FRIDAY NIGHT GATHERING AT BINFORDS WRECKING YARD KENT WASHINGTON 6/21/24

Well I started to post this thread with the heading of "event coverage", but I didn't want to have to worry about the wheels or anything that might get this thread deleted, so all of these cool photos wound up here.

I know that such gatherings as the "Annual Lone Star Round Up" are so cool, that people from across the country go to it, Austin Texas has that kind of pull to it.

Are you listening @Ryan, because if you are, this place "Binfords Auto Wrecking" in Kent Washington, @Hitchhiker , is one of those rare places, that is very unique, in that the owner David Binford, really does care about having a place, that lets everyone and every type of machine have a great time, at NO CHARGE!

What was really surprising to me was, when I used to be a daily truck driver delivering to that area where this place is located, I had never gone down the little out of the way road to get to it, that would reveal what this place is.

Literally hidden right under my nose so to speak.

Its about as perfect as a gearheads dream can be, of what a wrecking yard, can be, with a huge mowed front yard of about 3 open acres, where cars and trucks and you name it, can come to weekly, on Friday nights, to hang out, listen to live music, and have kick *** BBQ from "Willies Addictive BBQ".

It just doesn't get much better that !

My friend John Harwood turned me onto this place, he drove his kick *** 36 Ford down to Kent, he said, you want to get there at about 3:30 PM, sure don't want to miss Willies Brisket, before he runs out of, its that good and its that popular!

John sure was correct on that, Willies BBQ is truly "kick ***" large portions, and great sides, all at a fair price!

Last night was my first time to go there, and it wasn't a disappointment at all, on the contrary, it was a bit of pure perfection as to how to have a great place, where people can get together and enjoy themselves.

You can make all of the noise that want, its right next to the train tracks, and you can rev up your engines, and do burn outs on the road out front, etc, nobody is going to complain!

Gotta love that !

And it wasn't that far away from where I live here in Seattle, that is just 25 miles!

The weather was hot, and clear sky's yesterday.
The gathering usually goes to about 11:30 PM, I stayed for a couple of hour's because I had other chores to tend to at home.

The field last night had about 450 cars and trucks. There is no charge to get into this place, how ever there is a cool milk can with a slot in the lid for donations, which I gladly contributed to it.

There is no one telling you where to park, so you just park any place on the field that you want to.

David Binford figured out pretty quickly, when he first started doing this, right after covid.

At first he and his family thought about charging admission, but if that was done, then its considered an event, which means there has to be insurance, taxes paid, permits, etc, etc, etc, so none of that ******** applies here.

So basically, its a simple matter of, hey, I have no idea of who all of these people are with all of these various cars and trucks, our gate was open, and they all just showed up here on our nicely mowed front yard outside, of the wrecking yard gate and fence!

It's literally just that simple.

So the following, shot's by me, on my cell phone, and cropped by me, will tell the story, so to speak. The sun was low, so apologies for some of the lens flair.

Enjoy the photos,
Thanks from Dennis.

 

More cool stuff.
The lady at the table in the white T-Shirt, is David Binfords Mother, the shirt says,
"I am David Binfords Mom"
She is very cool, and very much into all of this cool stuff!

 

There is an amazing line up of older trucks of all makes and sizes along the fence, of the big mowed gr*** area.
There is a great, well thought out band and stage area, constructed out of containers, with a nice dance floor in front of it.
And one of the coolest pieces to this big puzzle, whether its real or a replica, or just a cool old Kenworth bus, the total "Buddy Holly" motif, is just kick *** to the max!

Thanks from Dennis, for following along on this thread !

 

I wonder if the heater is still broken in the bus

 

That's cold....

 

Cool to see these events going on. I grew up in Puyallup .... spent several years working in Auburn.
Been to Kent too many times to count.

Looks like a real cool fun time, I can see why there is such a great turnout ..... That stage is *****en Makes me want to dance just looking at it.

Been 25 years since I have been back to that area .... has changed so much since the 1970's .... I can only imagine what it looks like today.

 

Hey @Los_Control
I have lived here in the Seattle area since 1979, and I can tell you, yes indeed, so much has changed over the decades. Its amazing how many tilt up warehouses there are in the Kent valley, and more of them being built as time goes by.
Thanks for the reply.

 

I love this picture as I pulled many parts for my Pontiac and my friends cars from Halls many moons ago. I was a great wrecking yard.

 

That’s under 10 miles down the hill from me. Great location and low key event. The only down side is the other little show and shines on Friday nights really took a hit.

 

Hey @miker98038
I totally get that, and appreciate your reply.
But in the grand scheme of things, in regards to other show and shines, this cool gathering weekly at BINFORDS, it pretty hard to beat or to compete with.
Last week was my first time to go there, I will be going back again this coming Friday night.

The annual Greenwood Car Show, is happening this coming Saturday.



I miss a lot of venues that are not here anymore in this region, I am thankful that BINFORDS is doing what they are doing.

Thanks from Dennis.

 

If that sounded like a complaint or criticism, it wasn’t. I think it’s great. Down town Enumclaw, Black Diamond, and Covington have similar events. But the venue is limited, and surrounding property owners aren’t always thrilled. Binfords is a great step up.

I was born and raised in Renton, driving in the mid 60’s when “the loop” was at its high point. Trying to avoid Black Bart and a ticket for whatever.

 

Hey @miker98038
As stated, I totally appreciate your reply, so no offense taken what so ever.
I have been in the Seattle area since 1979, so there is a ton of cool stuff that I have missed, or have not been aware of.

I have a ton of respect for people such as you, that were born here and got to enjoy all of the cool venues and hang outs from the 60's and other time periods as well.

Years ago when I was living in Bellingham, in the Fairhaven district, I went to a rod run in Yakima with my friend in his 40 Ford, and that was a real hoot.
High heat, got to go floating in an inner tube in that river over there, plus got to meet a lot of cool gear heads.

Thanks for the reply.
Maybe I will see you at BINFORDS this Friday night.
Thanks from Dennis.

 

Looks like great cruise- show- c friends. U lucky to have, enjoy. What sporty looking thing on back of Mack roll back? Maybe a picture this Friday?

 

Hey @AmishMike
I will get a closer look at it, and get a couple of pictures of it for you.
Thanks from Dennis.

 

Hey @AmishMike
I did go back down to BINFORDS this past Friday night, and took a few shots of the car body on the back of that mack that you had inquired about. Hard to tell what it was, maybe you can figure it out, it appears to be some kind of fibergl*** kit car.
Thanks from Dennis.

 

This looks like a blast! Glad you posted it, I get out that way for work now and again.

PS that kit car looks like a Fiberfab Valkyrie to me anyway.