51 replies to this topic

[kalvin]

Cross posted from Vortex:



The Port Townsend Cruise has become the “jump-start” event for the Pacific Northwest European car community. The cruise begins at Pacific Raceways and ends in the “Historic Victorian Seaport & Gateway to the Olympic Peninsula” – Port Townsend, WA! Local German-car tuning shop Achtuning plays host to the annual Port Townsend Cruise. What first started as a small cruise among a handful of Seattle-area VW owners has quickly grown to a large gathering of VW, Audi, BMW, Mercedes, Volvo, and Porsche enthusiasts from all over the PacNW and beyond.

Port Townsend Cruise participants enjoy a leisurely cruise around the Puget Sound and end up in Memorial Field, Port Townsend’s athletic recreation facility which is nestled in the heart of down town. A relaxed tail-gating environment ensues and participants are free to roam about Port Townsend and check out what the port side city has to offer! Cruise participants are encouraged to bring a minimum of 4 cans of food or other non-perishable food items which are collected and donated to Northwest Harvest in exchange for parking within Memorial Field.

Specific details of the 2012 event will be updated frequently so check back often! “Like” us on Facebook to stay up-to-date with new information and announcements as well!

What/Where: Cruise to Port Townsend from Pacific Raceways
When: Saturday, March 31sth at 9:00 am, departing at 10:30 am.
Why: To enjoy a cruise with fellow European car enthusiasts and to support NW Harvest.
Who: All European car enthusiasts

Meeting spot: Pacific Raceways

Meeting time: 9:00 am

- Participants gather to check out each others rides, group up, etc.
- During this time, canned food will be collected (4-can minimum per car) for NW Harvest. Achtuning will hand out a “parking pass” in exchange for your donation which gains you access into Memorial Field once you arrive in Port Townsend. Those of you who are unable to meet us at Pacific Raceways prior to the cruise can exchange your NW Harvest donations for parking passes as you enter Memorial Field. (Be sure to have your donation readily available to expedite this process.)

Donations: Northwest Harvest will accept any nonperishable food or monetary donation. Please select shelf-stable food with the lowest saturated fats and refined carbohydrates (sugar, white flour). NW Harvest buys white rice and beans in bulk, so we encourage you to donate other items. Here are some suggestions:

General food items:
* Oatmeal
* Whole grain pastas
* Brown rice
* Tomato products
* Canned vegetables
* Canned fruit, especially with low sugar (but not artificial sweeteners)
* Canned fish or meat
* Shelf-stable milk
* Beef stew, chili and similar meals with low sugar and saturated fats

Infant and baby foods:
* Baby formula
* Canned milk
* Infant cereal
* Jars of baby food
* Powdered or canned milk
* Baby diapers

Departure time: 10:30 am

- Leave Pacific Raceways and cruise to Port Townsend by way Hwy 18 West, I-5 South, HWY 16 West, Hwy 3 North, turn left on HWY 104. After the Hood Canal bridge take right onto Hwy 19, continue north onto Hwy 20, end at Port Townsend.

In Port Townsend:
- Achtuning has arranged for parking inside Memorial Stadium upon arrival into Port Townsend. Parking passes collected at Pacific Raceways in exchange for canned food will gain you access into Memorial Field, where you can park your car for the duration of our stay in Port Townsend. Those of you who cannot make it to Pacific Raceways can also exchange cans of food for parking passes upon entering Memorial Field. (Please have your cans ready before entering stadium to expedite this process.)

- Reserved parking in Port Townsend from 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm. During this time, you are free to roam about and check out all the cars. Please support the City of Port Townsend and have yourself some lunch at one of the many good eating locations in town.

Please read the following information regarding Memorial Field, our host in Port Townsend.

1. PLEASE PARK as close to other cars as you would in a normal parking lot, so we all fit.
2. All Memorial Field staff are volunteers hoping to help you out. Please be courteous and respectful to them. They are there to help us!
3. NO TIPPING PLEASE.
4. Enter and exit off of Washington St. only
5. Have pets pee on the perimeter areas, not the main field. Pick up poop.
6. Garbage cans and restrooms available – center of main stadium.
7. One or two picnic tables available.
8. Make yourself at home, picnics, tailgating and hanging out are welcomed! It is a cool place.
9. There are walk through gates in the middle of the grandstand, near the Quincy Exit, and at the top of the stairs!
10. Drive slow and carefully!!

** If you were unable to meet at Pacific Raceways to exchange canned food for a parking pass, have your canned food donations ready upon entering
Memorial Field. Volunteers will take them in exchange for your parking pass.

We would like use of Memorial Field for many years to come, so please adhere to the rules and clean up after yourselves. Again, you are an ambassador to the European car community and we hope to continue leaving a positive impression among the residents and business owners of Port Townsend. Also understand space inside the stadium is limited. We may not be able to guarantee parking for everyone. Thanks in advance for understanding.

Drive carefully and safely!! We cannot stress enough the importance of how this is to be a safe drive. Mind your driving habits on this cruise! When we drive as a group, each and every one of us represents the community as a whole . No burn-outs in the parking lots, no illegal lane-passing (or shoulder passing), keep a controlled speed and safe following distance at all times, and respect the Port Townsend community and other communities that we pass through. Give everyone else the right-of-way. DO NOT keep people from merging onto the highway just because you do not want to be separated by the European car in front of you!! I strongly encourage anyone to call 911 and report those driving unsafely. There is a rather large risk in traveling in large groups like this and we need to realize that despite our numbers, we do NOT own the road!! Furthermore, be sure to keep noise levels in Port Townsend to a minimum. We all know what aftermarket exhausts sound like. No need to show that off for the sake of annoying Port Townsend residents.

Stay tuned here or on Facebook for updates as they become available.

[JackS60]

I've always wanted to do a cruise along hood canal. I regularly make the drive from Bremerton to Hoodsport along the canal and it's a unbelievably beautiful drive. Can't wait to cruise it with you guys on the 31st. I'm more than in.

There's a much more beautiful drive than the one suggested. Highway 101 is the way to go.

[Kraske]

Will it be Z friendly? It's the weekend after Nissan Fest so I may not have teh V9000+ around to take.

[kalvin]

Should be fine.

[NEU]

I done this drive several times when I was up there for work. Also took the ferry back to Seattle from Bainbridge Island. What a beautiful drive and scenery! I remember driving past tons of purple lavender fields. I spent 2 weeks in Port Townsend and my co-workers and I hung out at the Port Townsend Brewery every night we were there.. I was there so much the folks their thought I just moved into town...

Sounds like a VERY cool event, wish I could go!

[Swag Swag]

Really fun cruise, did it the last couple years.

Only advise to new people going, don't speed when you pass the hood canal bridge, and break off to go eat lunch before the massive crowd does, it's a massive cluster F to try to get a table anywhere.

[herz3mc]

THis is a really beautiful drive, although probably better with a small group.
My sister is getting married on the 31st so we won't make it. Have fun!

[JackS60]

What is this "beautiful route" everyone is talking about? Idk-I don't remember highway 3 being that nice. I say when you hit Bremerton, take 3 westbound, then 106 along the canal then 101 along the canal. Stunning beautiful drives along those highways- even if it does take longer.

[Swag Swag]

Highway 3 is a shitt box, it's after the bridge where it gets pretty. taking 104 to 20 into or out of town is the best, plus you can stop for oysters lol

[JackS60]

Swag Swag, on 02 February 2012 - 12:52 AM, said:

Highway 3 is a shitt box, it's after the bridge where it gets pretty. taking 104 to 20 into or out of town is the best, plus you can stop for oysters lol

Definitely agree the road between Narrows and Bremerton is AMAZING. But then you can take the canal which is stunning as well. That's the way I'm going.

[kalvin]

Less than a month out y'all.

[dmelviØØ7]

Considering it...

[kalvin]

The backup date is under consideration due to the organizers referring to the end point field being a "wet sponge".

Backup date is April 28th. Should know by Monday or Tuesday.

[JackS60]

I know this is my first time and I don't want to change the way things are done, but highway 3 isn't that nice, and though this route is longer, it's MUCH better and way prettier, with many turnoffs that will make for great pictures looking onto Hood Canal. I've done the drive many times and honestly, it's the best I've ever done. Taylor Fin and I are down so we're trying to see who else wants to come with. It's a way better drive, just throwing this out there...

[goldponcho]

Ooh, I like this route! I don't care much for driving from Bremerton over to Kent for the start, but can catch the caravan around Gig Harbor or something. Also, looks like the organizers were able to confirm it's on for Saturday.

[JackS60]

goldponcho, on 27 March 2012 - 12:52 AM, said:

Ooh, I like this route!

That's 3 for going on the 101 (one of the most beautiful drives in WA), we need more!

[dmelviØØ7]

Isn't half the point of the drive cruising with all the other cars? There are probably going to be over 500 cars on the drive? Not to mention if you want some sick ass rolling shots of your car stick with the group. My S70 photos from that drive have been in multiple iPd publications over the years.

[kalvin]

dmelviØØ7, on 27 March 2012 - 02:31 AM, said:

Isn't half the point of the drive cruising with all the other cars? There are probably going to be over 500 cars on the drive? Not to mention if you want some sick ass rolling shots of your car stick with the group. My S70 photos from that drive have been in multiple iPd publications over the years.

This. I have never been on this drive in particular and I prefer driving where I can see the other cars. I will be travelling the route the organizers have planned for.

Plus I will have a passenger who will be taking rolling shots.

Also the original date is still a GO.

[kalvin]

Also:


Achtuning has stepped it up a notch and came up with a new idea for this year’s “parking pass”, given in exchange for your Northwest Harvest donation and gains you access into Memorial Field for parking.





Be sure to read through the “event specifics” if you haven’t already to see exactly what types of donations Northwest Harvest is willing to accept.

[goldponcho]

Kalvin has a good point. It's nice to have other cars w/ cameras, to take rolling shots and vid. So tempting either way. Now to decide on whether or not to take wife and son......