Car Shows Should Be SLOW

Words & Photos: Ezekiel Wheeler

Throwing a car show is easy. All you really have to do is build a localized network of people that trust you. Establish a relationship with a venue that doesn’t think you’ll just get them in trouble with their landlord and then… spread the word, show up early, monitor and entertain nearly everybody, even if it’s just a few dozen people, then wait until the last car leaves, clean up whatever was left behind, settle the tab on any “forgotten” tabs, then… you know... do it again the next week, month, quarter or year. So easy, right?!

For the few hours you do actually get to enjoy a show with a few friends. You’re likely there to see what else turns up, answer some questions about your car and maybe ask an owner of a car you enjoy a few questions of your own. But what happens when your community only goes all out on one big show in the summer? Maybe your morning or midnight cruising crew just wants to pop in and fully commit to busting out a cooler and some folding chairs to endure outdoor parking for 7 hours. Remember, roll-in is always earlier and roll-out can take a few hours depending on your set up. 

SLOW SUNDAYS is founded by two deep-rooted individuals in San Antonio. Brian LaBarbera, who’s owned and operated Estate Coffee for the past 10 years and Justin Roeser, a recent San Antonio Transplant from Washington State that has a wild affinity for rare moonstone Porsches and his ability to create a space for car owners to connect and be creative themselves. 

“I’m a Porsche guy. When I would turn up at events, I parked with other Porsches and I met Porsche people. I would ask them if they ever go into the city to a small coffee shop and, like, hang out, or do things that people like in the West Coast? And most of them said, No.", Justin explained.

"Soon after I moved to San Antonio, I found Estate Coffee. I wrote the founder, Brian LaBarbera, because I saw the E30 artwork on the walls and the bike in the middle of the cafe. I knew there had to be a car person involved with the business. That’s when I asked if I could do a cars & coffee here – and we haven't stopped since.
I have video from the first one, and it was about five of us, I still remember the Buick wagon, not like a Roadmaster, but like the new one, the Opel one we got for little bit. That showed up and like 90’s Bentley Continental GT.”

Brian nodded and continued, “it was pretty impressive to go from five cars, to 20 to 80, pretty fast. That’s when we knew we had something. Especially when you started seeing friends from neighboring cities pop in to experience what we built.”

The SLOW Sundays duo is what enthusiasts and curious car fanatics hope to stumble upon in their own neighborhoods. They are looking for characters rooted in the scene, their community and the genuine connections people make attending their gatherings. When you slow things down and look around, the car world is more than just metal. It’s an environment that can still thrive in a modern world where everything seems too fast. 

This is when you begin to realize that establishing a car meet to build connections within your community should be the “why” for doing it. Not a clout-chasing event that prioritizes a few to flex to the many. Car culture and the fabric of your community are established through meaningful connections. Without pontificating too much, here’s a simple recipe you can follow to throw your own meet. 

RECIPE FOR A GOOD CAR MEET:

1. Establish WHY you want to create a meet. What problem are you solving? For you, your friends or the community at large.

2. ASK QUESTIONS through your friends and community about who and where could support the meet of your dreams. Also, ask them what’s missing from other shows / meets ya’ll go to.

3. GET ORGANIZED before you ask your venue(s) of choice.

3a. Answer the Who, What, Where, When, Why, and HOW you plan on pulling this off. Key Tip: Use the 6 x 6 rule. No more than six responses and six words per response. If you can’t keep it tight, you’re not ready.

4. NAME your meet. Make it short, sweet, and simple. Leverage inspiration from the surrounding area.

5. SPREAD THE WORD. If 10 people turn up, so be it. Be happy and grateful. Remember WHY you’re doing this.

6. Stick to the RULE OF THREE. Rinse and repeat the above, three seperate times. Learning and improving each event just a little bit more and within your means. If your concept works after three times, and you see growth… keep at it. If it doesn’t, cut your losses and refine the above or hang your hat realizing you did something rather than nothing. 

7. If it works for about a year. Then you can start to figure out “how to make money” with it. But don’t make that your mission out of the gate. CULTURE SUPPORTS A CLEAR MISSION.