For the love of cars

GEORGE NEWS - Cars@Coffee is a popular event hosted by the Garden Route Motor Club.

The year kicked off on Saturday 10 January, when more than 100 proud vehicle owners arrived in Wilderness, ready to share stories and chat about their beloved cars.

Although the focus is mostly on classic and collectable vehicles, Cars@Coffee does not exclude newer models.

Stuart McAllister, one of the event co-ordinators at the Garden Route Motor Club, shared a delightful story about how Cars@Coffee came to welcome any kind of car, whether vintage, new or old.

At one of the Plett events some years ago, a former chairperson, Brian Bruce, was approached by an elderly gentleman who asked whether he would be allowed to bring along his Volkswagen Golf Mk1.

Bruce, hands on hips, said there was only one requirement. He asked with a penetrating stare: "Do you love your car?" The gentleman did not hesitate for a second and exclaimed: "Yes, I love my car!"

Stuart McAllister is the proud owner of this beautiful 1959 Jaguar Mk2 3.4-litre. Photo: Marguerite van Ginkel

That was that. From that day on, these get-togethers have been open to all types of cars, regardless of model or year. It does not matter what you drive, as long as you love it.

A 1956 Ford Thunderbird. Photo: Marguerite van GInkel

The Garden Route Motor Club hosts a Cars@Coffee event every month at various venues along the Garden Route. Some of their regular destinations include Old Nick Village in Plettenberg Bay, the Waterfront and Knysna Ferry Terminus in Knysna, and the Wilderness Commonage. Events typically run from 10:30 to 12:30, offering a relaxed space where both members of the public and club members may gather, admire the cars and share their passion for motoring.

For more information or to be added to their distribution list, visit www.grmc.co.za.

Fred van Staalduinen's 1939 two-door Hudson Terraplane, complete with a dicky seat, is one of only three in the country. Photo: Marguerite van Ginkel