Motoring Nostalgia Museum for classics from the 1950s to the '80s and a focus on modified vehicles.
Over 100,000 visitors from across the globe are expected at the bi-annual show, on from November 10 to 14.
The Dubai International Motor Show is the main highlight of the Dubai Motor Festival, which is held under the patronage of Shaikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai.
The Dubai Motor Festival is organised by Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment, an agency of Dubai's Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing.
The 2015 Dubai International Motor Show will be open from 6pm to 10pm on November 10; 11am to 10pm on November 11; 11am to 11pm on November 12 and 13; and from 11am to 10pm on November 14. Prices are Dh65 for single-day entry, with children under 12 entering free and includes entry to the Motoring Nostalgia Museum.
- business@khaleejtimes.com