There comes a time in event planning, automotive related or not, when you have that moment of panic. Not the kind due to the fact that coffee stirs at the espresso bar were forgotten, or when seating capacity of the VIP was completely overlooked – it’s the realization that you didn’t plan big enough and the success was more than you thought it could ever be.
Guests start arriving earlier and more often than expected. Head counts and guest lists turn into confusing scribbled notes and your trained staff look at you as to say, ‘this was not discussed in the meetings.’
Characteristics like these are easy to identify with my years of event planning, but even more recognizable when you are on the other side of the fence as a guest. Such was the case for the Cafe SpA staff for their bi-monthly Cars and Coffee event this March. The setting was one to hold a possible record breaking number of cars in attendance, beating previous marks of around 500. Add in the tremendous views of the San Francisco Bay and perfect 75 degree weather, and what we had was a perfect petrol storm.
Partner-in-crime Taylor Wrighton and myself ventured out early Saturday morning from Monterey, taking our recently purchased and restored BMW Z4. This was the perfect chance for us to stretch her legs and work out any bugs we might encounter on a long drive. She drove flawlessly and loved playing in Sport Mode.
Arriving with the first group of cars into SF’s Treasure Island, we noticed right away that there were to be many cars at this event and a lot of heavy hitters. Ferrari, Maserati’s, Lamborghini’s oh my! Not surprising was a healthy diet of all in many different packages, specs and colors with cars coming from the Ferrari of San Francisco show room.
After an hour of taking pictures near the famed 55 foot Burning Man sculpture, Bliss Dance, Taylor and I noticed that the crowd was not only growing, but the cars were backed up as far as the Bay Bridge with no signs of slowing down. Parking lots filled and over spilled into other areas not expecting to support classic and sports cars from owners of all ages. Staff felt that moment of panic- but the ever calm and collected Nickolas Christensen stayed the course, cooled the engines and made over 1,000 cars feel right at home in his backyard.
Mirroring the long time, successful yet recently expired Irvine Cars and Coffee event, Cafe SpA SF has now taken over as the largest premiere pop up Saturday gathering of gear heads in California. Support coming from the very high end super car owners of the Ferrari 599 GTO, Lamborghini Aventador and the Pagani Huayra as well as the BMW Golden Gate Chapter, Mustang clubs and American muscle car lovers- this event has the ingredients to be a longwith-standing assembly of enthusiasts.
The only question now is the where, when and how?
UPDATE: The next Cafe SpA Cars & Coffee SF will be held on Saturday, April 4th, 8-11 AM. Bliss Dance, Treasure Island, San Francisco, CA
Steven Sports Car 