A few years ago, I caught wind of a largely air-cooled VW car show that happened each year in one of my favorite places: Pass-a-Grille Beach, Florida. Pass-a-Grille is a tiny village at the end of St. Pete Beach, and by Florida standards, it's old (which means, not very). I loved the premise of a car show like this happening a few feet from the Gulf of Mexico and sandy beaches, not to mention ample bars and restaurants nearby.
The show was seemingly a volunteer-driven operation, albeit just one volunteer: a woman named Amanda who had run it for a few years after gradually being given more responsibility by a gentleman that apparently organized a casual get-together years earlier. I noticed Amanda cancelled one show due to health reasons; then it was waylaid by COVID; and then finally, it just seemed to go away. I got in touch and asked what the deal was, and she basically said she was done running it. I asked if I could take it over, to which Amanda said, "Sure."
Telling a long story short, I began working on the show in earnest in April. Permitting, city approval, artwork, t-shirts, sponsorships - it all was a mad dash using time I barely had. But it was a great opportunity for The Common Gear to sponsor an event that ended up having 100 registered attendees and over 90 cars packed into two streets in one of the prettiest spots in Florida.
There were some complaints - always are - but nothing more than bickering over which cars got an award. The list of improvements for next year is blessedly short, but it's safe to say we'll be back.