2008 Whidbey Island Parks Tour

[PETC]

---SUNDAY MAY 4th, 2008---
NorthwestMR2.com's Whidbey Island Parks Tour

(2007 - 16MB) Video by Pete
(2006 - 25MB) Video by Eric
(2005 - 18MB) Video by Eric


---SUMMARY/RANDOM INFO---

Okay guys, here it is, the 4th annual Whidbey Island Parks Tour, one of the most well received and high attendance meets of the year. Like last year I'll be organizing the meet, and I really enjoy doing it, so help me make it as awesome as it's been the past couple years!

Meeting
You can either drive down Whidbey Island following Highway 20 or come across on the Mulkilteo/Clinton Ferry (Fares/times below) I have called and secured permission to park in the same parking lot we did last year. Just drive up the street off the ferry and it'll be on your left. I'll probably be there waving.

Route
For the most part, I liked and got a lot of compliments on the route from last year, so I don't think I'll be changing much of anything there, however, the stop at Deception Pass Bridge will be REMOVED due to the fact that last year half of us got stuck on the bridge when some idiots collided with each other, and then the cops came, and then I got yelled at by the cops for trying to leave, and then everyone left ME on the middle of the bridge and by the time they were done screwing up my life we were left with about five cars.

Radios
FRS Radios should be tunned to channel 2, no security code just because some radios don't have them, and I've been that guy who can't talk to anyone on drives because his radio doesn't have security codes. It's boring.

Lunch
You can pack your own lunch (I do every year) or bring money for food in Coupeville where we'll be eating lunch. I've also called most of the restaurants down on the water to warn of the impending swarm of car owners.

Parking Fees
I've called the Washington State Parks Department and there are still no fees being charged to park in any of them, but I'm sure the donation boxes are still there if you're feeling generous.

Ferry Costs/Times

Car & Driver:
$8.60 (Full Fare)
$7.60 (Senior)

Passenger:
$3.95 (Full Fare)
$1.95 (Senior)


Ignore the 2007 on the schedule, as it has not changed very much since then. Boats still leave every 30 minutes.

Asshattery
It will not be tolerated under any circumstances. The police KNOW we make this run about this time every year and we do NOT need to give them any reasons to perpetuate the street racing ******* stereotype, so don't do it. That means no donuts in Deception Pass State Park's parking lot, no unsafe passing, or really, very much passing at all, this is a cruise, and we're not on Mt. Akina. 95% of all of you guys are awesome, but occasionally we get someone who doesn't quite know how we do things and I just want to make it absolutely clear that if you are doing something dumb you WILL be asked to leave this year. Period.



---ITINERARY---

Drive times are not listed, just stop times (and they're rough)

10:30 - Meet in Clinton
11:15-12:30 - Possession Point Park
1:00-2:00 - Fort Casey (Might be shortened if weather is poor)
2:15-3:15 - Lunch in Coupeville (Parking at the Catholic Church, I've called and secured permission)
3:30-4:00ish - Deception Pass State Park
4:30-5:00 - End the day in La Conner


---DIRECTIONS---

After you get off the Ferry head up the road and you'll most likely see the parking lot. After that, play follow the leader and you'll probably be fine, but in case you get separated for whatever reason, here is a list of directions you can print out.

Clinton Ferry Terminal - Possession Point Park
1. Turn Left onto "Deer Lake Road"
2. Road name changes to "Holst Road"
3. Turn Right onto "Glendale Road"
4. Turn Left onto "Jewet Road"
5. Road name changes to "Cultus Bay Road", and goes off towards the Right
6. Road name changes to "Possession Road"
7. Follow "Possession Road" all the way to the park.

Possession Point Park - Fort Casey
1. Follow "Possession Road" until it turns into "Cultus Bay Road" (Turn Left instead of going straight like we did when we came in)
2. Take a Left onto "Bailey Road"
3. Take a Left onto "French Road"
4. Road name changes to "Sills Road"
5. Take a Left onto "Ewing Road"
6. Road name changes to "Bayview Road"
7. Take a Left onto "Highway 20 (Highway 525)"
8. Take a Left onto "West Wanamaker Road"
9. Follow that road, at some point it curves off towards the left, and follow it that direction. It'll take you all the way to Fort Casey.

Fort Casey - Coupeville
1. Take a Left onto "South Engle Road"
2. Road name changes to "South Main Street"
3. At the signal go Straight
4. Road name changes to "North Main Street"
9. Parking is located down the street, and whoever is leading will find a lot, probably the same one we used last year.

Coupeville - Deception Pass State Park
1. Follow "North Main Street" down towards the water.
2. Take a Left onto "NW Coveland Street"
3. Follow that towards the Left as the road name changes to "Madrona Way"
4. Follow that along the water and take a Left onto "North Sherman Road"
5. Take a Right onto "Highway 20"
6. Take a Left onto "West Libbey Road"
7. Take a Right onto "West Beach Road"
8. Road name changes to "Crosby Road
9. Take a Left onto "Golf Course Road"
10. Follow that towards the Right onto "Clover Valley Road"
11. Road name changes to "Ault Field Road"
12. Take a [/b]Left[/b] onto "Highway 20"
13. Take a Left onto "Cornet Bay Road"
14. Take that into the park, at some point you'll come across a set of one-way roads. Take the one that heads off to the Left and follow that all the way out to the parking lot.

Deception Pass State Park - La Conner
1. Follow "Highway 20" all the way until you get to a lighted intersection.
2. Take a Right onto "Highway 20"
3. Take a Right onto "Reservation Road" (Some people missed this last year, it's directly after the Chevrolet dealer)
4. Take a Slight Right onto "Snee-Oosh Road"
5. Follow that for some time then take a Right onto "Pioneer Parkway"
6. Go over the Rainbow Bridge and take a Left onto "Caledonia Street"
7. Take a Left onto "South 3rd Street"
8. Take a Right onto "Sherman Street
9. Park in the large lot along Sherman Street. Meet, Mingle, Leave, Shop (Town is simply back down 3rd)


---SIGN UP---

Okay guys, let's do this.


[1] PETC (Gary) +1
[2] Vindicator (Alexander) + 1
[3] Driftingsw21 (Duy) +1
[4] bbarnumboy (Martin)
[5] wombat801 (Kevin) +1
[6] spencer@ppspec (spencer)
[7] Weasy2k
[8] RePete (Pete) +1
[9] tas02 (Dennis) (Maybe)
[10] sprinterkb
[11] toy85mr2
[12] mr2rider91
[13] tyzzdogg
[14] McKenzie & Liz
[15] Toyotaspeed90 +1
[16] Saiko
[17] Shmoester (Lincoln)
[18]
[19]
[20]
[25]
[26]
[27]
[28]
[29]
[30]

[RePete]

I can't commit yet as I'm still getting some work done on the car, hope I can make it out. This has always been a high attendance meet, a lot of fun too. And Gary knows how to organize a meet!

Here's last year's vid.

Whidbey Run 2007 (15 MBs)

[Weasy2k]

are you going to be there Gary? If so...im out..:P

I may play co-driver and come along....

[PETC]

I am going to be there. Sorry.

[Weasy2k]

well looks like ill be coming anyway....

[RePete]

I'm in too, throw me on the list.

[PETC]

Come on losers.

[PETC]

I'm serious. For realz.

[PETC]

Hey guys, Thanks to everyone who did actually come, I'm thinking about holding the drive again for two reasons:

1. Very few cars showed up, this is and always has been a big event, so I kinda want to get everyone together. It's not often that ALL of us in the area get together, and it's kind of nice to see old friends. Screw gas prices, come out anyways.

2. Dennis Foster (tas02) is alive. That is reason enough to host this drive again. For those of you not on the drive, Dennis flipped his MK2 turbo into a pair of trees on the drive this year on the way to Possession Point Park coming around the corner near the Chevron.

From what I understand he was coming around the corner and the car began to oversteer, Dennis said it was from his aftermarket rear swaybar being set too high coupled with bad/bald rear tires; also since Dennis was in a high gear (4th he said) he had no power to control the slide with and the back began to become the front, before that could happen his front left wheel caught the unpacked dirt on the side of the road and grabbed the car, throwing it into the air and towards a pair of trees where it impacted along the front right side of the car and the rear left side of the car in between two trees. Dennis got out through the sunroof and was walking and talking before everyone made him sit down. Paramedics showed up, treated him, and took him to Whidbey General for xrays and observation.

Dennis is fine, just a few scrapes and bumps, his car however, is a complete loss. Many parts including the motor and tranny are salvageable and he said he's going to look for a shell, so all you vultures (I'm guilty too... there's a lot of nice parts on there) need to stay away for now.

I have pictures but I won't post them in respect to Dennis as he works this whole thing out with his insurance company. Those that were there can vouch for me when I say Dennis is incredibly lucky to be alive. One car length to the left and Dennis would have kept on rolling, potentially hitting a tree with the passenger compartment of his car or landing on his roof.

Dennis, as the organizer of this event, I am incredibly sorry that you lost your car on a drive that I arranged, but I'm also incredibly glad you're alive and walking and that we could even pick you up after lunch to finish the drive with us. The sign of a true enthusiast.

I'll keep you guys updated on the date for Whidbey Take 2, and Dennis, I expect to see you and one of your MK1s there. Preferably not around a tree this time if you can avoid it.

[mike9146]

Great vids! It's so nice to watch an enthusiast car get-together vid without being subjected to ghetto-rap, people flipping off the camera, etc. Watching these vids makes me sad that I wasn't there, as opposed to watching "typical" vids of "TFATF" wannabees using pedestrians as cones. I have to wonder if it’s the car that weeds out the “Honduh-types,” or are people just super cool in our area?