How to get better lighting for better quality pictures?

Ok me and my friends started and run a car meet. We have been taking picture of the cars coming out with a d3000 and a cannon and other Nikon dslr that I forget which model.
However, we meet in a parking lot at night where the lighting is absolutely awful. We're wanting to set up a station to set up with some lighting and tripod and all that to get great pictures but no clue what equipment I need to get as I'm not that experienced with photography right now. Prefer to spend as less as possible but need stuff that will last.

Actually you need to learn how to "see" light and then use it to produce the best possible images.

Shooting at night in a parking lot is NOT good lighting.

Shoot your cars at sunrise or sunset and make sure that the light crosses the cars at an angle so you see the textures in the various parts of the car. Like the tires, wheels, contours of the body, etc.

Here is a link. Do not worry about spending a ton of money on the lighting you use, but pay attention to how the light caresses the body of the car.

Just so you know. Cannons shoot cannon balls. Canon makes cameras among other things

Three things;
- head over to the Strobist site and learn about how to light
- Yongnuo YN 560's are great little manual flashes that cost around £30 each. A lightweight light stand to put them on will cost around £15. If you need to soften the light you'll need an umbrella or softbox (around £40).
- a set of RF602 triggers to fire them off camera costs around £20.