Seasons End Yet The Wheels Keep Turning

Event Report

Nov 24

Although the year isn't over yet, in the car world, we know that we're on a slightly different calendar. The season is drawing to a close on the East Coast and so too at Ground Level garage. Years end, seasons end – as with everyone else, it's a time for celebration and reflection at the Curb Cut. The last few years have been fraught with detours, potholes and straight-up closures, but looking back it remains clear: while many things were put on hold or ground to a halt, our corner of automotive paradise did not stand still. Back when the Curb Cut held its inaugural block party, we hoped to issue a rallying cry to the NYC automotive community: a call to celebrate our passions, extol the virtues of our individuality, and to unify in our similarities (and differences) to forge a path forward together. This season we've tried our best to highlight – either through our Alternate Side videos or Scene & Heard spotlights – how this community has kept its foot down. In answer to the call, we've seen project cars built in hideaway garages, daily driven gems, and quirky weekend reprieves, with Japanese reverse alerts, curb climbing 4x4 engine roars, and track spec exhaust notes. So, naturally, as a way to see the season off right, it was only fitting we brought the circus back to town.

Primed by the example set by our friends at Cars and Coffee at Greenpoint Terminal Market we started early for a change – and so did our guests. Petrol and motor oil came mixed with coffee Sunday morning, as no sooner had we rolled up the gates on the garage was there a procession of cars rolling down Beadel Street. If the first meet was a table-setter for the quality of the car world in our neck of the woods, this most recent meet was – in no subtle way – a flex of what we're capable of when the gloves come off and our collective interests are encouraged to run wild.

A cavalcade of some of the most unique cars we've seen, to some of the most ubiquitous cars known far and wide, continued throughout the day. To get an idea of how special the selection of cars on offer was, consider a snapshot of what was in front of the garage at one point in the afternoon: a swapped VW Rabbit, a rat rod 60's Volvo, a Suzuki Cappuccino, a Toyota Sera, two purpose built S2000 track cars, two Mitsubishi Delicas, and a Toyota Land Cruiser (and that was all on one side of the street)! In previous years, in previous places, there was a formula, an approach that - while no one would want to stomp out or forget it - even the most ardent fan could concede the joneses were stifling. Much of the tuner culture celebrated at large is the product of a cross-section of people with unique priorities and values that, over time, have been worked to mirror-sheen products, desired and replicated. That being said, it's through the melding of minds, mentalities, and mantras that we've seen in our borough of late - and indeed at our meet on Sunday - tuners are confidently departing replication and proudly crafting their own.

As morning almost unknowingly transitioned into afternoon, more and more people effortlessly weaved into the day. Just as many conversations were taking place standing over engine bays as were taking place away from them. Whether it was around the grill, in the garage, or huddled around an iPad watching the F1 race, it was encouraging and comforting to see that this is what a still frame of our scene could look like. It's not long ago that the scene was about R34's and Supras - and guess what? it still is - but it's ALSO now about Suzuki Everys, Corolla wagons, Toyota Celsiors, vintage magazines, VHS tapes, music, style, and shared ethos. A year on and this isn't exclusively about the Curb Cut – this is about what's happening in the streets: our streets. This is no grandiose car culture revolution or some manifesto-inspired reclamation – this is just a promotion to live your culture, live your vision, and feel comfortable and celebrated for doing so. At the end of the day, we couldn't be happier it's happening on our doorstep.

In closing, thanks for coming out. Thanks for taking part in all of it. We can't wait to see what comes next from all of you. It's a thrill coming across the next Scene and Heard car and eagerly waiting to see if the owner would like to feature. We're excited at the prospect of where our next Alternate Side is going to take us. And of course we hope everyone is looking forward to seeing what's next from us. As anyone who wandered into the shop over the weekend saw: there's a lot in our garage we can't wait to get moving on! So while the agreed-upon car season may be at its end, and sunset rolls in at 4:30, the lights won't go out at the Curb Cut – it's Brooklyn, it's our scene, and we're open ‘til late.

Words by Peter Yacovacci