Each week a group of car enthusiasts on Auburn's campus gathers in the South Quad parking deck across from the Auburn University Medical Clinic to talk shop and share their passion for high-performance vehicles.
Blake Fabiani, freshman in biomedical science, began going to AUctane meetings when he started school in August.
"We hang out and talk about each others' cars," Fabiani said. "We all have an interest in each others' cars and we show what we're doing to our cars."
Conversations at the meeting include general discussions, but also new parts that have been installed in members' cars.
"I've got a list longer than I can even write out of stuff I've done to it," Fabiani said. "Recently I installed a new computer management software on the computer. It allows you to tune the car to however you want it. I actually got a new turbo that I got in the mail the other day, so I'm going to do a turbo-swap on it."
Fabiani met his girlfriend, undeclared freshman Samantha Raney, at an AUctane meet. Both drive a 2011 Hyundai Genesis coupe, and Fabiani's car care--or lack thereof--caught Raney's eye.
"I was picking on him because his coupe was filthy," Raney said. "I walked up to his car while he was in denial that it was dirty. I wiped my finger down the middle of his hood, leaving a lovely streak. His facial expression was priceless."
Raney, who is one of a few women who attend AUctane meetings, began meeting on the parking deck with fellow enthusiasts in September.
"I heard about AUctane through my close friend Jonathan," Raney said. "He knows I love cars and invited me to come out one night. I've been hooked ever since. It's easy to join. All car-lovers bring your car out and just come and hang out."
Jonathan Ralleca, sophomore in industrial design, has attended AUctane meetings regularly this year.
"My favorite part is being able to hang with people that have the same general interest as you," Ralleca said. "You get to learn from others and teach others."
The group has been granted permission by Parking Services to meet on the parking deck, but early meets prompted probing from campus police officers.
"Three cops pulled up getting a report saying 'Fast and the Furious'-like cars have been gathering and racing in the deck, and they also have lookouts,'" Ralleca said.
"Clearly we weren't racing, and our 'lookouts' were people talking at the edge of the deck. So the cops actually had some fun with us and popped their hoods open and even posed with their car to take pics."
Fabiani said the group doesn't race often.
"The only time we race it's at something called Autocross," Fabiani said. "It's like an official, sanctioned event that goes on at Fort Rucker.
"It's basically a big parking lot with a bunch of cones set up and it's a timed thing. That and there's a drag strip in Montgomery that we sometimes go to, but there's not that much car racing going on."
The AUctane Facebook group keeps members up-to-date. Most members join by hearing about the group from a friend, but all car enthusiasts are encouraged to attend meetings Tuesdays at 9 p.m.
"Anywhere from 20 to close to 50 people come out," Fabiani said.
In some cases, members have also been recruited.
"If you have a car that catches a member's eye, they will leave a card on your car," Ralleca said.
Fabiani intends on continuing to attend AUctane meetings, something he said he feels has helped him adjust to life on campus.
"I really enjoy going out and talking with everyone," Fabiani said. "I met people at the meet, and now we are friends because of it. I've probably made 10-15 good friends from going to the meet."
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