By Olivia Williams
On Sunday, the 7th of September, I woke up at 4 am as per usual. I went to work from 5am-2pm and came home, like normal. This Sunday was different, because as soon as I was back, I started baking right away. Right as I was wrapping up the last of the cookies at 5pm, I looked out the window in the kitchen of the Bittinger dorm and saw cars streaming towards Templeton’s parking lot.
I crammed everything into a bowl, threw on my shoes, grabbed my keys, and dashed over to the parking lot to see a crowd of Automotive Restoration students. We got an announcement about not making a fool of ourselves as we drive, and to get our engines started for the drive. Everyone got sorted into groups and cars, and we went in a single file line to Coronado Heights, near Lindsborg, KS. The ride there was windy, and being in the back of a military truck made it even more so. I got to wave at every car we passed, horns honking happily, hearing next to nothing over the roar of the engine and the hoots of laughter as we went over potholes and picked up speed.
Once we got to Coronado, we found friends and started chatting, getting into line to grab burgers and hot dogs. We waited for an announcement then were off to mingle! The club was in full swing, with chatter about cars like a constant, excited hum of electricity passing through the crowd.
Some groups were talking about projects while others were trading trivia and car care knowledge, while a few others were busy chatting and playing with the dogs present, or talking about things lost on the ride to Coronado. Some traded cooking knowledge and baked goods, while many were walking around and snapping photos of the beautiful scenery of Coronado. Children were playing cornhole and tag nearby while their parents watched and spoke of recent sports drama while finishing off their bag of chips.
Like a story book, the adventure had to end. People said their goodbyes, revved their engines, and drove back to campus. The rest of the evening was fairly uneventful but full of the joys of getting to spend time with friends as a group. I can’t wait for more C.A.R.S. club adventures this year, like the Garage Tour on September 13, the Herrington Air Base Test and Tune on the 20th, the Paulsen Rally on the 21st, and the homecoming cruise on the 26th to name a few. I’m so excited to be a part of the club and get to learn more about cars in the process.
