Driven by Pride

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At the intersection of Los Angeles’s legendary car culture and the city’s vibrant LGBTQ+ community stands Great Autos Car Club, the largest LGBTQ+ car club on the West Coast. Among its 1,200 members, three individuals—Mike Parente, Randall Mitchell, and Rhoeby Gonzalez—represent different generations, backgrounds, and visions for the club’s future. Their stories highlight the spirit of community, connection, and cars that define Great Autos today.

Watch the video below to hear Mike, Randall, and Rhoeby share their personal stories of finding belonging, camaraderie, and community through a shared love of cars.

START YOUR ENGINES...AND YOUR OWN CLUB

Founded in 1983 by classic car collectors Ted Davidson and Herb Rothman, Great Autos started as a response to the homophobia some experienced in other traditional car clubs. Their vision was simple: create a club where LGBTQ+ car enthusiasts could find friendship, acceptance, and shared passion. With the motto "Out of the Garage...Into the Streets," Great Autos became not only a haven but a thriving cultural force.

The club started with a modest member roster of 75 like-minded car enthusiasts. Today, Great Autos boasts over 1,200 members with a shared ownership of over 2,600 classic and special-interest vehicles. Members range in age from 18 to over 80 and hail not only from Southern California but from across the U.S., Canada, and Europe. While many proudly own rare classics—from pre-war Packards to modern exotics—ownership is not a requirement. All that's needed is a love for cars and a desire to connect.

It is a beautiful part of our culture, of how we interact with our vehicles, the way they get us around this town, and the way it connects us all together in this city. 

- Randall Mitchell

Mike Parente, a longtime Board Member and Club Historian, found Great Autos by chance in 1986. Watching a happy couple (Great Autos founders, Ted Davidson and Herb Rothman) roll through the West Hollywood Pride Parade in their gleaming ’57 Thunderbird, he realized he wasn’t alone. He often jokes that he was relieved to learn he was not the only gay man who liked cars. Previously active in other car clubs but often feeling like an outsider, Mike recalls: "I was so excited. When I first started attending events, I basically found my home, I found my community." 

Mike’s love affair with Los Angeles started young: "As soon as I got out of college, I packed everything into my '64 Thunderbird, drove out here, and never looked back." Today, he still enjoys cruising in his cherished 1974 Plymouth Duster—a $900 find he fixed up himself. "It was my daily driver for ten years in Los Angeles, and I just really enjoyed cruising, commuting, and going out in it." For Mike, L.A.’s sprawling freeways and late-night drives embody freedom and identity: "This is car culture deluxe… There's a little bit of everything, and I think that's what makes the club really interesting.”

That’s why our club grew so fast: it’s where we can be ourselves and be among friends. 

- Mike Parente

PRIDE IN THEIR COMMUNITY

Great Autos' influence goes beyond the parking lot. Members and their cherished wheels are often seen at LGBTQ+ Pride parades and festivals, providing stylish rides for dignitaries and contributing vital visibility. Through its charity shows and community work, Great Autos has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for LGBTQ+ and other local causes. 

Great Autos members participate in a variety of monthly events, whether it’s a relaxed coffee meet-up, a road rally along the coast, or a behind-the-scenes tour of a private car collection. Major highlights include the lively "Heaps O’ Fun," celebrating well-loved daily drivers and works-in-progress, and the four-day West Coast Meet. Their biggest event, however, is the Casual Concours Charity Car Show, a centerpiece during Palm Springs' famed Modernism Week—featuring nine decades of vehicles, brunches, awards, and fundraising for local charities. 

We’re a lot of fun and we do cool things.

- Mike Parente

While honoring tradition, members like Randall Mitchell (Co-Area Coordinator for the L.A., West Hollywood, and Westside Region) are pushing Great Autos into the future. Randall is passionate about innovation and welcoming new faces to spaces that feel open and inviting. "We’re getting creative…with new events, new styles, and new members," Randall says. For him, it’s about fostering connections among queer individuals who share a love for cars. 

Randall’s personal garage tells its own story: a spirited 1993 Mazda Miata and a powerful 1966 Oldsmobile Toronado. To him, L.A. is best experienced on wheels: "In my Miata, heading west on the 10 at midnight—stars above, skyscrapers in the background—that's what L.A. means to me." Similar to Mike, Randall personally felt an immediate connection when he first joined. He was excited about the variety of cars and how members are always there for each other. He finds community in sharing mechanics, helping out in garages, meeting up for dinner, and even providing a shoulder to cry on when needed. All of that is what made him fall in love with this club that is so much more than cars.

The cars are why we show up, but the people are why I stay.

- Randall Mitchell

DRIVING INTO THE FUTURE

Together in a city like Los Angeles, where cars are extensions of personality and heritage, Great Autos Car Club fits in seamlessly. In L.A., every make, model, and marque is celebrated: from the gleaming muscle cars of the '60s to the rare European imports of the '80s, from chrome-laden Cadillacs to cutting-edge electric vehicles. It's not just about nostalgia; it’s about honoring the craftsmanship, the stories, and the freedom that cars symbolize. 

More importantly, Great Autos has created an enduring legacy: a place where automotive passion and personal identity can intersect without fear or exclusion. In doing so, the club not only preserves a piece of L.A.’s car culture but also expands it, making it more colorful, more diverse, and ultimately, more reflective of the city itself. 

We're really excited [about] what the future holds after the incredible history the club has.

- Randall Mitchell

For younger members like Rhoeby Gonzalez, Great Autos offers both a link to history and a vibrant future. At age 23, Rhoeby initially found it intimidating to join a group where most members were older. But now he looks around and sees so many friends, great memories, and, of course, so many beautiful cars that he truly understands why others have stayed with the club for so long. Having been a member for three years now, Rhoeby loves meeting up with Great Autos members and nerding out over cars. He cherishes the diversity he sees in the club. “It’s a great representation of what L.A.’s all about.” 

Rhoeby’s pride and joy is a quirky, beloved 1990 Honda Civic Wagon—a car as unique as his outlook. A lover of old cars, old buildings, and honoring the past, Rhoeby feels right at home in a club that values both heritage and progress. In a city that moves as fast as L.A., Rhoeby appreciates that Great Autos helps members slow down and appreciate where we’ve come from. To him, L.A.’s constant evolution mirrors the club’s own—rooted in the past, but speeding toward an inclusive future. 

We love to see progress, we love to see change but, at the same time, it's also nice to recognize where we’ve been and kind of helps make it clear to know where we're going. 

- Rhoeby Gonzalez

KICKING TIRES AND CATCHING VIBES

Together, Mike, Randall, and Rhoeby embody the spirit of Great Autos—celebrating the past, driving into the future, and forging deep connections along the way. Their goal is simple: be welcoming and create an open space for new members to try out the club and see if it's the right fit for them. 

In 2025, Great Autos is rolling out a fresh theme: "Get Out and Drive"—a call to "put rubber to the road and tear it up all over Southern California." With their infectious spirit and deep love for the road, Great Autos isn't just surviving in L.A.’s car culture—they’re steering it into a brighter, bolder community for everyone.

KEEP ON ROLLIN'

Curious about the cars, the community, or becoming a member? Cruise over to Great Autos Car Club to learn more! Do you know another Angeleno who connects with their community on wheels? We want to hear from you! Join the conversation on social media and tag us @NHMLA with #LAonWheels.