Cars And Track Staff
It’s official: San Clemente residents have finally realized that hosting the world’s largest weekly car show involves, you know, cars.
South OC Cars & Coffee, the Saturday morning ritual founded by Australian expats Simon and James Wehr, is currently staring down the barrel of a city council meeting that could castrate—or flat-out kill—the event.
The Crime? Being Loud and Having Fans
The Outlets at San Clemente have hosted this massive gathering for nine years, but the local “get off my lawn” brigade has had enough. The complaints? Noise and “alleged” speeding once the cars leave the property.
San Clemente Mayor Rick Loeffler claims he gets five or six emails a weekend from disgruntled neighbors. Meanwhile, the Sheriff’s Department has been handing out tickets like Halloween candy, including a 121-citation spree on a single Saturday last March.
The “Solutions” (A.K.A. The Fun Police Menu)
On Tuesday, the City Council is weighing several options that sound like a nightmare for anyone with a soul:
- The “No Biker” Rule: Prohibiting motorcycles entirely.
- The Big Brother: Installing automatic license plate readers to track everyone.
- The Slow Death: Reducing the frequency of the event or forcing every single spectator to register.
- The Nuclear Option: Revoking the permit and sending everyone back to bed.
The Standoff
Mayor Pro Tem Steve Knoblock is the lone voice of reason, pointing out that government interference in a thriving private business and social hub is, well, ridiculous. Organizers Simon and James Wehr just want the city to treat them like the cultural landmark they are. “Huntington Beach has the air show; San Clemente has the car show,” Simon argued.
The Bottom Line: If you like seeing multi-million dollar exotics and vintage metal before your morning latte, you might want to sign the petition. Otherwise, the only “exotic” thing left in San Clemente on Saturdays will be the price of the avocado toast.
Organizers Simon and James Wehr created this page to ask the San Clemente City Council not to modify or revoke their permit. They are encouraging supporters to sign the petition and, if possible, attend the City Council meeting on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. to show support in person.
Petition – South OC Cars and Coffee
Quick Stats to Fuel Your Outrage:
- The Crowd: 1,000 to 3,000 cars per week.
- The Legend: It is currently cited as the largest weekly car show in the world.
- The Conflict: Only 4 onsite complaints have been filed since 2022, yet “offsite” noise from cars leaving is what has city leaders in a tizzy.
