402 Automotives closes the 2024 season here in the Netherlands, back in Assen for another edition of American Sunday. It is a car show with no introduction, where the best of what the American lifestyle has to offer comes together for some quarter-mile races, Show & Shine, and a full paddock. October is always tricky when organizing outdoor events, but the weather gods are also into American Muscles and blessed us with a cloudy but dry day. The perfect combination attracts several thousand spectators and over a thousand muscle cars, bikes, and trucks to the cathedral of speed, TT Circuit Assen.

Text: Benjamin Wefer
Pictures: Benjamin Wefer,

Once again, the circuit paddock was turned into a muscle car paradise, with a car type, model, or generation for every taste. Two cars that caught our attention were this fully restored 1949 Chevrolet 3100 pick-up truck and this 1965 Chevrolet Impala.

Next to a full paddock, spectators could enjoy music, buy merchandise, and then get to the grandstand to watch the final races of the VRM series.

As usual, 402 had quarter-mile races for thrill seekers. Also, this time, there was no Christmas tree or timing system (no eliminations runs during this session to allow participants to do as many passes as possible), but just some old-fashioned street-wise races with Leo ‘The burn-out legend’ at the start line. Several car owners enrolled to race each other in front of a packed grandstand. Also, drag racers Arie Wester in his 1969 Chevrolet Corvette and Rene Jacobs in his 1975 Chevrolet Corvette made their appearances at the start line, giving a lot of people nightmares.

Not only experienced drag and street racers lined up at the start line but also several newcomers. Mathilde Almeida was also one of the newcomers during this edition of American Sunday. She always had an interest in muscle cars while growing up. Still, her passion for muscle cars started once she got the opportunity to enjoy the British countryside as a passenger of a 1973 Chevrolet Camaro. She started looking for a Mustang last year when she visited her first American Sunday (by 402 Automotive). She bought her 2005 Ford Mustang GT over a month ago and is becoming a passionate Mustang lover. ‘The Mustang had always had a special place in my heart. Besides, I love the style and the body shape of the Mustang’. Her first experience racing a quarter-mile went better than expected. ‘It was a thrill to race in front of a packed grandstand against experienced drivers. I enjoyed the day and am now curious and eager to race on a prepped track anytime soon.

Besides the cars, it was also the final race of the Super Twin battle. It’s a championship dedicated to street-legal Harley-Davidson organized by Laseur Motoren. Twenty-two competitors faced each other to claim the king of the street in the Super Twin Battle. Due to time constraints, they only got one qualification round and went straight into elimination. The final three were between Gert-Jan Laseur, Rene Bloem, and Ronnie. The final race went between Bloem and Ronnie, where Bloem took the win and claimed the title of king of the street (As Gert-Jan Laseur is the organizer, he didn’t compete for the title).

Next to the races, car owners could get some laps behind a safety car during the parade. Where to focus is to shine in front of the grandstand.

Also, this edition of the American Sunday was a great success, with thrilled races, some of the cleanest rides, low riders, the final of the Supertwin battles, and more. If you have missed it, make sure your calendar is accessible on 11th May 2025, when the next American Sunday will be held at Circuit Zandvoort; don’t miss it!