Wow! Thanks for posting this. They chopped my story pretty short but it is so cool to see it published! I do have the Hot Wheels flame under the wing and am a big collector of the HW cars. Though, I think James has had the HW logo under is wing posted way before I got mine put on. See you in CAA#5

Here is the full version.

Returning home after having a great time at the 27th annual Hot Wheels Convention, I had to quickly start getting ready for my first road trip with a group of other similar cars. I like things a little different so it is no surprise I chose a car that has quite an interesting story to it. Ever since I first saw the concept car, I have been a fan of the Chrysler Crossfire. The styling is very unique and everything about its build on a Mercedes platform will make it ones of those cars talked about in automotive history. A lot of hard work and a bit of luck, I was finally able to purchase a brand new 2008 black coupe at the end of that year.

Previous road trips I took in the Crossfire were always solo and I never put much thought into traveling with other Crossfire owners before. The quick wave to one passing down the road or a few words with an owner in the parking lot was about as much interaction as I had done. Just did not see many others in my area and when I did, they had places to go. A few weeks before I was to leave for the Convention, I got a message from the Crossfire forum I am part of about a get together in early October. The plan was to meet up in Long Beach, WA and travel to Newport, OR over the weekend. There would be site seeing and tours along the way and of course hitting some good food spots too. A whole weekend dedicated to Crossfire owners and driving was something I just could not pass up. After being able to get another day off, I made my reservations and said I was in.

The weather was the typical cool and cloudy variety and was to stay that way throughout the rest of the weekend. It had been quite a rainout the few weeks prior so it would make for a nice drive. My travel bag packed and freshly waxed, the car not myself, I set off that Friday to Long Beach. As any Hot Wheeler would do, I hit all the stores along the way to see what I could find in a different area. The hunting proved fruitful as I added a few more errors to my ever growing collection of misfit cars. Many stops later, it was early evening by the time I arrived at the motel and was surprised that I was the first car there. Got myself checked in and then went back outside to wait for the others to arrive. Not long after, I spotted a black coupe pulling in followed by another black coupe and two black roadsters which are the convertible model of the Crossfire. I was starting to wonder if this was a black car meet when a red roadster brought up the rear. We all laughed at the color selection, took some photos and then started getting ready for dinner.

After a good dinner at a local diner, we headed back to the motel to meet a couple who had arrived in an aero blue roadster. The shops in Long Beach closed up really early so there was little time to visit Jake the Alligator Man at the museum. We all ended up back at the motel again and had a good meet and great time and talked about our cars while planning out the next day’s activities. Calling it a night, we eagerly looked forward to the next day’s drive. By then, another couple in a silver blue coupe would be there to join us after pulling in much later that night.

The next morning was gray and cool with a light mist coating the eight Crossfires in the parking lot. There was no questioning we were at a northwest ocean front and not Long Beach California. A quick bite was had at the continental breakfast and we were ready to hit the beach. In Washington, vehicles can drive out on the beach at designated areas so some had a little too much fun in the sand. Back on the road, we made our way down the coast and crossed the Astoria–Megler Bridge. I remember going over this bridge on a family trip long ago and it is still an impressive structure rising over the Columbia River. Once in Astoria, we wound up the hill to the Astoria Tower to get a great view of the area. From there, we hugged the coast again and made a pass through the town of Sea Side. We got a lot of looks as we squeezed down the narrow road to the round about at the end of the promenade. Time was starting to run out after a lunch in Cannon Beach, so we headed straight to Tillamook for our next places to visit on the list.

A large shape starts looming in the distance as we are heading down the highway. It is the giant blimp hanger of the Tillamook Air Museum which is the stop I was most looking forward to visiting. I have always enjoyed the old WWII aircraft and have the upmost respect to those who flew and maintained them during the war. One of the very few flyable P-38 Lightning airframes was there so I even got to see my favorite plane up close. I could have stayed there for hours but we had to get moving to our next stop before it closed. A treat was in store for us at the next stop as it was the Tillamook Cheese Factory. We got there just before closing so the factory’s production portion was pretty much done. I got to see the last couple of cheese blocks move down the line at least and spent the rest of the time filling up on cheese samples and ice cream. Regrouping, we hit the road again as it would be starting to get late evening by the time we were to pull into Newport. Luckily places stayed open later there and we made it to Moe’s Chowder House in time. Another great dinner was had by all and we called it night.

Not much was to be had for breakfast at the motel we were at so off to Pigs in a Blanket for pancakes. While eating, we decided to head home as many had a long drive ahead of them. Though we didn’t see much of Newport this time, we at least made a stop to see the Yaquina Bay Lighthouse. As we said our good byes and turned off the different exits I thought back too how fun it was to drive in a group. Pulling into all these places with eight Crossfires really got peoples’ attention and the reactions were fun to watch. Also learned that stop signs, stop lights, roundabouts and multi lanes roads sure make it interesting to try and keep all the cars together in a single line. All in all it was a fun road trip and I meet some great people who I go driving with now. I am looking forward to the next big road trip to Rifle, CO in July for the Crossfires Across America #5 meet where there may be up to fifty cars.