[Dunerunner]

:megaphone: Sponsored by: SmartMadness www.smartmadness.com

What - Isn't it time for a PNW Chapter meet?

When - Sept 13-14 it is!!

Where - In Prosser, Wa.

Who - Anyone with a smart car and the desire to attend the Rally!!

:smartje.bl.zw: :smartje.zw.zw: :smartje.rd.zw: :smartje.grs.zw: :smartje.wt.zw:

Early Hotel reservations recommended Prosser Chamber of Commerce - Accomodations

718 miles for me round trip and wine too!

ATTENTION: SmartieParts of Canada (Steven) will be at the Prosser Rally to install the Area 451 Cruise Control for those who have signed up to purchase. For more information and Sign-up, Go Here: Area 451 Cruise Control with Free Install



Friday Afternoon
12:30pm – 2:30pm Meet with micromachine and examine that turbo charged smart 450 of his at Country Inn and Suites in Sunnyside.

Saturday Morning
7:30am – 8:30am Breakfast Meet at the Barn or Speedway Cafe
9:00am – 11:00am Meet Greet, Show and Shine, Dealers, Vendors, SmartMadness Raffle at the Farmers Market in Prosser
11:30am – 12:30pm Meet and Greet and Shy's Pizza for Lunch
1pm – 4pm Winery Drive Photo Shoot or just free time

Sunday Morning
7:30am – 8:30am Breakfast - Open, your choice
10:00am Group Photo, then everybody’s on their own
11:00am Unstructured Winery Drive, Lunch, Photo Shoot, Free time
Say goodbye to Sunday Departures

Monday Morning
7:30am Breakfast, Then Get on the Road Home

 

[mikie]

When and Where?

 

[Dunerunner]

Mikie - I was hoping somewhere central to the huge PNW Chapter. Problem is that will mean an overnight for everyone.

Any Ideas?

How about you Washington and Idaho folks?

 

[Suze]

Mt St Helen's. I've never been and I hear its explosive.

oooohhh so very corny. But it is a good location. yathink?

 

[mikie]

Mt St Helen's.

I like it. I've been, but not for a while now. It's a nice drive up off of I-5. A clear day is beautiful.

Looks like Kelso is the closest city. Lodging links at Mount St Helens Guide to Lodging & Mt St Helens Motels

Mikie

 

[mendo]

I am not in this group, and I grew up in Seattle so I have some connection to the area.

I think you should find some location that is historicaly or scenically significant for your meet. It will be more actractive to participants and more visible to spectators.

I participated in the Lombard Street Photo shoot and it was really great to be in a place with many Smarts and to see the reaction of the people around it.

Is there some place on the waterfront in Portland that is cool?
I know there are many nice places to stay and good places to eat there!!

I enjoyed the experience of the Bay Area as well as the people and the cars of this event and suggest it to anyone.

 

[John_H]

The rest of us that have posted so far in this thread either went to Lombard or very much wanted to (and had breakfast with some of us for a sendoff).

The Pelican Pub at Cape Kiwanda (Pacific City) was a great little meet several weeks ago but is far from many Seattle friends and those much further inland. The Olympic Peninsula, while picturesque, is pretty void of tourism for so much of the region between Astoria and the Seattle area.

Mt St Helens sounds good by me! Would Yakima, WA have any appeal for Smarties? Bend is always gorgeous but gets even further from the Seattle folks.

 

[Dunerunner]

What is around the Space Needle in Seattle? Would this make for a good local and still meet the criteria for lots of people and still have some entertainment value for the participants?

 

[JPaul]

What is around the Space Needle in Seattle? Would this make for a good local and still meet the criteria for lots of people and still have some entertainment value for the participants?

And an aerial picture of hundreds of smarts parked tightly at the feet of the Needle?

 

[bigcritter]

What is around the Space Needle in Seattle? Would this make for a good local and still meet the criteria for lots of people and still have some entertainment value for the participants?

Parking in and around the Space Needle in Seattle is, IMHO, very limited. Not sure this would make for a good gathering place for smarties! Even though it would be a central location for us folks here in western WA, I think someplace with easier access & parking would be a better choice. Long Beach might be someplace to consider..........World's Smallest Car........World's Longest Beach! Well, technically maybe not the SMALLEST car, but ........smallest in production?? Mount St. Helens also sounds good. The photo opportunities for the Space Needle......aerials of the Needle & the cars........or shots of the cars from the Space Needle would be cool, but don't know how open Seattle PD would be to the whole thing, and you'd probably have to coordinate it all with them. Perhaps someone living in Seattle might have a better take on it??

 

[mikie]

My 2 cents... the later in the year that it gets, and for further north we go the more likely we are to have rain.

weather might be better if we drive east out the gorge with a meet in Pendleton or tri-cities...

 

[smartune]

Leavenworth? Could do a meet for Octoberfest!

 

[Dunerunner]

Or, there is one here! Fremont Oktoberfest 2008 but I'm not familiar with either event. The Leavenworth Festival http://www.leavenworthoktoberfest.com/ sounds more home spun. Anybody been to these events? Is Fremont close to Seattle?

 

[Dougg]

Fremont is a district of Seattle north of downtown and where software developer Adobe Systems (Photoshop, etc) is located. Leavenworth is on US Highway 2 most of the way east from Everett WA toward Wenatchee WA. It's a Bavarian-themed town, very scenic and charming, in the eastern foothills of the Cascade Range. There's a fun driving loop off Hwy 2 through the town of Plain.

This would be a handy option for me because I live only 40 miles south of there. It might very well draw some Canadian members from British Columbia, and is within fairly easy reach of the Seattle area (the distance eastward is psychologically greater than westward .

OTOH, Octoberfest is a pretty big deal in Leavenworth, so it would be full of visitors at that time.

As to Mt St Helens, there are at least two public viewpoints, one on the NW and one on the NE, that might (weather cooperating) offer a fine scenic backdrop to a mass group photo. And with Mt Hood, Mt Adams, and Mt Rainier all close, that's a cluster of volcanos to add an exotic element!

Yakima would as handy for me as Leavenworth... given that the "lower valley" south of Yakima is Washington's prime wine-grape growing country, there's the possibility of enjoying some winery tours. This would also be a short distance from that batch of smarties from the Tri-Cities (Kennewick, Pasco, Richland) in SE Washington, and Spokane too. Hardy folks to buy cars 5 hours drive from the nearest dealer!

 

[smart fortimo]

//Is Fremont close to Seattle?

Fremont is the Center of the Universe

... and is a district in Seattle north of downtown across the ship canal.

Sorry I can't help with any good festivals here in the Yak/WW Valleys - we've missed the Sweet Onion Fest, Chile Fest, Hop Fest; Moose Fest and Mt. Si Fest up in the Cascades; over in ID, the Coeur d'Alene shine and parade, and National Oldtime Fiddlers' Contest and Festival in Weiser.

Certainly there must be more.

But said like a Cubs fan, we could just "Wait till next year..." ???

 

[Suze]

If we're talking about a regional get together, it might be an idea to pick a place close to both Seattleites (sp?) and Portlanders. Split the drive, so to speak.

Suze

 

[CruzinSusan]

:wave: Everyone-

Ooooh. ROAD TRIP! :smartje:.....................?

Oktoberfest would be a fine overnighter for me...get out those Polka Shoes... :cheers:

Mountain Vistas; great pics. Picnic?

And too, Astoria is coastal gorgeous and maritimely historical. If I'm not mistaken, there's a ferry to Vancouver, BC - a great day trip. Ferry ride - and we have smartscrunching experience from Lombard Street...:smartlogo:

Newport has a great bayfront, yummy food, spectacular acquarium, and even a wax museum; tourist destination so parking is *tight.*

OTOH, Dave Mason is at the Gorge August 31st, a Saturday (also Friday and Sunday.) Beautiful venue, plenty of parking, wine shop, food, picnic friendly (no alcohol, it's on premesis,) great local accomodations, and Multnomah Falls is on the way. Another great photo op.

Just some more cents...

 

[darrelplant]

And too, Astoria is coastal gorgeous and maritimely historical. If I'm not mistaken, there's a ferry to Vancouver, BC - a great day trip.

I'm not aware of any ferry service from Astoria, but I could be wrong. Cruise ships do come in from points north fairly regularly, but by sea it's something like 350+ miles each direction. That'd be a long time at ferry speed.

If any of you north Oregon coasters are in the Astoria area around the 17th, we'll be up there for an annual pilgrimage. All hail Mary Todd's!

 

[Dunerunner]

darrel - Is that the 17th of September?

 

[CruzinSusan]

I'm not aware of any ferry service from Astoria, but I could be wrong. Cruise ships do come in from points north fairly regularly, but by sea it's something like 350+ miles each direction. That'd be a long time at ferry speed.

If any of you north Oregon coasters are in the Astoria area around the 17th, we'll be up there for an annual pilgrimage. All hail Mary Todd's!

Oops - was I thinking of Port Angeles?