We’re finally on for Opening Day this Saturday!
Can you believe it? Just like that, the weather turned in our favor and left us this wonderful Saturday to kick off our season! It will be nice and warm too! It won’t be one of those quasi-nice days where it’s sunny, but minus fifty, where we’re all roped together because of wind. You know the one where it looks all inviting in pictures, then we’re all dealing with frostbite and trying to wrap our cracking fingers around a cup of tea. We’re past that. This will be a genuine nice opening day! In the 60s! What???
When we began E@RTC in February years ago, we’d warm up behind an exhaust pipe. Sure a few would pass out, but we’d move them into fresh air and eventually they were fine. We’d come home smelling like a bus station and a little loopy from the fumes. After we warmed up by that second hour, we’d wonder around the lot like gassed birds with no memory of why we were there. It was then that we decided that standing behind an exhaust pipe may not be a fun way to start a Saturday. Too many of us were not exactly right after that.
Now, if you’re new, it would help a lot if you please read the rules, look at the entrance map under “directions”, and follow the directions so you don’t look like a fly circling poop on a hot day. Follow the line of cars along Bear Creek from west to east, one block past the entrance to the mall. Don’t just try to enter from west near the hotel or come down 166th. We wave you off and you have to drive all the way around. It’s embarrassing for some.
The entrance is at the corner of 168th and Bear Creek Parkway. It’s the only participant entrance. Even with a long line of cars, we keep it moving so don’t fret. We get you in and landed. For photographers, it’s the place to be.
Spectators can park anywhere there is available parking at the mall. We suggest in the covered structure on the north and west side of the mall. There is plenty of parking there.
We will be parking cars in the center of the mall as usual, but that’s select parking and a mix of cars. We also park a lot of cars along 164th and over to the other sections, so walk around and see the plethora of wonderful machines. It’s eye meth.
New rule added last year-
We do not park cars after 10 AM. Besides, it’s possible we’re already full by 9:30. It’s happened. At that point, the entrance gate is closed. Don’t try and come in yourself as that will get you banned. This has become a challenge for us as we have to walk you in with multiple volunteers and it’s too time consuming.
Once we get the last cars landed or it’s 10 AM, we’re done allowing cars in, and we do fill up on opening day, so some cars may not get in as it is. Best to come early. We work to get cars landed as quickly as we can, but don’t show up at 10:01 and expect to get in. Besides, we want our volunteers to have time to enjoy the show.
Every beginning of the year, someone shows up who didn’t read the criteria page who doesn’t get in because they didn’t meet the theme of the event. We urge you to read it if you’re new. We hate to turn you down even more than you like being turned down. Don’t argue with us because it holds up the line and it never works. Sean raised a redhead, so he’s good at pointless arguments. (Shout-out to a certain daughter.)
This is one of our biggest days of the season and you don’t want to miss it. It’s a chance to see grown men cry because they missed each other so much. There will be unpleasant dancing. Maybe even some unpleasant feet lifting spin hugging.
This is also the first E@RTC that’s back to “normal” so we’re expecting a much larger crowd than usual after the stuff we’ve dealt with the past two years. It will be a lot of fun.
I hate to have to say this again, but we do ban people and cars who behave badly. We ban you forever. Not just one Saturday. We have one or two every year who try and ruin a good thing so don’t let them. We all have to participate in shutting down that behavior. All car shows are fragile things and it only takes one person to ruin it for everyone. Help us keep this event going by reminding everyone to behave everywhere in Redmond.
This is a display of exotic and rare, not a demonstration of horsepower or lack of mental agility. We work closely with Redmond PD and when someone behaves badly and we hear about it, you’re toast.
We do keep a close eye on Bear Creek Parkway along with the police. Warn your friends. We take it very seriously.
See you all Saturday!