Don’t look now, but there is fresh new energy coming to the Atlanta car show scene. You can experience it for yourself every third Saturday of the month at the “Kartel at Coolray” auto show.
Make no mistake; this is not your grandfather’s boring rust-bucket car gathering. Instead, imagine the high-energy verve of Caffeine & Octane, combined with a professional DJ, entertainment, RC racing, and specialty food trucks.
This family-friendly experience brings the evolving Atlanta car culture to the picturesque baseball facilities of Coolray Field in Gwinnett, Ga. The beautifully designed complex is home to the Gwinnett Stripers, a Triple-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves.
It’s no wonder that this next step forward in car shows is being ushered in by Kartel events & entertainment. Its founder, Jarrett Kirby, has been successful in hybrid and variety event planning in the Atlanta area for some time now.
Is Kartel The Next Caffeine & Octane?
Many in the Atlanta car community are drawing early comparisons between Caffeine & Octane (C&O) and Kartel’s Coolray Field event. At first glance, you’ve got North America’s largest reoccurring car show in Caffeine & Octane compared to this plucky upstart Kartel event.
Honestly, it doesn’t seem like a fair comparison at first. That is, of course, until you think about how C&O got its start.
As the story goes, Mark Ritter started the now-famous Caffeine & Octane at a Panera Bread in Marietta, Ga. with just a few of his friends. But, as word spread, they quickly outgrew that site and eventually settled on the Perimeter Mall venue after a series of location moves.
Not surprising, the route for Kartel is similar.
A fun car gathering gets enthusiastic word-of-mouth exposure which leads to larger and larger crowds. Eventually, they outgrow their locations and ultimately get a great opportunity to partner with Coolray Field.
In the end, Kartel and Caffeine & Octane are both about bringing automotive enthusiasts together to have fun and talk about cars. Will the Coolray Field event ever compete with C&O?
Only time will eventually write that chapter.
What is known is that Jarrett Kirby and his Kartel brand are ushering in a more immersive, multi-layered event than anything we have in Atlanta.
Beyond the Ribbon
An intrinsic part of the energy Kartel brings to Coolray Field is a heartfelt commitment to the local community’s needs. One of those pressing needs is helping those who are battling the ravages of cancer.
We had a chance to talk with Bobbie Menneg, Founder of Beyond the Ribbon, during the event. You’ll probably remember our coverage of her sold-out car show in Lawrenceville from earlier this year.
Our commentary titled “Show Your Ride For The Ribbons” Brings Out Car Lovers.
As a cancer survivor herself, Bobbie is trying to pave a path from diagnosis, recovery, and beyond for others. Her organization has organized meal trains, cleaning services, and transportation for those in need.
In addition to her Facebook group, Beyond the Ribbon Inc, they visit patients at home and in the hospital. They help with the questions many ask when diagnosed with cancer.
“What most do not understand is that cancer goes beyond the last treatment. There are days after diagnosis that are just as taxing as the days during treatment,” Bobbie explained.
“The ringing of a bell signifies the final day of cancer treatment,” Bobbie went on to say. “Each day, I want to make their journey more comfortable because they need to be able to focus on ringing that bell on the day of their victory.”
For more information, please visit their website, Beyond the Ribbon Inc.
North Georgia NPRC
How would you like to go 0 to 60 mph in 2.3 seconds? That’s how quickly some North Georgia’s No Race Prep Radio Controlled (NPRC) club members can accelerate.
We couldn’t help but notice the tents, the various tracks, and the crowds of bystanders around the club’s parking lot courses. They had a drag strip, autocross, and even a children’s area course available on the asphalt.
North Georgia NPRC club has nearly 900 members and growing. Given the amount of fun everyone was having, we could see why they’re constantly adding members.
They call it no-prep racing because they only sweep or blow clean the racing surface. No traction additive is applied to the surface, making power management and driving skills the keys to fast, consistent runs.
The drag strip portion had a track length of 132 feet (scale 1/4 mile) with advanced electronic timing lights. We were shocked by the level of sophistication in chassis, engine, suspension setup these RC cars had.
Elaborate programs on laptops allow for a wide range of on-the-spot customization based on the driver and track conditions. Being smooth on the throttle and “pedaling” it down the track takes considerable practice and finesse.
Just like in auto racing, chassis and shock tuning often separate those at the top. Surprisingly, most RC dragsters can typically hit up to 60 to 70 mph, but some can peg 100 mph.
The competition was serious, though afterward everyone was all smiles and laughter. We added the video below to give you a feel for the action.
A Lot To Like
There is a lot to like about the Kartel car show at Coolray Field. The venue layout is excellent, the North Georgia NPRC racing is fun to watch, and the vibe is in sync with today’s Atlanta car culture.
While not a judged trophy show, it provides more entertainment opportunities than a typical cruise-in. They have the event every third Saturday of the month from 9 am to 1 pm.
Entry is $5 for general admission per car, with VIP parking next to the vending section only $10 per car.
One thing is for sure, Kartel’s promotion has brought new energy to Gwinnett’s Coolray Field.
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