02/26/2024
I sit here, thinking what can be said after 9 years of Cars, Coffee, and Doughnuts. Other than thank you, to everyone that ever attended, either 1 time or multiple times, this cars and coffee grew far beyond expectations. What started as a once a month "what if" became reconigized as a subcult of aficionados for what would be the norm for cars and coffee in SoCal. I knew this gathering of enthusiasts had made it when it was mentioned at SEMA, by a major industry icon to me, in front of others, this was the cars and coffee to attend.
I've been given long time friendships of those I would not have otherwise known, reconnected with people of my automotive past, found opportunities in motorsport having the chance to wheel an INEX Legend Car on local short tracks and even bare witness to a recent wedding of a couple that met through this cars and coffee. One of the most memorable will always be finding my late fathers first muscle car, a restored '73 Pontiac GTO, that after 30 years of being sold, a barn find moment that almost brought him to tears as he was given a chance to drive it one more time. Another is the time I convinced the owner of the Killer Crower front engine dragster to come out and ...warm up the engine Pomona style for us, the looks when that first throttle blip shook the ground, I dont know how we got away with that, along with many others memories I will hold thanks to all of you.
However with success, comes imitation, although the best form of flattery, our attendance has fallen off over the years as other cars and coffees have come to fruition of late. Many of which happen on the same day, at the same time, some even following the same format of ideas to which I was informed "we are just doing our thing" by the organizer whom used to attend this cars and coffee, along with a number of others in town. Add in other larger car shows and events, and our attendance falls off quite a bit as we get further into the year. With that, I felt it's time, we've run our course, and been given our chance to which the others that have come along after, have quite a ways to go.
I'll still be around, the occasional cars and coffee in town, cruise nights here and there, and the hope to see more track days this year. Thanks for one final ride.
- CEO Cars, Coffee n Doughnuts
