Car Show Culture

By Owen Hughes, President MBCA Triangle

On a recent cold morning in January – unseasonably cold for North Carolina – I ventured out early to “Cars and Coffee Morrisville.” For those that don’t know, Cars and Coffee Morrisville is one of the larger monthly car events in the Southeast. If you ever wanted to understand “car culture,” whether you bring a car to show off or just show up to see what’s out there, attending this event is a sure-fire way to dive into the scene. On this particular morning – despite the cold – dedicated automotive enthusiasts from across the area (and often beyond) started arriving and setting up before the sun came up.

I’m often asked, “Why do you get up so early to go to this event?” or “Wouldn’t you want to wait until it’s warmer?” Sure, I could wait and show up later, or even hold off until it’s warmer, but there is a deep attraction to events like this that’s tough to explain at first.

Who goes to these events? What really is car culture? What drives (pun intended) us to attend them?

Car shows of all kinds attract a wide range of people from all walks of life. Most people wonder what the big deal is with these gatherings. It really comes down to the variety of cars – in this particular show’s case, LOTS of cars – and just as importantly, the people.

Wait, are you telling me car shows aren’t about cars? No, not at all. The variety of cars is the main driver. From exotics to collectibles, from modified to stock, American, European, or Asian, you can find pretty much anything at this event.

But beyond the cars, trucks, and motorcycles, there’s a huge culture behind these shows. These aren’t just your typical gearheads tinkering in their garages - there are die-hard purists representing their favorite makes and models, collectors who enjoy showcasing their rare vehicles, and “weekend warriors” who just appreciate cars, road trips, and spirited drives. But increasingly, there are also socializers, photographers, artists, and even social media influencers. Regardless of where you fall in that list, there’s a shared appreciation for automotive craftsmanship – whether it’s performance, mechanical ingenuity, or artistic design.

One of the best parts of car events like this, in my eyes, is meeting all of the people that fall into this spectrum of automotive fandom. It’s a chance to relate to others and connect on a personal level through this shared interest. I’ll give you some examples: an artist stopping by a rare vehicle, offering to do a free sketch for its owner; a photographer – with no car in the show, but a love of photography – offering to take and share some pictures; social media enthusiasts taking video of cars and people or interviewing vehicle owners. You might even meet fellow car club members or encourage someone to join a club aligned with their car. These people are trying to share their passion, intersecting with this car show on a cold January morning.

At this most recent show, I had a gentleman stop by and talk to me about the story behind my car. I happily shared the car’s history with him. At the end of our conversation, he shared his own story – his love for taking photos with his Fujifilm Instax camera, a retro throwback to the days of Polaroids. Before he left, he handed me a photo he had taken of my car. That moment of receiving the still-developing instant photo is one of those connections that make these events special. When I talk about what drives me to go to these events – it’s moments like this. The human connection is just as important as talking “shop” with fellow enthusiasts.

In the end, car culture isn’t just about the cars; it’s about the community and people that surrounds them. Whether you’re there to admire the engineering, share stories, capture moments, or simply enjoy the atmosphere, events like Cars and Coffee Morrisville bring people together in a way that transcends the vehicles themselves. It’s a reminder that behind every car is a person with a story, and that shared passion is what keeps the culture alive and thriving.