Tara Vasquez

Events & Culture Reporter

Tara covers car shows, meetups, and the broader culture of the automotive community. She has been on the ground at SEMA, Monterey Car Week, and hundreds of local events across the country. She believes car culture is at its best when it brings people together — preferably in a parking lot.

62 articles · Covers: Events & Shows, Customization

Tara Vasquez

Articles by Tara

The Unwritten Rules of Cars and Coffee — What Newcomers Should Know Before Their First One

Track Day vs. HPDE vs. Autocross — What Each One Actually Is, What It Costs, and What to Expect Your First Time

How to Organize a Car Meet That People Actually Come Back To

May Regional Meet Calendar — Where Enthusiasts Are Gathering This Spring

How to Start Your Own Local Cars & Coffee — What I've Learned from Organizers Who've Done It Right

Amelia Island 2026 Takeaways — What Collectors Paid Attention to This Year

How Cars and Coffee Culture Keeps Local Car Scenes Alive

Spring Car Show Season 2026: The Regional Events Worth the Drive

Winter Event Season Guide: Shows, Auctions, and Indoor Meets Worth Watching

How to Run a Better Local Car Show: Registration, Classes, and Flow

Winter Comfort and Visibility Upgrades Worth Doing Before Snow Hits

What to Watch at SEMA 2025: Trucks, EV Builds, Wheels, and Interior Tech

Adventure-Ready SUV Mods That Still Work for Everyday Family Duty

Monterey Car Week: What Enthusiasts Should Watch Beyond the Headlines

Daily-Driver-Friendly Lighting Upgrades Without Looking Overdone

Getting a Show Car Ready: Display Boards, Cleaning Touch-Ups, and Etiquette

PPF vs Vinyl Wrap: Which Makes More Sense for a Daily Driver in 2025?

How to Photograph Your Car Better at Meets and Cars & Coffee

Indoor Auto Shows, Auctions, and Race Events Worth Tracking in February 2025

5 Things to Improve Your Car Show - Success Tips

How to Make a Local Car Show Feel Better Organized for Drivers and Spectators

Top Car Shows in December 2024 | What's Coming Up

Cold Air Intake: Boost Your Engine Performance Today

Exciting Car Shows 2025: What's Coming Up?

What to Watch at SEMA 2024: Styling, Tech, and Truck Trends

How to Prep Your Car for Spring Meets, Cars & Coffee, and Local Shows

Small Interior Mods That Make a Daily Driver Feel New Again

SEMA 2023 Preview: EV Builds, AI-Inspired Design, and Show-Stopping Trucks

Monterey Car Week 2023 Themes: Restomods, Coachbuilt Cars, and Modern Classics

Guide to Buying Your Custom Dream Car: Personalization, Performance, Perfection

SEMA 2022 Trends to Watch: Overlanding, Widebodies, and EV Conversions

What to Watch at SEMA 2021: EV Builds, Overlanding, and Modern Classics

Getting Your Car Show-Ready for the Return of 2021 Meet Season

DNA Motoring 3D LED Headlights - A Truck Drivers Dream

Truck Modifications Every Owner Should Consider First

5 Amazing Truck Customizations

How Car Culture Stayed Active Online in 2020

What Car Modifications Can I Do To My Car?

5 Cool Car Customization Ideas

10 Amazing Car Customization Ideas Under $100

Daihatsu Shows Off Customizable 3D Printed Effect Skins

Indy 500 Pace Cars: Why They Matter to Collectors and Fans

Forceful Arrival for the 2016 Chevrolet Camaro SS NHRA Funny Car

Car Media Storage: Better Ways to Carry Music, Video, and Files

Clarion Builds BMW 2002 Will Rock Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach

Car Customization Trends That Still Hold Up

2016 Honda Civic Coupe: Sporty Styling and Used-Buyer Notes

Chevrolet-Supplied Domino’s DXP Heats Up Pizza Delivery

MOMO Makes A Mean Volkswagen Jetta GLI For SEMA

2015 SEMA Show Photos By Hunter Swift Photography

CHARIOTZ and Juice Bar EV - Charged Up At SEMA 2015

Rare Sports Cars for Sale: What Buyers Should Verify First

Get Our Patent-Pending QR Codes For Your SEMA Show 2015 Vehicles

Featuring CEC Wheels & Tuning Center in Los Angeles, California

Introducing The SEMA Garage

World's First Lamborghini Aventador SV Races A "Regular" Aventador

Extreme Autofest 2015 Coverage

Extreme Autofest 2015: Event Archive and Custom-Car Culture Snapshot

Car Tech Gadgets That Still Make Sense in Older Vehicles

7 Simple Car Customizations

Custom Mustangs: Four Levels of Personalization

Get a Vinyl Wrap Instead Of Painting Your Car