Start your engines for Car d'Lane

Thanks to a perfect storm of weather and word-of-mouth, organizers say this weekend’s festivities are the most popular Car d’Lane in recent memory.

“We are so excited about Car d’Lane,” Emily Boyd of the Coeur d’Alene Downtown Association said. “I don’t want to jinx anything, but it’s been quite a while since we’ve had wonderful weather in the forecast for both Friday and Saturday for this event. The weather’s a big deal to the car enthusiasts, because they understandably care about their paint jobs, so the sunshine will definitely help.”

Festivities begin today at 5 p.m. as the Red Hot Mamas hit the gas with a Rock ‘n Roll Parade downtown to kick things off. At 6 p.m., the 28th annual Car d’Lane Cruise starts its engines. Car enthusiasts will show off their wheels, rolling their stylish rides down smooth roads in a loop around the downtown area. Boyd estimates 600 vehicles could make an appearance at the opening event.

The event requires certain streets downtown be barricaded. Sherman Avenue will close at 4 p.m. and remain closed through Saturday evening. Front Street and 10th Street south of Sherman, as well as East Mullen Avenue from Ninth Street to 10th, will also close at 4 p.m. and will not open again until 9:30 p.m. Front Street will then close again at 3 a.m. in preparation for Saturday’s main event.

Lakeside from Eighth Street to Fourth, Fourth to Wallace Avenue, Wallace to Second Street and Second back to Sherman will all close at 4 p.m. and will not re-open until 9:30 p.m. that night. Residents living within this loop will have limited access during the cruise, particularly between the hours of 6 and 9 p.m. The Downtown Association reminds all residents living on the loop that their vehicles must be moved off the streets.

Vehicles remaining on the loop route may be towed.

The cruise is the prelude to Saturday’s daylong event. Sherman Avenue and Front Street are ground zero to check out some of the most glamorous and expensive vehicles you might ever see. Roughly 400 participants are expected to park and show off their rides.

“This generates a lot of interest from car enthusiasts from around the country,” Downtown Association manager Terry Cooper said. “Some of these people — who are so proud of their cars — have put $100,000 or even $200,000 into their work. You’ll be amazed; it’s really astonishing.”

Apart from the traditional trophies, the Downtown Association is also recognizing a Young Builders group specifically for car enthusiasts 25 years or younger.

“It’s absolutely incredible to see some of the work these young drivers have done,” she said. “It opens up an entirely new demographic that can keep this tradition growing.”

Vendors and sponsors will line Sherman with booths for pedestrians to enjoy. Retro band Molly Starlite and the Sputniks will take over Sherman Square Park for a two-hour show starting at 11 a.m. Those looking for a quick trip through time can enter the Retro Studio’s Pin-Up Contest. And downtown businesses will help visitors create their own poker hand, running from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Cooper emphasized the weekend event means more to the area than simply two days of Detroit steel.

“Car d’Lane is the the first major event of each year that brings in people who stay,” he said. “It’s an important weekend for the entire area, and it generates real economic value. And this weather certainly won’t hurt. It’s going to be a wonderful weekend for all of us.”