Welcome to our 2023 season. This year, our gatherings will take place on the second Sunday of every month beginning in June and running until October at Goodwives Shopping Center, 25 Old Kings Highway North in Darien, CT.
Cars and Coffee Darien
Goodwives Shopping Center: A location steeped in automotive history.
Throughout the 1970’s and 1980’s, there was a restaurant in Goodwives called the Lock, Stock, and Barrel. The LS&B, pictured here to the right, was owned by a Darien resident named George Lysle. After a brief tenure on Wall Street, George decided to take on the challenge of managing the careers of the most notable names in the auto racing industry at his friend, Mark McCormack’s company IMG. He also worked for ABC sports as an announcer for many car races over the years. With his connection to motorsports, and his friendship with race car driver Peter Revson, when George opened the LS&B, it became a hangout for local motorsports enthusiasts, and in 1979, it served as the starting point for the last “official” Cannonball Baker Sea-to-Shining-Sea Memorial Trophy Dash.
What was The Cannonball?
The Cannonball Race was conceived by automotive journalist Brock Yates, a writer for Car and Driver magazine, as a defiant response to the newly introduced 55 MPH national speed limit. This infamous cross-country, no-holds-barred outlaw race began at the Red Ball Garage in New York City and ended at the Portofino Inn in Redondo Beach, California. Its goal was to demonstrate that skilled drivers could safely traverse the country at high speeds. The 1979 edition of the race, the only one to start from Darien, inspired the 1981 film “Cannonball Run.” Directed by Hal Needham, the movie featured an all-star cast, including Burt Reynolds, Farrah Fawcett, Roger Moore, Sammy Davis Jr., Dom DeLuise, Dean Martin, Adrienne Barbeau, Jamie Farr, Terry Bradshaw, Jackie Chan (in one of his first creen roles), and many, many others. The success of the film led to a 1986 sequel, “Cannonball Run II.”
2023 Cars and Coffee Darien Schedule
Please come on down and enjoy a diverse display of classic, sports, and exotic cars, bikes, and trucks. There are no rules or requirements regarding what’s “worthy” of being included. Any year, any make, any model of car or motorcycle is welcome. Bring the kids and your pets. These family-friendly events also offer coffee and breakfast treats for sale from Aux Delices.
June 11, 2023 – Season Opener
July 9, 2023 – Independence Day Celebration
August 13, 2023 – Last Cars and Coffee of the summer
September 10, 2023 – Fall is in the air
October 8, 2023 – Cannonball Plaque Dedication & Season Closer
Everyone who attends will get a lanyard and commemorative ID badge with a bar code that’s good for 20% off any breakfast goodies at Aux Delices. Register to show your car and get your coffee for free.
