Most Cars and Coffee events take place wherever space is available, often in the car parks of shopping centres or strip malls, and sometimes limited by capacity constraints and business opening hours. But what if that weren’t the case? Instead of heading to a soon-to-open supermarket, you point your car towards the heart of the city, to a place revered not only by locals, but by enthusiasts around the world?
For the past year, the car community in Adelaide, Australia, has enjoyed exactly that with the Vic Park Pitstop, a Cars and Coffee event held inside the Victoria Park Street Racing Circuit.
The Vic Park Pitstop is the culmination of years of coordination by a group of automotive enthusiasts determined to see their local Cars and Coffee meet continue following challenges at its original location.
It had started like most other meets – in a local shopping centre car park. However, after growing rapidly and facing changes to car park opening hours, the gathering needed to find a new home. Enter the former site of a Chrysler/Mitsubishi factory.
The defunct factory’s car park could accommodate more than 100 additional vehicles, but it didn’t take long for those spaces to fill at each monthly meet. With redevelopment of the site looming, the event soon needed to pivot once again.
Although it was always a dream, the team never thought it would be feasible to hold a recurring event on the grounds of the Victoria Park Street Racing Circuit, especially given its location in the heart of Adelaide’s central business district. But following the successes of their past events, local government officials took notice, realising how important this gathering had become for people in the community. A lot of work went on behind the scenes to make it happen, and eventually the ‘Vic Park Pitstop’ was given the green light.
One year on from the gates of Victoria Park opening to the sound of engines and the smell of fresh coffee, the ethos of the event remains as strong as ever.
“It is our desire to create something that’s just cars in a carpark, yet so much more,” says Tom, one of the Vic Park Pitstop’s main instigators. “An event that people trailer their track cars down for just to share their passion with other enthusiasts. Where people bring their kids in hope they’ll like [their passion] just as much as they do. Where they take their grandpa out to show him a good time in his pride and joy. Where you can pull up and see a car you haven’t seen in years cruise past like it’s nothing. Somewhere you can go, bump into someone you know or find someone new and strike up a conversation, and not be judged.”
Tom adds, “We are incredibly proud of what we’ve put together. Vic Park Pitstop represents the collective efforts of a bunch of mates who met through a shared passion for all things automotive.”
With attendance and support continuing to grow in its third location, the Vic Park Pitstop has established itself as an event that many feel cannot be missed – myself included.
Brilliant article mate! I often take it for granted or forget that the grounds this great event is held on once had the sounds and sights of f1 cars tearing it to pieces back in 80s and 90s! Good old Adelaide!