Every region has a local car scene, and believe it or not, our small region of Southwest Florida has a pretty rich and diverse one. That can be proven easily by the picture above where you can see American, European, and Japanese makers. Unfortunately, there aren’t too many events that properly showcase the local scene, so a few guys from Florida Gulf Coast University set out to do just that.

Teaming up with a couple local car clubs –Street Scene Alliance and the FGCU Car Club-, they created Fast Events LLC, an organization dedicated to hosting car events in Southwest Florida. And so, the 1st Annual Gulf Coast Motor Fest was born.

Dubbed a car and bike show, it was only fitting that the event be sponsored by enthusiasts of such. The folks at Six Bends Harley Davidson were nice enough to loan their lot out for the show and in return got some traffic through their doors. Registration was open to all makes and models to ensure that the show had the best diversity possible; bagged or lifted, import or domestic, car or bike- nothing was off limits (and of course I had to register my car).

Registered cars were placed into five categories -Domestic, European, Japanese/Korean, Classic, and Exotic- for “Best Of” awards. There were also awards for “Best Motorcycle” and “Best Club Turnout.”

Registration to vendors/sponsors and clubs was open as well, bringing in quite a few big names: Nur Performance, Optimus Performance, Wicked Customs, Fortune Minds, Apparel Arts, FGCU Car Club, VQ’s of SWFL, SWFL Evo, and Das Kafer.

For a first time show, it had an impressive turnout- over 130 cars registered and even more people attended.

Optimus Performance

Vendors brought their best builds and products, Apparel Arts offered on-the-spot t-shirt printing, and of course there was food. In partnering with the FGCU Car Club, the event also set out to raise money for a scholarship to the university for a lucky student.

Overall, the 1st Annual Gulf Coast Motor Fest ran nicely and was well thought out. It brought together car enthusiasts in the best way possible and created new friendships. Here’s to hoping the guys plan out another show for next year, and if they do, don’t forget to attend!