Looks like you guys have some really good taste in cars. Congrats to the winners.
How to enjoy cars and coffee in these times? Move it all online.
This past Saturday, Jacksonville Cars & Coffee hosted its Driveway Edition. The plan was simple: Participants would post photos of their cars to the group’s Facebook page.
A simple twist turned it into a real-time event: A prop for the photos was announced Friday morning. In this case, the shot needed to include a simple cup of coffee.
“Nathan Deremer of Deremer Studios texted me a few days after we canceled the March 14 Jacksonville Cars & Coffee in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic,” explains Chris Brewer, $2000 Challenge concours judge, director of communications for the Amelia Island Concours, and founder of Jacksonville Car Culture, LLC., the group that presents Jacksonville’s monthly Cars & Coffee events at The Avenues Mall. Malcolm Hogan of Automotive Addicts started the regular event more than a decade ago.
“He mentioned a virtual Cars & Coffee and we batted a few ideas around,” Brewer continues. “My friend and Jacksonville Cars & Coffee participant Brian Moody called me at the beginning of April with a similar idea but with a twist: Let's have participants photograph their car with a prop.
“Not only did this this concept make the contest unique and a little unpredictable, but it helped assure us that the photos would be fresh and coming from the participant's driveways. It also reduces the odds that someone would post up a glamour shot they found on Google.”
The event was also a way to raise money for charity. From the group’s Facebook page: “Entrants are asked to make a small donation to one of the wonderful charities on Florida's First Coast offering assistance to those who are affected by COVID-19.”
The group singled out a few charities in particular: First Coast Relief Fund, United Way of Northeast Florida, the Jacksonville Humane Society and Sulzbacher, Northeast Florida’s largest provider of comprehensive services for homeless men, women and children.
“There are a lot of folks who are out of work,” Brewer continues. “People are sick, and many have lost loved ones to this virus. If we can bring a little joy while encouraging folks to give, that seems like the perfect way to spend a Saturday.”
Then Brewer assembled a coalition. “Partnering with Hagerty, Cars & Coffee at the Concours and, of course, Grassroots Motorsports magazine, enhanced the event,” Brewer adds. “I've been a huge fan of GRM since I was in college. Having the magazine partner with us on this project was fantastic.”
The GRM editorial staff was tasked with picking winners for two classes: imports and domestics. The magazine also hosted a satellite show on the GRM forum for those who don’t Facebook.
The big question: What does the group have planned for May’s meet? “I really hope we can get back to meeting in person soon,” Brewer says. “But if we do not have the all-clear, I can see us hosting a similar event in May—with some fun twists, of course.
“I am amazed by how well the April event was received, especially for a first-time run under tough circumstances. I was really encouraged by the response.”
More photos can be found at the Deremer Studios site.
Imports: Awarded by Grassroots Motorsports
First Place Imports: Melissa Currin, Mazda RX-7, BMW 2002 and a kid keen on cleanliness.
Honorable Mention Imports: Aaron Rorem, rad Renault GTA
Honorable Mention Imports: Robbie Cutcliffe, Jaguars, kids, etc.
Domestics: Awarded by Grassroots Motorsports
First Place Domestics: Maura Reynolds, well-used Jeep
Honorable Mention Domestics: Jennifer Gaudin, Bronco, strategically placed puddle
Honorable Mention Domestics: Caitlin Chambers, kid racer
Customs: Awarded by Hagerty
First Place Customs: Alex Santamaria (photo by Trent Castell), 2011 Nissan 370Z
Honorary Mention Customs: Duane Files, 1989 Cadillac Fleetwood
Honorary Mention Customs: Joe Russo, 1992 Mazda Miata
Cars & Coffee at the Concours Pick
Ben Hayes, 1966 Ford Mustang
Best in Show Photograph: Chosen by Deremer Studios
Winner: Gatlin Fussell, 1979 Toyota Corona
Honorary Mention: Greg Gillman, 1957 Triumph TR3
Honorary Mention: Joe Russo, 1992 Mazda Miata
Looks like you guys have some really good taste in cars. Congrats to the winners.
It was a fun event--and, yes, I cleaned up a car and photographed it. 
now this is a cars and coffee event I can wake up early enough to get to! They have fixed the hardest part of these cars and coffee events, early morning saturdays...
Thanks for the honorable mention!
The jury is out at my house, did poeple notice that we made sure to keep 6 feet between the jaguars or was it too sublte?
In reply to Robbie (Forum Supporter) :
Very well done and this was a tough assignment--fun but tough. Thanks for participating.
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