Mini-car show at 'Fast 5' premiere

It Was a two-for-one evening billing at the Carib 5 Cinema in St Andrew last Wednesday. A movie premiere and a mini car show.

This was the scene at the opening of Fast Five (2011) which is directed by Justin Lin and stars Vin Diesel, Paul Walker and Jordana Brewster.

This year marks 10 years since King Midas Muffler has partnered with popular cinema, Carib 5, to stage a mini car show.

On Wednesday, moviegoers had the opportunity to feast their eyes on the hot rides parked at the entrance of the cinema.

Some of the cars included a Honda S 2000, Range Rover Sports, Subaru WRX sTi, an Evolution X and Infinitis.

Onlookers took pictures by the vehicles and of the vehicles.

Paul Cole, owner of King Midas Mufflers Limited, said having the mini car show at the premiere of a movie that was centred around cars was a good way to get a large number of car lovers in one place.

"It's a good way to meet your customer base in a more social and relaxed environment, where you can lyme and then watch a movie," Cole said.

"Think about it, what could someone do to easily have 500 car lovers in one place, at the same time in such a setting?" Cole asked.

Cole said the point was to use the popularity of the movie to meet old, new and potential customers.

"The responses have been excellent. The movie was sold out very quickly."

The businessman said that with this method he is able to: "Keep the brand out there, and keep it fresh. You can't serve a customer unless you know what they need, so you have to be out there in the streets with them," he said.

Fast Five is a very good movie. Dominic (Vin Diesel) and his crew find themselves on the wrong side of the law once again as they try to switch lanes between a ruthless drug lord and a relentless federal agent.

Only complaint from some car fanatics was that there could have been a lot more cars in the movie this time around.

- Laranzo Dacres