As the sun rises on the Six Flags Fiesta Texas parking lot, every second Saturday of the month the quiet hours of dawn are swiftly interrupted by the resonant pops of exhausts echoing, signaling the start of another Cars & Coffee event. Cars & Coffee is a free event with local coffee vendors providing drinks for attendees. From Mustang’s to Ferrari’s, the event holds plenty.
The history behind this event dates back decades and travels back to Southern California. It began in the early 2000s when Barry Meguiar, founder of car care company Meguiar’s, started hosting events from his home for car enthusiasts. Over time and through word of mouth, the event grew from local to international events being held in different cities under “Cars & Coffee.”
In San Antonio, the event is run by Chris White, Taylor Ewing and Tito Ramos. White was available at the event to answer some questions and provide more insight.
Cars & Coffee started hosting meets in San Antonio at Oak Hills Church with an attendance of “probably four to five hundred cars.” Today, the attendance ranges in the thousands.
“Last year, we quit counting at 3,200 cars, not sure where we’re at today,” White said. He mentioned the event is not for profit and is paid for by their sponsors, allowing for “everybody in the community to come out. That’s why we keep doing it, for the community.”
On that note, local vendors came out to the event in support. Businesses such as Dos Perros Coffee, Poppy’s Cafe, Duck Donuts and even Camera Exchange were present. When asked about plans for upcoming meets, White said, “We like to incorporate new things to try and add value and interest for the attendees. Like today, we have Camera Exchange out here letting people use cameras to take photos. It’s a mutual benefit for the both of us there.” Additionally, SRO Motorsports Group, an international organization promoting racing, is set to unveil their winner series for the next few meets.
Shifting gears, the scale of this event posed some concerns to attendees’ safety. Upon entry, there were multiple workers guiding traffic with specific areas to go to. Cars were sectioned into areas based on their make and classification. For example, Porches and Nissans were in a designated area separate from the Lamborghinis. Attendees bringing their vehicles were also prohibited from activities like drifting. That is not to say they are not allowed to do so once they are outside the lot and on public roads. White mentioned Cars & Coffee in other cities got their meets canceled for car wrecks and emphasized how important safety is for this event to ensure they can keep the meets going.
Even if you are not so much of a car aficionado, the event is completely free and welcomes everyone. From restored vehicles of decades past to modern luxury cars you do not see as often in regular traffic, there is something on wheels that is bound to catch anyone’s eye at this sort of event. Every Cars & Coffee is held on the second Saturday of each month in the early morning hours. You can learn more about their upcoming meets on their Instagram and Facebook pages.
