We love January: the month is full of cool mornings, hot chocolate, and cars. Lots of cars. January marks the anticipated start of car show season, where enthusiasts brush off dust and emerge into the beautiful chaos of getting their cars ready for display. We welcome the onslaught of ever-changing builds, wheels swaps, bags, lifts, and weekends spent in large grassy fields with open arms.
The guys at Fast Events, LLC., were back at it again with their 2nd annual Gulf Coast Motor Fest (Check out the first show here) – an all-cars-welcome showing of Southwest Florida’s car scene with a few stragglers from the East Coast and Central Florida. Moving venues to JetBlue Park this year allowed for more space and despite the morning starting out soggy and cold, the weather did little to dampen spirits as vendor setup began and show cars rolled in. In conjunction with Audi Naples, we sponsored the show and brought a pretty cool set-up: a 2017 RS7 Performance in Ascari Blue Metallic, a 2017 TTS in Riviera Blue, a 2017 Audi S3 in Navarra Blue, a 2014 S4 in Estoril Blue sitting on Vossen VFS1, a fully restored 1991 Land Rover Defender 110, a Mazda RX8 sitting low on MB Battles, a 2002 Chevy Corvette with performance upgrades, and a VW GLI bagged on Rotiforms. Also part of our showing was VW of Naples’ Cabrio restoration project in orange bare bones, giving spectators an interesting look at the framework of the classic car.
Like last year, the show’s foundation is based upon attracting enthusiasts of all kinds -classic, Euro, JDM, Domestic, Muscle, Exotic, KDM, and trucks- to come together in one harmonious group. Ballpark food was on hand, drinks were popped, and conversations flowed. Short interruptions were caused by a mobile dyno, raffles, and a two-step contest. We saw a GTI head up the dyno, followed by a couple Volvos and a few trucks, among others. A two-step contest was hashed out between a couple Honda’s, a couple Hyundai’s, and a Mustang, with a very loud S2000 winning the contest. A raffle gave away prizes such as tickets to the Florida Everblades, local attractions, food, and a car wrap.
In addition to bringing enthusiasts together, part of the proceeds go to charity:
“At the event we will be bringing together all makes, models, enthusiasts young and old in addition to throwing a raffle to give something back to our attendees and to benefit the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southwest Florida. This charity provides housing for local families in need for when their child needs them most and we want to ensure they continue to deliver on this by donating a portion of our raffle proceeds to them.”
Awards were presented for each car category, along with Best In Show, Best Dyno Pull, Best BOVAGON (Box, Van, Wagon), Best Club Turnout, Most Modified Club, Best Vendor Car, Best Vendor Display, Best Two-Step, and a fan-voted Tuner Battlegrounds Best in Show.
The show was a hit yet again, and we look forward to Fast Events’ upcoming “Tuner Legacy” show in May and a 3rd annual Gulf Coast Motor Fest in 2018.
