Friends with benefits can been a tricky balance between two people. That is not the case for Michael Rapetti, Co-Founder of one of the coolest car clubs in America. Friends with benefits works quite well for Michael, especially when he is talking about his beloved The Motoring Club in Marina Del Rey CA. Opening their doors just over a year ago, where they proudly boast an 11,000 square foot warehouse, is this automotive haven that has enthusiasts completely blown away the first time they step inside. While toiling in the tech scene in both New York and San Francisco, Michael constantly was on the hunt for “Cars and Coffee” type events to connect with other like-minded car enthusiasts. Unfortunately, they left him feeling unsatisfied and always craving more. 

At a high level, The Motoring Club concept came from Michael’s desire to create a permanent “cars and coffee” environment. Having seen this concept executed well in the motorcycle world with places like Deus Ex Machina in Venice, Michael set out to bring his dreams to reality and expand it within the car world. On my recent trip to The Motoring Club, Michael said, “No one was doing this sort of thing on a permanent level when it came to cars, so the opportunity was certainly there.” His first step was creating brand awareness through an online community. He built an online membership-based club, focusing on giving members exclusive discounts from automotive partners. After a few months and epic feedback from his early members, he quickly packed his bags and moved to Los Angeles to find his first location. “I figured if it were going to work anywhere, LA was the place to be,” Michael said.

Fear was at the forefront of Michael’s mind as he made this life changing transition, but his passion for this project was so far ahead of where his fear stood in his mind, he knew he could pull it off. The risk factor was huge, but after being completely burnt out working in tech in New York City, he knew he had to rip the ‘band-aid’ off and take the plunge. All in one swift move, he quit his job, ditched his apartment, cordially ended things with his girl, packed his car to the brim, and drove west to start with a completely clean slate. 

Michael really wanted to create something much more tangible than tech. He was after the idea of a physical space with a physical community, and so the concept began taking shape outside of the initial online membership community, which he had already built. The Motoring Club is not a new or unique concept, and Michael will be the first person to tell you that. There are already a handful of other clubhouses around the country like Classic Car Club in Manhattan, but most of the other clubs focus on the wealthiest enthusiasts out there. The exclusivity is just impenetrable. Michael wanted The Motoring Club to be much more inclusive with a target focused on the younger generation of enthusiasts. He really wanted to build a community where people could come gather, work, hang out, and hold events even if they were not true gear heads.

Many people at first glance think The Motoring Club membership will cost similar to likes of an Equinox or WeWork. Most are surprised to learn the membership is a mere $80/month with a one-time $150 initiation. The value of this membership is truly unheard of. With the added perks like discounts to local automotive brands, along with allowing their members 7 days a week access to the club including attendance to all events they host. With over 30+ automotive partners, if a member makes a visit to any one of them in a year’s time, the membership will surely pay for itself. Their clubhouse member list has grown to over 200 with an additional 100+ online members who strictly benefit from their automotive partnership discounts. 

If you think The Motoring Club is done innovating, you can think again. They are currently working on a huge relaunch of their online membership, which will focus on new tier options. They also will be looking to expand to overseas markets offering their benefits and services to international customers in the very near future. In addition to their clubhouse, the North end of the facility stores approximately 24 cars from classics to the most expensive Ferraris you can purchase anywhere. They recently had 2 spots open up, so they are looking for a couple new additions to the stable. At $500/month for air controlled and secured parking in Marina Del Rey, it is quite honestly a steal. The storage fee comes with a dedicated spot, trickle charger, and in/out access at the owner’s discretion so they can take a cruise on a beautiful Los Angeles afternoon if they wish.

The clientele who pay the $500/month storage fee are mostly into classic European cars making the variety of vehicles in there quite extensive. From new Ferraris to air-cooled Porsches, BMW’s and vintage 4×4’s they pretty much have it all. They currently have a beautifully restored 1966 Ferrari 330 2+2, which just so happens to be Michael’s favorite of the bunch right now. I guess drooling when you go into work every day is ok when you’re a member of the Motoring Club. As for Michael’s all-time favorite, it is a rare imported Group B rally car, a 1994 Lancia Integrale Evo 2. 

The Motoring Club is constantly on the move with future plans that will afford their members new opportunities in and around the automotive world. Stay tuned as they may pop up in a city near you sooner rather than later. To learn more about how to become a Motoring Club member visit them on instagram, email Michael, or check out their super awesome website!

https://themotoring.club