By Dylan Sciacca | Reporter
Cars roll in 9-11:30 a.m. every third Saturday to Black Rifle Coffee Co. for Cars and Coffee, a car show and meet. The event is a place where veterans, car enthusiasts and local residents can come together over shared experiences and common interests.
A car meet is a smaller-sized gathering in which car enthusiasts bring cars of every make and model to showcase to peers and the general public. Black Rifle Coffee Co. is a veteran-founded coffee company that supports veterans, active military and first responders through the sale of their coffee.
Last Saturday, Black Rifle Coffee Co. hosted its monthly car meet in the parking lot outside their shop for car enthusiasts to bring their vehicle, hang out and drink some coffee. At the event, there are normally dozens of automobiles, from trucks and muscle cars to older vintage classics.
Retired veteran Bill Hester brought his car to the meet.
“I love car meets,” Hester said. “I go to anything I can. If I didn’t, then she’d never leave the garage. Been in there too long for that.”
However, car meets are about more than just casually viewing other people’s cars. Especially at Black Rifle Coffee Co., the car meets can bring communities like veterans and car fanatics together.
For many of the participants, the event is just as much about the people as it is about the cars and coffee. Many of the people there enjoy chatting to fellow veterans and have many similarities outside of serving and cars.
“These communities often overlap because a lot of us older guys who served kept our cars from way back when, so we are all veterans and car guys,” Hester said.
While some cars were true show cars, many others appeared to be little more than older cars from someone’s garage. As the day went on, the people in attendance went through the line of cars, talked about cars and stories and appreciated each other’s company.
As the event came to a close, the people who showed up still lingered around finishing up remaining conversations and saying their goodbyes.
These events can hold memories, friendships and something a whole community looks forward to. For Tim Hobbs, who came to see the vehicles on display, these events have a special meaning.
“I have always been a sucker for cars,” Hobbs said. “My dad and I used to go all the time as kids. It’s some of my best memories of him … I don’t go as much as I used to, but when I do, I always think of him.”
