Would your car club like to get paid to attend a car show?
What if we sweetened the offer? How about your car club getting paid to attend a car show AND being featured on social media to thousands of car lovers nationwide?
Sound too good to be true? That’s what we thought until we spoke to Kim Althage, Public Relations for Gateway Classic Cars.
We found out, not only is it true, but it is also better than we imagined. First, let’s get you up to speed on Gateway.
Gateway Classic Cars is a global marketing company of classic and exotic vehicles and have sold over $620 million worth of collector and exotic vehicles since its inception in 1999. They specialize in selling classic and exotic vehicles for private sellers, collectors, and estates.
What follows is an edited transcript of our conversation with Kim Althage about their Caffeine & Chrome events.
Serving The Car Community
Rod Worley – Editor – Kim, can you share the back story on Gateway Classic Cars? Such as when did the business start and how many locations are there?
Also, how does Gateway Classic Cars serve the car community?
Kim Althage – Public Relations – Gateway Classic Cars – Rod, Gateway Classic Cars is the largest classic and exotic car sales network company in the world, first opening its doors twenty-three years ago (February 8th, 1999).
Gateway Classic Cars have eighteen existing showrooms in St. Louis, MO (HQ); Atlanta, GA; Chicago, IL; Dallas, TX; Denver, CO; Detroit, MI; Fort Lauderdale, FL; Houston, TX; Indianapolis, IN; Kansas City, KS; Las Vegas, NV; Louisville, KY; Milwaukee, WI; Nashville, TN; Orlando, FL; Philadelphia, PA; Scottsdale, AZ; and Tampa, FL markets. And the greatest part is there are other showrooms to follow – the next to open soon are our newest locations in San Antonio / Austin and Charlotte, NC.
As you know, Rod, car clubs are more than a fun and engaging way to express love for cars and connect with fellow automotive enthusiasts. Sure, genuine connections with like-minded people are made, connections where you share information and learn a lot from one another.
Of course, car clubs come together over their love of cars, but many times this passion fuels a way to give back to the community as well.
Gateway Classic Cars know most car clubs find meaningful ways to give back through philanthropic endeavors. They choose charities based on what is close to club members’ hearts and sometimes are geared toward their own personal experiences of a member or their loved ones.
Often their choices are very personal and cover a wide range of charity affiliations. Still, their connection to their charity of choice makes their fundraising even more impactful and meaningful.
Up To $200 Club Donation
Rod Worley – Editor – Gateway Classic Cars has an innovative way to support local car clubs. Can you give us more details on the “Up to $200 donation” incentive and “Featured Car Club” social media posting?
Kim Althage – Public Relations – Gateway Classic Cars – Gateway Classic Cars is also aware that fundraising for their diverse causes has been extremely difficult since the pandemic began. Our goal is to support them in any way we are able.
This is accomplished in a myriad of ways. Our most direct method is a donation of $10 per classic car (10 classic minimum), with the maximum amount being $200.
GCC also heavily promotes them as our “Featured Car Club” leading up to our Caffeine and Chrome event to tens of thousands through our social media channels. This helps the club attract new members – the lifeblood of any club.
It also, if the club so chooses, enables them to have more opportunities to raise greater funds through 50/50 raffle tickets or other direct contributions from all those in attendance since the event itself is free of charge.
GCC offers other ancillary benefits to our “Featured Car Club” participants as well. Club participants receive surprise goody bags. Those who bring their classics are given prime reserved parking front and center for all to admire their cars.
The showroom also takes a group picture of all the club members, which will be emailed to the club after the event and posted to our social media channels, thanking them for being in attendance. In addition to the group photo, GCC takes a picture of the club president receiving a promotional image of the check.
Often the large dry-erase check is made out to the charity of their choice, once more showcasing how the club gives back to the community at large.
Family & Pet-Friendly Event
Rod Worley – Editor – Kim, thanks for taking the time with us to share your insights. What key takeaways do you want to leave us with concerning Gateway Classic Cars’ monthly car shows?
Kim Althage – Public Relations – Gateway Classic Cars – Rod, it’s been my pleasure. Gateway Classic Cars’ high-profile Caffeine and Chrome events are from 9 am to noon on the last Saturday of the month.
That’s right, on the last Saturday of each month, we encourage all to show off their classic, and the Featured Car Club will have a prime location and visibility to highlight their specific passion of choice.
This event is family and pet-friendly, open to the public, and has NO admission fee! It is a great way to promote your club to classic car enthusiasts in your local area.
This monthly car cruise attracts hundreds of car aficionados and motorsports enthusiasts. It’s a gathering of like-minded automotive communities where all swap stories, admire other classics and show off their own.
A perfect excuse to take your classic for a drive, indulge in pastries and coffee (while supplies last), and share your passion with fellow devotees.
A Show Both Inside & Outside
Caffeine & Chrome car events are unique because there’s a car show outside in the parking lot and inside their showroom. As a result, the crowd ebbs and flows between them throughout the morning.
Several vendors dot the landscape with tents full of merchandise and useful car-related information. Those with children and pets enjoy the recessed parking area, clean bathrooms, and abundant shade.
What we see with the Caffeine & Chrome format is the next evolutionary step forward for car shows. For car events hoping to attract a younger demographic, you’ve got to offer more than a patch of asphalt and 50’s era music.
Gateway Classic Cars score big with their Caffeine & Chrome events on many levels.
Upcoming Dates
Gateway Classic Cars Caffeine and Chrome Event are on the last Saturday of every month from 9:00 am to noon.
The 2022 dates are March 26 – April 30 – May 28 – June 25 – July 30 – August 27 – September 24 – October 29 (Trunk or Treat) – December 3 (Holiday Party)
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