Hello all I'm in the Army and recently got orders for Ft. Richardson Alaska. I'm currently at Ft Hood in Texas but I'm looking forward to change. My question is how is the car scene in Alaska??? I plan on shipping my 62 Impala HT and my 96 Impala. Those are my toys..Too bad the Army only ships one vehicle and that would be my Explorer. I know it gets cold there but I plan on doing what I do here when it's cold outside and that is polish stuff. So if anyone in Alaska is reading this a polisher is coming to your area. I want to know everything about Alaska and I cant see being without my cars for 3 years.
Well I have some friends in bethel,They say no roads outside of town. Other than that I don't have a clue.But thanks for your service, good luck.
I worked in Anchorage for 3 mo. and all I can say if you like to polish when it's cold then your stuff should be plenty shiny or the paint will be worn through. Never been in a place where when I went to work in the morning I had to s****e the winshield and when I went home in the evening I had to s****e the windshield.
Ok car scene... VERY little when it comes to HAMB cars... your car WILL live in the garage, a min of 5 months a year.8 months if you dont have a heater. If your one of those guys who is to tough to wear leathers, dont bring your bike. guys start riding here at 35-40 and dry roads... in Anchorage we !MIGHT! have 10 days of 67*+ and pure sunshine. it snows by halloween, wont leave for good till may. That being said, there is ALWAYS a cruise or something going on here during the summer, and the scenery CANNOT be beat. You just cant be HAMB snobby if ya want to go cruise with other car guys. Moved Back up here from Texas City... ALSO... EAT ALL THE GOOD BBQ YOU CAN! YOU WILL MISS IT! If you have any questions pm me your number and I will help any way I can.
Hell it's too damned cold here and I'm not polishing anything. Welcome, thanks for your service, and good luck keeping warm.
Lived in Kodiak Ak for over ten years with the US Coast Guard. We built alot of fun toys up there, mainly 4 x 4's but we enjoyed our cars also. The car season is a short one but there are alot of nice rides in the area. Once you get there check in with the on base Auto Hobby Shop and they can give you a good idea of the local scene. A buddy and I took the "Great Alaskan Drive" a few years ago. Started in Homer, drove thru anchorage, in to Denali Park then on to Fairbanks, Chicken, and Tok, ending back in anchorage. 1400 or so miles in 7 days. What a blast!!! Good luck up there, my wife and I miss it.
OH... and give you a heads up on the weather. It warmmed up 59 degrees from tues, .... to 31 yep... -28 tues morning.
Wait till yer there for the 1st winter....you'll be looking forward to leaving asap.....lol. I grew up in Alaska thinkin' it was so great.....I didn't know any better.... Once I moved to WA and saw how much car stuff and other stuff there is to do, you couldn't pay me to ever visit the ****hole of the US again.... As far as car scene....not much....muscle cars are the cars ya mostly see....and they are big $$$...cause the salted roads rust out everything. I have freinds there that race at Polar running 8 second street cars...so there's "something" there... You could probably make good $$$ selling yer '62 there though.... Watch out for momma Moose......they will kill you.....
I've been to Alaska . . . so, do I get to opine? Get the car scoop from them that know ^^^ Half of the 500,000 population lives in Anchorage, and what struck me was that two miles outside of Anchorage and it is raw Mother Nature. Comes across like a frontier toehold in the brutal but spectacular wilderness. Good luck! Brrrr.
I know its cold there but as a Army Soldier Ive been taught to adapt and overcome. I'm a car freak and own everything from a 47 ford to a 96 Impala SS which is my current project. The 47 was getting work done to it but will be on hold for 3 yrs starting July. Ive had it since I was 15 and now Im 37. My retirement project for real now after my 3 yrs in Alaska because my 20yrs will be over then.
Well this summer will be my 49th year up there. Lots to do if you are active. Look up the website/face book of the ***oc I formed in Mar of 73 The MIDNIGHT SUN STREET ROD ***OC. Largest and very active car group in the Anchorage area. we also have a very good Drag Strip in Palmer about 40 miles from Anc. Many other outdoor activities too. If you like to hunt and fish, you are in Heaven!! Contact MSSRA, good group of Folks. I built my 40 Ford there about 40 years ago and raced several cars actively for many years.. Also drop into Steve Deptula's High Performance Automotive Speed Shop on Fairbanks street. Ask for Randy.
Sinister,to who and where do I send the check for your great endor*****t?I'm great full for guys like you.Advertising like that has tendency to keep the idiots away. Looking at your current place of residence doesn't look your very happy there either.
Valley Cruzers, Hot Summer Nights. Valley cruzers has a web site. We hung with them 3 years ago good bunch of guys and gals. Nice rides.
You guys who live up there are way tougher than me. Good luck with the move and thanks for your service. I think after your 3 yrs. you'll be ready to head South.
Store 'em, they'll be rust buckets if ya drive 'em up there. It'll give ya somethin to look forward to when you're back. Meanwhile, thanks for your service and buy yourself a snowmobile for some kicks.
WHAT! No link to one of the FINEST AUTO COLLECTIONS in the USA? That alone is worth a visit to your fine state. Bob
There are plenty of car guys up here.Fairbanks has an awesome Museum .Fountain head .A few car shows up here in the summer.If you can't bring your cars up with you I'm sure you can find a nice running one on craigslist or where ever.It aint to bad..Old Scouts and Willys are fun to have up here.
buy a nice cheap single-engine airplane, most military installations have an Aero Club with a few instructors - once you have your pilot's license, you'll be quoting Doc Brown - "Where we're going, we don't need roads". Spent just about ten years in Alaska (Kodiak) and my plane was the best investment I made. That state is absolutely stunning from a vantage point above. I had a hot rod up there - 74 CJ5 with a 370hp LT-1/M-21 - fastest Jeep on the Island. It wasn't a deuce coupe, but there wasn't anyplace I couldn't go.
don't worry about the White Socks no-seeums, when the wind blows they go away--------for an instant. Alaska the only place you can wear a pair of *****hose over your head in public and be thought of as a genius.
Bob,the OP didn't seem too interested in the cars that museum down the street from me has.I thought I would show the naysayers that there are hot rods here in Alaska and that they aren't rust buckets. Ester Eddie gave the link in his post.
http://www.midnightsunsra.org/ There's several car shows in Anchorage, Eagle River, Mat-Su Valley, and Fairbanks each year.
i know what youre feeling with being away from your cars.... i PCS'd up to Elmendorf AFB last january from northern california. i thought about bringing up my roadster, but decided not to because i would only get to drive the damn thing maybe 3 months out of the year... i miss that damn thing!!! lots of old trucks up here to buy if you dont mind doing some rust repair. PM me if you want a heads up about anything. good luck on the ALCAN!!!!
I don't know how it is in Anchorage but in Fairbanks it's always impressive how many nice cars come out in the summer.
First, Thank you for your service, have the army ship an Impala up there for you, despite all the nay sayers there are quite a few HAMB vehicles running around up there. Drive your explorer up there, the road is not bad, I've been driving from Texas, Arizona and California up to Anchorage and Fairbanks for all year at least 3 times a month for 7 years now.Winter time, use the post workshops to work on your car, late spring, summer and early fall drive it.
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