Granted, on the surface, it seems certifiably crazy.
Why would someone get up long before sunrise on a Sunday morning, drive to a closed shopping mall, and wander around the parking lot with thousands of people you don’t know?
This can be explained with two words, Caffeine & Octane.
One of the reasons we sojourn for a handful of hours at the Perimeter Mall every month is to spot the rare, the beautiful, and the unexpected. In this case, an ultra-rare black 1954 Corvette.
We heard whispers of the stunning black 1954 Corvette roadster as soon as we arrived. But, to be honest, we had our doubts. According to Noland Adams and several NCRS gurus, only four or possibly six 1954s were painted black.
What we found was an NCRS Duntov Mark of Excellence winner that, among many awards, was verified as an original Motorma GM Corvette. As captivating as this authentic black 1954 was, the owners, Mark and Kristine, were even more so.
Down-to-earth, gracious, and pure Corvette enthusiasts are just a few of the words to describe this dynamic couple. Stay tuned. We’ll be taking a deep dive into this historic Corvette in a future article.
Sharing Is Caring
The reach of Caffeine & Octane isn’t merely limited to the thousands who physically trek to North America’s largest monthly car show. Cell phone images and video content are being shared by those who attend to thousands more worldwide.
The non-stop advancement in cell phone camera capability now allows amateurs to snap near-professional quality images. Once taken, it is just a few moments more to share that image via social media.
Yes, Facebook remains the dominant social media platform on the planet. However, Instagram (IG) is the app of choice for those sharing those early morning digital images from C&O.
If “Sharing is Caring,” then people care a great deal about this event. In the Corvette realm alone, there are those Instagramers like @VetteLust, @streetcarmafiaofficial, @iamdavid2.0, and @thai_c6 who often cruise in.
Lest we forget, we’re there every month under @vettesofatlanta. So, it would behoove C&O to set up a tent and offer free “How To” cell phone photography instruction during the show.
Why do you ask? First, a few minutes of instruction would produce higher-quality C&O photos. Secondly, the added confidence behind the camera lens would produce more shared content of the event.
Both aspects would grow the C&O brand, plus there are many who would teach the classes during the show for free. Win-Win for all involved.
A Bit Of 1981 Trivia
Ah yes, I remember it well, the year was 1981. Ronald Reagan, the former movie actor and host of television’s Death Valley Days, was inaugurated as the 40th president of the United States.
At the 53rd Academy Awards for the best film of 1980, Ordinary People won an Oscar for Best Picture. In addition, Robert Redford (Ordinary People) won an Oscar for Best Director.
Robert De Niro (Raging Bull) won an Oscar for Best Actor, and Sissy Spacek (Coal Miner’s Daughter) won an Oscar for Best Actress.
The top five TV shows were Dallas, 60 Minutes, The Jeffersons, Three’s Company, and Alice. Also, the USDA announced that ketchup could now be counted as a vegetable in the school lunch program.
Among the list of options for the 1981 Corvette were a factory 8-track and CB radio. Not that many of us will admit to owning an 8-track now, but it was still available in 1981.
The order code was UM5 which gave you an AM-FM Radio, electronically tuned stereo with 8-track tape, and CB. Seven hundred ninety-two people selected this $712.00 option.
If you wanted a cassette player instead of an 8-track tape player, it was possible. The code was UN5 and was a $795.00 option, which 2,349 Vette owners eventually selected.
Thanks, John, for pointing out this option on your silver metallic over the dark blue metallic coupe and taking us down memory lane.
Also, thanks again for your popular article “Designing Corvettes Runs In The Family” and your Father’s article, “Tom Boik On Being A C3 Body Design Group Supervisor.”
Philip Carroll In The House
In a sea of automotive enthusiasts, it can be hard to stand out. Difficult for some, not so for Philip Carroll, founder of the Roswell Motoring Festival.
Philip brought his passion for automobiles and a snazzy red, white, & blue British Union Jack sportcoat to the show. As you might recall, we covered the inaugural event last Fall in Roswell Motoring Festival Brings Out The Corvettes.
Talking briefly with Philip, he said the upcoming Festival on Saturday, October 2nd, 2021, will build on last year’s first outing in fun and exciting ways. We were impressed in the previous year with the way the car community rallied around this worthwhile show.
The Festival focuses on promoting and preserving the art of the automobile. Their goal has always been to put on a world-class automotive event that honors our heroes, the cars they loved and often raced.
They also actively support St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, environmental issues and contribute to worthy charities in North Georgia.
You won’t want to miss their event coming up on Saturday, October 2nd, 2021.
Experience Trumps Calendar
Many of the pundits will tell you never to schedule your car show on a national holiday because it will significantly hurt attendance. That logic may hold except if you’re Caffeine & Octane.
The chance to make new friends and share a passion for automobiles is a compelling draw and not one governed by the date on a calendar. The value proposition of a great experience will often triumph over the date.
This 4th of July, thousands pounded the pavement looking for the rare, the beautiful, and the unexpected.
As is often the case, many found it at Caffeine & Octane.
Articles We Recommend:
Reflection Time For Vettes Of Atlanta Magazine
“Miles Through Time” Museum Brings The Fun To Clarksville
“Caffeine & Octane At The Drags” Delivered Street-Style Action