Old Car City is the world largest classic car junkyard... and of all places, it's located about 50 miles north of Atlanta. Located in White, Georgia, visitors of Old Car City can observe and photograph almost 4500 cars while walking 6 miles on 34 acres.
Taste of what you'll see at Old Car City
I found out about Old Car City while I was getting my nails done. The nail salon I go to always plays the evening news, and guess which business had a news segment? You guessed it- Old Car City, where they used the segment as a promo piece to bring more visitors to the museum. Well it worked, because a few days later, I was driving to Old Car City.
Old Car City is overwhelming, but you will get your money's worth. Like I stated before, there's almost 4,500 cars on their lot. However, if you want to be a spectator, you have to follow their rules.
Throughout the many acres of land, they have signs saying that you can't open the doors or the hood, nor can you stand on the cars AND you have to stay on the trail. The reason for the rules is because the cars haven't moved since they were dropped off. Wilderness has taken over the acres and have grown around, on, and through the cars.
Told you a tree grows through the cars.
It's really a fun experience to check out the cars, but it's even more fun to photograph them. People come from all over to photograph the cars. Definitely check it out if you're ever in the Atlanta area. But first, let me give you some tips:
Wear Sneakers
When you do decide to go, go on a day when it's cool outside. I wouldn't recommend going when it's hot.
If you do go when it's hot, wear bug spray.
While you're at it- wear long sleeves and pants. There are THAT many bugs.
Also- don't forget your hat, water, and sunscreen.
Bring cash- Old Car City doesn't take debit/credit cards.
To see the rest of the photos, check out Bernie's Old Car City Gallery, and I'm definitely going back... probably in the fall.
Hours before the fifth Caffeine and Octane of 2016, severe thunderstorms moved through the Atlanta area. Thankfully the weather cleared and car enthusiasts gathered in the parking lot of Perimeter Mall and experienced another great show. It wasn't as crowded as it normally would be. Some car collectors do hesitate to bring some of their prized possessions out in cloudy weather (which is understandable, especially when there's a chance for rain) and the peak of the show was later than usual.
Caffeine and Octane is getting more and more popular as the months go by. You can't beat it- at what other show will you see a couple of Ford Broncos, a Lamborghini Huracan, Atlanta's beloved vehicle (Chevy Chevelle), Porsche GT3 RS, BMW M5, Mercury Cougar, an orange Mercedes Benz, a Pontiac GTO, and a Ford F350 in which I would need a actual ladder to get into? Feel free to check out the rest of the photos in Bernie's Caffeine and Octane: May 2016 gallery.
Between January's Caffeine and Octane and last month's New York Auto Show, I disappeared a bit. I'm using this post to share what I was up to within those two months. Quite a bit has happened, and this is the year of new beginnings for me.
A week after my birthday was the second Caffeine and Octane of 2016. Caffeine and Octane is becoming more and more popular- not just with the crowd, but with the amount of cars that show up. The diversity of the cars are really becoming more and more extreme. Within one parking lot, you'll find...
One Jeep Wrangler parked on top of two Jeep Wranglers.
One of my dream cars: 1955 Pontiac Star Chief
Pontiac Grandville Brougham on Dub Wheels
Porsche GT3
and a Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4. Told you the variety was all over the place.
Not exactly Angela, but she looks something like this...
Three weeks after Caffeine and Octane, I decided to become a Dodge Charger owner. My Envoy was becoming seasoned, and I needed something that fits me a little bit more of who I am as a person. So I present Angela- and I named her after the great Big Ang- who died a week and a half before I bought Angela.
A week later was Caffeine and Octane again. Crazy mixture of cars as usual, like...
This Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4 Roadster
Pontiac GTO
Gumby being tied to the front of a Buick. I tried to rescue him...
This wooden vehicle that I honestly can't identify.
A few days later, the Atlanta Auto Show rolled into town. I am spoiled since I attend the New York Auto Show. But I used this auto show as practice-- I started getting back into video. I've studied film and television at Savannah College of Art and Design (yes, I'm a SCAD alumni). I've taught myself photography at a young age and I used photography as a crutch, but now since this my year of new beginnings- I pushed myself back into video. At the auto show, I shot a handful of photos, like...
This Bentley Continental GT and Audi R8 that Butler Tire showed off. However...
with some nervousness, I shot this Lamborghini Diablo teaser.
A week later, PCNY rolled into town with their PC Blast rally- 25 exotic and luxury cars that drove from North Carolina to Miami. 25 exotic and luxury cars driven by New Yorkers. So the guys pulled into the W Midtown hotel tired from the drive and next thing I know, I'm alone with the cars. *this is the part where I have a huge smile and rub my hands together*. Unfortunately, I had a major pet peeve because of how the cars were parked- on top of each other (and some of them weren't even backed in).
I would have LOVED to shoot video of this widebodied, matte black Lamborghini Aventador. However, I was able to shoot the other Lamborghini Aventador and I was able to shoot one of the red Ferrari 458s.
I was happy with the way the videos came out. And a week after the PC Blast, I was back in New York for the 2016 New York Auto Show.
Regardless if I disappear and not update my blog, I'm usually updating my social media accounts with images and now video. To keep up with me, follow me on Instagram @CarShowBernie .
Atlanta's most dependable car show, Caffeine and Octane occured this past Sunday. Held at the Perimeter Mall in Dunwoody, Caffeine and Octane allows car enthusiasts from all over to bring their cars and to show them off. It doesn't matter if you arrive in a Dodge Challenger, Mercedes Benz C430, Cadillac El Dorado, Nissan, GTR, Chevy Chevelle, VW Beetle, or a Ferrari F 12 Berlinetta- just as long as you arrive before the show ends.
Since the weather is starting to get warmer, the attendence has been increasing and some interesting cars have been showing up. Like this fire breathing Dodge truck that definitely turned some heads...
Buick Wildcat
This Lowrider definitely entertained the crowd
BMW i8 on Forgiato Wheels
Gorgeous blue Lexus IS-F on Vossen Wheels
Seasoned Dodge Challenger
Lamborghini Gallardo
Mercedes Benz C430 on rose gold Vossen Wheels
Atlanta's favorite car- Chevy Chevelle
Butler Tire also brought this chrome wrapped Range Rover on Forgiato Wheels
The start of the 2016 New York Auto Show was March 23rd, but the official opening day happened to be March 26th. Held in Midtown at the Jacob Javits Convention Center, this auto show is never one to miss. With unveilings from Nissan, Maserati, BMW, Mercedes Benz, Chevrolet and more, there was PLENTY of ground to cover and PLENTY of eye candy to photograph.
Even though I'm from New York, this was my fourth time going to the New York Auto Show and I absolutely love it. I get a rush of excitement seeing what's new in the automotive world. I did, however, switch things up a bit. After almost 10 years, I'm getting back into shooting video. If you follow me on Instagram (@CarShowBernie just in case), I posted some 15 second teasers of some of cars from the show...
