Cult Classics 2026: Retro Cars & Racing at Cadwell Park
Cadwell Park
4 July 2026
This marked my first visit to the Cult Classics car show at Cadwell Park. Despite its inception in 2023, I had never attended this show in the Lincolnshire countryside due to scheduling conflicts. The event doesn’t occur on the same weekend annually, having been held in August, September, and now June. I can’t recall what previously prevented my attendance.
On a scorching Sunday, I finally made it to Cadwell to explore what the Cult Classics 2026 car show offers to a spectator photographer. The event celebrates fan-favourite retro vehicles from the 1970s to the 2000s, an automotive era that has always fascinated me.
A Showcase of Retro Vehicles and Racing
Taking place on Sunday, June 28, 2026, this summer meet featured an eclectic mix of rare editions, iconic hot hatches, sports cars, and tin-top heroes. Some cars were modified, while most remained factory-original, which was a delight to see.
Although I enjoy modified cars, there’s something special about seeing a car you might have admired in your youth. The large grassed fields around the circuit hosted numerous local car clubs, providing plenty of static automotive metal for photography.
Beyond the static displays and open race paddock, visitors could enjoy retro activities like classic arcade games. The Classic Sports Car Club (CSCC) provided track action with saloon and sports car racing throughout the day.
Racing Highlights at Cult Classics 2026
The CSCC organised a two-day weekend event at Cadwell for its racing members. Saturday focused solely on racing, featuring Modern Tin Tops with Caterham Sevens and Future Classics on a packed program. Sunday, the day I attended, combined the event with the Cult Classics car show, featuring a slightly different race schedule.
The Swinging 60’s series included all Sports, Saloons, and GT cars originally produced in the 1950s and 1960s, with cars up to the end of 1977 running on carburettors.
The Morgan Challenge, established in 1985 by Morgan racing enthusiasts, is a one-make championship for Morgan sports cars. The powerful sounds from the Morgans suggested impressive engines in this series.
TheMidget & Sprite Challenge catered exclusively to MG Midgets and Austin Healey Sprites. This race became one of my favourites, with great battles in the mid-order. Who doesn’t enjoy equality-matched cars late-braking into a corner?
During the lunch break the spectators were invited onto the track to get up close to the CSCC cars. This was a pleasant alternative to my usual lunch schedule of walking around the Cadwell paddock.
Cult Classics 2026 Summary
Cult Classics wasn’t the largest static car show I’ve attended at Cadwell. Holding it on the same weekend as Modified Nationals at the Lincoln Showground likely affected attendance numbers. However, it was a decent turnout with some impressive cars in the static area.
The CSCC’s racing was enjoyable, offering a variety of cars on track. This provided spectator photographers with a nice selection of vehicles to capture alongside the static displays.
Overall, the event was a pleasant day spent watching quality racing and exploring interesting cars. While the tagline didn’t quite match the static car displays, with more modern cars on show, it didn’t diminish my enjoyment. In fact, it was a pleasure to see what enthusiasts had done with relatively modern cars. I look forward to attending next year, as long as it doesn’t clash with another must-do event.
All of our previous show reports can be found here.
