CAR d’LANE: Not about me

I’ve lived in Coeur d’Alene pushing 70 years. My family took The Press. I grew up with The Press. I delivered The Press after school to the paperboys (it was an afternoon paper). I once sold ads for The Press. I still read The Press with every breakfast. But for the first time in my life, I am really ticked off at The Press.  

In the runup to Car d’Lane, The Press prepares an insert featuring info about Car d’Lane and as much advertising as they can sell. Nice event program, actually.

A representative from The Press contacted the wonderful crew at the Downtown Association and asked about the background and history of Car d’Lane. And my name came up. When contacted, I said here’s my cell, here’s my email, but if they are looking for stuff about Car d’Lane they should go back through the many issues they have published every year since it started. It’s all there, look it up.  

Yeah, so I’m the guy who coined Car d’Lane. And yeah, I do the announcing and manage the judging. And yeah, I’m the guy who remembers the beginning. But Car d’Lane isn’t about me.

To say that I was shocked when I saw what was actually printed in this year’s edition would be an understatement. They pulled a seven-year-old column written by Ric Clarke. Ric, at the time, was doing a weekly series about local folks, and I was one of the many people he wrote about. And in it, there is but one short mention of Car d’Lane.  

That space should have been devoted to Car d’Lane, not me. I am ashamed and embarrassed that my name splatters a publication about an event that I am such a small part of. I write this cringing at the thought of what crap I’ll get from people on the day of the event (and with hundreds of copies available at the show!).

While flattering it may be, I don’t want or need that publicity. I’d like an apology from The Press on this.

DAVE WALKER

Coeur d’Alene Lifer