Bernie's Car Show Coverage: Photos from Caffeine and Octane: March 2018

Last Sunday, Caffeine and Octane held their third show of 2018. Held at the Perimeter Mall outside of Atlanta in Dunwoody, Georgia, Caffeine and Octane allows car enthusiasts from all over to bring their cars and to show them off.

Sunday’s Caffeine and Octane had a much stronger attendance compared to the past two shows. In case you forgot, January's show had sunny weather, although it was also 23 degrees. February's show had warmer weather, but it was raining. Although March was the third show of the year, it was the first show of 2018 for the majority of the crowd. It doesn’t matter if you show up in a Mercedes S560 Maybach (might I add that those rear seats are one of the most comfortable seats. Keep in mind, I will be resting my feet in one at the New York Auto Show in a few weeks), Atlanta's favorite muscle car- the Chevy Chevelle SS, a BMW M3, M4, M5 (there were plenty of them there), a Dodge Demon, one of my dream cars- the Bentley Continental GT Speed, or one of the many other vehicles that still allowed those that admire cars to appreciate them for the beauty that they are.

To see the rest of the photos, check out Bernie's Caffeine and Octane: March 2018 gallery. I'm sure I'm not going to update this blog until the New York Auto Show post. See you in New York!!!!!

Bernie's Car Show Coverage: Photos from Caffeine and Octane: February 2018

Last Sunday, Caffeine and Octane held their second show of 2018. Held at the Perimeter Mall outside of Atlanta in Dunwoody, Georgia, Caffeine and Octane allows car enthusiasts from all over to bring their cars and to show them off.

I know you're wondering "What happened to Caffeine and Octane in January???" Well let's just say that Atlanta and cold weather doesn't go together. That particular morning, the temperature was at a memorable 23 degrees.  The cold air was more powerful than the Dodge Demon, which finally made it's debut in Atlanta.

Dodge Demon at January's Caffeine and Octane. Just wanted to show it off...

Sunday's weather for Caffeine and Octane was much warmer, however it was raining. The turnout was more crowded than last month, but it wasn't like the normal turnout. It doesn’t matter if you show up in a Lamborghini Huracan, a classic Porsche Carrera, a Mercedes AMG GT-R, a right hand drive Nissan Skyline R33, or a red Chevrolet S10 pickup truck that drove around the parking lot on three wheels, or one of the many other vehicles that still allowed those that admire cars to appreciate them for the beauty that they are.

For the rest of the photos, check out Bernie's Caffeine and Octane: February 2017 gallery. Hoping that March 4th will have great weather.

Bernie's Car Show Coverage: Bernie's Best of 2017

Happy New Year Everyone!!! I decided to do a compilation post of all of the car shows that I've attended and photographed in 2017. Despite a few setbacks, 2017 was another fabulous year where I had the opportunity of traveling to various places, meeting great people and photographing some insane cars.  From the classic hot rod, to the exotic Pagani Huyera, I shot everything in between. What a year.

I decided to start the recap with Atlanta's most dependable car show- Caffeine and Octane. Looking back, it's amazing to see how much Caffeine and Octane has grown. In 2016, the mastermind behind Caffeine and Octane, Bruce, made the executive decision (for the better) to move the show to a more centralized location and that the show is ultimately in one big lot, instead of the 2.5 lots that the show originally took place in Alpharetta. After moving the show to the Perimeter Mall parking lot- where it currently occupies about 20% of the lot, Caffeine and Octane has proven that rain or shine, the show must go on. I attended 11 out of 12 of the shows- I missed November's show because I just returned from Vegas a few hours from the start of the show. Out of the 11 shows that I did attend, June was the best show. As I stated in the post, a storm moved through the metro Atlanta area an hour before the show started. Usually car collectors are hesitant to bring their prized possessions out in questionable weather, but not that month.

Caffeine and Octane does have a younger, more flashy sibling- Caffeine and Exotics. Caffeine and Exotics is an exclusive show where the cars have to start at a particular price point. Held at the main parking lot of Lenox Square Mall, Caffeine and Exotics gives car enthusiasts a chance to admire some expensive toys that car collectors were kind enough to share. Unlike Caffeine and Octane, this show is a bi-monthly show that is held between spring and fall.

Another one of my "Atlanta staples" (shows that I will not miss) is the King of the South Mega Show. Held by the Official Street Whipz team, this show gives enthusiasts the opportunity to show off their car in three ways- how it looks, how it sounds, and how it performs. It sounds very straight forward, but it's hard because there's a ridiculous amount of competition at this show.

For sentimental reasons, the New York Auto Show will always hold a special place in my heart. I'm a native New Yorker and that's one of the things that I've been proud to say. Aside from the location, this auto show also has a lot of cars that I don't get to see every day as well as being among the first people to experience new vehicles. Living in Atlanta, if I want to see a Koenigsegg, I have to go to New York or Los Angeles. But I must admit, seeing the Dodge Demon was breathtaking since the North American debut was held in the greatest city in the world.

My trip to Los Angeles was different than usual- but in a good way. Aside from my normal pilgrimage to the Petersen Automotive Museum, my other source of automotive culture came from attending my very first swap meet. Founded in 1983, the Long Beach Hi Performance Swap Meet has become one of the go to places for purchasing every part of the car you would need to build one. You name it, there's someone there selling it, and there's someone there (with cash) ready to buy it. To only be at this show for 90 minutes, I had a great time photographing cars, meeting people and of course... shopping. 

Finally to round out this list of shows, I can't forget SEMA. The 2017 SEMA show was my 8th show, however I decided to switch things up by arriving to SEMA the day before the show starts. I’m always like a kid in a candy store when arriving at SEMA. Once I’m done crying tears of joy, I dive right into the chaos- I meet great people who share some of the same similarities as I do and photograph great vehicles while enjoying some great weather.

To see the rest of the photos, check out Bernie's Best of 2017 gallery.

I'm looking forward to seeing what 2018 brings me. Thank you for the support!!!

Bernie's Car Show Coverage: Photos from Caffeine and Octane: December 2017.

Wow, 2017 is really coming to an end. Caffeine and Octane held it's final show... of 2017. Held at the Perimeter Mall outside of Atlanta in Dunwoody, Georgia, Caffeine and Octane allows car enthusiasts from all over to bring their cars and to show them off and also to.e joy some prestigious vehicles.

Despite the foggy, dreary weather, Caffeine and Octane had a great turnout. It doesn’t matter if you show up in a classic Chevy Nova SS, a Lamborghini Huracan Performante, a Gulf Edition Porsche Carrera, a Mercedes AMG GT-R, the blue wrapped Lexus LC500 on Vossen Wheels that I was reunited with at SEMA, or one of the many other vehicles that still allowed those that admire cars to appreciate them for the beauty that they are.

I know it's been awhile, but let me backtrack to October's post. I didn't post November's Caffeine and Octane photos because to be honest, I didn't go since I was recovering from SEMA. To see the rest of the photos, check out Bernie's Caffeine and Octane: December 2017 gallery.

Bernie's Car Show Coverage: Photos from the 2017 SEMA Show

Everyone in the automotive industry knows that the last couple of days in October into the early part of November is special. The Speciality Equipment Marketing Association trade show allows those in the automotive industry to see what’s new and the latest trends as well as how the product enhances the look of a vehicle, network with companies, learn how to grow your business in various ways, and also hobnob with some celebrities in the automotive world. Held at the Las Vegas Convention Center, attendees from as far as the other side of the world gathered to celebrate what was SEMA's 51st show...

...And I'll give you one guess who was there to take it all in. The 2017 SEMA show was my eighth show, but compared to some attendees (i.e. Chip Foose- whose first SEMA show that he attended was ironically the same year I was born), I'm still considered a newbie. I'm always like a kid in a candy store when arriving at SEMA. Once I'm done crying tears of joy, I dive right into the chaos- I meet great people who share some of the same similarities as I do and photograph great vehicles while enjoying some great weather. Like I've said for the past couple of years, I live for SEMA.

This year was different- normally I arrive in Vegas the first day of SEMA. I wanted to shake things up by landing the day before the show started, which was really interesting. I had the opportunity to watch the crew scramble to get everything together in time for the next day. I watched as Forgiato wheel company move cars around, Liberty Walk applying decals to the vehicles in their booth, contractors laying down carpet, detailers washing cars, owners putting that final coat of tire shine on their prized possessions. Yes, I was in the way of many people, taking in all the energy. In light of a recent, tragic event that created the #VegasStrong movement, security was uber tight, so I had to wait until the next day to view the vehicles indoors.

This year, I noticed a lot of wrapped vehicles, full-sized pickup trucks, vehicles on Pirelli and Toyo Tires, vehicles on Forgiato, Savini (they didn't even have a booth), and Rotiform wheels, wide body cars, and just in case you ignored me before- there were a lot of full-sized pickup trucks- either lowered to the ground or had raised suspension. Tire stickers were pretty popular as well. Also some companies (Vossen, Giovanna and Vosteiner wheel companies) had off site booths in hotel suites or they took over a luxury car dealership, referring to Giovanna Wheels.

All in all, I had a fantastic time while in Vegas and I will be back next year for my ninth show. So to see photos from SEMA, click on the links for each day- SEMA Sneak Peek, SEMA Day 1, SEMA Day 2, SEMA Day 3, SEMA Day 4 (including the cruise and SEMA Ignited), the Giovanna Wheels takeover, Auto Collections, and Corsa Rally galleries.