Event Coverage ROD RUN WEEKEND

Every year over the weekend after Labor Day the Beach Barons CC hosts Rod Run To The End Of The World. This is the 38th annual event on the Longbeach, Wa. peninsula.

I have my roadster all put back together and cleaned up after the radiator let loose at Hodrodarama last month, just in time to go play at the beach. This is sort of our last event of the year as the rains start soon and the building of next years cars resumes.

The fair grounds have a year cutoff in the mid 70's as I recall but the public streets are open to anything with a number plate. Pulling up a chair on the side walk is a great way to spend an evening with friends, cars and solo cups.

I will attempt to weed through the c'maros and 'stangs and bring you some photos of the HAMB acceptable iron and steel in attendance and post them here. It is legal to drive on the beach as long as your car is registered. I wish they would have some beach racing but I may have to drive out there with some buddies for a photo or three.

Anyone else going?

 

A couple of my friends are going, they’re bringing an orange 47 Ford coupe.

 

Bandit: Thanks for the kind words. You made my day.
The bride & I did that run about 25 yrs ago. I probably still have a pin or T shirt. I helped a guy in a chevy get going after he was stopped along the road broken down. I think he had point ign problem. Chevy was a mid 50s car. Going up that long bridge had my butt puckered.

 

At least you had a good view!

 

Billed as the longest continuous truss bridge in North America, it is over 4 miles long and leaves sea level to rise over 200 feet fast. I rode my Harley across it once and I white knuckled it the entire way up that Oregon span over the shipping channel. Not sure what was worse, climbing that span or the 4 miles of staring at it in the distance while you cross the river knowing there was no going back. I did clock a seagull at 45 MPH one day on the lower portion.

I stay on the Washington side of the river even though it takes longer to get to Longbeach just to avoid that damn Megler bridge especially towing a trailer.

 

You kidding? I was too busy trying to stay focused on getting over that sumbitch. The wife sitting next to me saying OH look at this or look at that. You can guess what I told her. Goin back wasn't much better.

 

Oregon side looking toward Washington. Makes me queasy looking at the picture.

 

Bandit have you ever ridden your bike on a steel grate bridge? Boy that is like ridding on ice.

 

This one time (at band camp) while crossing the bridge of the gods I just got on the steel grate when a group of bikers came across from the other side. Of course they all dropped a hand so I had to follow suit. I rode one handed across that steel grate bridge and had to stop on the other side to dry my britches.

 

You certainly don't want to fall on those steel bridges, it will tear you up like cheese grater!

 

There used to be a section of steel grates near the top of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge near Annapolis. Riding a motorcycle across those grates was extremely un-nerving. Felt like the devil was massaging the treads of the tires and it made the bike just a bit unstable.!

 

They get some good winds through there too. That takes the pucker up a notch or two! I think my wife holds her breath the entire way across it every time we go over it.
Seeing all the big shipping that goes through there is interesting, as well as how many are anchored just upriver. Just downstream of the bridge is the infamous Columbia River Bar crossing where the river meets the Pacific Ocean. A veritable graveyard of ships, it is considered one of the most dangerous in the world, having claimed hundreds of ships/boats and lives over the years. It's so unpredictable and dangerous that the U.S. Coast Guard does their rough water training there.
As for the scary bridge, it sure beats the ferry that it replaced.... now THAT was a hell of a ride in bad weather!!
The "Run To The End Of The World" is great! Wall-to-wall cars of all types. Everyone be careful and enjoy, and stay safe. Also study the Tsunami Escape Route.... you don't have many ways off the Peninsula!

 

Wonder how the Ole Bias Plys handle it...I have ridden over some short bits here and there...we have small locks over a river here and some are grated...wum wum wummmmm...or is it rum rumm mummm...

Look forward to the Pics...

 

never been up that far up the coast. so I’m asking… is this it that I circled on my map?

 

Yup. It crosses right at Astoria. There's a signpost on the Washington side that directs you to Ilwaco (commercial fishing town on the way to Long Beach) or.... are you ready?...... Dismal Nitch!! How's THAT for a name? I never have found the place, but it doesn't sound too enticing anyway, so I'm not heartbroken.
A lot of the names given to various areas around there were given to them by Lewis and Clark in 1803/1804. A lot of the others are indigenous names.

 

thanks! I gotta do it soon…

 

Reminds me of the Mackinac Bridge at St Ignace , I did the bridge walk once, think it was labor day as well.

 

^^^^Hilarious photo @34 GAZ
My father served aboard the light ship Columbia while in the Coast Guard. That light ship was anchored at the bar and replaced by buoy 10. To this day a pilot must take ships across the bar and up river.

And of course home of the Goonies! But enough of ship wrecks and maritime adventures, on with the show. I'll head out tomorrow with a few other like minded hot rodders and get after it! I hear high temps of 83 Saturday, that is warm on the north coast. Let's go roddin!

 

I understand there's a cottage industry of "Drivers For Rent' to get you and your car across the Mackinac if you are too intimidated by it.

 

I’ve been turning down a standing invitation for the last 15 years from a friend that claims to have plenty of room to accommodate myself and my OT Camaro at his campsite. Sounds like he and his buddies bust out the red solo cups early and I’m skipping out early unless I sleep in the back of the ‘67. Looking forward to posted pics.

 

I wish you were going out there. A few of my friends drive the chevy F bodies, we always have a nice sampling of the generals pony cars.

 

I was packed and ready to roll out for the coast before one today. Me in black…

@Kim Strobeck in silver

we set up camp and headed out to the fair grounds to stake out a couple Spaces. From the look of it, it will be packed!

Grabbed our shirts and drive down the street where a group of friends from the Slo Poks were having a bbq. Free food tastes best!

that’s Kim’s 30 in front of me. 1st time on the road in 5 years!

And a couple from the party we crashed

tomorrow is the big show at the fair grounds, I’ll be back with more coverage.

The weather here is fantastic! What a way to end summer.

 

If you were to do the whole Highway 1 / 101 coast highway thing from San Diego to the end of 101 at Olympia after going around the Olympic Pennisula the Astoria bridge would be on the route. That one is still on my bucket list although I have done a lot of it a piece at a time.
High on the list of priorities in life for my grandmother was a trip to the ocean beaches every summer usually with my cousins and I along. I was 15 the last time I went with them. Sometimes it was long beach or Ocean park, sometimes up at MoClips or down on the Oregon side around Seaside.

 

Late night shots at the camp ground.


Morning at the fair grounds, a forest fire gave us orange skies and cooler weather

I offered to buy this one but the owner said no dice.


Kaiser Darin

heavy Chevy

 

Photo dump warning.



over at the swap meet, not much for parts but a few cars fer sale.

and my buddy Brizz selling his wares

 

And a few more of Kim’s A. First time out of the shop after a 5 year retro fit.

I wonder where he got that bottle? Looks familiar.

 

More dumpin

Close up of the windows sticker. Restorers be hatin

 

Thanks for sharin the pics & coverage!

 

Very cool,thanks for posting.