Behind The Scenes>>caffeine Cruising

If you like cars and live in Southern California – there is ALWAYS something to do. This morning I pulled myself out of bed at 7am, showered and headed out for a very short drive up to the Starbucks on Hawthorne and Artesia in Torrance. The purpose? To check out the weekly "Caffeine Cruisers" meet.

My steed for the past week has been this 2011 Ford Mustang GT 5.0 press car. Not a bad thing to wake up to, eh?

The new 5.0 is amazing, but I'll save my thoughts on this car for a proper Driving Impressions story.

One quick complaint though. The shift knob on the GT's six-speed transmission is damn cold to touch in the morning. Oh the sacrifices we make…

Hawthorne Boulevard is a street usually packed with cars, but early on a Saturday morning there isn't much traffic to be found. I was able to zip up there.

I even caught a few lights next to a C6 Corvette Z06. Temptation was resisted though, and we both kept at an adult pace. Not to mention, is that even with 412hp under my hood, the Vette should still eat the 5.0 for breakfast…

A few minutes later I arrived at the Starbucks to find decent number of cars had assembled – most of the classic variety. I've driven by this meet on a few occasions on my way out of town, but this was my first time to actually stop and check it out.

Compared to something like Cars & Coffee, this gathering is much smaller. Still, there was plenty to see.

The first order of business was to supply myself with some much-needed caffeine.

Then I wandered around a bit and had a look at the cars. This flamed out Shoebox was positively cool.

This '69 Chevelle SS looked pretty mean too, even with its big, modern wheels.

The majority of the cars here were of domestic decent, but there was a decent turnout of classic European cars in the lot as well.

This cool pair of bikes also caught my eye.

This airbagged Buick Riviera was one of my favorites of the morning.

You can't really go wrong with Supremes, whitewalls, and plenty of low.

Speaking of the slammed, this Bug was also sporting a pretty serious lowering job.

With all of the super customized '49-'54 Chevys out there, you sometimes forget how they looked from factory. Here's a solid untouched example.

Even with it's flat-four power, the Porsche 912 still has all of its pricier sibling's looks. I'd rock one in a second.

'69 Z/28 in a full factory condition with its original 302/4-speed combo. Awesome!

Another Porsche looking pretty minty.

After looking around for a little while longer, I hopped back in the GT and made the short drive home. After some breakfast and a quick workout, I fired up the laptop and put this post together.

As far as the realm of Speedhunting goes, it wasn't the most exotic of days but there are far worse ways to spend a Saturday in the middle of January…

-Mike Garrett

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1

Mike Garrett needs a pair of good old drivers leather gloves...

2

Nice! Any more of what looked like a 914 hiding behind the '69 Chevelle SS?

3

The only complaint I have about your mustang is that it's not win blue!

4

"If you like cars and live in Southern California - there is ALWAYS something to do."



I realize that. God damnit.



Love,

the midwest

5

oh wow did not know that they had this...imma check it out since im close by

6

It's nice to discover some of these smaller meets back home in the South Bay. Thanks for the update Mike!



P.S.- There is normally a small group of guys that meet pretty early on Saturday mornings at the Starbucks on 190th and Anza too. Mostly Hot Rods and British cars.

7

lol "adult pace"

8

am i the only one that thinks that the 'Stang is a little jacked up for being on a stock setup? i mean im not going on about it should he hella flush straight out the factory but i think i would make the car look a bit more 'sporty'! rather that the average car...

9

Great post! I'll be looking forward to reading more about the Mustang too. Was that an old Cobra sneaking around in the background?

10

Wait, what?? I live around the corner in Redondo and I had no idea this meet goes on. This is weekly on Saturdays, 7 am? I'll have to take my 510 over there next time!

11

Your GT looks amazing in that colour with the morning light hitting it.

12

If you've ever driven a 911, you would NEVER own a 912. Or even drive one. Things are horrid in nearly every way. They are the 911's slow retarded cousin that sometimes shows up and makes everyone at the party uncomfortable.

13

@ Nikhil: the mustang is indeed sitting pretty high, lowering it with 20 mm would improve it's looks.

14

Haha, I also have a metal (aluminum) gear knob and they can indeed be very cold when you get in the car (for at least 5 mins or so).

15

that's hilarious, I saw the car in the first picture (right side) about 2 days ago on a flatbed trailer while walking home I'd wondered what type of car it was. I wish I'd had my camera to take a picture. What car is that?

16

" The shift knob on the GT's six-speed transmission is damn cold to touch in the morning. Oh the sacrifices we make..."



Lol! I used to have a chrome knob on my GT-Four here in Ontario (Canada, not California). If you think a metal shift knob is cold in the 55F mornings you have there, try it in -10C ;)

17

good god i have lived down the street from there for a year now. I must live under a rock to not have known about this gathering until just now. :[

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