Start Your Engines

If you are afraid of fast cars (Tracy Chapman) or of movie characters existing in reality (Tom Cruise), then don't go downtown today. Because two characters from the upcoming Pixar film Cars---sotto voce: in theaters everywhere June 9th---are making an appearance at Westlake, as real-life cars.

Life size models of hotshot rookie racecar Lightning McQueen (voiced by Owen Wilson) and Sally Carrera, a snazzy 2002 Porsche 911 (voiced by Bonnie Hunt) will be on display at Westlake Park (401 Pine Street) this Friday, May 5th from 4-6 PM.

The film's sheet metal counterparts were created by famed movie car creator and customizer Eddie Paul of Customs By Eddie Paul, with help from Porsche and Pixar Animation Studios' artists and technicians. Paul is responsible for famous Hollywood car creations such as the hot rod that John Travolta drove in Grease, as well as custom built vehicles for The Fast and the Furious and xXx.

Despite the mention of those last two "films," Eddie Paul does some good work. He created the General Lee, for Dukes' sake!

Cars' cars are only going to be in town today. Then they're heading across the country, making pit stops along the way, until they reach Lowe's Motor Speedway in Charlotte, NC, for the film's May 26th world premiere. And after that, they're going to infinity and beyond, by which we mean "this movie is going to make several hundred million dollars."