Submariner Drive

Hey Folks -

My youngest son, Olin, is a Nuclear Reactor Operator aboard a Fast Attack Submarine, homeported in Hawaii. Olin's boat will be in the Hood Canal area during the last weekend in October. This will be the first time in more than four years (time Olin has been on the crew) that this particular boat will have been in port in Washington. I would like to organize a drive for as many members of the crew (both officers and enlisted personell) as possibble for Sunday, October 26th at around 11:00 am (the date could change by one week either way).

I'd like to arrange for as many Ferrari's and Lamborghini's to participate as possible. Just having a private or impromptu car show for the crew would be cool for most of them, but a short drive would make this a Port Call to Remember! I imagine that depending on the number of cars that participate and crewmen that are interested, there could be a need for two or three circuits of the route.

Depending on what arrangements can be made, the drive would either start from a parking area near the main gate at the base or the parking lot of the Kitsap Mall in Silverdale. The potential route I scoped out on Google would be to head north from the Mall (or main gate) on Silverdale Way (which becomes Viking Ave), through Polsbo to Hwy 305, along 305 to the Suquamish Casino turning north onto Miller Bay Rd, turning west onto either NE Gunderson Rd or Hwy 104 over to Hwy 307, heading south back to Hwy 305, then taking 305 over to Hwy 3 for the run back to the start.

The sub will be on an EASTPAC (Eastern Pacific) cruise with a stop in San Diego prior to running up here to Washington. The crew compliment on a Fast Attack Boat is listed at 12 officers and 98 enlisted, but they run with a crew of about 160 men (nope, no women). When they are on deployment, the only daylight they see comes when they are in port and are able to leave the boat.

I'd like to arrange for submarine tours for all those participating that would like a tour, but that requires all visitors to provide personal data to the Navy prior to the visit. I haven't checked into that as yet, but I do know that birthdates and SSN's are required far enough in advance to provide the Navy to do quick background checks.

If you would be interested in participating and providing a submarine sailor with a ride in your car, please let me know. I will check into the logistics of sub tours for those that would be interested - I hope they have a form that can be emailed to individuals to be filled out and mailed directly to the base. The check is required due to the presence of certain weapons in the area.

Thanks to all those that read this and especially to those that are willing to participate!!

Erik Saltrønes

My contact email is: [email protected]

 

I'm pretty much partial to Italian cars myself, but any COOL car is welcome - the point is to give the crew a bit of a thrill and a break from their duties while on deployment!! ANY exotic or unusual car is welcome!! There are so many really nice cars in the Puget Sound area, I'd like to invite all that want to come and share your car - the more the merrier!! The only exotic car most of these guys have seen up close is Olin's Testarossa and only a few have ridden in that one.

THANKS!!
Erik

 

Hmmm.... So far, I haven't checked with any other car clubs with respect to this drive. It could be made Italian marques only if there would be enough cars available to give rides - Opinions?

 

Thanks for your interest and involvement guys!! I decided to invite the crew of a second sub, there could potentially be 200 sailors wandering around so the more cars the merrier!! Anyone that would like to come with a car to say "Thanks" and to support our submariners (submarine-ers) is welcome!! This event is for the guys and they range in age from mostly 18 to 28 with a few of the chiefs and officers up to ... I would guess about 42. They'll be delighted to see and ride in any COOL car!! I'd love to see a good turnout of Ferrari's and Lambo's, but if you or a friend care to bring a Vette, Viper, SLR, Porsche GT, Bently, Aston Martin, Ford GT - bring away!! If there is a chance of getting some super exotics, THAT would be FANTASTIC!!

We are going to have a drawing for those of you that bring cars - I'm going to build a fire extinguisher bracket for one of the prizes (I'll have a 308/328 bracket on hand but will build a custom bracket for any other model), Griot's donated a "Car Care Organizer" and a "Carpet Care Kit" and Gary said he had a few things that can be added as well. I'm trying to secure other donated prizes and hope that I can get hold of some shirts and hats to to pass out in a drawing for the crews.

Thanks to everyone that decides to participate!!

 

We will be meeting at the Undersea Warfare Museum in Keyport starting at 10:00 am. The guys will be bussed over from the base. I'd love to see your SLR!!

 

Olin expects to be able to get a tour of HIS submarine arranged. The tours scheduled through the sub base are only on Tuesday's and Thursday's and include a tour of the Bangor training facility. The next full-blown tour they have available is in January. We should be able to get just a tour of Olin's boat. We have to meet at either the Museum or the Kitsap Mall because there isn't an area large enough just outside the base for us AND each car entering the base has to have a legal escort. We might be able to drive onto the base for the tour, as long as there is a sailor in each car, but then I'm warned we probably wouldn't want to drive the cars to the pier itself, since that is pretty much a shipyard area and the Public Affairs Officer said he doesn't even like to drive his Mini down there. So, if we can drive the cars onto the base, then they'll have to be parked away from the pier and be bussed down to the boat. The guys that go to tour the sub would probably be better off leaving their cars parked at the museum and going from there on the bus. If that is the case, I will stay behind with a couple of other people and keep watch over the cars so that nobody gets too close while the owners are gone (I will be able to tour the boat with Olin at a different time). I am working on a place to park the cars on base, but that will require each driver to get vehicle credentials prior to entering the base - and I hope to be able to streamline that operation. Getting the logistics handled is a pain - especially for a couple of reasons I cannot mention in an open forum.

 

Hey Folks -

It has been suggested that I make it clear that the sub tour portion of the submarine drive on Sunday October 26th is OPTIONAL!! Please feel free to just show up to show your car. The drive portion is also optional - while giving rides is desired and encouraged, it is by no means expected.

Thanks Again!!
Erik