For whatever reason, this already-insanely-early event has, in the last three weeks, become considerably earlier. The first picture is the Katie's parking lot -- at 6:29AM! By 7:00AM, very few spaces were available on the preferred lots.

Why do we continue to go, as early as we have to get up? Take a look at some of the great cars that showed up!

--Bob Collum

 

More from today...


--Bob Collum

 

I got there at 7:15 and it was packed. I had to park in the lower lot. The Porsche Spyder you photographed was a replica with a Suburu motor. That guy had several horror stories about that car and the money he lost on building it using some shady shops. People seemed to gravitate toward the exotics (McLaren, Aventador, 458) which is understandable, but there were some cars there that people just walked by without a glance (Austin Healey, '63 split window, '76 Turbo Carerra) and others. I wish they could get it organized and have the F-cars, Porsches, Lamborghinis, and other cars park together, but still a great showing. I would estimate 200 cars or more.

 

Katie's charm, to me, is the odd layout of the parking lots. I tried doing one-marque sideshows there, several years ago, but gave up and moved those to Fair Lakes. It does not make sense at Katie's, since all our cars would have to be there practically the night before, to park together. The upside is, I can often take pictures of two or more startlingly dissimilar cars at Katie's...

The more-mundane, big lump of parking lot at Fair Lakes allows for groups and gatherings of cars, but is not (overall) as attractive to me, as a whole, as the wandering, leafy venue at Great Falls. I love both venues, for different reasons, and I try to attend both every weekend.

The last picture may be my all-time favorite: a Lamborghini Miura, parked next to Ian's 4.5 liter Bentley.

--Bob Collum

 

When were those taken? A Muira, Dino, and a Ariel Atom?? Wow! I was hoping the F40 would show.

 

For me Katies is most amazing for the intermixture people of every stripe who genuinely appreciate what the other guy brung. Where else can you watch kids who ask get to sit in new McLarens, guys with Lambos drool over even more exotic hot rods, compare the F-40s that show up, or find concours 1930s race cars or a historic formula one car and the guy who campaigns it? If you know what you are looking at, you can stand around and watch it appreciate.

 

Just come back. Sometimes those are the second tier! PS your red car ain't half bad either!

 

Chuck is absolutely right about the people. Much is made of the cars that show up at Katie's - and they are phenomenal. The people, though, are the reason we keep coming back. They are bright, well informed, car people. Opinionated? You bet. But the depth of knowledge - and experience - is hard to beat.

The pictures I posted, referring to variety, were from my 2010 Katie's pictures, which I chose because people haven't seen them in a while. This year's cars are every bit as impressive; we had two F40's show up on May 3rd. Below, people and cars from the past several weeks...

Like Chuck said, come on back - we have cars we have not seen before EVERY WEEK.

--Bob Collum

 

Thanks, I will, but not this Saturday, its Le Mans.

 

If you guys wanted to see the opposite of Katies, or really expensive, newer cars with probably not-so-informed owners, the Gold Rush Rally was in town and stopped in front of the Capitol on Saturday morning. It was quite the sight. A Veyron Super Sport, Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse, multiple Aventadors, probably a dozen Phantoms including a few Drophead coupes, Carrera GT, etc.

 

I think I saw them on I95 when I was driving back up from Florida on Memorial weekend (Saturday). They were going south.

 

just a few of the crazy things that rolled into DC with GoldRush... :O

 

How early does Katie's start, you ask? The first picture is "traffic jam at 6:01AM". (Description courtesy of ChuckBDC.)

A good turnout today, as you'd expect on a gorgeous Spring Saturday.

--Bob Collum

 

More from today...


--Bob Collum

 

I saw these guys driving down I270 on my way home from work one late afternoon. Saw an "exotic" from behind, me in the far right lane, it in the far left lane. Gained on it and passed it and there was another "exotic" in front of it. Then another and another - all marked Gold Rush Rally. Have no idea what it is, but I think they ended up in Miami after leaving DC. Very cool to see so many exotics on the road at the same time -- albeit all painted very oddly.... And stuck in rush hour traffic trying to get on the beltway no less!