Respect the Scene: What Slammedenuff Sevierville Got Wrong — and How Florida and Done 2 Profection Built the Blueprint for Respect
The shutdown of Slammedenuff Sevierville became a wake-up call for car enthusiasts everywhere. In this Steel & Style Spotlight, GySgt Jimmy M.R. Spence breaks down what went wrong — and highlights how Florida and Charleston’s legendary Done 2 Profection show the right way to build, host, and represent the scene with pride.
Cover Page descibing the article.
The Shutdown Heard Across the South
The weekend of October 5 was supposed to be another celebration of stance and style at Slammedenuff Sevierville. Thousands of enthusiasts rolled into Tennessee expecting chrome, air-ride art, and community vibes. Instead, by Sunday morning, the city shut it down.
Black Nissian Z at Slammedenuff Charleston 2023.
Officials cited “numerous disturbances, safety concerns, and an overwhelming strain on county resources.” Nearby Pigeon Forge logged almost 1,400 calls for service in just 48 hours. The Sevierville Mayor publicly declared that Slammedenuff would not be welcomed back.
Mazda RX 7 at Slammedenuff Charleston 2023
In a single weekend, years of progress and partnership were lost. And that should be a warning for every promoter, every club, every builder who still believes this scene deserves respect.
Honda on display at Slammedenuff Charleston 2023
Where It Went Sideways
An Owner cleaning his Volkswagen at Slammedenuff Charleston 2023
Slammedenuff started as one of the cleanest indoor show circuits in the country. But as social-media hype grew, so did the number of people chasing the wrong kind of attention. What used to be about craftsmanship slowly turned into clout.
A row of show car entering Slammedenuff Charleston 2023
When the burnout smoke started rising, phones came out instead of voices of reason. Within hours, the videos hit TikTok and Instagram — and the city saw its worst fears confirmed. That’s how fast a reputation can flip.
A wrapped custom Lexus on display at Slammedenuff Charleston
You can’t rebuild trust with hashtags. Once a city blacklists you, it’s over. And that’s the real tragedy: the few acting wild took something good away from thousands doing it right.
A local car club hanging out at Slammedenuff Charleston 2023 waiting on the awards announcement.
Accountability Is the Real Mod
Slammedenuff staff setting up in Charleston in 2022
Being a Marine taught me that discipline doesn’t kill passion — it defines it.
That same principle applies to car culture. Cities don’t hate cars; they hate chaos.
BMW/‘s lined up on display at Slammedenuff Charleston 2022
Every time someone does donuts in a hotel lot or turns a main street into a burnout pad, it gives the city one more reason to shut all of us down. The public doesn’t separate the reckless from the respectful. They just see “car crowd.”
Orange Custom Hatchback at Slammedenuff Charleston 2022
That’s why Slammedenuff Sevierville matters: it reminds us that one reckless moment can erase a year of preparation.
Widebody dark blue Nissan 350Z with polished deep-dish wheels and a lowered stance at Slammedenuff Charleston 2023.
Florida: How It’s Supposed to Be Done
Classic Chevy with huge blower at Melbourne Cars & Coffee October 2025
At Winter Park Cars & Coffee and Melbourne Cars & Coffee, things run tight because the community and law enforcement work together, not against each other. Organizers reach out to local police weeks before each event to coordinate traffic control, lane closures, and safe entry/exit routes.
Classic El Camino at Winter Park Cars & Coffee at Full Sail University.
You’ll see officers walking the rows, shaking hands, checking out builds — not writing tickets. Kids stop to look at patrol cars parked beside show cars, and parents take the opportunity to talk about safety, craftsmanship, and responsibility. The respect goes both ways.
Rear end of a Corvette at Melbourne Cars & Coffee October 2025.
Some departments even bring out their own community units — classic police cruisers or demo vehicles — as part of the display. It sends one clear message: you can have horsepower and respect in the same space.
Infinity with purple lights reflecting off the ground at Winter Park Cars & Coffee October 2025.
And the community gives back.
Winter Park’s monthly meet has hosted toy drives for the holidays. Melbourne’s event has raised funds for local food banks and veterans’ charities. Organizers encourage kids to vote in “Young Enthusiast Awards,” teaching them how to appreciate builds instead of chaos.
Classic Pontiac Firebird on display at Melbourne Cars & Coffee at Melbourne Cars & Coffee October 2025.
This is the difference. Florida isn’t fighting the system — it’s working with it. That partnership keeps venues open, families returning, and sponsors investing.
Custom Honda Civic displayed at Winter Park Cars & Coffee October 2025.
When you treat a city like a teammate instead of an obstacle, you build a legacy. That’s why the Florida car scene continues to grow — not because it’s louder, but because it’s smarter.
Spectators enjoying the cars on display at Full Sail University during Winter Park Cars & Coffee October 2025.
Charleston, SC: One Foot on the Gas, One on the Edge
Illegal Car Meet during Slammedenuff Charleston 2024 disrespecting “Rivers Ave” the place where Charlestons Car Scene was once ablaze in the 1990’s.
Charleston has heart, history, and heat — but it’s flirting with danger.
North Charleston PD has already put it in writing: illegal meets will be shut down on sight.
Illegal Car Meet during Slammedenuff Charleston 2024 conducted without permission. This was also a dangerous visit, cars drove around recklessly and caused a disturbance of the peace. Ultimately North Charleston Police arrived and vacated the parking lot.
The problem isn’t lack of passion; it’s lack of patience. The city’s seen spontaneous takeovers, sideshows, and burnout clips that could easily lead to the same fate as Sevierville.
Illegal Car Meet during Slammedenuff Charleston 2024 conducted without permission and most cars in the parking lot are not custom.
It doesn’t have to go that way. The Lowcountry once had the gold standard of discipline. It came from a name that still commands respect today.
Illegal Car Meet during Slammedenuff Charleston 2024 conducted without permission. This takeover was a dangerous visit, cars drove around recklessly and caused a disturbance of the peace. If these actions continue, Charleston will not have a car scene.
Done 2 Profection: The Blueprint of Southern Car Culture
Lifted Truck in the 1990’s in the Done 2 Profection Car & Truck Club in Charleston, SC.
Before the hashtags, before YouTube builds, before Steel & Style — there was Done 2 Profection.
Founded in 1994 in Charleston, South Carolina, by Charlie Byrd, the club was born out of the golden age of the Southeastern lowrider and custom scene. Back then, the mission was simple: build beautiful cars, represent with pride, and never embarrass your colors.
Club Car Show Winners Colombia, SC 1998.
Done 2 Profection (or D2P) stood for more than just clean paint and lifted chrome. It represented unity, precision, and professionalism — the “profection” wasn’t just about the ride; it was about conduct.
Impalla in standing three wheel motion at Car Show in Columbia, SC 1997.
Members drove hundreds of miles to shows, not to flex, but to represent. They organized charity events before social media made it trendy. They were family — a brotherhood and sisterhood of fabricators, painters, and detailers who built with their own hands and kept their community’s respect intact.
D2P Club members Ford F150 at Nopi Nationals in Atlanta Motor Speedway.
My (Jimmy Spence)1989 Ford Mustang lowrider.
Thirty years later, they’re still here, proving that legacy doesn’t die when it’s built on values.
Instagram: @done_2_profection
Facebook Page: Done II Profection Charleston SC
Facebook Group: Done II Profection Public Group
That’s the model. That’s the code. That’s what today’s scene needs to study.
Why This Matters Beyond Tennessee
Custom Buggy at Winter Park Cars & Coffee Oct 2025.
The Slammedenuff Sevierville shutdown isn’t a local issue — it’s a national one. Every city permit, every insurance form, every venue owner saw that headline. When one group loses control, the whole culture gets profiled.
Chevy Malibu on display at Melbourne Cars & Coffee hosted by and located at Tint World Melbourne Florida.
If one organizer loses their spot, others inherit the stigma. That’s why this article isn’t gossip — it’s a reminder that every burnout, every takeover, every disrespectful exit costs everyone else a piece of freedom.
Classic custom Toyota Tacoma with Legends of Orlando classic Import car club displayed at Winter Park Cars & Coffee October 2025 Full Sail University.
Social Media: Friend or Foe
Let’s call it what it is — social media built this generation of car enthusiasts, but it also made chaos contagious.
Platforms reward risk. The loudest, wildest clips get millions of views while the polished builds get a fraction. That’s how you end up with people treating parking lots like stages.
Chrome Audi R8 on display at Melbourne Cars & Coffee October 2025.
But here’s the thing — the same tools that can destroy a show can also save it.
Use those cameras to highlight craftsmanship. Use Reels to show roll-ins, not rollovers. Make content that earns respect, not warnings.
That’s how Steel & Style rolls: showcase the best, educate the rest.
Charleston’s Chance at Redemption
Rd Chevy Impala lowrider with gold Daytons at D2P 30th anniversary July 2024.
Charleston can still reclaim its crown if it remembers its roots. The passion is there; the leadership just needs to align.
1968 Chevy C10 on display at the North Charleston Performing Arts Center March 2025.
Imagine if every club in the Lowcountry followed D2P’s legacy — organized, respectful, united.
That kind of culture gets the city behind you again. That kind of discipline brings back the old-school block parties, the trophies, the partnerships.
Florida’s already doing it; Charleston can too. But it starts with accountability, not attitude.
Custom Volkswagen Jetta converted into a truck at D2P 30 anniversary.
The Code: Written by the Street, Enforced by Respect
Respect every host city. You’re an ambassador, not an invader.
Leave ego at home. A burnout never earned real respect.
Control your people. Leadership means knowing when to step in.
Clean the lot. Trash kills trust faster than noise.
Build for legacy. Likes fade. Names last.
That’s the D2P code. That’s the Steel & Style creed.
Done 2 Profection member Casey Kinney’s Chevy Nova 2 Best of Show Winner at Rockabillique Charleston 2023.
Closing: From Sevierville to the Southeast
Ford Mustang displayed at Melbourne Cars & Coffee October 2025.
Slammedenuff Sevierville will go down as a cautionary tale — the weekend the spotlight burned too hot. But out of that flame comes a clear choice for every builder and organizer across the South.
D2P founder Charlie Byrds PT Cruiser with gold Dayton rims.
Follow the path that Done 2 Profection paved three decades ago — discipline, unity, craftsmanship, and pride. Follow the model that Florida’s car community demonstrates every month — organization, respect, and clean execution.
Classic Import on display at Winter Park Cars & Coffee October 2025.
🔥 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.
