What happens when three elementary school friends who share an affinity for automobiles reunite decades later to kick off a new business venture? Throttle Car Club, a first-of-its-kind social club, storage facility, detailing shop, garage, auto auction, and event space for car enthusiasts in New England, originated as a pie-in-the-sky idea founders Jamie Nonni, Kevin Gross, and Derek Parent threw around when they were young. “The three of us had discussions over the course of 30 years about trying to do business together, but we never really knew what it was going to be,” Jamie explains. “Kevin and I always joked about having some sort of social automotive business, but after college, we all went off to have our own careers, pay our bills, and grow our families,” he says.
A few years ago, the three friends each found themselves ready for the next adventure. “I called these guys up and said, ‘What do you think of dusting off our old idea of a car business?’” Jamie recalls. Once they started putting pencil to paper, Kevin explains, “We decided to go big and put a broader social aspect into the business. We wanted to create a common ground for people to come and gather.” The trio found a site at the Downs in Scarborough, which they viewed as the perfect location. “Maine is such an interesting market because it’s only two hours north of Boston. It’s not far from Owl’s Head, which has always had success in the car industry, and there’s Motorland in Arundel, which is more of a museum-type facility. There wasn’t really anything like this in all of New England, and there are only a handful of them across the country,” Jamie says.
The founders describe Throttle as a country club for auto enthusiasts: members have access to a lounge, kitchen and bar, pool tables, shuffleboard, an HD golf simulator, two triple screen full-motion racing simulators, and plenty of additional amenities. With an influx of people who are still working from home since the pandemic, Throttle has become a de-facto office-away-from-home for car lovers. “We have a dedicated member workspace with an AV-equipped conference room, free wifi, and space for people to work in, but members can really set up anywhere they want,” Kevin says.
When it comes to professional vehicle services, Throttle is an indisputable one-stop shop. For starters, the club offers museum-quality, climate-controlled vehicle storage (both annual and seasonal) with 24/7 security monitoring, something the owners found lacking in the New England area. “We also have our used car dealer license, so we buy and sell exotic specialty cars,” Kevin explains. Throttle hosts an annual auction for vehicles, motorcycles, and memorabilia, in addition to cruise-ins and other events for auto enthusiasts. “Under the Throttle Car Club umbrella, we have a speed shop called Throttle Garage, which does complete restorations and upgrades on both old and new vehicles,” he adds. “We also offer what I call our Porsche concierge service, so we can do complete Porsche service and maintenance for members.” The club runs a professional detailing shop—open to members and nonmembers alike—with services like polishing, waxing, ceramic coating, paint protection film, and more. Members can stop by anytime to wash and clean their own vehicles with Throttle’s professional equipment.
Beyond the world of cars, Throttle hosts trivia every Wednesday night, live music on Fridays, and offers a variety of both members-only and public events. The facility’s medium-sized event space is available to rent for public and private functions, including birthday parties, baby showers, corporate training, and more. “The only thing we haven’t hosted yet is a wedding, but we have one on the schedule for later this year,” Kevin laughs.
As the club approaches its third birthday this summer, the founders are proud of their commitment to fostering community. “People meet new friends here, and they’re almost like family now,” Jamie says. “They do things together outside of the club. We’ve created this unique space that gives people a place to feel at home.”
"At Throttle, we've created a unique space that gives people a place to feel at home."