As the eighth season of Cars & Caffe has concluded, I thought I would write a brief recap of the season that was. 2020 has been a year like no other, yet thanks to the wonderful members, sponsors and staff, it became one of our most memorable years! Although we had to celebrate our passion for our fine automobiles from "six feet apart" this year, friendships were made, others were strengthened, new events were born and for a few hours on various Sunday mornings, all of the world's obstacles and adversity were put aside. Enjoy the 2020 Cars & Caffe Year in Review!
Atlantic City Invitational -- February 7th-9th, 2020
For 2020, Cars & Caffe was asked to curate a 40-car display at the entrance of the Atlantic City Convention Center during GPK weekend. For nearly half a century, GPK Auctions has been New Jersey's most attended car event during the winter months. Within just eight weeks, the inaugural Atlantic City Invitational had become a reality. The theme was variety, as SEMA alumni, muscle cars, race cars and supercars alike were secured.
Thursday was load-in day! Show cars arrived primarily via trailer and crept through the convention center floors onto the grey carpets of the Invitational display, where we designated their parking spots for the next four days. The afternoon was spent playing musical cars with dozens of symphonic cylinders providing a throaty melody amplified throughout the building. After ten hours of carefully planning and re-adjusting the layout, the AC Invitational's inaugural display was in place.
Over the next three days, over 30,000 people would attend GPK's festivities and most of them, including several familiar faces from Cars & Caffe, would make their way to the AC Invitational display. It was a new experience for me, having never previously hosted a static display over multiple days, and a great responsibility to watch over such an array of vehicles. The Invitational was also the farthest Cars & Caffe had ventured off from our home in Bergen County!
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| Sorting through the keys of the inaugural AC Invitational display |
To further cap off this exciting weekend, Cars & Caffe's newly secured partnership with Hagerty was unveiled to attendees. Hagerty surprised me by shipping branded signs and cones to Atlantic City, where we put them right to good use!
Birthday Drive-By Parades -- April - July 2020
Shortly after GPK weekend concluded, the health pandemic broke out and immediately slammed the brakes on all of our plans. Within a month of life seemingly coming to a pause, Cars & Caffe received a unique request: a local auto-maniac five-year old was celebrating his birthday and wanted to see some cars. My hope was for perhaps 20 members to make this a memorable birthday for the young motor-head but I was wrong; 70 generous members joined and nearly gridlocked the town as we paraded by!
By the following afternoon, another birthday request arrived. And another. Within a week, the requests were overwhelming! Cars & Caffe ended up organizing over a dozen parades, nearly every weekend for three months, and many weekends we pulled double and triple duty! I was also humbled to have my sister, girlfriend and 70 members surprise me on my own birthday for a police-escorted parade to help those in special need. The Cars & Caffe community came together during an otherwise unimaginable time and not only helped children celebrate their birthdays, but benefit fantastic causes as well.
I truly appreciate everyone who attended and supported the birthday drive-by parades and put endless smiles on the children's and families' faces this year!
Summer at the Waldwick Whistle Stop -- July 12th, August 9th
As life returned to some semblance of normalcy, Cars & Caffe finally started the 2020 season. Thanks to our friends at Waldwick Auto, we returned to the venue we debuted to close out 2019, the Waldwick Whistle Stop coffee shop at the Waldwick train station. Following the months of inactivity, we were thrilled to support a wonderful small business and adapt to the "new normal." The turnouts were immediately at capacity and for a few hours on those Sunday mornings, all was right in the automotive world!
Cars on the Lawn -- September 20th
New to Cars & Caffe's 2020 schedule was 'Cars on the Lawn' - a curated exhibition that celebrated sports cars spanning the entire globe from various eras. The venue for such a festivity was the Orange Lawn Tennis Club of South Orange, NJ. Approximately 200 cars decorated the club's front lawn, while owners were able to enjoy tennis in addition to the cars. The central tree on the lawn served as the centerpiece for a "competition car" theme, as race cars and rally-based cars gathered around its base.
Cars on the Lawn's inaugural gathering was the largest and best attended event on the 2020 Cars & Caffe schedule and was presented by Paul Miller Porsche and Lamborghini Paramus. The overwhelmingly positive feedback begs Cars on the Lawn to become a staple on the Cars & Caffe calendar for years to come!
Wheels at the Mill -- October 10th
Also new to the Cars & Caffe schedule for 2020 was 'Wheels at the Mill' - an unprecedented blend of motoring, art and nostalgia at the historic Prallsville Mills of Stockton, NJ. Just as foliage was entering its prime, Cars & Caffe's members woke the muffled countryside of Northwestern New Jersey for a day of two and four wheeled vehicles, art displays and a wine tasting along the Delaware River.
Perhaps the most scenic event of 2020, Wheels at the Mill featured four-wheeled rides from Cars & Caffe, two-wheeled rides from Moto Curated and various art galleries on site. Even a vintage ice cream truck set the sentimental atmosphere! Wheels at the Mill was made possible by Paul Miller Porsche and Exoticars USA.
Back to the office -- September 6th, October 25th
Fall 2020 also introduced a new venue to the Cars & Caffe rotation, as the Kamson Corporation office building played host to a pair of Cars & Caffe gatherings. This setting offered a unique layout, as members outlined the perimeter of the property and a pair of central parking lots served as curated display sections for designated cars. The September 6th installment was also the debut of Gears, Wheels and Coffee serving as Cars & Caffe's coffee vendor!
Academy of St. Paul -- November 14th
Cars & Caffe's fundraiser and food drive at the Academy of St. Paul was a "bonus event" late in the season! Over 100 members braved the near frigid temperatures for a late season gathering of fine sports cars for a worthy cause. Once again, our friends at Gears, Wheels and Coffee kept attendees warm with coffee and refreshments.
Motorcar Manor Open House -- November 22nd
The 2020 Season Finale was nothing short of special, as perhaps Northern New Jersey's best kept secret opened its doors for the first time exclusively to Cars & Caffe. Motorcar Manor, the premier automotive storage facility of North Jersey and Cars & Caffe's official storage center, welcomed visitors to tour the extraordinary venue packed with one of the most eclectic array of automobiles under one roof one can imagine. The "block party" that spanned the cul-de-sac capped off a successful year, despite the adversity throughout 2020.
Cars & Caffe greatly appreciates all members who continue to support and attend these events. Additionally, I would thank all of the sponsors who contributed to the 2020 Cars & Caffe season, as listed below.
I wish everyone a Merry Christmas, Happy Holiday season and Happy New Year! Here's to a happy and healthy 2021 and the best Cars & Caffe season yet!
Thank you,
Tony Boniello
Founder, Cars & Caffe
