hardcore happening

The roar of engines, the smell of burning rubber, the squeal of tires on slick concrete, along with the friendly and welcoming vibe that marks every Hardcore Happening were in the air on Linwood Road, Pavilion, once again on Saturday.

The 2022 Hardcore Happening -- in its 16th  year, with a year lost to the pandemic -- brought in at least 3,000 hot rod enthusiasts to the Coots Family annual party for friends, and if you love cars and love people, you're a friend to Jesse, Jolene, and their kids.

Photos by Howard Owens.  For more photos and to purchase prints, click here.

See Also: Opinion: The Hardcore Happening reminds us why small-town life is good

If these were normal times, this weekend, some 600 or more people would be at the Jesse and Jolene Coots property in Le Roy burning rubber, admiring hot rods and generally having fun and being kind to each other.

But these are not normal times.

Jesse Coots made the tough decision earlier this month to cancel the event.

"I held out as long as I could and after a conversation with the local authorities, we have come to the conclusion that it would be best to cancel the Hardcore Happening 2020," Coots said in a Facebook post.

"Mind you this was encouraged but not enforced by the police, they have always been great to us and continue to be supportive. I spoke with the chief like I always do before the party and he was great.

"He explained the legal situation and literally went above and beyond to think of a way to have this without raising any flags or comprising anyone’s health however we came up short."

Coots encouraged event fans to use Aug. 1 as a day to make a new friend and love people.

The video is from last year's event, the first year The Batavian covered it. Hopefully, we'll be back there in 2021.

Over the past 14 years, Jesse and Jolene Coots have thrown a party at their home on Linwood Road that has steadily grown into what is the largest classic car and hot rod event in Genesee County but outside of the gearheads who enjoy it, only a few other people in the county, apparently, have known about it.

More than 2,000 people attend now and until The Batavian showed up Saturday -- to a warm welcome from Jesse and Jolene -- no news outlet in the region had ever covered the Hardcore Happening.