Hood River, OR this spring or early summer?

[dynaguy]

Sounds like a Great Idea! Anytime before June will make it on my calendar. For those traveling west an in need of a place to stay, we have a couple of guest rooms and lots of cold beverages. Hood River is about a six hour drive from our home in Moscow, Idaho. Pat Mahoney '69 sr20 project

[exit64]

OK people, still trying to nail down a date for this thing. Here are your choices. April 21-22 during Blossom Fest weekend or there abouts, another option is have a get together the day before the Canby show which I think would fall on June 13. Hood River is 60 miles up I-84 so anyone from the Seattle area could make a nice side trip and then continue to Canby Saturday morning. It is 1 1/2 hours to Canby from here. At that time of year Chinnok Pass is open so if it were me I would make a trip of it and do that drive and then come through Yakima and up the east end of the Gorge. A good reason to take a three day weekend. The last option is 4th of July or the weekend after. There is no Shasta this year so we could do something here instead. The only thing is that Mrs. Shifty is due with Jr. Shifty around that time so she might not want to put up with a bunch of Datsun nerds frying up meat on the back deck. So there are you choices. Sound off and let's figure this out.
exit64

[ppeters914]

another option is have a get together the day before the Canby show which I think would fall on June 13.

Correct. Canby 2008 is June 14-15

http://www.311s.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=48340

I like the April and June dates. Let Leigh deal with a pregnant woman in July.

[fossil]

"There is no Shasta this year so we could do something here instead." exit64[/quote]

There is a Shasta Datsun Roadster Meet this year as there has been for many years. Dates for Shasta are: July 11, & 12, (Friday and Saturday) The 4th is on Friday, so the meet bumps to the following weekend. All is set with the park and the caterer. Flyers and signup information is expected to be available in March or maybe sooner.

Since this is a forum for roadsters, I thought I should clarify the situation.

As I understand it, the 510 meet has been cancelled, however that can be considered to be an unconfirmed rumor.

Stan

[ppeters914]

"There is no Shasta this year so we could do something here instead." exit64

There is a Shasta Datsun Roadster Meet this year as there has been for many years. Dates for Shasta are: July 11, & 12, (Friday and Saturday)

As I understand it, the 510 meet has been cancelled, however that can be considered to be an unconfirmed rumor.

Confirmed fact.

[shifty]

OK so we have a date in mind - April 19th. This is during the blossom fest weekend and the weekend before Solvang.

[mrhyde]

Count me in on this one. Only a short distance from Portland.

Tom

[ppeters914]

It's on my calendar. JoAnne and Gordon said they're coming.

Is this a roadster/roadster owner only event? I'm guessing you're not trying to do a mini-Canby or Blue Lake.

[exit64]

I don't think this is limited to the Roadster crowd. One of the local guys has a 411 wagon so we want to get him included. There are a couple of nice older Z cars floating aroung town too that I wouldn't mind getting a closer look at. I should have both the 1600 and 2000 up and running by then so there will be at least one extra car up for grabs to drive if need be. I just need to put some new rubber on the 2000 and finish up with the carbs and dizzy and it should be good to go. I spent the better part of today ripping out a vintage stereo sytem and sorting out bad speaker wiring. Seems to be a common theme on all the cars that I end up with. Oh well, at least all the parts are there on this one.
I was thinking about posting this over on Ratsun too. Those guys might be and interesting addition to the mix. Although, I get the feeling that things could turn ugly given enough beer. But what the heck, I'm not afraid, what's the worst that could happen? Someone could try and cut the top off my Roadster?

[EScanlon]

...Is this a roadster/roadster owner only event? I'm guessing you're not trying to do a mini-Canby or Blue Lake.

Hey!

Why NOT make it a Mini-Canby / Blue Lake??
It doesn't have to have dozens of trophies, awards, vendors, pop-up tents and young girls in short skirts....Well, OK, DO include the last.

But since a LOT of the fun in owning a Roadster/510/Z/410 etc. is to DRIVE it, Hood River is an EXCELLENT destination.

You can access it via I-84 which is an interstate 2 lane highway with shoulders for those wishing a more sedate drive from Portland. For those wishing a more spirited ride, there's State Route 14 on the Washington side which now is a single lane for much of it's length, hugs the hill and valley sides much tighter than I-84 (which has it's own path cut or built up).

A note of caution on the WA 14 side: shoulders, curves, passing zones and drop offs can be a bit on the "pay attention = attention getting" side, so be duly advised. This does not imply that it is dangerous (all driving can be dangerous) just that this is not a road to be distracted on, and the view alone can be distracting. It is very well travelled, both by cars and trucks / buses of all sorts. Passing zones tend to be "tight", i.e. short and appear suddenly, so you need good acceleration to effect the pass.

From Tacoma area 161 or 7 to 12 ( or 12 from I-5 ) to 131 then to the last bit of 14. I've not driven this route, so others need to chime in, but the maps show the highways mentioned (7, 12, 131) in the same manner as 14. Therefore the same cautions as above probably apply.

The duration of the "meet/show" need not be formal and scheduled, it can be as loose as people want/make it. Heck, by opening it up to other Datsun owners (and maybe THERE is the distinction to make), it could be as varied and noteworthy as the Harley Davidson motorcycle meet from out in Wyoming/Montana (?)....well, maybe not, but you get the idea.

It doesn't have to even follow in the same pattern as Canby/Blue Lake (probably better that it doesn't, but that's just rumours). Just make it a fun weekend event and see where it heads.

That's my 2¢
Enrique

[ppeters914]

I don't think this is limited to the Roadster crowd. One of the local guys has a 411 wagon so we want to get him included.

I was thinking about posting this over on Ratsun too. Those guys might be and interesting addition to the mix. Although, I get the feeling that things could turn ugly given enough beer.

That's good 'cuz it's my 411 that'll be road-worthy first. I wouldn't worry about the Ratsun crowd....lotsa younger guys so maybe more young girls in skirts (I lost 10 minutes of gazing into space when I read that.....).

Should I post on the Bluebirds list? Lotsa Dimers between Seattle and Grants Pass.

Ummm, any details like what, if necessary, to bring, amount of parking available, speed trap locations, etc?

[exit64]

Pete,
Go ahead and post it on the Bluebird list. What's the worst thing that could happen, more Datsuns showing up in HR? I talked to the director at the air museum yesterday and he is very interested in us making a group appearance. They have a great collection of planes and everyone of them is airworthy. Also, I know that you post on the Ratsun site so if you think those guys want to get in on this I will put it up in the event section over there as well.
As far as speed traps go, watch out between Cascade Lock and HR. There are a couple of corners that the OSP and HRCS like to work. Weather that time of year can be a mixed bag and I will post the forecast as the time gets closer. I am also working on a deal with the Best Western for better room rates for any one that needs a place to stay. I will post more on this as I get the information together. If i could get a guess at a head count on who all is going to show up, it would help. That's about all for now. Keep the greasy side down,
Mike
aka exit64

[shifty]

I finally got a web page up for the event. I'll post more details as we get closer! RSVP through the web page if you are planning on attending!

http://www.shiftco.com/hood_river_run/