It’s Not Code For Anything, Trust Me.
Words: Cam
Photos: Cam
As someone that likes talking about the politics, updates, new entries, retired names, and the motorsports whether it be professional or grassroots in the automotive world, sometimes you really miss going out and seeing what’s happening right outside your front door (or in the next city over in my case). I missed hanging out with friends and taking photos for fun, so I decided to go to one of the first biggest meets in southern Maryland, the SOMD Cars and Coffee in California, MD(check out their Instagram here at SOMDCars&Coffee). I have to admit it was one of the most refreshing things I’ve done this year so far, and in a time where clearing my head is something GREATLY needed it couldn’t have been more on point. In fact, I actually got some pretty dope inspiration from a couple of the builds I’ve seen and let’s just say you’ll probably see it here first or on my instagram here at Cam_GT08!
But what is a Cars and Coffee? The long of it short is a meet that starts in during the day and not past your bedtime. The actual explanation is an organized car meet where owners come together in a public parking lot with some typically spiffy cars. Sometimes there’s a theme to it like a JDM legends or old school muscles and hotrods. More times than not though it always starts off with exotics and supercars. Either way, it’s usually always a good time very rarely a small turn out. The best ones though are the ones that have a bit of everything. Tuners, muscle, cars way outside of my tax bracket. These are usually the big meets that are hard to miss whenever you drive by, and will probably have you coming back for more. There’s also the coffee part… usually forget about it but it’s called Cars and Coffee for a reason.
The real reason I love cars and coffee or car meets in general isn’t just for the cars, it’s actually for the overall experience. Not only are cars and coffee typically free, but just like any other car meet it’s a good way to get out and socialize. You just might get inspired to do something different for your build, meet a few folks that have the same taste (or distaste for you haters out there), or even leave the meet with a couple new connections or even a whole new network of people to help you with something that you want (or need) done. Then there are the locations. Sometimes you come across a car meet or get invited to one that’s in a place that you’ve never been before. It is SUPER rare that I ever drive down to California Maryland, but whenever I go there’s always something new that I discover like a new road or a place where I could shop around for a new project or even just parts. Sometimes you could come across a nice place to take a couple of photos. I can’t tell you a single time where I’ve travel down to southern Maryland and didn’t want to stop to capture pictures of the perfect scenery.
Now, why should YOU go to a cars and coffee? Maybe cars aren’t exactly your thing but you wouldn’t mind seeing a Ferrari or Lamborghini or two. Trust me, as long as there are people willing to show off an excess amount of wealth there will always be an exotic at a meet. Maybe you’re like me and your speed is 80’s, 90’s, and early 2000’s japanese sports cars. The meet that I went to yesterday had plenty and the builds were pretty wild. Like huge LS swaps into NA Miatas wild, like seeing a Lexus GS300 with a maxed out 2JZ-GTE engine slammed on its nuts and then airing up to drive away wild, or coming across one of the most custom Ford Thunderbirds I’ve ever seen in my lifetime wild. If you’re not really into cars, maybe Jeeps are your thing. Maybe custom built big rigs that haul off into the sunset faster than that ScatPack you thought could beat anything might be your thing. Maybe dually trucks so low you couldn’t even fit a crisp dollar bill under it might be your thing. The thing about Cars and Coffee is that even if you don’t like “cars”, there still might be something there for you (that means bikes too).
Sometimes it’s the people. If you ever go to a meet, try asking them about their car and what they’ve done to it and watch as you spiral down a rabbit hole or explanations for parts and purposes. Just don’t say I didn’t warn you.
~Cam
