It appears that the popular gathering of car lovers and aficionados every week in Franklin will continue.
Every Saturday morning for nearly the last five years, Nashville Cars n’ Coffee, a car show allowing locals to show off their cars and mingle with other car enthusiasts, has taken place in the Carmike Cinema parking lot in Cool Springs from 8 to about 10:30 am. Cars and Coffee meetings have grown and take place all over the country.
The event grew so much, however, to more than a thousand cars every week, that it caused issues. A small number of people would race or drive dangerously and irresponsibly upon leaving the event. To the point that the Franklin Police needed to divert extra officers to the event.
“It takes at minimum about 5 extra officers to safely manage that event, and tax payers shouldn’t have to foot the bill,” Lt. Charles Warner, Public Information Officer with the Franklin Police, said.
So the event in late March looked like it might be coming to an end. However, representatives from the group and the police have been trying to work out a solution wherein the event would pay for the extra security.
“We are in discussions with reps from Cars and Coffee,” Warner said. “They contacted us this week with the possibility of hiring off-duty officers. With the growth this has experienced it is a conversation that needs to take place. To determine how we can work with them to safeguard a lot of folks, the property owner, the participants, spectators and people just passing through Cool Springs.”
The remaining issue seems to be coming up with the funds for the security.
One of the administrators of the groups Facebook page, who styles himself Boddington Biddlesworth on the Facebook page, is actively recruiting community sponsors and seeking out options and permitting.
He said he has had some success so far, and that the event is most likely secured through at least October.
“When this [event] started we could not have imagined it would become what it is today,” he wrote. “I have decided to do my best work through the process to keep Nashville Cars and Coffee going. This is a process that is going to take some time. I have already begun taking the necessary steps to get that ball rolling.”
He went on to say that he is open to forming partnerships with businesses and the community to raise the funds needed to pay for the safety and policing of the event, and the permitting process. They have started a GoFundMe campaign with a goal of raising $15,000. The account has currently raised a little more than $2,000.
The current goal is to raise funds to pay for the event through the fall.
