A new festival that puts fine watches and serious cars in the same room makes its debut in Miami this weekend. Time To Drive takes over the Mana Wynwood Convention Center on Saturday, Nov. 7, and Sunday, Nov. 8, with more than 200 cars and more than 50 watch brands, according to the organizers, who describe it as the first festival built where watchmaking and car culture meet.

The festival is powered by 0260, the collector app and brand founded by Lex Borrero, and its official hotel partner is the JW Marriott Marquis Miami.

What is on the floor

The festival is laid out in themed areas. The Collectors Club brings together established watch houses and independent watchmakers, and the Luxury Exchange gathers secondary-market dealers. Both will have watches for sale. Icons of Stuttgart is the Porsche section, and the Monte Carlo Experience takes its cue from the principality's racing history. There is a Tuner Revolution area for modified cars, a Racing and Motorsports area with a World Rally Championship presence, and an entertainment and culture exhibition curated by Cart Dept. The publisher Assouline is scheduled to reveal Porsche: The Impossible Collection live at the show. A German Concours, a judged competition for German builds, carries a $5,000 prize.

Watch brands named by the festival include Chopard, Zenith, Jacob and Co., Grand Seiko, MB&F, Urwerk, Greubel Forsey, Armin Strom, Ulysse Nardin and Oris.

Who is talking

Speakers announced so far include Spike Feresten, Larry Chen, Matt Farah, racing driver Felipe Nasr, John Temerian, Eric Wind and Menta Watches founder Adam Golden. Sessions with Farah, Chen and Feresten's Spike's Radio are paid add-ons, included for VVIP ticket holders. Panels cover collecting, auctions and small independent watchmakers.

The track day, and the night out

The weekend opens Friday, Nov. 6, with Driver's Seat, a track day at the Event Campus at The Concours Club. It is limited to holders of the top-tier Grail VVIP pass and capped at 150 guests, and the festival lists it as sold out. The program runs lead-and-follow sessions for cars of the 1970s, '80s, '90s and 2000s, 20 cars to a decade, plus a ride-along session in 20 well-known machines, from a Ferrari F40 to a Lamborghini Countach.

On Saturday night, After Hours runs from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. as a separately ticketed party.

Plan your visit

  • When: Saturday, Nov. 7, and Sunday, Nov. 8, 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. A Sunday Cars and Coffee from 7 to 10 a.m. is for car clubs and VVIP guests.
  • Where: Mana Wynwood Convention Center, Wynwood.
  • Tickets: one-day full access for Saturday or Sunday, a two-day pass, or the Grail VVIP pass for Nov. 6 to 8, sold at timetodrivefest.com and in the 0260 app for iPhone and Android. Tickets are claimed in the app before arrival.
  • Kids: children under 15 get in free with a ticketed adult.
  • Rules: no re-entry, and all sales are final.
  • Show your own car: entering a car for display is free, and a committee reviews each one; accepted owners receive two two-day passes.

Sources