Caffeine & Carburetors—Oct. 19, 2025
Credit: Michael Dinan
Thousands of auto enthusiasts on Sunday morning attended the locally launched and hugely popular car show that came to New Canaan twice in 2025.
Also held downtown in May, “Caffeine & Carburetors”—launched by New Canaan’s Doug Zumbach outside his eponymous coffee shop on Pine Street—has raised tens of thousands of dollars for local nonprofit organizations in the past year.
More than 1,300 classic and specialty car owners registered to show their vehicles at the show, Zumbach told NewCanaanite.com as crowds of people clutching cameras and dog leashes moved through the forecourt of Waveny House, surrounding grounds and nearby outbuildings.
“The weather is terrific and people are really enjoying themselves,” Zumbach said.
His own volunteers, New Canaan Community Emergency Response Team or ‘CERT’ members, police and other agencies, and Caffeine & Carburetors is supported by companies that include Bankwell, Garage Living and AK Motorcars.
Ashley Guzman, assistant branch manager at Bankwell, said the Cherry Street bank is one of the original sponsors of C&C.
“We come to support and be part of the community,” she said from the Bankwell tent at Waveny, joined by three colleagues.
Asked how the morning was going, Guzman said, “It’s been great. It was a little chilly in the morning but we definitely have great attendance and it’s warm enough. We have people stopping by and getting to know us.”
Police Officer Kelly Coughlin greeted passersby from a New Canaan Police Department tent raising awareness and funds for Special Olympics CT, as part of NCPD’s ongoing support for the nonprofit organization. Kids from families contributing had a chance to write a message on a police vehicle as a thank-you.
“It’s been great today,” Coughlin said.
Those classic and specialty engines revving at the lights along South Ave were a bit much for a Sunday morning at 6:45 AM. The participants should show a little more deference towards the good townspeople of New Canaan at that time of the morning on a Sunday…
Wonderful event! We live on a busy road where the cars cruise by on their way to the Town or Waveny hosted event and find the hum, down shift, rev up and all sorts of interesting engine sounds coming from these very special cars delightful and a little thrilling. We love that New Canaan is able to draw so many passionate people to our humble town (only 4x a year now), and are impressed with all that Doug has been able to put together over the years.
I have seen cars my Dad would have owned (born in 1927) and admire cars my teen son would like to own (in his dreams). The joyful conversations this event sparked at the dinner table went on and on.
We are already looking forward to the next one. Perhaps we will put out a black/white checkered flag to say ‘welcome!’