This is what a "Traveling Car Show" looks like

"Torque Affair" (torqueaffair)
08/24/2014 at 17:40 • Filed to: driving

About a year ago, I tried to get a group of us together in Austin to drive on the winding roads of the Texas Hill Country and this is what happened.

That's right - only two other people showed up besides myself. All the begging, groveling, advanced persuasion techniques, coercion - nothing worked! Out of all the people I reached out to, only two people showed up. In fact, I had more photographers than actual cars! Now that's embarrassing and disappointing to say the least…

Fast forward to today, or I should say a few days ago, I arranged another one of these hangouts… really hoping that more than two other people would show up. I spent all morning texting, calling and checking to see who actually would show and I'm happy to announce that I was shocked at the turnout. I could hardly believe how many people showed up.

In the last year or so, I've managed to meet many people who love cars just as much as I do and more importantly - they love to drive as much as me if not more. I feel like a huge aspect of car ownership is to share our mutual passion for cars with each other by participating in group drives and truly enjoying our cars. Not racing but simply partaking in some spirited driving with other auto enthusiasts. That's it.

This year it actually worked. Despite conflicting schedules and people dropping out at the last minute, we still ended up having about 15 of us show up which resulted in a really fun day.

Thanks to the hard work by my friends Larry and Tom who helped plan and lead the drive, everyone who showed up had a great time. Even in 100 degree Texas summer weather, we had our windows rolled down and enjoyed all the spectacular roads and scenery that the Texas Hill Country had to offer.

Our lineup was extremely diverse which included a Miata, Porsche 928, 997 Carrera, E39 BMW M5, a C7, a few Z06s and C6s, a few Mustangs, a 370Z and a couple of Honda S2000s How awesome is that?

When it comes to cars I don't discriminate - I just want everyone to come out and have fun. There is no one perfect car out there - every car has a personality, pros and cons, and a certain uniqueness that can be appreciated equally as much as any other car.

When you embark on one of these adventures you never really know what to expect. During our drive, we encountered a man riding a Texas longhorn, a scary accident that occurred right in front of us and a cop jamming to some beats.

You would think that starting at 10 AM would mean that the weather would be nice, but not really. It's Austin, Texas. It was hot and muggy and so we could not wait to get in our cars and start driving. Here is Tom giving us directions and leading the cruise in his newly purchased C7.

Early on in our drive is when we witnessed an unfortunate accident. Apparently, a guy squeezed through our group of cars and slammed right into oncoming traffic. It looked pretty ugly but luckily both guys were fine. Encountering freak accidents like this is always an important reminder to us all that driving is still hazardous and how important it is to continually pay attention on the roads - especially for our group.

As you would expect with a large group like ours, we got separated a couple times. So we waited for others to catch up to drive together. I don't think Tom was happy with me that so many people showed up but now I know better! Driving in smaller packs obviously makes the logistics easier and is probably more fun. But, in my defense, based on last year's experience, I was really only expecting just two people to show up. Maybe even just one.

When we arrived at Luckenbach, Texas, we instantly took away attention from the group that was already there - a sizable group of Harley riders that had camped out. I could feel their jealousy as our large car group rolled in and completely stole the attention away from the riders and their pack of motorcycles.

The nice folks at the restaurant gave us an empty parking lot, unexpectedly devoted to us, which made me realize that we had essentially brought a car show down to Luckenbach, Texas! And, therefore, we had become a "traveling car show". There were people coming up and checking out the cars - it certainly wasn't Pebble Beach, but I imagine in the small town of Luckenbach, something like this doesn't happen very often.

We even ran into a guy riding a Texas Longhorn…

On the way back I asked Percy who was part of our car group if I could drive his car. I was completely taken aback when he agreed because I totally didn't expect him to. What surprised me even more is that he actually expressed interest in driving my Mustang! I don't know; maybe I've just lost appreciation for my car after having it for so long.

We traded keys, put the top down on his beautiful 2009 Porsche Carrera and took off. I have lusted over Porsches ever since I drove two of them back to back and now a third! Such unbelievable luck. I think it's a sign that I have no choice to but to get one some day.

I talked about my previous driving experience here.

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This time I really got a chance to explore this one on the highways as we headed back from Austin and it was amazing.

I looked over at Percy driving and saw that he was having a blast driving my car. Good! I was glad because I absolutely didn't want to stop driving his Carrera. In fact, it was tough to go back to my own car at the end of my fantasy ride. I asked Percy if he wanted to trade a car worth roughly $12K for a car worth $45K. He agreed! What?!?

No...of course, I'm just joking. The deal would only have been possible in an alternate universe.

At the end of the day, it was a blast hanging out with car guys, driving other people's cars, witnessing a dude riding a longhorn and most of all being part of a traveling car show. Isn't this what car ownership is all about?

I must thank my friend Chris Morrow who took most of these pictures (the crappy ones are mine), and went along for the ride.

Here's the whole event on video thanks to Chris.

Check out more posts at !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! where I explore all things car-related.
Facebook: !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!
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DISCUSSION (78)

Clown Shoe Pilot > Torque Affair
08/24/2014 at 17:50

Was this last sunday? My wife and I drove out to Fredericksburg for lunch and saw a convoy of sports cars.

Torque Affair > Clown Shoe Pilot
08/24/2014 at 17:51

Yeah, it was! Must have been us.

JR1 > Torque Affair
08/24/2014 at 17:55

Nothing beats getting a big group of car people together and just driving and enjoying the hell out of a day

Torque Affair > JR1
08/24/2014 at 17:55

Oh yea...it was a lot of fun. Hope to do it again soon.

Clown Shoe Pilot > Torque Affair
08/24/2014 at 17:56

Besides your convoy, I saw several other cars you don't see every day. I saw at least 3 Ferraris, at least one other C7, and of course we were out in the M Coupe.

Torque Affair > Clown Shoe Pilot
08/24/2014 at 17:57

Are you from Austin?

Clown Shoe Pilot > Torque Affair
08/24/2014 at 17:59

Not from Austin, but I live here now. I moved down from Dallas a couple years ago for a job.

Torque Affair > Clown Shoe Pilot
08/24/2014 at 18:01

Awesome, do you go to C&C? I'm usually there every month.

Clown Shoe Pilot > Torque Affair
08/24/2014 at 18:05

I went to one in May, but discovered that it had been rescheduled when I got there. June conflicted with X Games at work. July I don't remember why I didn't go. August was my wife's birthday. September and October I'll probably be busy at work (prepping for WEC and F1) but MAYBE I can make it for November.

Blunion05 drives a pink S2000 (USER WAS BANNED FOR THIS POST) > Torque Affair
08/24/2014 at 20:00

Perhaps you can create an Austin Performance Driving group on Facebook. The Houston Performance Driving group usually has a car meet I think on the last Sunday of every month at Twin Peaks. Also I think once a year they have a huge cruise to Galveston or wherever. TONS of cars under the sun and super well organized.

https://www.facebook.com/HoustonPerform…

This humongous cruise in the video is so huge only because of the fact that its existed for an extremely long time now. Some videos I see go back almost ten years ago.

Torque Affair > Clown Shoe Pilot
08/24/2014 at 20:16

Oh yea, I think one of the C&C dates got rained out. You're involved with F1? That's awesome! What's your role?

Torque Affair > Blunion05 drives a pink S2000 (USER WAS BANNED FOR THIS POST)
08/24/2014 at 20:44

Man, that looks really fun! Have you gone on one of those?

Blunion05 drives a pink S2000 (USER WAS BANNED FOR THIS POST) > Torque Affair
08/24/2014 at 20:52

Unfortunately no, they do it on Sundays...I never wake up before 12pm on Sundays.

Torque Affair > Blunion05 drives a pink S2000 (USER WAS BANNED FOR THIS POST)
08/24/2014 at 21:02

hah, yeah. Generally, they are earlier in the day.

Clown Shoe Pilot > Torque Affair
08/24/2014 at 21:04

May was changed because of Mother's Day, but it wasn't published on the web site. I'm the network engineer out at the race track.

Torque Affair > Clown Shoe Pilot
08/24/2014 at 21:07

Oh man, that's awesome!! Were you involved with the initial development of the track?

Clown Shoe Pilot > Torque Affair
08/24/2014 at 21:46

I was there for construction but not initial development.

ex-SS-ve > Torque Affair
08/25/2014 at 02:57

post up next event. would like to check it out.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Torque Affair
08/25/2014 at 09:45

"In fact, I had more photographers than actual cars!" Ha!

Way to stick with it. I just went for a drive last weekend with our group in Tulsa.

TriggerTX > Torque Affair
08/25/2014 at 10:18

If you want to hook up with a huge group of car enthusiasts in Austin, look up Sweet Rides of Central Texas on Facebook. They take all types. They are getting together somewhere almost weekly. The annual cruise attracts well over 200 cars for a drive through the Hill Country. I don't get out to even half the events and I get all the car show and cruise action I could ever want.

Pancake > Torque Affair
08/25/2014 at 13:12

I miss Austin. Gotta love those drives in the Hill Country. I suggest you make a run out to Lockhart next time; nothing like some good BBQ to top off a drive.

DanZman > Torque Affair
08/25/2014 at 13:46

That C6Z is gorgeous! I want black wheels so bad.

Torque Affair > Pancake
08/25/2014 at 19:14

Good call! Need to do that.

Torque Affair > DanZman
08/25/2014 at 19:14

It is..and Larry (owner of the car) has 540 rwhp on that car!

Torque Affair > TriggerTX
08/25/2014 at 19:15

Yeah they're enormous - I think they have almost 1700 members!

Torque Affair > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
08/25/2014 at 19:17

Haha, that's awesome. Never been to Tulsa - where do you guys drive to around there?

DanZman > Torque Affair
08/25/2014 at 19:19

Thats awesome! I'm at 520rwhp right now, but when I get the new headers and HFC's put on, I should be right there with him!

Torque Affair > DanZman
08/25/2014 at 19:20

Nice! Here's his Z06 http://torqueaffair.com/z06/

TriggerTX > Torque Affair
08/25/2014 at 20:07

The amazing part is that a group that big is functional. It's very casual. Yeah, there's a shitload of Corvettes but there's also everything from Classic 60's muscle to modern Lambos. If you hit up Cars and Coffee at the Oasis you can be pretty sure 1/2 the people there are probably in the 'club'(that's not really a club).

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Torque Affair
08/25/2014 at 22:49

We head to (or toward) NW Arkansas! Some incredible roads over there.

They also do track days a few times at our local track, Hallett.

Torque Affair > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
08/25/2014 at 23:03

Nice!!

IHopeMyNameTastesLikeSardinesToTheseBitches > Torque Affair
08/26/2014 at 16:54

Kinja'd!!!

DSOM hotness!

emanresu > Torque Affair
08/26/2014 at 17:10

Dang! I would've joined y'all if this was back when I had my M3. Well, I could still join you on my bike, but that would probably be uncomfortably long.

Hernandez `45's > Torque Affair
08/26/2014 at 17:13

But did you see anyone riding a longhorn?

DatASSun > Torque Affair
08/26/2014 at 17:14

How did I miss this ! I'm pretty upset I didn't make it to this.. ): mega sad face. here's my number 817 - 600 -8154 that the Datassunphone similar to the batphone. Please don't let me miss another cruise next time just flash the Datassun signal in the sky and I'll be there.

McChiken116 - Patrick H. > Torque Affair
08/26/2014 at 17:44

hey man, I'm new to the Austin area and would love to join next time

Lime - Light > Clown Shoe Pilot
08/26/2014 at 17:50

Didn't see anything about this event, I would have joined. Did you at one point own a turbo M roadster?

TerraTech > Torque Affair
08/26/2014 at 18:54

whats the engine in you mustang ?

gabest > Torque Affair
08/26/2014 at 19:26

John > Torque Affair
08/26/2014 at 19:34

awesome. Wish we could do something like this back in NY

Torque Affair > John
08/26/2014 at 19:45

Move to Austin!!

Torque Affair > gabest
08/26/2014 at 19:46

haha...nice find!

Torque Affair > TerraTech
08/26/2014 at 19:46

4.6L V8...still going strong after 107K miles.

Torque Affair > McChiken116 - Patrick H.
08/26/2014 at 19:46

Sure, send me an email at torqueaffair at gmail.

Torque Affair > DatASSun
08/26/2014 at 19:56

Hah, sure thing! I'll send you a text.

Torque Affair > emanresu
08/26/2014 at 19:58

I actually have a couple buddies with bikes that want to join next time. You'd probably have a lot of fun.

Torque Affair > TriggerTX
08/26/2014 at 19:59

Yeah, almost everyone at C&C is a part of that...

Torque Affair > ex-SS-ve
08/26/2014 at 19:59

Sure - keep an eye out on the Torque affair Facebook page - that's where I put up events..

Clown Shoe Pilot > Lime - Light
08/26/2014 at 20:46

I have never owned a turbo'd M roadster

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Torque Affair
08/26/2014 at 21:54

Kinja'd!!!

God DAMMIT.

A moment of silence for the LeSabre; at least it wasn't a Celebration Edition.

Also a moment of "holy hell that held up a lot better than the SUV did"

Torque Affair > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
08/26/2014 at 23:21

no kidding! great observation. I heard the crash take place and then I saw this.

EtrnL_Frost > Torque Affair
08/26/2014 at 23:32

Kinja'd!!!

dat e39 m5 wheel hnnnngh

EtrnL_Frost > Torque Affair
08/26/2014 at 23:39

What happened to the M5? :(

Torque Affair > EtrnL_Frost
08/26/2014 at 23:39

hah, I'm assuming you like the wheel? Me too..

EtrnL_Frost > Torque Affair
08/26/2014 at 23:44

I'm a bit biased... I should clean mine more often. I don't have the excuse like I did with my old m3's (m double spoke 2's) - which were horribad to clean so I just gave up.

Torque Affair > EtrnL_Frost
08/26/2014 at 23:45

ahh..yea the more spokes, the harder to clean I'm sure. I struggle with just 5 of them!

MGBhoon > Torque Affair
08/27/2014 at 03:29

Hopefully this happens again next year..I'm in Houston, but have friends in New Braunfels and would love to bring my B out for the run!

Torque Affair > MGBhoon
08/27/2014 at 07:24

That would be awesome...

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Torque Affair
08/27/2014 at 08:10

Fun fact: The platform the LeSabre shares with the Riviera, Park Ave, Caddilac Seville, etc. is so strong that it requires a crusher rated for heavy duty truck frames, and actually broke General Motors "full size sedan" frame strength tester/crusher.

Torque Affair > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
08/27/2014 at 08:15

The crash we saw is true evidence of that.

Lime - Light > Clown Shoe Pilot
08/27/2014 at 09:05

Must be the other guy I know at COTA then.

Veranish > Torque Affair
08/27/2014 at 10:37

Aw dang I would have come out if I had read this earlier. I'm in Cedar Park, last Sunday I was putzing around in my "new" RX7 FC wishing I had somewhere to take it to.

Johnnyma45 > Torque Affair
08/27/2014 at 11:26

Sounds fun - been to Austin a few times and always wondered what fun hills there were to drive. Everything's flat as a board here in DFW.

N716 > Torque Affair
08/27/2014 at 11:44

I wish I would have known. I would definitely have attended. I feel like a lot of cruises or meets around Austin aren't well attended.

The Grizzo > Torque Affair
08/27/2014 at 13:02

I'm in Austin as well. There's some fantastic roads around here! I would love to go on a cruise at some point in the future, but I have so many coming up with Tejas Miatas!

Anyway to go on the next one with you?

JackMcCauley > Torque Affair
08/27/2014 at 15:57

I'm wondering why I didn't know about this or any of my other high performance driving buddies. I could have had several exotics and semi-exotics out on your run.

FrgMstr > Torque Affair
08/27/2014 at 16:51

Next time get out further and drive the Three Sisters! Texas' best driving.

Torque Affair > FrgMstr
08/27/2014 at 20:16

Definitely that's the plan at some point!

Torque Affair > The Grizzo
08/27/2014 at 20:17

Oh yea definitely - shoot me your email. I'll add you to the mailing list.

Torque Affair > JackMcCauley
08/27/2014 at 20:24

Oh man that would be awesome...honestly people in town don't really know much about Torque Affair. Trying to get the word out though. Would you mind shooting me your email to torqueaffair at gmail?

Torque Affair > The Grizzo
08/27/2014 at 20:25

Absolutely!! Shoot me your email to torqueaffair at gmail and I'll put you on the mailing list.

Torque Affair > N716
08/27/2014 at 20:26

I'll definitely keep you posted on the next one. No one around town really knows about Torque Affair - I'm trying to get the word out though. Shoot me your email to torqueaffair at gmail and I'll put you on the mailing list.

Torque Affair > Johnnyma45
08/27/2014 at 20:27

Yeah, around Austin there's a lot of hill country to explore. If you're ever down in this area let me know. Send me an email at torqueaffair at gmail.

Torque Affair > Veranish
08/27/2014 at 20:28

I'll definitely let you know of the next one. Send me an email at torqueaffair at gmail and I'll put you on the mailing list.

Torque Affair > emanresu
08/27/2014 at 20:46

By the way if you want you can send me an email to torqueaffair at gmail so I can keep you on the mailing list for these events.

emanresu > Torque Affair
08/28/2014 at 00:07

Thanks, sent!

TractionControlOff > Torque Affair
10/05/2014 at 21:12

Love it! I started a C&C in North Jersey in late 2012, drew 7-8 cars our first time out and have grown ever since! We're now doing our own "traveling car shows" - that's a good way of looking at it.

Torque Affair > TractionControlOff
10/05/2014 at 23:04

awesome! It's always so much fun to hang out with other car people who love driving.