Students Turn Passion for Cars Into Fundraising Opportunity by Justus Baker-Postell - City News Group, Inc.

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Students Turn Passion for Cars Into Fundraising Opportunity

By Justus Baker-Postell, Community Writer
January 29, 2026 at 09:49am. Views: 653

 

Local college students and Inland Empire car enthusiasts turned a shared passion for automotive culture into tangible support for rising Riverside racing talent Truly Adams, raising $5,000 during a Cars N’ Coffee fundraiser held at Cable Airport.

Hosted by Cars N’ Coffee Riverside and 7SunsCollective, the event was organized by Johnny Silva and Natalie Trujillo, two local college students active in the Inland Empire car community. Silva is a civil engineering major at Cal Poly Pomona, and Trujillo is pursuing business marketing. Together, they set out to rally community support around a hometown athlete working to reach the highest levels of motorsports.

That vision came to life on December 20, when the Cars N’ Coffee event featured 25 show cars, local vendors, helicopter tours, awards, and family-friendly activities, drawing over 200 attendees. The welcoming atmosphere reflected the community’s shared goal: supporting a young Inland Empire athlete as he advances his Formula 4 racing career.

Truly Adams is an accomplished young driver already competing on national and international stages. He is a two-time World Karting Champion and made history in fall 2025 as the first American to podium at the FEED Racing F4 Finals in France. Despite racing against older and more experienced competitors, Adams has distinguished himself through consistent performance and preparation across highly competitive fields.

His journey has been shaped by the unwavering support of his parents, Kara and Troy Adams, who own and operate Adams Motorsports Park, the oldest Black-owned karting facility in the United States. The track has played a central role in his development on and off the circuit, while also serving as a hub for youth racing and community access to motorsports.

According to Silva, learning more about Adams’ background and dedication made the decision to support him an easy one. “As we learned more about his journey, Natalie and I were fully on board,” said Silva. “We both love cars and Formula 1, so supporting Truly felt natural — especially knowing he’s from our community.”

Adams, an official GoPro athlete, was supported by GoPro as an in-kind sponsor of the event, including the giveaway of a GoPro camera to attendees. Attorney Jeff Fayngor, a local personal injury attorney and community supporter, sponsored event operations and on-site logistics. InlandEmpirePages, a regional digital platform highlighting Inland Empire culture and events, also supported the fundraiser through promotional support and community outreach.

Adams said the outpouring of support from the Inland Empire was both motivating and meaningful.

“Seeing the community come together like this really means a lot to me and my family,” Adams shared. “Racing isn’t something you do alone, and having people believe in me and support my journey pushes me to keep working harder every day.”

Proceeds from the fundraiser will directly support Adams as he continues building his Formula 4 racing career, including training, race entry fees, travel, and preparation for upcoming competitions.  Community members interested in supporting his journey or learning more about his story can visit https://www.trulythetruth.com or follow him on Instagram @Truly_theTruth or YouTube @trulythetruth4743.

Individuals or organizations interested in future fundraising or collaboration opportunities may contact the event organizers at storm@7sunscollective.com

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About Truly Adams: Truly Adams is a 15-year-old Riverside-based racing driver from a motorsports family spanning more than six decades. A two-time World Karting Champion, he is building his path in Formula 4 competition. In 2025, he raced in France’s FEED Racing program and became the first American in the series’ six-season history to reach the Finals and finish on the podium. Adams is fluent in Spanish and is studying French as he continues competing internationally.

About Cars N’ Coffee Riverside & 7SunsCollective: Founded in March 2023 by Riverside-based organizers Johnny Silva and Natalie Trujillo, Cars N’ Coffee Riverside began as a grassroots meet-up created to bring local car enthusiasts together closer to home. What started with small Instagram flyers quickly grew into a community-driven automotive event series, ultimately becoming a permitted and officially hosted gathering in Riverside. Through their companion brand, 7SunsCollective, the team continues to produce inclusive automotive events, welcoming all builds and budgets, while expanding their presence through apparel and community activations. Their long-term vision is to establish a permanent home for the Riverside car community and host unique events in standout locations nationwide.

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