Alchy Picks June 28th to July 4th
Saturday and Sunday | 9:00 am
Philomath and Albany
AS AMERICAN AS MUSCLE
What is more American than talking about the heydays? “I remember when I was your age, gasoline was around $1.00 per gallon. In fact, back then, they used to make cars out of good ol’ American manufactured steel. Today, you car is built out of synthetic plastic and composites.”
It’s true. The purity of the past certainly defines an age of innocence. Getting less than 10 miles per gallon was acceptable because you had your four-barrel-carburetor wide open spraying BF Goodrich 50 feet behind your cherry red chick magnet. As the smoke from the tires and rumble of your large block consume your vehicle, you thought, “I doesn’t get much better than this.” You were right.
In high school, I was fortunate enough to own a ’66 Ford Mustang, cherry red with a hopped up 289 small block. Over a two-month period, I binged on octane and drag racing. The party ended the night of my ex-girlfriend’s senior prom. I left her at the dance to race an orange ’77 Corvette. “I’ll be right back,” I assured her. Long story short, a highway patrolman had followed us to the racing spot, parked a couple hundred behind us at the starting line, headlights off.
We lined up and my buddy got out to start us off. As his arms went down, I had some tire spin that put the Mustang into dark horse standing right away. There was only one person at the finish line, but he claims I was able to edge the Corvette just at the end. The celebration was short lived as the gut wrenching red and blue lights lit up my review mirror. As I pulled over, the ‘Vette took off into the night. The highway patrolman sped past to catch him. I assured myself that he must be happy with only getting one of us and whipped the car around to go pick up my buddy. In panic mode, I didn’t stop for my friend. I just kept going. I looked down at my speedometer. It read 50 mph. Not an exciting get away attempt. The highway patrolman had directed the Corvette to meet him at the police station in 20 minutes prior to catching up with me. Expecting a field sobriety test, I was instead handcuffed and placed in the back of the cruiser for “attempting to flee or elude an officer in a motor vehicle.” Oh, the glory days.
The dream of American muscle lives on this coming weekend during the Fourth of July celebrations in the area. On Saturday, July 2nd, Philomath hosts a classic car show at their City Park and Albany follows suit on Sunday at Timber Linn Park with the Dare to Cruz Car Show. Both of the events start at 9:00 am and go to the afternoon.
If you’re looking to break out your Sunday driver for the show, remember the most important thing about your entry: Fire Extinguisher and First Aid Kit.
~Noah Stroup
Sunday and Monday
Riverfront Park, Corvallis
RED, WHITE, BLUE, and YOU!
Even in this age of stalwart skepticism and political unrest, the rocket’s red glare and the bombs bursting in air still call out to the disgruntled and downcast every 4th of July and direct their attention to the anniversary of our country’s heady beginning towards the perfection of a democratic nation. No matter how you judge our progress, this day is a day for Americans to remember and celebrate with pride that first step onto the road of setting humanity free from tyranny and oppression. Two hundred and thirty-five years later we’re still fighting the fight that our forebears set upon, in arenas both foreign and domestic, and that alone is a reason for celebration.
In Corvallis, that celebration takes shape in the Red, White and Blue Festival, held on the downtown banks of the Willamette River. The Downtown Corvallis Association will be providing two days of fun for friends and family featuring live music, food and beverage vendors showcasing the bounty of the Willamette Valley, craft booths of every persuasion, and tons of fun activities for kids and adults alike.
Opening Sunday July 3rd at 1230 PM and Monday July 4th at 11AM the event runs until 11PM both nights and will feature local live music throughout. On Sunday from 230PM until 1030PM, you can hear the musical talents of Ben Rice, Norman, and Fate 55. On Monday starting at 11AM, you can hear Ordinance, the Deluxe Bros, Caught In The Act, and end the night with the Dani Paige Band.
Oregonians love their food and drink, and the Red, White and Blue Festival will shwocase much of what the valley has to offer. From Philly Cheesesteaks to Umpqua icecream as well as the traditional sno-cones, funnel cakes and hot dogs, the vendors along 1st Street will satisfy your palette. Also available to those of age will be a variety of those Oregon wines and microbrews that everyone loves.
For those seeking the wares and crafts of Oregon, all manner of styling will be available during the Festival; tie-dyed clothing, caricature art, unique beaded items, elegant hair braiding, handcrafted fantasy items and many more things with which to celebrate our time honored capitalist joys.
And what festival would be complete without a parade? The Red, White and Blue Festival sports the somewhat prolixly dubbed “All American Everyone-Can-Join Fabulous Fantastic 4th of July Parade” on Monday. Participants should gather at 10:00 am on 8th St. between Monroe and Jefferson. Parade begins around 10:30 noon with walkers 1st, animals 2nd and vehicles last. Parade should finish around 11:30 pm.
If you prefer running to parading then the 2011 Red White & Blue Riverfront Festival 5K Fun Run/Walk is just what you need. Occurring on Monday, the Walk starts promptly at 8:40 am; Run starts promptly at 9:00 am. Pre-registration up to July 3, 5 pm: $4. Race day, until 8:30 am: $6. Register at 5 Star Sports, 219 SW Madison Avenue, Corvallis OR.
The 5,000 meter course (3.1 miles) start line is near the intersection of 1st & Monroe, proceeds to 2nd Street to pathway alongside Corvallis Skate Park, onto walkway overpass heading to Avery Park, left into Avery Park, following bike path around the park, turns right at four-way stop sign into parking area, follows parking lot to dead end and turns around at dead end, heading back on same path back to start/finish line.
Come help Corvallis celebrate 235 years of freedom and the pursuit of happiness with the Red, White and Blue Festival! More information, registration forms, and additional vendor details available at http://www.downtowncorvallis.org.
~Jimbo Ivy
