A look back at I.C.E. St. Moritz, still one of the most unusual - and most enjoyable - events on the automotive calendar.
In February, the Escapade team headed to St. Moritz to see what happens when some of the world’s most beautiful cars are let loose on a frozen lake. The answer: a concours that feels alive. No velvet ropes, no static displays—just rare machinery being driven, slid, and occasionally very gently coaxed across the ice.
A Young Event With Old-School Values
I.C.E. may feel timeless, but it’s actually a relatively new addition to the concours world. First held in 2019, the idea was simple and slightly mad: take the elegance of a traditional concours and put it somewhere dynamic, informal, and very cold. Instead of lawns and ropes, you get snow, ice, and cars being used exactly as their makers intended.
After a brief pandemic pause, the event returned stronger than ever, quickly establishing itself as a favourite among collectors and enthusiasts who prefer authenticity over polish. The emphasis has always been on atmosphere, accessibility, and driving - less whispering, more spinning tyres.
![]()
Cars on Ice
What sets I.C.E. apart is motion. These cars aren’t parked for polite admiration; they’re used. Watching vintage Ferraris, Bugattis, and Porsches threading their way across the lake is part motorsport, part ballet, and part winter madness. Studded tyres, opposite lock, big smiles. It’s as entertaining as it is photogenic. It’s a reminder that these machines are happiest when they’re being driven—not stored, not roped off, not overly precious.
There’s also a refreshing lack of pretence. Owners chat openly, spectators wander freely, and everyone seems there for the same reason: a genuine love of cars and the joy of driving them in a completely improbable setting.
Look Up
Just when you think the setting couldn’t get more surreal, you hear it before you see it. Historic WWII-era aircraft pass overhead, their low flypasts echoing across the valley and over the frozen lake below. The contrast is brilliant: cars from the golden age of motoring drifting beneath warbirds from the same era, all framed by Alpine peaks.
St. Moritz Does Its Thing
Away from the ice, St. Moritz plays host in its own understated way. Coffee turns into lunch, lunch turns into long conversations, and suddenly you’ve spent the afternoon talking design, cars and racing history with people you met that morning.
Between events, we made time to visit the Cresta Run - a reminder that speed has been part of this town’s DNA for well over a century. Watching riders throw themselves headfirst down an ice chute feels perfectly on brand for a place that thinks a frozen lake is a sensible venue for a car show.
Why We Love It
Cold hands, loud engines, cars sideways on ice. Honestly, it’s hard to think of a better way to spend a winter weekend. There’s no over-curation, no stiffness — just flamboyant outfits and great machines, used properly, in a place that rewards bold ideas.
A Look Back at I.C.E. St. Moritz 2025
A look back at I.C.E. St. Moritz, still one of the most unusual - and most enjoyable - events on the automotive calendar.
In February, the Escapade team headed to St. Moritz to see what happens when some of the world’s most beautiful cars are let loose on a frozen lake. The answer: a concours that feels alive. No velvet ropes, no static displays—just rare machinery being driven, slid, and occasionally very gently coaxed across the ice.
A Young Event With Old-School Values
I.C.E. may feel timeless, but it’s actually a relatively new addition to the concours world. First held in 2019, the idea was simple and slightly mad: take the elegance of a traditional concours and put it somewhere dynamic, informal, and very cold. Instead of lawns and ropes, you get snow, ice, and cars being used exactly as their makers intended.
After a brief pandemic pause, the event returned stronger than ever, quickly establishing itself as a favourite among collectors and enthusiasts who prefer authenticity over polish. The emphasis has always been on atmosphere, accessibility, and driving - less whispering, more spinning tyres.
Cars on Ice
What sets I.C.E. apart is motion. These cars aren’t parked for polite admiration; they’re used. Watching vintage Ferraris, Bugattis, and Porsches threading their way across the lake is part motorsport, part ballet, and part winter madness. Studded tyres, opposite lock, big smiles. It’s as entertaining as it is photogenic. It’s a reminder that these machines are happiest when they’re being driven—not stored, not roped off, not overly precious.
There’s also a refreshing lack of pretence. Owners chat openly, spectators wander freely, and everyone seems there for the same reason: a genuine love of cars and the joy of driving them in a completely improbable setting.
Look Up
Just when you think the setting couldn’t get more surreal, you hear it before you see it. Historic WWII-era aircraft pass overhead, their low flypasts echoing across the valley and over the frozen lake below. The contrast is brilliant: cars from the golden age of motoring drifting beneath warbirds from the same era, all framed by Alpine peaks.
St. Moritz Does Its Thing
Away from the ice, St. Moritz plays host in its own understated way. Coffee turns into lunch, lunch turns into long conversations, and suddenly you’ve spent the afternoon talking design, cars and racing history with people you met that morning.
Between events, we made time to visit the Cresta Run - a reminder that speed has been part of this town’s DNA for well over a century. Watching riders throw themselves headfirst down an ice chute feels perfectly on brand for a place that thinks a frozen lake is a sensible venue for a car show.
Why We Love It
Cold hands, loud engines, cars sideways on ice. Honestly, it’s hard to think of a better way to spend a winter weekend. There’s no over-curation, no stiffness — just flamboyant outfits and great machines, used properly, in a place that rewards bold ideas.