The vehicle’s headlights were illuminated in the dusk hour light when Zane Sorrells, a 21-year-old junior Business Management major, hit the vacant roadway. In Snyder, his hometown, Sorrells knows the best backroads and streets for demonstrating his car’s capabilities.
His 2018 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 then sped off into the distance, leaving skid marks behind it as he fully opened the throttle. Sorrells intended to showcase just how quickly the ZL1’s 10-speed automatic transmission could accelerate, as he does often on YouTube channel, “TX Street Society”.
Although his daily driver is a custom-tuned 2008 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD Duramax LMM, the vehicle featured most prominently on his social media accounts is his ZL1 Camaro. Sorrells said he bought this car after careful consideration and not on impulse.
“Personally, I didn’t even want a Camaro,” he said. “I really didn’t care for it. But, for me being 20 years old at the time, practicality came into play.”
Originally, Sorrells was more interested in financing a Chevrolet Corvette, but it came with an insurance quote of $748 per month, he said. In comparison, his monthly truck payment is $421 with an additional $75 insurance fee for full bumper to bumper coverage.
ZL1’s from 2018 with automatic 10-speed transmissions retail from between $61,500 to $67,500, according to Edmunds.com. Additionally, he pays $431 per month for bumper-to-bumper insurance on this vehicle as well, he said.
Ultimately, this is a small price to pay for the peace of mind that comes with protecting his commitment. In his view, it is always better to have it and not need than need and not have it, Sorrells said.
“The Camaro is called ‘the triple threat’ by folks in the (car enthusiast) community,” he said. “It performs well at the drag strip, on a track and as a daily driver. So, that was another major reason why I went with it instead of the Corvette.”
When not out on the streets of Snyder or on the track, Sorrells assists in his family’s combine harvesting business, he said. In addition to being a daily driver and a racing truck, Sorrells’ LMM Duramax can be used as a dynamic towing vehicle with four-wheel drive, frequently aiding in his work as a harvester.
Since he began utilizing his YouTube channel with the help of his fiancé, Lauren Morris, in September 2018, Sorrells looked to expand his popularity within the West Texas car community. Morris, a 23-year-old Texas Tech University alumna from Raleigh, North Carolina, said they derive a huge amount of satisfaction from engaging with their viewers at car shows and meetups.
Formerly an Illustration and Graphic Design major, Morris handles much of the videography and editing on the channel, she said. Together, the duo sought to build a community of devoted automotive connoisseurs through social media interaction and word of mouth.
“Even if it weren’t for the ease of access of social media, I think we could still do what we do now without the help of the internet,” Morris said. “The potential to have an added stream of revenue is nice, though.”
Both Texas Tech students, the couple’s education plays a role in the presentation and organization of “TX Street Society”, Morris said. They also operate a personal website where exclusive content is posted and merchandise is sold.
While their education has benefited them from a marketing standpoint, Morris said it is not necessarily vital to the process. An untrained individual with the same drive and passion could easily achieve the same level of success they have obtained, she said.
When their social media presence started gaining traction, Sorrells and Morris began emphasizing inclusivity as the primary aspect of the community they were building. No manufacturer or model is meant to be thought of as universally superior to another, Morris said.
“Overall, we want what we do to be about lifting each other up,” she said. “Sometimes people have a tendency to run their mouths or be disrespectful, and that’s not what the community is for.”
This notion reverberates around the individuals who partner with “TX Street Society” to promote an ethical car culture throughout the West Texas region. Dakon Tindol, a Snyder native and former high school classmate of Sorrells, echoed this same sentiment.
Tindol’s 2013 Ford Shelby Mustang GT500 boasts an astounding 662 horsepower and its supercharged 5.8 liter V8 engine was the most powerful in a North American production car ever at the time when it was manufactured in 2012, he said. He relishes the opportunity to discuss its merits with intrigued passerby but refuses to take a braggadocios attitude towards his vehicle.
“A lot of people, no matter what, only care about racing,” Tindol said. “They only care about proving that their car is better than yours.”
Despite the persistence of boastful posturing, Tindol said his favorite part of the Lubbock car scene is conversing with fellow enthusiasts at meetups and car shows. This shared affinity for automotives breeds an overwhelmingly positive atmosphere at these events.
No matter what one’s personal preferences are, finding common ground with other aficionados is what he finds most enjoyable. Tindol believes no one deserves to be looked down upon for what they drive, he said.
“No matter what, the most important thing is to enjoy your vehicle,” Tindol said. “Whether it’s a four-cylinder, six-cylinder, eight-cylinder or above, be safe and have fun. Horsepower doesn’t matter as long as you enjoy your vehicle.”
About Reece Nations: Undergraduate Managing Editor
