History of Cadillac Kings Car Club
Club Beginning
The first meeting of what is now known as Cadillac Kings Car Club was held May 7, 2005 at a Farmer Boys Restaurant in Riverside, CA. This meeting was the product of Derek Taylor, who coordinated the meet over several weeks of communications on the 1963-1964 Cadillac Forum on Yahoo along with several others on the same website. That first meeting had a turnout of approximately fifteen Southern California classic Cadillac owners, and their rides. It was an awesome site to see that many classic Cadillacs in one parking lot, as most local shows/meets only showcase Chevys, Fords, or imports.
As the meet came to an end, Nicky Varon approached Derek and asked him what his intentions were. Derek stated that he just wanted to see if gathering that many Cadillacs was possible and eventually gauge interest in starting a club without all the rules and drama of previous clubs. Nicky asked if it would be okay to gather everyone’s contact information and coordinate another meet. Derek agreed and the first list of 10 potential Cadillac Kings members was created.
Club Name
Cadillac Kings Car Club was originally named “So. Cal Cadillac Club” temporarily until a final name could be voted on. In September 2005, nine members compiled a list of 48 possible club names. With the direction of Nicky, the list was narrowed by silent voting until “Cadillac Kings” was selected by most votes.
Club Chapters and Growth
From the start of the club in May 2005 to late 2007 there were no separate chapters, and all meetings were coordinated by Nicky and Derek. Meeting locations rotated between the Inland Empire, Orange County, and Los Angeles County based on member locations. Over time, meetings eventually centered in Los Angeles County where most members lived.
In late 2007, Derek Taylor, along with founding members Gary Wang and Wes Hornung, created a second chapter in the Inland Empire to accommodate growth. The Inland Empire chapter quickly became the largest chapter. Today, Cadillac Kings has eleven chapters in California, three chapters outside California (Phoenix AZ, Albuquerque NM, Cleveland OH), and one in Australia.
Club Logo, Website, and Branding
Club Moving Forward
The club is focused on logical and sustained growth through a committee approach, consisting of chapter heads and founding members who provide vision and direction for the club’s future.
