Car and motorcycle gatherings come in many forms, but Turn 14 Distribution’s Cars & Coffee featuring Motorcycle Alley series continues to set itself apart, focusing on quality, experience, and community. As Cars & Coffee celebrates its eighth year and Motorcycle Alley marks its second, we were excited to expand this year’s schedule beyond the traditional spring and fall events with the addition of a mid-season gathering. This new summer addition to our traditional spring and fall lineup was met with overwhelming enthusiasm, drawing a crowd of passionate enthusiasts and respected industry brands for a morning of shared enthusiasm and connection.

Attendees stepped into a vibrant, high-energy atmosphere, energized by freshly brewed coffee from Brood Coffee Truck and savory bites from Fry’s Catering. These curated details elevated the experience, creating a welcoming and immersive environment. The event delivered a dynamic celebration of automotive and powersports culture, from standout builds to engaging industry activations.

This event would not have been possible without the unwavering support of our exceptional partners. MagnaFlow, an industry leader in high-performance exhaust systems, led the charge on the automotive front alongside Hawk Performance, renowned for its advanced braking solutions and deep-rooted commitment to motorsports. At the same time, Continental Tire and Dainese represented the powersports scene, each bringing dedication to performance, innovation, and rider protection.

CARS, COFFEE & CROWD FAVORITES 

Josh London’s 1974 BMW 2002 stood out at the event for its striking TAG Heuer livery and story. Originally purchased as a rusted-out shell from Bring a Trailer, Josh spent the last three years completing a full frame-off restoration in his garage. Built for vintage road racing, track days, and hill climb events, the car features a rare modified Getrag 245 dogleg transmission and a limited-slip differential. Custom Ground Control coilovers, boxed suspension components for added rigidity, seam welding, and a full roll cage round out the performance upgrades. The TAG Heuer-inspired livery pays tribute to his passion for luxury watches and TAG’s motorsport legacy, making this build as personal as it is track-ready.

Forrest Bowers brought out a standout custom 1994 Chevrolet Silverado C1500 truck that turned heads with its clean craftsmanship and attention to detail. Built in collaboration with Jacob’s Auto Body and Customs, the truck underwent a full repaint and received a replacement bed sourced from Texas. Forrest treated the underside with POR-15 undercoating, with subtle finishing touches added for extra refinement. Exterior modifications include a welded roll pan without a plated bezel, a shaved tailgate handle, an Eckler’s hood flip kit, and custom wheel wells designed to accommodate 22×11 US Mags in the rear and 22x10s up front. The stance comes courtesy of a 5/9 drop with a frame notch, supported by rear airbags for added flexibility. Additional upgrades include a 454 SS front valance, matching fog lights, and a cowl hood, all sourced from an original 454 SS. Minor but impactful cosmetic enhancements, like VanNatta Fab engine bay shrouds and custom Vhautohaz badge lighting, complete the build, making it one of the cleanest and most cohesive trucks on display.

Ricardo Jeldes’ striking red Nissan Stagea with an R34 front-end conversion was a showstopper at the Turn 14 Distribution Cars & Coffee event. Recently imported from Japan, just five months ago, the build effortlessly blends the practicality of a wagon with the aggressive styling of a Skyline. The R34 front clip gives the Stagea a bold, motorsport-inspired look, while its deep red paint and lowered stance amplify its visual presence. With its clean execution and rarity on U.S. roads, the car quickly became one of the most talked-about vehicles at the show.

Don Lemek has been collecting Corvettes since the early 1970s, and among his collection is this standout 1965 model, which he has owned for approximately 25 years. The car features a tubbed rear with a 4.56 Chrysler Dana 60, Pro Trac 33x22x15 tires, and American Racing wheels, 15×15 in the rear and 15×6 up front. Twenty years ago, Don applied a custom paint job featuring flames created with DuPont Illusion paint, which shifts color depending on the viewing angle. He carefully preserved all the original body lines to maintain the authentic Stingray silhouette. A Grumpy Lump hood scoop from the 1970s is topping off the build, mounted on a factory 1967 427 hood.

A beautifully preserved BMW R100RS appeared at Turn 14 Distribution’s Motorcycle Alley, turning heads with its classic styling and unmistakable boxer engine charm. As one of the standout vintage entries, the R100RS showcased BMW’s engineering heritage with its sleek fairing, air-cooled 980cc engine, and timeless design. The bike’s presence added a touch of old-school sophistication to an otherwise modern lineup, offering a nostalgic nod to the golden era of sport-touring motorcycles.

THE TURN 14 DISTRIBUTION CIVIC TYPE R HAS A NEW HOME

The FL5 Honda Civic Type R was purpose-built by Turn 14 Distribution to showcase the seamless fusion of street comfort and track-ready performance. Designed as a centerpiece for our booth at the 2024 SEMA Show, the car was a testament to our commitment to innovation, product integration, and motorsports heritage, drawing direct inspiration from our recent success in the IMSA TCR class. This build was a collaborative effort, combining advanced components from our trusted vendor partners, including ARP, Clutch Masters, DBA, LIQUI MOLY, Mahle Motorsport, Turbosmart, Eibach, fifteen52, Fuelab, HKS, and Yokohama, who made this project possible by contributing expertise and cutting-edge products. Together, we demonstrated how a well-balanced, dual-duty vehicle could be daily drivable and capable of being on the track. Following the show, this one-of-a-kind FL5 Civic Type R was awarded to a top-performing Turn 14 Distribution dealer through our exclusive giveaway sales promotion. 

After a competitive run where top-performing dealers vied for the chance to take home this one-of-a-kind build, MAPerformance earned the keys to the FL5 Civic Type R, capping off the giveaway with a well-deserved win. Based in Cottage Grove, Minnesota, Modern Automotive Performance is a premier manufacturer and distributor of high-performance automotive parts. Founded in 2006 by passionate enthusiasts, the company began as a small tuning shop focused on turbocharged platforms and has since grown into a nationally recognized performance brand known for its in-house engineering, technical innovation, and strong ties to the enthusiast community.

THROTTLE THERAPY

What began as a cloudy day with a chance of rain quickly cleared, resulting in ideal weather that brought out an impressive turnout from the local motorcycle community. Motorcycle Alley, presented by Continental Tire and Dainese, was filled with an eclectic mix of bikes showcasing today’s riders’ depth and diversity. Although Turn 14 Distribution entered the powersports space less than two years ago, its rapid growth was clearly on display. It’s rare to see such a wide-ranging collection in one place, from Triumph café racers and Yamaha cruisers to Ducati sportbikes, Harley-Davidson baggers, Kawasaki streetfighters, and various custom builds.

As riders rolled into the event, they were welcomed with a raffle ticket for the chance to win a premium prize courtesy of Continental Tire. The giveaway added an extra layer of excitement to the day, creating a buzz among attendees as they explored Motorcycle Alley and took in the variety of builds on display. As the event wound down, one lucky rider’s number was called, earning a certificate redeemable for a brand-new set of Continental motorcycle tires. Fittingly, the winner was a returning guest from our season opener back in May, making the moment even more special. It was a perfect ending to an unforgettable day, celebrating a passion for riding and the growing sense of community that defines the event.

DRIVEN BY PARTNERSHIP

MagnaFlow’s longstanding dedication to automotive enthusiasts and performance made them a welcomed partner at our Cars & Coffee this July. Its booth showcased a standout display vehicle, a tastefully modified 2020 Jeep Gladiator owned by Turn 14 Distribution’s own Ryan Evans. The build featured Mamba M19 wheels, 37-inch BFGoodrich KO2s, Baja Designs LP9 front and Squadron rear lights, and a MagnaFlow Rock Crawler Series Cat-Back exhaust. Throughout the day, attendees engaged with the MagnaFlow team to learn more about the advantages of high-performance exhaust systems and how they can enhance sound and efficiency on and off the road. Attendees also walked away with MagnaFlow stickers and merchandise.

Hawk Performance’s commitment to the grassroots automotive community made them a valued partner at our Cars & Coffee event this July. Throughout the day, the Hawk booth attracted significant attention as attendees engaged with the team to learn about the benefits of upgrading to a different brake pad compound. Guests discovered how a simple change of pads can elevate braking performance, making a wide variety of vehicles safer and more enjoyable to drive. Its passion for motorsports resonated with the automotive community in attendance. Adding to the excitement, Hawk Performance gave away a set of brake pads to a lucky attendee, inviting guests to visit the Turn 14 booth and share an Instagram story tagging both Hawk Performance and Turn 14 Distribution for a chance to win. One fortunate participant rolled off with a new set of brake pads for their Focus ST and a memorable experience to share.

Turn 14 Distribution supports these brands because we understand and care about the industry and are committed to growing our region’s automotive and powersports communities. We host events that bring together leading brands from across the country and worldwide, like Magnaflow from California, Dainese from Italy, and Hawk Performance from Ohio, to showcase their products. We also offer product giveaways to attendees as a way to highlight the exceptional quality of our partners’ offerings and to help generate greater awareness and enthusiasm for their brands.

A new and meaningful addition to Cars & Coffee at Turn 14 Distribution was the presence of our local community partners. Through the efforts of Turn 14 Distribution’s Philanthropy Committee, Harley’s Haven Dog Rescue was invited to attend and raise awareness for its mission. This nonprofit organization is dedicated to rescuing dogs of all breeds and ages from kill shelters and unsafe environments, working to place them in loving, permanent homes. We’re proud to share that the organization received numerous adoption applications and generous donations during the event.

ON THE HORIZON 

The Mid-Summer Cars & Coffee proved to be another standout in this year’s series, building on the strong momentum from an unforgettable Season Opener. Motorcycle Alley welcomed an even greater turnout of bikes, thanks in part to Continental Tire and Dainese’s continued support. Meanwhile, the number of exceptional cars and trucks on display continues to grow yearly, underscoring the enthusiast community’s strength.

With just one event remaining in 2025, the Season Closer on October 4 is already shaping up to be the biggest yet.

A huge thank you to MagnaFlow, Hawk Performance, Continental Tire, Dainese, and everyone who made the July event a success. We look forward to seeing you this fall!