News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Brightly painted little Austin Healey sports cars purred through the streets of town and toured the local highways as three Pacific Northwest Clubs gathered in Sisters for their annual Northwest Meet.
They came rolling in from all across Washington and Oregon and from as far away as British Columbia, with more than 50 of the vintage British sporters produced from the mid-1940s to 1967.
According to drivers, the Austin Healey is the kind of car people fell in love with when they were young and turned into a hobby when they got older and had the time and means to devote to restoring a car.
"They had a reputation as a racing, rally car and we like that," said Chuck Gowan of Portland, who owns three Austin Healeys. "Now we're at an age when we can play, so we enjoy fixing them up and driving. They're a great car to drive."
The Austin Healey Club of Oregon sponsored the annual meet. Members of the Cascade Club of Washington and the Austin Healey Club of British Columbia also made the trek.
Gowan said the meet was held in Sisters several years ago and the club elected to return this year and establish its headquarters at the Comfort Inn, where there is plenty of area for parking.
"We picked Sisters because it's a fun place to go and a nice drive (to get here)," Gowan said.
Club members did a walking tour of town, drove out to Smith Rock and to the Metolius River.
Karen Morrison of British Columbia said the Northwest Meet is a casual affair to close out the summer season of shows and rallies.
Morrison has owned her Austin Healey 3000 MK III since 1973. For her, the car represents a kind of freedom.
"The sound is wonderful; they're fast; they have lots of power and
Jim Cornelius is editor in chief of The Nugget and author of “Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans.” A history buff, he explores frontier history across three centuries and several continents on his podcast, The Frontier Partisans. For more information visit www.frontierpartisans.com.
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