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Coffee, cars and camaraderie

by MADISON HARDY
Staff Writer | August 20, 2021 1:00 AM

Whether you have a couple decades under the hood or are straight off the lot, there's a place for you — and your car — in the Coeur d’Alene Cars n Coffee Facebook group. 

New, old, foreign or American-made are welcome to attend group events held in the parking lot next to the Culinary Stone in Riverstone twice a month. There are no trophies, no time limits — just community, participant Chris Barr said.

“Cars are a part of American history,” said Barr, 62. 

Since hosting the first Coeur d’Alene Cars n Coffee event May 1, coordinator Steven Cox said the group has grown exponentially. 

“At our first event, we had about 10 cars, and it has grown bigger each time,” Cox said. “This last event [Aug. 7] had over 60 cars and hundreds of people.” 

What sets the group apart from car shows and similar gatherings, Matthew Edwards said, is that events are organized, casual; also, “nothing gets messed up, and nobody does anything stupid.”

“Nobody’s doing burnouts in the parking lot. It’s just a hangout where you can talk about cars,” said Edwards, 23. “To be able to talk and get to know different people and their cars is what keeps me going.” 

Edwards said his love of cars started with his childhood collection of Hot Wheels. Then, it was RC Cars. Now it's his blue 2011 BMW M3. Zach Cicero, 21, has the same model but in red. 

Cicero bought his BMW about a year ago after taking it for a test drive. 

“It blew my mind,” Cicero said. “I ended up buying it the next day.”

For Cox, being around and working on cars takes him back to his roots. A key player in that nostalgia is Cox’s 1966 Volvo 1800S. 

“I used to have a car just like that in high school when I was 18,” Cox said, pointing to his light-green Volvo. “I always wanted another one.”

In the past, a Cars n Coffee group has formed in Kootenai County, Cox noted, but the winter has been a hurdle. To combat that, Cox hopes to be more inclusive and show off models that can tackle North Idaho's cold weather.

Another goal of the group, Cox said, is to encourage younger generations to continue the love of cars. 

“We’re trying to get the passion back into the younger crowd to carry on the torch of hot-rodders and car people,” he said. 

On Friday, the two youngest participants were Cooper Ray, 17, and Evan Nicholson, 18. Nicholson drives a 2012 Audi exclusive Nogaro Blue A4 Avant with the added blue trim interior. There are only two of this exact model and design in the world, Nicholson said. 

“My dad used to be the parts manager at Ford for 20 years, so I grew up around cars,” Nicholson said. “It’s kind of in my blood.”

After attending a few other groups, Nicholson said Ray recommended the Coeur d’Alene Cars n Coffee crew. 

“I was on Facebook looking for groups and found this one. Coincidentally, that was the first week they had formed this,” Ray said. “It was a little small, but each week it’s gotten bigger and bigger. It’s been awesome to see it grow and see all the enthusiasts from the area come around, and you know, talk about cars and drink coffee.” 

Ray’s wheels aren't the typical car-show find, but are still a gem of their own. The paint job and minimal modifications on Ray’s 1995 Ford F-150 Eddie Bauer edition have left it in pristine condition — to the point you wouldn’t suspect the car is 9 years older than the driver. 

Patrick Volkar, general manager of the Culinary Stone, thinks the Coeur d’Alene Cars n Coffee group is an excellent idea for the community. While Volkar noted he is not a “big engine guy,” he has a particular affinity for the old, nostalgic cars like his 1982 Volkswagen van.  

“It’s just a win-win situation all around, for the car enthusiast and Riverstone,” Volkar said. “When everyone comes out, they’re just happy to be here, to have an area to walk around and socialize.”

The group’s next event is from 8 to 11 a.m. Saturday.

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Since first meeting on May 1, the Coeur d'Alene Cars n Coffee Facebook group has grown to over 100 participants and vehicles. Photo courtesy Cars n Coffee.

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Steven Cox hopes to ignite a love of cars in younger generations through the Coeur d'Alene Cars n Coffee group. (MADISON HARDY/Press)