CAR CLUB Where socialization meets rallying racers rests the Sun City Car Club of Hilton Head, South Carolina. Conceived in 2002 during a community activity development meeting, the Sun City Car Club was built on the concept of turning lifelong dreams into a reality. By providing the ability to drive, own and celebrate childhood dream cars, the club has continued to grow and evolve over the years. The Sun City Car Club prides itself on catering to an eclectic spectrum of interests from cherishing memories of drag races and road races to hosting present day concours shows and local cruise-ins. The variety, however, doesn’t end with activities, as the members own cars of all years and models like 1920s antiques, Hot Rods, muscle cars, exotics and pickup trucks, to name a few. With a current standing of 175 members, the club is open to expansion whenever a plausible new party comes along. As long as one is a resident of the Del Webb Sun City Hilton Head retirement community and pays annual dues, enrollment is open. Over its 18 years of existence, the Sun City Car Club has expanded from casual parking lot get togethers to well-organized and established official meetings. Along with the evolution of base-level tasks came the development of events as well, such as programs meant to be both entertaining and educational, featuring special Sun City-dwelling guests and public speakers. When meetings aren’t the event at hand, members are participating in experiences like the Cars & Coffee Cruise-In, the Flag Day Parade, the Concours d’Elegance Hil ton Head Island Motoring Fest ival and more. By Hailey Schulte OF THE MONTH SUN CITY CAR CLUB HILTON HEAD Additionally, the group’s annual Sun City car show has grown to include 125 active participants and more than 700 attendees. Although the events are diverse, they focus on a common theme—the mixing of socialization and education, so that members can roll in shared nostalgia while also gaining knowledge in fields such as technical expertise. The club and its members are focused on a well-rounded and enjoyable organization with encompassing and welcoming activities. On top of the lighthearted nature of the activities, the Sun City Car Club also focuses on charitable deeds, such as donating proceeds to local senior-based organizations, supporting local Girl Scout’s troops and volunteering to purchase and lay wreaths on veterans’ gravesites via Wreaths Across America. When it comes to the core of the Sun City Car Club, it is a tight- knit but welcoming group of car-loving neighbors. Intertwining fun with charity allows for a warm environment of camaraderie that brings the car world together. With familial memories involving restorations, classic editions and endless races, the members share one commonality: the love for revving hearty engines that sparks a need for speed in them all. With numerous events on the club’s schedule, there are multiple ways for members and interested parties to stay updated on Sun City Car Club activities, such as “Lug Nuts,” the club’s monthly newsletter, and the monthly activity calendar. For more information, visit the club’s Facebook page by searching Sun City Car Club Hilton Head. 122 • MECUM.COM
