If you’re a car enthusiast, you know that a car isn’t meant solely to drive from point A to point B.
You don’t see your car as just a vehicle. Instead, you know it can transport you.
“They know the car has more value than just being a car,” Vu Nguyen, executive director of Porsche Club of America, says about automobile aficionados. “Some people see it as a work of art, some like the design aspect to it, or some see it as an opportunity to escape the daily grind.”
From car clubs to road shows, there are lots of ways to celebrate your love for cars. Here are a few ways to rev up your engine:
Live your fantasy: Be a racecar driver for a day
Feel the need for speed like Mario Andretti or Danika Patrick? Check out Autobahn Country Club in Joliet, Illinois (about an hour’s drive from Chicago). You can use your own car for the daily lapping session, the autocross race series or the chase race series. To race the 3.5-mile track, you’ll have to go through their member racing school to earn your Autobahn racing license.
“We run ourselves like a golf country club, but with cars,” says Ron Dabisch, a representative of Autobahn Country Club. “What makes us different is that instead of just looking at cars, you can get out and drive them.”
Attend the largest monthly car show in North America
Caffeine and Octane in Atlanta was started 11 years ago by a few guys who wanted to hang out with their cars and friends on a Sunday morning. The event has grown steadily, and now it’s the largest monthly car show in North America.
More than 2,500 cars (and their drivers, of course) show up at Perimeter Mall in Atlanta on the first Sunday of each month. From 15,000 to 20,000 car enthusiasts are there, too. Some drive as far as 800 miles to attend the show.
“You can really feel the passion people have for cars,” says Bruce Piefke, CEO of High Octane Events. “You never know who is going to show up for a show; we’ve seen a surplus tank, a McLaren P1 and a Porsche 918. Of course, there are vintage cars, muscle cars, rare cars, high-performance cars and custom-built cars, too.”
Chat with local car lovers
Cars and Coffee is an organization for car lovers around the world. With 14 locations worldwide, it’s a chance to meet fellow enthusiasts. Check out the mission statement of one local chapter:
Cars and Coffee Charlotte is a casual monthly gathering of auto enthusiasts that get together on the first Saturday of every month at the Windstream HQ, off Monroe Road to share a common enthusiasm for all things that spit, sputter and roar! There is something for everyone of all ages to enjoy; classics, exotics, hot rods, muscle cars and motorcycles. All are welcome!
Vacation to a car festival
Throughout the U.S. you can see a car show, but at the Hilton Head Island Motoring Festival and Concours d’Elegance, you can see some great cars—and enjoy a memorable vacation.
The event will run Oct. 27–Nov. 5, in Hilton Head, South Carolina, and in Savannah, Georgia. Each day is jam-packed with activities, such as showcases, wine tastings, festivals, car club corrals and charity dinners.
“This is an event for an auto enthusiast, but also something their friends and family alike,” says Carolyn Vanagel, president of the Hilton Head Island Motoring Festival and Concours d’Elegance. “We’re in the Low Country, a beautiful part of the South with marshes and historic antebellum architecture. It’s a very relaxed, not-pretentious atmosphere where people can relax and look at beautiful cars.”
Own a Porsche? Join this club
If you own a Porsche, the Porsche Club of America is right up your alley—or superhighway.
With 12,000 members, the club hosts 3,000 events a year, across the U.S. and Canada. Most club members are male and over age 55.
With all kinds of socializing events, it’s no surprise that the club’s motto is: “It’s not just the cars; it’s the people.” Porsche ownership is required of members.
“If you have someone who intends to buy—or someone who is a fan of Porsches—that’s just not the same level of experience of actually owning a Porsche,” Nguyen says. “For example, we have one event where we do a train of Porsches. It wouldn’t look right if there was a BMW or a Mazda in the mix. The specialness of it would go away.”
Don’t forget vehicle maintenance
For many of us, our vehicle is far more than transportation; it can be an object of great enthusiasm that enhances our life through great experiences. However, to thoroughly enjoy the freedom and productivity our vehicles bring to our daily lives, and protect the significant investment it represents, it needs to be properly maintained. Please check out many of our other blog posts that discuss vehicle maintenance.
About Mighty Auto Parts
Mighty Auto Parts is a wholesale distributor serving the professional automotive repair market with select, high quality products and superior customer support services. Explore our website for more information.
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