Category Archives: Cars

Each year the entries on the Pacific Northwest Region Calendar of Events seem to be printed in a smaller type size. Although I can barely see them without my reading glasses, the tiny type is actually a good thing. Smaller print means more car shows are listed on the two-sided calendar, which is available now, but going fast.
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A new Washington state law makes it riskier for criminals to travel in collector cars. I own a collector car with a “lifetime” collector car license plate, meaning there are no annual renewal fees. As far as I know there aren’t any “wants and warrants” out against the car or me. However, until the state legislature acted earlier this year, there was no way for a police officer to tell that or even if I’m the car’s legal owner if the car was pulled over for a traffic stop.
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On a sunny morning earlier this week, the parking lot at the new YMCA in Silverdale was perhaps one-third full. The occupancy rate in the spots reserved for low emitting and fuel efficient vehicles (LEFEV) was far higher. Only a couple of the thirty or so LEFEV spaces (see photo) were empty. I parked at the far corner of the lot, ate my Burger King breakfast sandwich, and pondered my cynicism.
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“Elks care, Elks share.” It’s a wonderful slogan and one that the Bremerton Elks lodge strives to live up to. Clearly some Elks also care strongly about their collector cars (see photo). Last Saturday at the 23rd annual Elks car show in Bremerton, a couple of owners pampered their entries by bringing along Quik Shade instant canopies. Given the off-and-on showers all weekend, the shelters weren’t there to keep the cars out of the sun.
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A rare 1959 Chrysler Imperial LeBaron highlighted the Antique and Classic Car Show today in Shelton. There was no award at the show for overall length, but if there had been one, the beautiful blue four-door hardtop (see photo) would have won. Not counting limousines, it is one of the longest production cars ever made in the United States.
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Chevrolet cars were available in 16 solid colors for 1957. The photo, taken earlier this week in Chico, shows one of them, an original factory color called Surf Green. The car in the photo is instantly identifiable as a One-Fifty, Chevy’s entry-level series in 1957. You can tell by the half-length single strip of stainless steel side molding that runs from the door to the rear tailfin.
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In the short stretch of Old Belfair Highway between Kitsap Muffler and Sam Christopherson Avenue, there’s a large level lot full of old cars, trucks, boats, and heavy equipment. I have driven past it hundreds of times without paying much attention. This afternoon, a 1959 DeSoto parked in the lot’s east entrance caused me to take notice. DeSotos haven’t been made for 50 years so I had to stop for a photo.
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Today’s traffic question is concerned with etiquette in a center turning lane, sometimes called a suicide lane. In the diagram shown above, vehicle A, headed for destination A, will be the first to turn. Once the traffic clears and A makes a left turn to its destination, which vehicle should be the next—B or C? Should C yield to B so that B can pull forward in the center lane in order to turn left to destination B? Or should C, also bound for destination A, take A’s old spot, thus blocking B, and wait for its chance to turn? Assume that all three vehicles are fairly new, carry collision insurance, and none has an intimidating Dodge Ram-style front grille.

I don’t know the answer. Today, on Silverdale Way, I was in vehicle B. C did not yield to me. Neither did D (not shown but going the same direction as C). Only after D turned was I able to pull forward and make my turn. The traffic in the outside lanes was heavy enough to cause a wait between turns and thus give me time to ponder the question. When I got home, I checked the Washington Driver’s License manual. It reminded me that no one has the right-of-way. Instead in a number of situations, for example when vehicles are in an intersection or when an emergency vehicle approaches, the law specifies who needs to yield the right-of-way. Center turning lanes aren’t mentioned, and the rules of yielding to the car on the right or already in the intersection don’t seem to cover the situation.