Three generations of hot rods

COEUR d'ALENE — Jacques Croom II was warned by his father at a young age that, if you don't know when to ease up on the gas in hot rods, danger looms.

But that didn't stop the Coeur d'Alene man and retired law enforcement officer from putting a car collection into gear.

"Dad warned me to stay away from fast cars, but a friend got me into building motors," Croom said. "We just kept turning wrenches and turning wrenches. It's a neat skill to have and it saves a ton of money."

Croom owns three hot rods — a 1970 Chevy Chevelle SS 454 with a newspaper box from The Press bolted to the motor, a 1987 Buick Grand National and a 2010 Dodge Challenger 570X by Steve Saleen.

If it's not too hot, Croom said he'll drive the Chevelle "Pro Street" with license plates "2WILD4U" in tonight's Car d’Lane cruise downtown from 6 to 9 p.m.

"With its horsepower, it doesn't like going 3 mph," he said. "It wants to move everything out of its way and move down the road."

As with anything newspaper-related, Croom said he gets a lot of questions with The Press box. He's often asked if he delivers papers.

"I tell them that I enjoy it, but I think I'm losing money because they pay me 8 cents to deliver each paper and it costs me a dollar in gas to get it there," Croom joked.

Croom, 54, said bolting newspaper boxes to engines was a common sight when he lived on the East Coast, so he wanted to localize his car (as reporters often do with their stories) when he moved to Coeur d'Alene.

"I asked The Press if they'd mind if I could have an extra box when I subscribed," he said.

The intent of the box is to force more air into the carburetor.

"More air in, more air out, more horsepower," Croom said.

As if the Chevelle needs any more giddy-up with a Chevy big block engine and 750 horsepower.

"This is a 10-second machine in a quarter of a mile," Croom said. "Zero to 60 (mph) in 2.5 seconds with the front tires in the air."

Among the unique features on the car is that the alternator spins backward.

"There's no air conditioning, no heater, no stereo," Croom said. "So what's special about this car? It's right there (pointing at the engine)."

Croom calls the exposed engine on the Chevy "probable cause for pulling you over."

Croom said Chevelles were the favorite car of his late brother, Richard, who died of brain cancer at 47 six years ago, so the car has special meaning to him.

"I'm the rock-and-roll drummer who's lived life to the max and he's the one who is gone," Croom said. "I still struggle with that."

The Grand National, which has a turbo-charged V6 motor, was the first new car Croom purchased.

"They only made it one year and in one color (black)," he said. "It was the first turbo-

charged production car made in America."

Croom said he paid $16,000 for it when the market crashed and such cars had been selling for $25,000.

"I couldn't beat that and it was the last one at the dealership," said Croom, who was 26 at the time. "When you step on the gas, it launches. Once you drive with that power, you're hooked. I had fooled around with other cars, but I thought it was time to have a hot rod for the rest of my life."

Croom bought his Challenger in 2010 as the 14th car produced in its line. He rarely drives the gem, which has just 320 miles on it.

"It has every bell and whistle you could possibly want in a car," he said. "The Dodge Challenger was my favorite car growing up."

Hot rods and classic cars run in the Croom family, as Jacques' father, Jacques I, plans to drive his two-tone green 1960 Thunderbird in Car d'Lane.

"My dad got it for my mom in 1960, and I inherited it in 1980," Jacques I said. "We'll keep this a family car."

Jacques III, a 16-year-old representing the latest generation of Crooms, is now reveling in hot rods.

Even with all of the speed at his disposal, Jacques II has never had a speeding ticket. He said he had his fill of accidents while on patrol.

"I support law enforcement for checking me out," he said, referring to his hot rods. "I'm careful when I drive. Have fun with cars, but stay alive."

Like many local residents, once Jacques II got a taste of Coeur d'Alene, he fell in love with North Idaho. He moved here from Maryland five years ago.

"My first memory was being here for a car show," he said. "It was a beautiful city even on a rainy day."