Portland Oregon, 6:30pm, every Sunday.
If you are a car fan such as my self, and grew up consuming every cheesy line and every painful bit of ridiculous stunt work in the Fast and Furious franchise. And gladly came back for more. You may have once or twice wondered if there was actual car meets like the ones featured in the movies, and then wondered where you could find them.
Well, good news if you happen to live in the rainy, overpopulated and overpriced section of the world called Portland Oregon.
The locals have dubbed this gathering, Red Door Meet (RDM). It's just as you may imagine. And not too far off from the scene in the original fast movie, nestled under some bridges in a grungy warehouse district of Portland you will find yourself fully immersed in the before mentioned car meet of your day dreams.
Given that those car meets of your dreams were depicted in an earliest days of our post Y2K America, you should be not much surprised to notice a lack of neon underglow lights and gaudy body kits bolted to every Honda Civic. Instead you may find an abundance or cars grinding their chassis on the pavement with their wheels protruding out from the fender wheels as though having been victimized by a square stomp from some invisible giant shoe. But thats not all you will find. Red Door Meet and those who organize it are very proud of the fact that it is a respectable meet with friends. And no vehicles are excluded. Imports, muscle cars, high end exotics, street bikes, choppers, lifted 4x4's, old classics even scooters and RC cars. Everyone and anything is welcome.
There are some rules and they are simple. No drugs, No alcohol, No engine revving or burnouts and be respectful. Surprisingly these rules are mostly followed by all. Which is quite a feat, considering on the strongest turnouts the meet spans for many blocks on the main thoroughfare including the connected side streets and the lines of cars that are just rolling through without parking. The facebook page alone has over 14,000 members.
If you find yourself in the Portland area around 6:30 on a Sunday evening, and Saturdays cars and coffee was a bit too low key for you. Maybe stroll on over to 111 SE Belmont St, and see whats in store!
Some more images for your enjoyment! -Donovan T.