Hitchin' a ride

COEUR d’ALENE — The engines began to purr even before the Car d'Lane Cruise commenced at 6 p.m.

Spectators funneled into downtown Coeur d'Alene early Friday evening to find the perfect vantage point as more than 500 vintage, classic and tricked-out rides paraded through the streets in celebration of Car d'Lane's 30th anniversary.

"We live downtownish, we've lived here for a long time and it's just fun to check it out," Mag Behrmann said, watching the procession with her sister, Liz Keller. "We're not that into cars, but it's just fun to come downtown."

"We only recognize the ones from our childhood, the '70s," Keller said.

"A lot of the cars," Behrmann added, "we're like, 'Yeah, our grandma had that or our uncle had that or our parents had that.'"

Spirits and sensations of nostalgia were high while Rangers, Impalas, Bel Airs, Thunderbirds and everything in between thrilled event-goers with their fantastic fins, superb spoilers, intricate engines and other impressive automotive sounds and aesthetics.

"Love it!" Ron Mehaffey said, standing up through the roof of a 1960 Volkswagen Deluxe 23-window Microbus.

Again at the front of the parade this year were Napa Auto Parts owners Eric and Tonya Waide, in their Napa blue-and-yellow 1936 Chevy panel truck.

"Everybody is just ready to get out and get back to things that we maybe took for granted," Eric said. "This just happens to be a perfect time to kick off summer."

Napa has led the cruises for at least 10 years. This is also a special year for the auto parts store as it celebrates 70 years in business.

"My grandfather opened the Napa store in Coeur d'Alene over where Norm's Body Shop is in 1951," Eric said.

In a creamy 1973 Mustang convertible, Mike and Jody White of Mike White Ford couldn't help but smile to participate in the cruise again.

"We're super excited," Mike said. "It's really one of the great Coeur d'Alene events."

The Mustang, he said, is a one-owner original with just 18,000 miles.

"It's a super cool car," he said, adding that when he drives it he feels "nostalgic."

"I had a '72, a long time ago," he said with a grin.

Along the parade route, Kermit the Frog hitched a ride with Tom and Karen Noble of Post Falls on the back of their frog green 1976 MG Midget.

"She thought it looked good with the car," Tom said. "A lot of kids love it."

Hood ornaments and decorations included American flags, skeletons and alligators. One vehicle featured a handful of passengers actually having a barbecue on a charcoal grill.

A 1976 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am with a sweet firebird decal was driven by Mark Spangler of Post Falls. This was the first time he drove the Trans Am in the cruise, although he hasn't missed a Car d'Lane since he moved to the area a few years ago except for 2020.

"We love it," he said. "We missed it last year."

He said the car was originally totaled in 1978, but his uncle restored it and the car changed hands to different family friends through the years.

"I've been working on this car for 35 years, I thought I'd better buy it," he said. "The last friend that had it I said, 'Hey, I'm going to buy that from you.'"

The Car d'Lane festivities continue today with a show and shine car show, poker walk, pinup contest and young builders alley.