MOTORING NEWS - One of the Garden Route’s most distinctive motoring events returns to Mossel Bay on Saturday, 5 September 2026, when the 3rd Santos Beach Auto Extremo brings together classic, collectable, exotic and modern performance cars.
Visitors can expect to see a Lamborghini Urus, Ferraris, Porsches, Mercedes-AMG and BMW M models, alongside iconic classic sports cars and rare collectable vehicles.
The event takes place at De Bakke Santos from 09:00 to 16:00.
From classic cars to modern performance
Although Auto Extremo is only entering its third year, its origins stretch back 30 years to a gathering of Mercedes-Benz enthusiasts, a Spring Snoek Braai and a shared passion for cars.
The original event began in 1996, when members of the Southern Cape Region of the Mercedes-Benz Club of South Africa gathered at Santos for their annual Spring Snoek Braai.
In 2024, the gathering evolved into Santos Beach Auto Extremo, opening the event to special-interest vehicles from all marques and eras.
Chief organiser Waldo Scribante says the event aims to celebrate both motoring heritage and modern performance.
“We want Auto Extremo to have its own identity. It is deliberately less formal. It is about bringing exceptional cars and the people who love them together in an exceptional setting,” says Scribante.
DE Bakke, Santos
Racing Simulator Challenge offers visitors a chance to compete
MUA Insurance Acceptances returns as the main sponsor and will introduce a Racing Simulator Challenge.
Selected participants will get behind the virtual wheel and complete three laps, with times recorded throughout the day. The fastest competitors will progress to a final shootout to determine the Santos Beach Auto Extremo Racing Simulator Champion.
The winner will receive a prize sponsored by PSG consisting of two air tickets and an AMG Advanced Driving course, subject to the applicable terms and conditions.
Portuguese flavour added to Mossel Bay event
This year’s Auto Extremo will also celebrate Mossel Bay’s Portuguese heritage with a special Portuguese-inspired food offering.
The connection dates back more than five centuries to 1488, when Portuguese explorer Bartolomeu Dias landed at Mossel Bay during his pioneering voyage around the southern tip of Africa.
The Auto Extremo Food Court will feature Portuguese flavours alongside traditional South African favourites, giving visitors another reason to spend the day at Santos Beach.
“Cars may bring us together, but Auto Extremo has always been about much more than cars,” says Scribante.
“It is about the complete experience – the setting, the people, the food and the friendships.”
Ferrari's in a row.
Event moves to Saturday
A change for 2026 sees Santos Beach Auto Extremo move from Sunday to Saturday.
Organisers say the move will allow visitors and exhibitors to make a weekend of the event and explore Mossel Bay and the wider Garden Route.
The event is supported by MUA Insurance Acceptances, Iconic Mossel Bay, WESGRO and PSG.
Car registrations still open
Owners of suitable classic, collectable, sports, exotic and special-interest vehicles are invited to exhibit at Santos Beach Auto Extremo 2026.
Vehicle registration closes on Friday, 28 August, and prospective exhibitors are encouraged to register early.
Be there, you don't want to miss out.
What you need to know
Event: Santos Beach Auto Extremo
Date: Saturday, 5 September
Venue: De Bakke Santos, Mossel Bay
Time: 09:00–16:00
Admission: R100 per adult
Children: School-going children accompanied by their parents enter free
Exhibitor registration: Closes 28 August 2026
Auto Extremo tour continues after the show
The motoring experience continues on Sunday, 6 September, when participants in the Santos Beach Auto Extremo Tour leave Mossel Bay for a three-day journey through the Western Cape.
The route includes Robinson Pass and Route 62 before continuing to Bonnievale, the Koo Valley, Aquila Private Game Reserve and Franschhoek.
The tour will combine scenic driving routes with classic-car collections, game drives, dinner, stargazing and a visit to a special car collection before concluding in the Franschhoek Wine District.
Three decades of motoring tradition
From its beginnings as a Spring Snoek Braai in 1996 to the growing Santos Beach Auto Extremo event, the gathering continues to centre on cars, friendship, hospitality and a shared passion for motoring.
“From a Spring Snoek Braai in 1996 to a celebration of motoring on the shores of Mossel Bay – the cars may have become more exotic and the event much bigger, but the spirit remains exactly the same: beautiful cars, great food, spectacular surroundings and people brought together by a shared passion for motoring,” says Scribante.
‘We bring you the latest Garden Route, Hessequa, Karoo news’
