It’s a move Caffeine & Octane should have made long ago.
For March 2023, C&O offered premium spectator parking for $15.00 and a “For Sale” lot option for $25.00.
Keep in mind there are still over 2,000 free parking spaces available at the venue. But for those who want to guarantee a parking place closer to the action, you can have it regardless of when you roll into the show.
As far as the “For Sale” lot option goes, $25.00 is a small price to pay to have your car seen by thousands of car enthusiasts walking by. From a marketing cost basis, it’s a no-brainer for the seller.
So did the move hurt attendance? No, not in the slightest.
In fact, the March 2023 event probably set an all-time attendance record for the show at this venue.
Why Make A Change Now?
Whenever there is change, people often ask, “Why now?” That’s a legitimate question, though the added payment options don’t affect 99.9% of the monthly spectators.
The truth is Caffeine & Octane attendance has steadily grown over the years. If fact, the move from Perimeter Mall to Town Center at Cobb has only grown attendance.
The bottom line is that more spectators equal more costs. T-shirts and sponsorship dollars only go so far, especially when you factor in the cost of insurance, mall rental, and off-duty police.
That’s even before you add the 30 or so people needed over Saturday and Sunday just to handle the basics of the show.
But we suspect beside inflation; the added revenue is needed to cover the 2% of spectators who put everyone at risk by reckless driving and doing burnouts near crowds of people.
The old adage “This is why we can’t have nice things” comes to mind here. Or, in this case, why expenses have gone up.
But on a happier note, the weather was great, the crowd was huge, and the Corvette faithful were out in full force.
Hot Rod Brothers Customs
Caffeine & Octane has become a mecca for area custom and speed shops to showcase their talents to thousands of car enthusiasts.
The tuners and fab shops were especially out in force for this event because they were filming Season 7 of the Caffeine and Octane TV show for the Motortrend Channel.
One shop that drew a large crowd was Hot Rod Brothers Customs and their stunning SEMA-winning Cobra. Come to find out, talking with owner Jason Fields, what started out as a family of car lovers who built custom cars as a hobby, turned into a career.
It all started with Jason and his son Jordan deciding they wanted to take on a Factory Five MkIV Roadster Kit. Unfortunately, a shop fire in 2019 destroyed the first Cobra, but the Fields decided to get right back at it and build something special.
Yes, they brought a modified C8 Corvette to the event, but their Cobra drew the crowds rightfully so. Expect to read more about this father & son duo when we launch our “Clutch & Gears” magazine later this year.
SuperVette Saturday Is May 6th, 2023
Clearly, the buzz around the Classic Glass Corvette Club parking area was about the upcoming SuperVette Saturday, which is held this year on May 6th, 2023.
This will be the 40th anniversary of this annual Corvette classic. Talking with Bob Catapano, SuperVette Event Mgr, there are a whole host of reasons why this Corvette-Only event will be special.
Also with Bob was Brian Marusa, owner of USA Reflections Auto Spa. In addition to being a passionate Corvette owner, Brian is also a strong vendor supporter of SuperVette Saturday and CGCC’s annual Fall classic, VetteStock.
Check out our USA Reflections Auto Spa Takes Your Car Finish To A New Level article to learn more about Brian and his team’s great work.
Collectable Motor Car Of Atlanta
Looking for Atlanta’s newest place to consign, buy or sell your dream car? Collectable Motor Car of Atlanta should be on your list.
Talking with Justin and the team, the classics, and collectible cars are their real passion. They’ve streamlined their consignment, buying, and selling process to be easier and more client-friendly.
And, unlike other consignment businesses, they don’t focus on just one or two categories of vehicles. They believe there is a collector for every vehicle.
So, If you’re a serious collector looking to update your collection, they’ll consider high-quality trades, even if it’s a car you recently bought from them.
Christian Brothers Automotive
You just never know who you’re going to run and what you’re going to learn at Caffeine & Octane. Take, for example, running into Tom Burgess with Christian Brothers Automotive.
We didn’t realize that Christian Brothers Automotive offers three years and 36,000-mile warranties with most repairs. Or that all their technicians are ASE certified.
Here is a bit of trivia that’s unheard of today. In many cases, they offer a free shuttle service if your car requires repairs that will take longer than a day.
They’ll even pick you up when your car is ready. Who knew?
Season 7 On The MotorTrend Channel
Filming started this month on Season 7 of the Caffeine and Octane TV show for the MotorTrend Channel.
The news spread like wildfire among car enthusiasts. The result was thousands descending on the backside of Town Center at Cobb to be a part of the action and, of course, hopefully, get their 15 minutes of fame.
For those not bitten by the fame bug, C&O was looking for volunteers for a couple of hours during setup. Interest in the future? Here is the link: https://form.123formbuilder.com/5834749/form.
As for us, we’ll do our best to talk with as many Corvette owners as possible and soak in the excitement of North America’s largest monthly car show once more.
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