From hindsight’s perspective, the Cars and Coffee format for automotive assemblies is a a no-brainer, and it’s become such a staple of the enthusiast’s weekend that recalling the time before its existence is difficult. Like so many things, the best results come from the simplest plans—in this case, bringing all kinds of people and cars together for a no-stakes show that still manages to compel an attendance worthy of any concours lawn or gravel.
The variety is undoubtedly a big factor in the appeal—where else will you find yellow Carrera GTs neighboring up to green Land Rovers?—but there is another side to this inclusivity. Beyond the simple capacities of the various shopping malls parking lots and convention centers that host these Sunday morning migrations, there is the degenerative behavior that emerges when the crowds swell enough to call to some peoples’ vanity; attempting burnouts after redlining a cold engine is often the death knell of a good show.
Thankfully, our favorite local edition of Cars and Coffee at Trancas Country Market hasn’t yet had the breach of maturity that’s folded so many other events like it, even as it’s continued to grow to the point where finding a spot to park where others might actually see your car requires an arrival time that’s edging ever closer toward the sun’s. The first Sunday of every month is pretty much the only time we’re ever happy to wake up early on a weekend, and we’re sure you have a similar situation.
So, did you attend a Cars and Coffee-type gathering this weekend? What do you think about the sustainability of these types of events? Is it inevitable that they reach a critical mass and then must be canceled and moved elsewhere for the cycle to repeat? If you attempt to trim the bad apples by making the thing exclusive, even in the slightest amount, do you squash what makes them worth saving in the first place? Anyway, I hope you enjoy our gallery from this month’s show, there was plenty to set an early alarm for.
