Cruisin' Grand changes good for all

By: DEBRA ROSEN -- commentary | Wednesday, February 20, 2008 11:16 AM PST ∞

Over the years the Downtown Business Association has had to re-evaluate several of our events to ensure that they continue drawing people to downtown Escondido.

In keeping with that goal, over the past six months we've solicited input from the business community, visitors and car owners for ways to make Cruisin' Grand better.

The results will be evident as Cruisin' Grand returns to downtown Escondido on April 4 with exciting changes that we hope will bring more visitors to downtown Escondido.

There will be no changes to the original classic car area on Grand Avenue. This will continue to be designated for pre-'74 American cars.

One of the classic car awards this year will be designated the Kent Waldron Memorial Award. Steve Waldron, his son, will be choosing the winner of this award each week.

Maple Street will be closed from Grand to the alley between 6 and 9 p.m. for more classic car parking.

The car awards ceremony is restructured to invite the winning cars to return the following Friday for a reserved spot in the awards area for the entire evening, followed by their award presentation by our sponsors.

Steve Waldron, Cruisin' Grand's car adviser and co-founder, will conduct the interviews with the winners. The awards will be selected by our title sponsor ---- Kragen Auto Parts ---- the awards night sponsor, a visiting dignitary or city official, featured car club representative, and Steve Waldron.

There will be an auto-oriented vendor area on North Kalmia starting in June and continuing through August. North Kalmia will be closed to traffic and parking from Grand to the alley to bring in local auto-oriented businesses that want to sell their products to the attendees at Cruisin' Grand.

A "Special Attraction" area west of Escondido Boulevard will bring in new customers and visitors to the downtown business district and to Cruisin' Grand. This area will be reserved one night only for non-American Car Clubs (e.g., Porches and Ferraris) or newer American classics.

Also, specialty vehicles (e.g., desert vehicles, drag boats, or vintage travel trailers) will be invited to sign up for a special night. The area for these vehicles will be from Escondido Boulevard to Orange Street, and will be posted "no parking" for other vehicles from 4 to 9 p.m. This area of Grand has not been utilized by classic cars for a number of years, and the special attractions will add activity and customers to the businesses on the two blocks west of Escondido Boulevard.

Concerts featuring live music will be held between 7:30 and 9 p.m. one Friday each month on the lawn at Washington Mutual Bank (corner of West Grand and Orange Street) beginning in June. Visitors are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs and blankets.

Cruisin' Grand will continue with specialty nights (e.g., AFX Night, Nitro Night, and Sprint/Midget Car Night).

Debra Rosen is the CEO of the Downtown Business Association of Escondido.