South OC Cars and Coffee Co-Founder James Wehr Remembered After Irvine Collision

 James Wehr, 27, an Irvine, California, resident and co-founder of South OC Cars and Coffee, died early Sunday, September 13, after a single-vehicle crash involving a McLaren at Culver Drive and Deerfield Avenue. His death has left family, friends and automotive enthusiasts mourning a young man whose work helped create a gathering place for people who shared his passion for cars. The crash also claimed the life of passenger Alexis Kramer, 22, of Lakeland, Florida, according to Irvine police.

Police said the 2019 McLaren had been stopped at a traffic light when the light turned green. Investigators said the vehicle then traveled north at a high rate of speed, the driver lost control, and the car veered right before striking a curb and a tree. The impact split the vehicle in two and caused it to catch fire. Firefighters found both occupants deceased in the wreckage. Police have said the investigation will examine roadway and vehicle conditions, the vehicle’s speed and other factors.

The circumstances remain under investigation, and authorities have not yet reached a final conclusion about what caused the collision. Irvine police said the probe could take months to complete. While the preliminary account describes the vehicle’s movement before the impact, investigators are still examining the conditions surrounding the crash. The findings establish what happened immediately before the collision without resolving all questions about why the driver lost control.

For the Southern California automotive community, Wehr’s death carries significance beyond the crash itself. He helped build South OC Cars and Coffee into a major weekly gathering at the Outlets at San Clemente, where the event attracts large numbers of vehicles and enthusiasts. The organization’s own history credits Wehr and his father, Simon, with running the event alongside Sarah and volunteers. Over time, the gathering became a place where people could share their interest in cars and form friendships.

The event’s scale reflected the enthusiasm behind it. South OC Cars and Coffee says between 1,000 and 3,000 vehicles attend each week, with everything from hypercars and exotics to classics, motorcycles, trucks and other specialty vehicles represented. Its Saturday meetings have become part of regional car culture. For many participants, however, the significance of the gathering has been personal rather than numerical: it provided an opportunity to meet other enthusiasts and spend time around a shared passion.

Tributes following Wehr’s death have reflected that sense of connection. Friends, family and automotive enthusiasts have remembered his enthusiasm and the community he helped create. His work with South OC Cars and Coffee gave him a role in Southern California’s car scene, but the response to his death also points to the personal relationships formed around the event. The loss is being felt by people who knew him and enthusiasts who associated his name with the community.

Wehr’s death at 27 leaves behind a family member, friend and community figure whose influence was tied to his passion for automobiles and bringing people together. The investigation into the Irvine crash will continue as authorities examine the evidence and contributing factors. For those mourning him, the focus now extends beyond the circumstances of September 13 to the years of work, relationships and experiences that defined his life. The automotive community he helped build will continue to carry memories of his contribution. His influence remains within the community he helped build.