I started a Cars & Coffee, AMA

"sm70- why not Duesenberg?" (sm70-whynotduesenberg)
09/25/2018 at 11:51 • Filed to: None

Ok, so the headline is semi-misleading. I did not start it myself, my friend and I did and it was his idea. Also, we couldn’t call it Cars & Coffee because that’s trademarked. Nevertheless, what do you want to know about what it took for a 19y/o and a 20y/o to get an event like the ground and run it at least somewhat smoothly? We just wrapped up our first ever season and it was pretty awesome.

You can view professional pictures from some of the events, taken by our very talented official photographer !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , videos from our show (and others) !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! and check out our Instagram !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!

Sorry for so much tooting of my own horn, but I kind of still can’t believe we did this, and that enough people loved it for us to keep doing it.

DISCUSSION (47)

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
09/25/2018 at 11:52

I assume you tell people not to peel out from events, but are your attendees welcome (encouraged?) to rev their engines in the parking lot upon arrival/departure? I feel like this would be a welcome addition to any cars & coffee event, assuming the host business(es) were okay with it.

Chuckles > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
09/25/2018 at 11:54

Why does it have to start so damn early? I love the idea of C&C, but asking me to be somewhere at 8am on a Saturday is a hard no.

Seriously though, congrats on a successful first year.

Arrivederci > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
09/25/2018 at 11:55

What did you do to spread the word and attract participants/audience? How did you go about seeking permission or getting necessary permits from site locations and local governments?

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
09/25/2018 at 11:57

We try to tell people not to peel out, but no matter how many times we do there’s still always a few people. We’ve had stern talkings-to with a few and even had to ban one or two, sadly.

A little bit of revving is ok, but the other businesses and their patrons have complained on one or two occasions about “excessive revving and noise” so we also try to keep that to a reasonable level. If you drive through the lot bouncing your car off the rev limiter (some people have) you’ll be asked to stop.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Chuckles
09/25/2018 at 11:58

Mostly so we don’t interfere with the rest of people’s day.

AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC > Chuckles
09/25/2018 at 11:58

I’m just guessing here but it’s probably because people who can afford cars that are interesting at a C&C event have other things to do in the afternoon.

They can squeeze in a 3 hour window in the morning since they can just hang out and grab some coffee during that time. In the afternoon they might have family duties or friend duties.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Arrivederci
09/25/2018 at 11:59

Word was spread through Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and lots of texting/word-of-mouth.

We called several shopping centers to find the right one, eventually settling on the one we used, called Countryside Village. We worked with them, and AFAIK we don’t need any sort of govt. persmit.

Tapas > Chuckles
09/25/2018 at 12:00

Ihate waking up early on Saturdays too. If yo u ask me, C&C organizers should want people who would love to make this a part of their day. That’s just my opinion though.

Are there any challenges with scheduling this later in the day?

AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
09/25/2018 at 12:00

Congrats! Sharing is always welcomed on Oppo in my opinion. That’s what makes our community so unique. We talk cars but also personal stuff.

Also, how does one get into being a designated photographer at these car events? I wouldn’t mind doing that as a side hustle on the weekends.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Chuckles
09/25/2018 at 12:00

And thanks!

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC
09/25/2018 at 12:01

True, though this applies to everyone, not just the expensive car owners. I’ve got other things to do with my saturday afternoon too.

Nibby > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
09/25/2018 at 12:02

That’s simply reality: if it feels like it’s you versus the world, chances are it’s really just you versus yourself.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC
09/25/2018 at 12:02

We got to talking with a guy at our first show, he did amazing work and was a great guy. We were eventually able to work out a deal whereby he became the official event photographer. He has also contributed immensely to the success of the show.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Nibby
09/25/2018 at 12:04

Uh...ok

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
09/25/2018 at 12:10

Yeah, it’s good to always share the news reports with all of the C&C events that have been shut down elsewhere because of assholes being assholes.

It’s a slippery slope. As soon as you start encouraging people to give some revs, that can easily turn into all sorts of other hooliganism (Hooniganism?).

Arrivederci > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
09/25/2018 at 12:12

Awesome! Persistence and hard work pays off. I helped run a car group for a bit and for a while we were doing big weekly meets/drives/shows , but eventually interest waned and then things sort of flamed out. Since then it has ebbed and flowed a bit, but certainly not to the level it once was.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
09/25/2018 at 12:12

Yup. We also had this schmuck at the last show, he wasn’t a spectator or a participant, just some jamoke driving by:

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
09/25/2018 at 12:14

And good luck telling the cops that he wasn’t one of “yours” when they come by after the inevitable complaints.

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
09/25/2018 at 12:15

Alright, that’s a pretty impressive burnout though.....

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
09/25/2018 at 12:16

Exactly

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > Nibby
09/25/2018 at 12:16

Kinja'd!!!

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
09/25/2018 at 12:18

Video evidence helps.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Tapas
09/25/2018 at 12:21

Yes. For one, people have other things going on and are less likely to come. Also, all of the shops and businesses in the complex open at 10 or 11 and we can’t be taking up all of their parking.

I don’t get what you mean by wanting people who want to make this a part of their day. Are people who are willing to skip family activities or outings with friends somehow higher quality that those willing to get up an hour early?

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
09/25/2018 at 12:21

That and dozens of witnesses.

The Dummy Gummy > Nibby
09/25/2018 at 12:28

Put down the crack pipe Nibby.

The Dummy Gummy > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
09/25/2018 at 12:29

Saw the title and thought, that’s cool that you got a solid organized event going. Then I saw the cars you got on the docket, and thought damn. Well done!

How did you go about starting the event and getting so many cool cars? Did you have to get insurance for the event? How far out in advance did you set up the date for this event?

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > The Dummy Gummy
09/25/2018 at 12:31

Lots of social media and lots of contacting car owners directly/word of mouth.

Yes, my dad is an insurance agent so he does our insurance.

We decided/published in February that the shows would be the last Saturday of every month, April-September .

The Dummy Gummy > Chuckles
09/25/2018 at 12:33

Is 8am early or something? Doesn’t seem like an unreasonable time, but then again I’ve been up for 3.5hrs at that point.

The Dummy Gummy > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
09/25/2018 at 12:35

Oh wow, didn’t realize you did it every month. Did you find attendance to dwindle in the summer or increase?

If you plan on continuing this next year (I assume this was your first year) do you plan on doing every month again or decreasing it to quarterly? Do you make any money off this? If attendance keeps up, any plan on getting advertising to at least cover the insurance cost?

Chuckles > The Dummy Gummy
09/25/2018 at 12:37

Congrats on being a morning person. For most people, being somewhere at 8am on your day off of work is considered early.

The Dummy Gummy > Chuckles
09/25/2018 at 12:39

I’m not a morning person, but I have to be a responsible adult. I go to bed at midnight, sometimes 1-2 am. But I have a son who gets up early so I’m up.

I also like to try to get an hour work out before he’s up otherwise it won’t happen for the day.

I honestly didn’t think 8AM was early outside of my teenage/college years.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > The Dummy Gummy
09/25/2018 at 12:43

1. Not really. Our first show was our biggest but the only time we had an attendance shortage was when it rained during one.

2. Keeping it monthly

3. We don’t personally profit, we do have sponsors who cover our various costs incl. insurance.

Chuckles > The Dummy Gummy
09/25/2018 at 12:44

I guess I’m not a responsible adult. I’m 32, but I don’t have kids. I have to be at work M-F at 8am. I go to bed around midnight, and if I don’t set an alarm I can easily sleep past 9 on the weekends.

8am still feels early, and if an event starts at 8 that means I probably need to be up by 7. No thanks.

Nibby > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness
09/25/2018 at 12:52

Kinja'd!!!

Tapas > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
09/25/2018 at 13:00

I understand the challenges with the location. It would become harder to find a venue that’s not a parking lot.

The event doesn’t necessarily have to start later, it could just end later (provided there’s a location that allows that.)

A lot of younger and/or single people like to stay up late on the weekend. And there’s at least an equal , if not more number of these younger/single people who are into cars that can be included by extending the hours.

Because right now, they (including me) are having to choose between an outing with friends the night before, or C&C the day after.

The Dummy Gummy > Chuckles
09/25/2018 at 13:03

Eh, we all do our own thing. To me, even without my son, I like to make the most of the day. Life’s to short to sleep it away. Too each their own. I think my new work schedule helps for the weekends. I have to be up at 4AM if I want to get a work out in and then I’m on the trading desk by 645.

Chuckles > The Dummy Gummy
09/25/2018 at 13:09

So you wake up at 4am to do a work out? Like I said, you’re a morning person. Congrats.

The Dummy Gummy > Chuckles
09/25/2018 at 13:15

Lol I’m not a morning person. I do it like a zombie. But if I want to get a work out in its then. My son takes up the evenings and then I work a little bit later. If I were to work out at night I’d never fall asleep. I do it because it’s a necessity, not a desire.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Tapas
09/25/2018 at 13:20

Idk, we have lots and lots of younger folks who come to the show who I’m sure like to go out and enjoy their Friday nights. Regardless, extending the show isn’t really an option, but I see your point.

Tapas > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
09/25/2018 at 13:57

Gotcha.

pip bip - choose Corrour > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
09/26/2018 at 08:01

doing it again next year?

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > pip bip - choose Corrour
09/26/2018 at 10:31

Yup

Chariotoflove > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
09/28/2018 at 19:20

Kudos to you. That took work.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Chariotoflove
09/28/2018 at 19:33

Thanks!

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC
10/03/2018 at 13:51

He actually made a Kinja himself:

https://kinja.com/taphotos/posts

AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
10/04/2018 at 00:25

Oh wow! I didn’t realize he was the same photographer as the writer of the rail road story. I remember reading that a while back. Great read.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC
10/04/2018 at 10:38

Yup, that’s him. Car from the RR story is the same as the one in my McOopsie post (and the other one in the McOopsie post is pictured above).