Saturday’s cold and windy weather did not keep about 20 car enthusiasts from gathering in the Golden Corral parking lot, 4337 W. Houston Harte Expy., for the first Cars and Coffee of 2016. This small car show-like atmosphere has proved to be successful and is something that attendees look forward to every month.
Concho Valley Corvettes President Bryan Hinton heads Cars and Coffee, which is a national event that was only recently brought to San Angelo. April of 2016 will mark his third year of hosting the event.
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“One of the instructors from Goodfellow Air Force Base picked it up and he was running with it, but unfortunately he was involved in a motorcycle accident and passed away,” Hinton stated. “So rather than let Cars and Coffee go away, me and a friend of mine picked it up and actually built it into what it is today.”
While many members of the Concho Valley Corvettes do come to Cars and Coffee, it is not an official club event.
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“Cars and Coffee is not affiliated with, other than just for attendance, the Corvette Club,” said Hinton. “We all show up, but we determined that keeping Cars and Coffee separate from the Corvette Club makes it more inclusive for everyone. The idea behind Cars and Coffee is that everyone can come regardless of what you drive, regardless of what you do.”
Joe Wolslager, who has been attending Cars and Coffee for two years, stated that it is all about a common interest.
“We’re all from different backgrounds, but it’s really neat that you can get people together and they have one common bond; and that is their love for automobiles,” he explained.
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Hinton added, “It’s a good way for people who are into cars to get together and look at cars and talk about ideas and all kinds of different things. I think it has really helped bring the car community, the whole sub-culture, closer together.”
While it may look like just a group of car owners hanging out and drinking coffee, what some people may not know is that they are also giving back to the community.
“We have a donation box,” Hinton explained. “If folks want to donate, we will pick a charity and donate everything we get to that charity. So there’s no profit; no money comes to us.”
Cars and Coffee is sponsored by Golden Corral, who “provides the space that we use. They also provide pastries in the mornings,” Hinton noted. Also, Dr. Hackl of West Texas Medical Associates provides the coffee.
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“Without the sponsors, Cars and Coffee simply wouldn’t happen,” he added.
Cars and Coffee takes place on the third Saturday of every month, “rain or shine.” The event is from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.; however, Hinton noted, “A lot of us get here at 8 a.m., and everybody is welcome to come and sit with us and have breakfast too. If you’re interested in cars or in seeing what we do, come on out.”
San Angelo’s Cars and Coffee can be found on Facebook here.
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