A Community for Car
Cars and Coffee is a known phenomenon, found in parking lots, businesses, and event spaces across the world. People of all ages, financial backgrounds, interests and skill sets come together to showcase their passion for motorized vehicles. It is always an eclectic group, and it is quite common to find supercars and exotics parked next to $800 junk yard finds and intergenerational passion projects. It is the best of the best in terms of community togetherness, where all walks of life feel at home in their love and appreciation for the combustion engine. The Pacific North West is no exception.
If You Feed Them, They Will Come
In my journey to expand my business, Cars and Coffee has become a focal point for rubbing shoulders with the movers and shakers in the automotive world. More often than not, these events are hosted by auto connoisseurs, members of groups, organizations, businesses and foundations that love cars to the point that they spend their own time and hard earned money to facilitate the gathering of like-minded souls. In Coeur d'Alene, the mountainous lake-resort city found in northern Idaho, a local by the name of Steven has collaborated with the Church of the Nazarene to bring about a weekly cars and coffee event that brings all kinds of remarkable cars out of their garages. Offering coffee and donuts and sometimes extra goodies when we're involved, attendees can fill their bellies and share their experiences over a hot cup of donated coffee.
Being the enterprising entrepreneur that I am, it took me about a week to get involved in the local gathering, and it has helped me assimilate into the community faster than I could have hoped for.
A Generational Melting Pot
I think I can safely say that the love of cars is not limited to the young and restless. There is a history of automobiles that is as animated and competitive as love or war, and the culture extends into racing, custom building, manufacturing prowess and skill based performance. Supporters of these various elements are often out in force, and the image below is a perfect example of the lengths people will go to keep the history of cars alive. Many of the American muscle car fanatics are well aware of the Shelby Cobra, and an owner can be spotted with an infographic depicting the epic history surrounding the birth of this incredible machine and the obstacles Ford overcame to create it. It is these kinds of acts that mean so much to the community and something I always love to see.
It is actually rare in Coeur d'Alene to know every car that shows up. I am almost guaranteed to see a car I've never even heard of at one of these events, and it its been amazing to see how dedicated these owners are to restoring and preserving these rare vehicles. One of the shops in downtown CDA, Purveyors of Speed, currently has multiple cars in house that you might only see once in your life. That blows my mind, and to them its just another day on the job.
Don't Go Changing
My hope in writing these blogs is to let these individuals and businesses know that their efforts are not lost on the community. People keep coming back because they feel at home in these parking lots, surrounded by years of history and technical achievement. Keep going, keep pushing to bring people together for the love of cars. There is always something to learn, new people to meet, groups to join and fun to be had. Thank you for putting in the effort to keep people coming back. And if you've never been to one of these events, I strongly encourage you to come check one out. Ours is every Saturday at the Church of the Nazarene in Coeur d'Alene, and odds are you will feel right at home.