Takeovers (aka sideshows) are NOT car culture. In fact – they’re destroying the public image of car culture. Slammedenuff Gatlingburg is (was) a yearly pilgrimage to the Smoky Mountains. The nucleus is a well-organized indoor car show. And the town/region became a place where young car enthusiasts would congregate, show-off their cars, make friendships & memories… and create their good ol’ days. All while soaking-in one of the most scenic backdrops in the country. But this year, Slammedenuff just became another casualty of takeover culture.

For those on the outside looking in… 

It’s difficult to tell the difference between young car enthusiasts… versus the mobs of takeover inbreds blocking intersections, spinning donuts, and holding up phones in hopes of violence & carnage. And the unfortunate result is: The whole automotive culture gets painted with the same brush. Irritated residents, local businesses, & police forces don’t distinguish between a clean Nissan Z with nice wheel fitment… versus the (likely stolen) Infiniti on fire in the middle of an intersection. Takeover culture is a cancer.

Takeovers are an infestation on car culture… 

They’re not only dangerous & uncontrollable… they’re destructive. These clowns are’t building cars, they’re destroying them. And they’re not bending laws, they’re breaking them. There’s no style, no love, no culture, no charisma, and no intelligence. They steal cars just to burn them out in an intersection. This isn’t car culture, this is straight-up criminal.

Municipalities don’t separate enthusiasts from idiots…

All they see is a loss of control, liability, noise complaints, angry residents, property damage, risk of injury, endangered police, stressed first-responders, & insurance nightmares. That’s why Slammedenuff got shut down. And that’s why other events across the country are on the chopping block. Cities are enacting ordinances where being a spectator at one of these events will land you in handcuffs. And while the media’s job is to sell a story, let’s not pretend the optics aren’t real: When the words ‘car show’ and ‘chaos’ make a headline go viral, people get fired-up and every future event in that city is at risk. When cities shut the doors on events, those doors don’t reopen easily.

Photo from Los Angeles Times

And let’s be clear about something else…

These takeover clowns don’t want “a place to go”. These aren’t skateboard kids without a skate park. They’re criminals with no interest in organized outlets or events. They want chaos, destruction, and TikTok followers.

It’s time to self-police & control the narrative…

Takeover culture isn’t car culture. Just like someone who opens fire on a crowd, is not a responsible gun owner. If we don’t end this from within… then cities, police, politicians, and legislation will end it for us. And when they do, they won’t pause to ask which side we’re on. They’ll shut it down… all of it. Gatlinburg is a just a glimpse into that.

Article by David S. Windsor