Mind = Blown! 2013 GPNW MicroCar Extravaganza, Part II

Dave, Kris and I were up early and on the way to Forest Grove before 9AM.  We led a Citroen DS21 for much of the trip and then were shocked when they rolled past the show entrance without stopping - apparently they weren't MicroCar fans because we never saw them again.  The parking lot at McMenamin's was already rich with Micro and Mini cars - several of which had arrived since last night.

2013 Great Pacific Northwest MicroCar Extravaganza, Part 1

By the time Dave and I actually got on the road for Portland it was after 9PM. We made it about 50 miles past the Oregon border before we pulled into a truckstop and got a few hours of sleep in the car.  I'd brought my computer so I managed to do a little work while we ate breakfast and Dave frantically tried to nail down a really good job offer in China that had come in just before we'd left Sacto.

But First, Jumpin' Johnny....

Dave and I had planned to leave for Portland as soon as I could get off work Thursday, say 4PM or so. His pickup was running hot so we decided to rent an econobox for the trip and we were scheduled to grab the rental at 5PM.  Then, Jumpin' Johnny called.

Guess Who's Going to the Great Pacific Northwest MicroCar Extravaganza, June 14-16

Just firmed up plans to make a quick trip north to check out the Great Pacific Northwest MicroCar Extravaganza that will take place in Forest Grove, Oregon this weekend!

I've wanted to go to this annual show for years but have never managed to make it happen - this time my luck is good: my pal Dave 'Smith' was planning a roundtrip to Portland this weekend before he heads off to parts unknown in his continuing quest to drive a 1966 Ducati 250 around the world.  He hasn't actually driven the Ducati any further than the local Kwik-E-Mart in a few years, but hey, a man's gotta dream.  His blog about his (mis)adventures can be funny as hell but is not for the faint of heart.

Like me, Dave has microcar fever, such that he currently owns a 1963 NSU Sport Prinz and is making deals to acquire three more NSU cars in the month or so before he leaves US soil.  Then, they can gather dust while he works in Saudi Arabia or Korea or Beijing or somewhere, salting away cash to extend his global Ducati assault.

In any case, he was eager to check out the MicroCar Extravaganza and even more eager to visit his girl in Portland before he flies off into the sunset.  I'm stoked to split driving duties and sleep on his girlfriend's couch, so if all goes well I'll be posting from the show soon.  MicroCars ahoy!

*photo on top is from a great Flickr page from last year's event... check it out here!

How Small is a Crosley?

Crosleys are tiny.

This 1952 photo of the aftermath of a flood at the intersection of Whittier and Norwalk in LA is the best example I've seen for showing exactly how small Crosleys were compared to the other cars of the era - the little Crosley sedan is dwarfed by every car around it!  Amazing shot from the Photos of Los Angeles Facebook page.

H/T: Crosley Automobiles... Fun Little Cars 

Incredible: Putt Mossman's 1949 Crosley Thrill Show

Just noticed this INCREDIBLE photo of a Crosley Stunt Show: Jimmy Leach and His Death Duckers' Thrill Show of 1949 - 'The Show That's Alive With Death!'  Some lucky soul parted with $42 to win one of the coolest Crosley pictures I've ever come across.

A quick internet search turned up zero about Jimmy Leach and his Death Duckers, so I don't know how 'alive with death' the show was, but it seems to have been alive with Crosleys, including a pair of sedans, one of which is airborne over what looks like an uber-rare Crosley Sport Utility.  Seems like the Sport Ute should have had fabric doors, tho, so maybe this is just a cut-down wagon.  Whatever - this whole package is COOL.

The daring driver of the leaping sedan appears to have been Orren 'Putt' Mossman, a stunt driver best known for his motorcycle escapades.   By 1949 Mossman was a thrill show veteran, having been jumping, burning and wrecking two and four-wheeled vehicles for decades.  Despite a penchant for poor prep, and thus, severe injury, Mossman lived to a ripe old age, dying in 1994 at the age of 88.