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When attending a Subaru meet there are a few things that you have to expect – vape pens, friendly people, hood scoops, roof/trunk racks, and Imprezas. Lots of Imprezas. Due to the inconvenience that was COVID-19, car meets became few and far between. For the Floridians of the metro Fort Lauderdale/ Miami areas, that’s a huge shift in lifestyle. Unlike what we’re seeing in other parts of the country – car culture down here is vibrant and very much alive. You know, until we spent the better part of two years indoors.
Just a few OGs kickin’ it.
The South Florida Subaru Club, better, or better known as SOFLO Subbies, is finally reclaiming parking lots as they come back to life after a long contagion-fueled hibernation. Accustomed to annual 75-mile cruises that draw in hundreds of Subaru owners from across the state, along with weekly in-person meets – not being able to safely come together took a major toll on the group.
“The last couple of years the club was nonexistent” Nabil Bakarat runs the SOFLO Subbie Facebook Group alongside Richard Wong, one of the proprietors of Nippon Power, a well-known aftermarket shop. Together, with help from a fellow member, Israel Rozental (my Bugeye’s spirit animal), they planned and executed the first large-scale event in Davie, Florida – a barbeque at Vista View Park.
“This was the first year we were able to do anything since 2019.”
Originally planned earlier in the year and at a different location, inclement weather forced them to shift gears (sorry, unintentional pun) – but it worked out. The new venue granted more parking and even some seclusion from the rest of the park’s patrons. When muggles see a large gathering of modified cars – they tend to get nervous and call the authorities. I suppose they’re afraid of a Vin Diesel-type orchestrating a 4-car, three-mile drag race that results in them getting a cold pizza.
OG Soflo Subies member, Nabil getting ready to feed the crew – with style.
SOFLO Subbies’ first event was a complete success – the long lines of backed-in World Rally Blue WRXs assuredly put Nabil’s doubts to rest. Anyone who has planned an event will tell you, that there’s always the concern that you didn’t do everything to get the word out, that the weather would slow attendance, or that an overzealous, under-engaged park ranger could show up. Gladly, that wasn’t the case here.
The BBQ attracted banana bread-baking attendees from as far as Daytona!
“The group was dead when Covid hit and finished, but me and Richard didn’t want [it] to die so we brought it back to life. But we didn’t expect it to happen this quickly and so successfully!”
