The Local Love Affair With Chrome and Horsepower

You might see them on a Saturday morning sitting in the parking lot of the Lutheran Church parallel to North Collier Boulevard. Some might call them “The Octane Boys of Marco Island.” In earlier days, they may have been called “motorheads.”  Today they have the resources to purchase the chrome and muscle they could only dream about in their younger years.

They gather on Saturday mornings to share stories and relive days gone by. They don’t have official shirts or membership badges, just a combined love of the polished wheels and chrome that adorns the engines.

They love the cars which line the parking lot most Saturdays.  Some have been with them for years, and others have just been purchased. The most recent owners can’t wait to have their new acquisition given a once-over by the group’s elders. It is sort of a rite of passage, and they look forward to it.

Americans love their cars, especially those that are fast and have a great amount of chrome. Some of my favorite car movies are Ford v Ferrari, Days of Thunder, and who can forget the heart-racing chase scene in the iconic 1968 movie Bullitt, with Steve McQueen.

Each year the Knight of Columbus, the Kiwanis Club, and the folks at the Marco Island Center for the Arts host their own weekend car shows. They highlight many of these same spectacular rides which you might find great delight in drooling over, as do I.

Next time you’re cruising by the Lutheran Church parking lot on a Saturday morning, pull in and say hello to some of the nicest car owners on the island. They are happy and ready to share their experiences and love for a wonderful American passion. And make sure to bring your camera!