POPULAR “CAFFEINE AND OCTANE” TV SHOW RETURNS TO THE NBC SPORTS NETWORK

New episodes featuring amazing cars and their owners’ stories begin airing tomorrow

ATLANTA, Nov. 9, 2020 – Caffeine and Octane, the integrated brand behind North America’s largest monthly car show held at Perimeter Mall in Dunwoody, Ga., announces the return of its internationally-acclaimed “Caffeine and Octane” television show on the NBC Sports Network, marking the start of its fifth season. The first episode will premiere Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2020, at 8 and 11 p.m. EST.

The all makes and models TV series features classic car expert Skip Smith, world champion motorcycle drag racer Rickey Gadson, and master builder and designer Bryan Fuller. “It’s filmed like a live TV event,” said Executive Producer Ed Coughlin. “We get one chance to capture the story of the car, and the car’s owner who built bought, or dreamed up the creation.”

For a deeper dive into rich car culture, producers pivot their cameras to a more documentary style of offsite shooting. Season five features include rare looks at the cars and people behind mega-hits “Ford v Ferrari” and “Stranger Things,” a $15 million auction of America’s premier roadside art, and a Mississippi madman’s quest for a customized ride that will go 500 mph.

New episodes will continue to premiere each Tuesday night through December 2020 at 8 and 11 p.m. EST.

Bruce Piefke, Caffeine and Octane CEO and producer

“Caffeine and Octane” are broadcast in 65 countries, and the broad appeal of this growing brand has helped Bruce Piefke, Caffeine and Octane CEO and producer, attract an array of local and national sponsors. The show returns with a new sponsor this season, Hagerty. Hagerty is a leader in classic car insurance and valuation, and growing classic car entertainment and editorial hub.

“When I took over Caffeine and Octane five years ago, I was blown away by the many people who arrived in the pre-dawn darkness to display their rolling creations. There was an interesting story behind almost every car displayed and I wanted to create a TV show to share those stories,” Piefke said. “You never know what you are going to see at a live Caffeine and Octane event, and we take that same approach when producing the TV show. Every show is different, and we are always looking for that story of a passionate car enthusiast that will surprise and entertain our worldwide audience.”

Filming “Caffeine and Octane” Episodes and Building a Retail Location in a Challenging Year

In an unusual year where TV and film productions face huge challenges, the “Caffeine and Octane” team continued show production despite postponing some physical car shows when Piefke prudently decided to err on the side of caution due to coronavirus concerns. Shows resumed after Georgia relaxed its coronavirus restrictions, but with new virus transmission precautions such as one-way aisles between rows of displayed cars, social distancing reminder signs and PA announcements, sanitizing stations and urging all to wear masks.

Earlier this year Piefke launched a new venture, Caffeine, and Octane at the Garage, a coffee shop, restaurant, event space, and TV studio in Sandy Springs, Ga., the metro Atlanta community where Piefke was raised and still resides. He hopes the new 6500-square-foot establishment will become a signature Atlanta destination that will appeal to a broad audience when it opens in mid-2021.

Caffeine and Octane at the Garage also give the team a new filming location. Each “Caffeine and Octane” episode starts with hosts Smith, Gadson, and Fuller in a coffee shop chatting about that episode’s highlights, and the new ‘Dream Garage’ themed coffee shop will allow the team to continue this tradition using its own branded space.