By The Keystone Newspaper Members participate in car-related activities and road trips
By Bethany McDonald
The KU Car Club, a club for car enthusiasts, meets every Wednesday at 5 p.m. in Lot A4. Members participate in car-related activities, including detailing, mechanical work, car shows, photography, drives and field trips to scenic locations. The club is open to anyone interested in cars, trucks or other automobiles.
Vice President Kyle Hackenberg helped bring the club back to KU in October 2025. He took on the marketing side of the club, promoting it through social media and Engage.
“I stepped in and led on the marketing side of things, and we got a ton of people to join,” said Hackenberg. “We also got an advisor, Andrew Mull, a faculty member in the technology department.”
Photo Credit: Luke Emodi
Since then, the club has met weekly. Each meeting begins with about 15 to 20 minutes of socializing, giving members an opportunity to get to know one another. After discussing club business, members typically travel to locations with enough space to accommodate a large number of cars, including scenic areas such as Lake Ontelaunee and Hawk Mountain.
Special trips have included visits to the Lehigh Valley Zoo and an out-of-state trip to Maryland.
“When you travel, it’s to showcase your car. But we’re all driving together, so it’s also about togetherness,” Hackenberg said.
Students who join the club can bring their specific automotive interests and skills to club activities and projects.
Sophomore Luke Emodi, the club’s videographer, creates short videos showcasing members’ cars. Examples of his work can be found on his Instagram page, @UrbanWheelz392.
“I want my photography up on someone’s living room wall until their significant other tells them to replace it with a family photo”, Emodi said. “I want their car to be showcased,” Emodi said.
The club has also expanded its activities into the borough and participated in charitable events.
“Last year we had a car show, just outside of the football stadium, with a little over 100 people. We marketed it pretty heavily, and we had a huge turnout, which was fantastic,” Hackenberg said.
According to Hackenberg, some visitors traveled from upstate New York to attend the car show, inspiring the club to organize more community events.
The club plans to host another car show at the end of October and is looking to partner with a Kutztown food bank to collect canned goods for the community.
Although the club is car-centric, Hackenberg said it also provides an opportunity for members to build a sense of community. Whether members own a car or not, the club gives students a place to gather and build relationships outside of academics.
“It’s cool because every week, at the same time, at the same lot, we all get together and we just have a good time. I’ve gotten to know everyone so well,” said Hackenberg. “Some would say our community is like a family.”
For more information or to join the KU Car Club, visit its Engage page or Instagram account, @Kutztown_car_club.