Long-time CC reader redmondjp e-mailed me the other day to let me know he would be in town for a couple days this week and would I like to get together with him? Of course; and although it’s short notice, if there’s any other local CC’ers that would like to join us, come look for us at Sam Bond’s Garage (407 Blair St.), starting at 6PM. The food’s not exactly gourmet, but it is a former garage, so it’s a natural.
My life has had some exceptional challenges these past two years that have made travel difficult-to-impossible, but that seems to be changing. I’m really getting in the mood for another heartland CC Meet-up. Where?
I’m quite drawn to the Lane Motor Museum, in Nashville, TN. They have several Tatras, which alone are a draw. And they have a Dymaxion replica, as well as lots of other good stuff. Unfortunately, the French car exhibit is ending soon, but they have a pretty vast collection overall. Maybe we can get a look into the storage areas if we notify them in advance. I seem to remember a commenter telling me that they’d love to have us there.
When? How about a late spring weekend in May?
And for those living near Seattle, I promise to head up there before too long, to see the LeMay Museum in Tacoma. One of my brothers lives in Seattle now, so it’s a natural. Maybe a bit later, like June or July.
The Lane Motor Museum sounds very good and Nashville isn’t too bad of a drive. I would also propose the St. Louis Museum of Transportation – trains, the Chrysler Turbine, and a variety of other things plus they are currently raffling off a 1958 Mercedes.
Speaking of Mercedes, nearby in the St. Louis area is the Kemp Auto Museum chock full of Mercedes and other European fare.
http://www.kempautomuseum.org
+1 for Lane. Seriously cool place and within a reasonable driving distance for folks in the Midwest and Southeast. It has decent air service as well I believe. I haven’t been to the Johnny Cash museum yet, so there’s that too!
Plus the atrium at the old Opryland Hotel is tremendous. Or, it was in 2000 prior to their flood.
I have a gig at my studio Wednesday night but I should be able to hang out for an hour or so.
I’d really like to try and make it this time, and I’ve never been to Nashville, so that sounds interesting to me. Wherever the location, somewhere that’s easy to fly into for us East and West coasters would make things easier.
Alternatively, we could do an East Coast meetup.
I like that idea 🙂
The Larz Anderson Auto Museum just outside of Boston is a spectacular place, and they have many themed car shows outside during the warmer months. Not too far away on the Cape is the Heritage Plantation, another fine collection with beautiful natural scenery outside its windows.
The Lane is quite close to the airport in Nashville. It looks like five miles or less.
Seattle would be good. I really don’t have the time to go to Eugene. ?
Either would be interesting to me. I haven’t made it to the Pacific Northwest yet.
The Lane IS fantastic, sadly I still have hundreds of photos waiting for a proper write-up from myself. They would most likely love to have you (us) if that’s the decision, I can get you my contact’s info. Nothing in Nashville is really that far from anywhere else, it’s not that big (well, it’s huge compared to Auburn, but…) The Lane’s collection is so large that even with a full day it’s tough to take it all in and give it the detailed attention it deserves since there is SO much that is unfamiliar and thus doubly interesting.
The Lemay sounds great too and I could possibly (likely) make it to that one.
As another potential future option, the Peterson in LA was apparently redone recently and is supposed to be spectacular.
And the Kemp that Jason mentioned sounds cool too!
Dang I would love to join you, and meet you in person Paul. I would even bring my V8 Ranger 4X4 for people to look at. Although it needs a spring detail. But sadly, too short of notice, and Eugene and Tigard are not exactly next door to each other. But we do live in the same state (both physically and automotive); we do need to meet up for a burger and a beer one of these days.
I’m not so sure I want to meet up with someone who calls all French cars “POS” every time they’re mentioned here. 🙂
Oh come on, suzulight, I was just checking Google Maps and trying to see if I could clear my calendar to get to Eugene by Wednesday afternoon, you’re just up the road!
I would absolutely love it if you had it in Nashville. I’m in Georgia and it seems like most of the people that are into our type of cars are mostly in the Midwest or just north of the Mason Dixon line in general. That makes it really hard for me to meet people that are in the same part of the country as me that share the same interest in these cars. Check out my Instagram. #gacurbside_classics
Heck, I was born in Piedmont Hospital, so at least one of us Midwesterners started life in Georgia! (c:
Nashville would have to be an overnighter for me – it’s about an eight-hour drive. Note that traffic can get pretty hairy during rush hour.
I will try clearing my schedule any preference on my transportation? Norm
This is a fair way off topic (8056 miles to be exact!), but to try to keep it in people’s awareness I expect we will have another CC Meet-up at Motorclassica this year, which runs from Friday 21 to Sunday 23 October. Previously we have met on the Saturday afternoon, including lunch in Lygon St last year, but suggestions are welcome.
I’m in
I’ve missed the first two (?) Motoclassica meet-ups, but I’d love to join this year’s. Have you guys swapped emails or just organize it on CC?
We’ll post some stuff on CC as we get closer to the date to give people enough time to plan for it.
Thanks – will do.
I checked into my hotel in Eugene just minutes ago, so I’ll definitely be there! First time off of the freeway here in Eugene, and boy-howdies do I wish I had that newfangled talking direction box with me! I’m sure I’ll be a local navigational pro by the time that I am leaving on Thursday.
Looking forward to the meetup. I brought my 1996 Passat TDi, and have pictures of a few 1998 Volvo S70s that I have looked at recently, including a T5M (unicorn car) that I bought a few weeks ago as a parts donor.
Well, I made it to the airport this morning (where I am working).
Got lost on the way back to the hotel.
Got lost on the way to dinner (fracking streets that change names but Google doesn’t show that necessarily).
Got lost on the way back to the hotel.
I am learning my way around Eugene, the hard way. But as long as I am not in a hurry, it’s a good way to stumble across places that I wouldn’t have seen otherwise.
OK, now to map out how to get to dinner tomorrow night! No problem – we had lunch today at the Fisherman’s Market (fresh breaded snapper with sauce, mmmm) which is on the same street just a few blocks to the south. Oh, if you want to see hundreds of live crab, that is the place to go.
Sounds like great fun, and Nashville is only about 5 hours from me. Last 2 weeks of May could be a problem though. If scheduling bumps out into early June, I would be in, but we are never going to get a date that works for everyone.
It sounds a great idea; the British Motor Museum has just had a refit and extension……
Refit due to electrical issues?
If you come, I’ll pick you up at the airport.
I’m definitely in for a Nashville meet-up. I live in the greater Nashville area and have never been to the Lane museum, but I hear it’s fantastic.
I’d enjoy driving to Washington state or Tennessee now that our dollar has risen. My 03 Mustang coupe would be ideal for the drive to either place.
I enjoyed the LeMay Museum in 2014 while visiting my daughter and son-in-law. It would be an excellent place to meet and there is a great burger cafe a short walk from the museum. I have two pictures from that visit I sometimes use as my computer wallpaper.
I remember that wagon from my last trip to the LeMay Museum. There are so many cool cars there, including a Kaiser Dragon, and a Pontiac Safari (Pontiac Nomad). It would be a great destination for a meet-up.
One more of the LeMay Museum at the east end of the main hall.
The Kemp Museum in St. Louis has closed – gone for good.
Cities in the midwest I know that have somewhat unique automotive attractions:
– Lincoln, Nebraska: (Speedy Bill’s) Museum of American Speed
– Hartford, Wisconsin: Wisconsin Automotive Museum
– (north of) Cedar Rapids, Iowa: Duffy’s Collectible Cars
– McPherson, Kansas: McPherson College (auto restoration program & annual show)
The Wisconsin Automotive Museum in Hartford (northwest of Milwaukee) is a fantastic museum. They have the largest single collection of Kissel automobiles, which were made in Hartford. Also a nice collection of independent makers’ stuff, and also some trains. It’s also really close to me.
Of course, a road trip to Nashville sounds interesting….
Paul,
Wish I could join y’all in Eugene, but I am all the way down here in SE Texas.
Don’t miss the LeMay Museum-it’s great!
How about the Gilmore Car Museum in Hickory Corners, MI as a Heartland meetup spot?
http://www.gilmorecarmuseum.org/
+1 from a fellow Michigander, but I do acknowledge that it’s not convenient for everyone, though it is an amazing place. Nashville would be neat, but at a ~10 hr drive might not be doable.
Nashville is a heck of a drive for me (9+ hours) but I *have* always wanted to see the Lane Museum, as well as downtown Nashville in general (Gruhn Guitars in particular too). And if we could have access to the storage/non-public areas, even the better. I’ll have to give some serious thought to the logistics of this.
Bummed I can’t make the meeting in Eugene, since I’m visiting my parents in Texas this week. I very much enjoyed meeting you in Portland some years ago for a TTAC gig. Hope things go well for all those who show up.
Nashville in May might actually work for me, too, if I can tie this into a visit with my sister who lives there. Hmmm…