9/25/08
Welcome back! There's been no changes to the 240Z during this website break, but I did get it back out on the road again. And this time there were no freeways involved.
I've been looking forward to this last event since I missed it last Fall. (I was rebuilding the transmission at this time last year.) Datsuns NW once again held a cruise and BBQ outside Corvallis. They meet at a rural park, drive from there to another park at the top of Mary's Peak (highest point in the Oregon Coast Range), and then back to the first park for a BBQ. Last year's event sounded fun, so I wanted to try to go this year.
As I made my plans and chatted to my friends about it, a couple of them also decided to go. Jim even drove down from Tacoma to come along, and spent the night before at our place.
On Saturday morning we headed up the back roads to Corvallis, and then on to Fort Hoskins Park. (No freeways, remember?) That in and of itself was a pleasant drive. There we met up with a group of Datsuns from Salem and farther North. It was a well attended event, with a good mix of vintage Datsuns. Unlike many events from the two NW Oregon Datsun clubs, this one was a bit lighter on 510s and pickups than most, with a higher than normal percentage of Zs and Roadsters.
After a while, people started breaking into small groups and leaving for the 25 mile run to Mary's Peak. There was a small miscue with the maps provided, they directed everyone on to a gravel road that was gated at the far end. Oops! Luckily, most of us figured that out in short order and took the paved roads instead. Said roads are all reasonably well-paved, pleasantly curvy, and had relatively light traffic this weekend. A good time, even for those of us not willing to drive as hard as some of the group does. (No, the burn-out tracks in the picture were not from any of our group, we were all better behaved than that.)
After photos and chit-chat at the top, we all drove back to Fort Hoskins, where the club barbequed ribs and burgers for all of us. Finally around mid-afternoon, the group began to break up and trickle back home. The drive home (back roads again) was also quite pleasant. A very good day.
