ORANGE PARK – Car enthusiasts came out and braved cool sub-60-degree temperatures and the rain Saturday to enjoy a monthly staple at the Orange Park Mall – Caffeine and Gasoline.

Tuned up vehicles with light kits, custom paint and decal jobs, as well as classic sports cars were on display. Owners, enthusiasts, mechanics and others enjoyed the spectacle and the coffee, which was available for sale by a truck on site.

The Jacksonville Area Mopars, worked in conjunction with the Orange Park Mall to put on the event that’s staged on the first Saturday of each month.

“I went to come last month for the first time, but it got rained out,” said Greg Ganci. “I’m anxious ‘cause I seen some of the pictures and there’s usually like 500 cars or more here.” Ganci is an admitted car enthusiast, who says that he’s always been into the “car thing.”

“I was more of a Jeep and Camaro person years ago but more recently I got the Nissan 350,” he said. “But I’ve always been interested in cars and technology and especially the old cars, too.”

“I’ve been out here multiple times, multiple times,” said Charles Deivnmentsminger who sometimes works on cars and came out to enjoy the scene.

 “The diversity and the collection of people’s personalities,” he said when asked about why he enjoys the event.

All different makes and models of vehicles were present, to include Fords, Dodges, Chevrolets and even a Maserati, which sat with both “suicide doors” open in the upward position.   

One Ford was decorated in the colors of the Marvel Comic character “The Punisher,” with the skull-shaped logo on hood. Other vehicles had flashing light kits underneath and on the front that were reminiscent of KITT, the Pontiac Firebird from the 1980’s television show “Knight Rider.”

“I love coming out to see all these different cars,” said Daymon McCoy. “I grew up reading car magazines and dreaming about stuff like this. My cousin had a shop when I used to live up north and I was always in there with him on weekends. He started off doing regular mechanic stuff, then he got into more custom. It got me hooked. Now I can’t stay away from this stuff. The coffee doesn’t hurt on a morning like this either.”