🔥 Steel & Style Spotlight: Back Home in Charleston – Cars, Culture, and Coffee
A veteran photographer returns to Charleston, South Carolina, to capture three major car events—Charleston Cars & Coffee, West Ashley Cars and Coffee, and Ale and Octane. The image shows a wide-angle view of custom and classic cars lined up under morning sunlight, surrounded by car enthusiasts talking, taking photos, and enjoying the laid-back Southern car culture. The scene highlights a mix of muscle cars, imports, and vintage trucks with palm trees and historic Charleston architecture in the background.
There’s no feeling like going home. For me, that means Charleston—where I was raised, where I graduated in '98, and where my story started long before the Marine Corps or the camera lens. This past weekend, I took a trip back to the Lowcountry, not just to reconnect with my roots, but to capture some of the best car culture the city has to offer.
From early morning lineups to laid-back locals swapping build stories, Charleston reminded me that the scene down here isn’t just alive—it’s thriving. I had the honor of covering Charleston Cars & Coffee, West Ashley Cars and Coffee, and the always-electric Ale and Octane Charleston. Each event had its own vibe, but together they told a story only this city could write.
🚘 Charleston Cars & Coffee – Tradition Meets Passion
Held in the heart of Mount Pleasant, this event brought together a mix of timeless classics and tuned-up imports, all surrounded by palm trees and Southern charm. I ran into several old-school builds I hadn’t seen in years—cars that tell their own stories with patina, preservation, or pure horsepower.
Veterans, locals, and first-timers mingled like they’d known each other forever. That’s the Charleston way.
☕ West Ashley Cars and Coffee – The Underdog with Heart
West Ashley’s meet may not be the biggest, but it’s one of the most authentic. Parked up next to a few mini trucks, muscle cars, and daily-driven sleepers were some of the most creative builds I’ve seen lately. The kind of cars you know were put together in home garages with late nights and real grit.
No egos, no flexing—just builders and fans who love what they do.
🔥 Ale and Octane Charleston – Southern Style Goes Big
If you’re looking for polish, presentation, and a scene that keeps growing, Ale and Octane is it. This month’s event featured slammed trucks, widebody Euro builds, high-end exotics, and deep community energy. I caught everything from a stanced-out Lexus with wild camber to a fully restored C10 that looked like it rolled out of a dream.
What impressed me most? The respect. Whether it was a $200K supercar or a rough-around-the-edges Civic, people showed love across the board.
🎖️ Full Circle Moments
Being back in Charleston meant more than just car shows. It was a chance to reflect on how far I’ve come—from North Charleston High to Iraq, to launching Steel & Style. And now, walking through my old stomping grounds with a camera in hand, spotlighting the culture I once watched from the passenger seat.
To every builder, supporter, and stranger who let me photograph your ride this weekend—thank you. You’re not just part of a scene—you are the scene.
📍 More Than Just Machines
Charleston’s car scene isn’t about one-upmanship—it’s about expression. Every engine swap, custom paint job, and hand-fabricated piece tells a deeper story. Some of these rides were built as tributes, some as escapes, and some simply to turn heads. But all of them carry the heart of their owners. You could feel that in every handshake, every rev, and every proud look when someone leaned in to admire the details.
What stood out most on this trip was how community shows up here. Whether it was a crowd forming around a young kid’s first build or a group of veterans swapping war stories beside muscle cars, it reminded me why I started Steel & Style in the first place. These aren’t just car events—they’re connection points. And Charleston showed up strong.
🗓️ Dropping August 1st – Steel & Style August Issue
The full coverage from my Charleston trip—along with exclusive interviews, builder spotlights, and detailed photo sets—will drop this Thursday, August 1st in the upcoming issue of Steel & Style. All three events are featured, and this one hits different. From the streets of the Lowcountry to your screen, this month’s release is all about roots, rides, and real stories.
Make sure you’re subscribed and following across all platforms. Charleston showed up—and on August 1st, you’ll see why.
🚗 MidFlorida Cars & Grub 2-Year Anniversary Bash – Sanford’s Summer Standout
The MidFlorida Cars & Grub 2-Year Anniversary Car Show brought Florida’s car scene together for a weekend-long celebration in Sanford, FL. From custom street builds to burnout contests and dyno runs, this standout car show highlighted everything the Central Florida car culture has to offer. Hosted at Elev8 Fun, the event attracted enthusiasts
his past weekend, MidFlorida Cars & Grub celebrated its 2nd anniversary in style—bringing two full days of high-octane energy, stunning vehicles, and community spirit to the Elev8 Fun complex in Sanford. As one of Central Florida’s fastest-growing car show series, this milestone weekend delivered on every front.
Two Days, One Big Celebration
Friday Night kicked things off with an open-style meet filled with vibrant lighting, custom builds, live DJ vibes, local food vendors, raffles, and chill hangs.
Saturday turned up the dial with a fully judged car, truck, Jeep, and bike show, plus wild activities like a burnout trailer, dyno runs, wheelie machine, and a crowd-favorite dunk tank supporting a local cancer charity.
🔥 Show Highlights
Bike dyno testing and the wheelie machine challenge gave spectators a chance to test their skills or just enjoy the thrill.
The show field featured everything from bagged street builds and lifted trucks to slammed imports and retro muscle, all under one roof—or rather, one open sky.
📸 Steel & Style Behind the Lens
Our team was on site for both days capturing the action. From engine bay closeups to night-lit stances and daytime burnouts, the photo coverage speaks for itself. Expect full galleries to drop this week over at steelandstylecarmag.com. You don’t want to miss these builds.
💬 Community Driven
One attendee summed it up best:
“When life knocks you down, you get back up and join your car buddies at MidFlorida Cars & Grub.”
And that’s exactly the vibe. From the showrunners to the builders to the families walking through vendor booths—it was about connection, creativity, and community.
🍔 Food, Fun & Family Atmosphere
The Elev8 Fun location added a whole other level of entertainment with indoor go-karts, bowling, laser tag, and an arcade for all ages. Paired with on-site food trucks and small businesses, the atmosphere was part car show, part block party.
🔭 What’s Next?
MidFlorida Cars & Grub will be back with more monthly meets already on the calendar. Each one grows the scene and welcomes every style—from track builds to daily drivers. Don’t just watch—bring your ride, bring your crew, and be part of the movement.
