Retro & Refined at Alexander Stadium
Below are the events we’ve held at Alexander Stadium, each one building on a growing community of car lovers, bikers, and van enthusiasts coming together in one place. The 17th May 2025 marked a special milestone. It was the first time we officially used the name Retro & Refined. That name wasn’t just a label for an event, it was a statement of intent. It was created to reflect what the Commonwealth Car Club stands for: everyone is welcome, no matter what you drive. New or old, car, bike, or campervan, every vehicle and every enthusiast has a place here. Since that first Retro & Refined, the idea has only grown stronger. Each gathering at Alexander Stadium has carried the same spirit forward, focused less on exclusivity and more on connection, conversation, and shared passion.
You can click any image below to view the full photo galleries from each event.
20/04/24
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03/08/24
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17/05/25
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16/08/25
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RETRO & REFINED
Celebrating the culture behind the cars
There’s something special about a classic car meet. The shine of polished chrome, the smell of fuel and fresh coffee in the air, and owners standing proudly next to machines that have lived a few lives already. Retro & Refined, the flagship event from the Commonwealth Car Club, captures that feeling better than most and makes it feel welcoming to everyone.
The club itself has an origin story that’s hard to beat. It grew out of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony, where 72 Birmingham built cars came together inside Alexander Stadium to form a moving Union Flag. It was a striking tribute to the city’s manufacturing roots and the communities behind them. What started as a one off moment didn’t end there. It sparked a community built on shared passion, friendship, and a love of cars that crosses generations.
Retro & Refined carries that same energy forward. Held at Alexander Stadium, it’s not your typical car show. You’ll find everything from carefully restored classics to British favourites, American pickups, camper vans, bikes, and modern performance cars all parked side by side without hierarchy. It’s less about what you drive and more about why you love it.
The atmosphere is what really sets it apart. Instead of feeling exclusive or niche, it feels open and easygoing. Families wander through the rows, conversations start between strangers, and people swap stories as naturally as they admire each other’s cars. Fuelled by Friendship isn’t just a line for the club. It’s the vibe you feel on the ground.
Even the venue adds something meaningful. Alexander Stadium, once the centrepiece of the Commonwealth Games, now plays host to something much more relaxed but just as communal. Where athletes once competed, engines now idle and conversations flow. It’s a fitting shift from competition to connection.
As the Commonwealth Car Club grows, so does the reputation of Retro & Refined, but it hasn’t lost its easy grassroots feel. It still comes back to people, their cars, and the stories that go with them.
At a time when so much feels digital and disposable, Retro & Refined is refreshingly real. A space where metal, memory, and community all meet in one place.
Jordan Tocknell - Club Founder and Chairman