keep calm and carry on

Moderator · February 27, 2015, 08:05:27 PM

I've been enjoying a remarkable run of good fortune this winter, though I've been reluctant to talk or write about it for fear I'd jinx something. In a nutshell, one of my very favorite former colleagues recruited me back into the truck business. This came together unbelievably quickly! Lisa and I moved from Colorado to Portland Oregon this past weekend. Monday I reported for work at Daimler Trucks North America. Their product names may be more familiar: Freightliner and Western Star trucks plus Detroit Diesel engines. I'm now a "Senior Telematics Analyst", and my responsibilities include conceiving and bringing to market future electronic and software features related to communication between trucking companies, their drivers, and their equipment. It's a wonderful opportunity and I'm very excited about it! One downside: it will severely limit the time I have available for BritishV8. But don't worry. BritishV8 isn't going away. The message board will keep growing. Though I'm not exactly sure yet how editorial aspects of BritishV8 might change, I'm confident it will continue thriving. (Would you like to be an Editor or Assistant Editor? P.M. me your thoughts about that.) Most of all, thank you all for your tremendous support - over these last few years and also into another era of modifications and improvements.

JWD · February 27, 2015, 08:59:56 PM

Welcome to the Pacific Northwest. Maybe a big "get together" can be planned for this area for those that can't/don't want to drive several thousand miles.
Of course, you now have to become a Seahawk fan. That should be easy after the last time they met the Broncos in the "big game".

RMO 699F · February 27, 2015, 10:32:57 PM

Glad about your new opportunity Curtis...good luck my friend!

kstevusa · February 28, 2015, 07:42:24 AM

Great News Curtis, CARRY ON!

ex-tyke · February 28, 2015, 09:15:57 AM

The upside is a new direction in life - the downside is that you're even more remote from the Midwest and Eastern British V8 social scene - hope things work out for your continued involvement in our hobby!

Spitfire 350 · February 28, 2015, 04:45:36 PM

Congratulations on the new adventures. Starting a new job and moving to a new area takes a lot of courage. Wishing the best for both of you!!!

tbo · February 28, 2015, 07:11:26 PM

Hearty Congratulations. I'm sure with your talent and work ethic you will do well.We will all be in touch due to the magic of British V8 and the internet.

mowog1 · February 28, 2015, 08:05:12 PM

Good luck!

BlownMGB-V8 · March 01, 2015, 09:05:27 AM

I've lived in the Rockies, but never up in the northwest corner where you're headed, though I did have a good friend who moved out there quite some time ago. He seemed to like it, and I hope the climate is agreeable to you. Best of fortune with your new career. Definitely make it a point to look up Fred Key and a few other of our friends who haven't been able to make the more easterly meets.

Jim

lawnvett · March 01, 2015, 01:34:05 PM

Curtis,
Congratulation on your new job and move. We hsve family out in your new area so may be able to look you up when we are out that way.

britcars · March 01, 2015, 08:37:30 PM

Congratulations Curtis! All the best in your new job and your new location. There are some great driving roads in the Pacific Northwest. I've driven some of them on a motorcycle and have great memories of Northern CA, Hwy 101 from Astoria to Eureka, Hurricane Ridge (WA) and Crater Lake among others.

Hope you get the time to explore.

bsa_m21 · March 02, 2015, 05:09:40 PM

Congrats on the move! Portland is one of my favorite cities in the States. Very livable.

There is a large contingent of British V8 afficianados and activities out on the wet (oops I mean west) coast.
To the north of you Seattle also has a lot of activity. And, a bit further is a very "British" enclave - British Columbia, with many British activities. It's a short 6 hour drive from Portland and well worth the trip. Upcoming on the weekend of May 16th is the annual "All British Field Meet" in Van Dusen Gardens, in Vancouver BC, with all kinds of cars and bikes.

Jeese, so much to do that it hardly leaves any time for work, work.

And congrats on the new job.

Regards,

Martin

302V8 · March 03, 2015, 11:13:51 AM

Many congrats Curtis!!
Good luck with the new adventure in the Pacific Northwest.

Regards
Pete

Moderator · March 03, 2015, 08:58:42 PM

Thank you all! Lisa and I are already in love with this beautiful and exciting city. It's spring here already, and all sorts of flowers and trees are in bloom. For the time being we're living right down on the river, by the marina, just south of downtown. Within three months though, we'll give up this condo and move into a house. One remarkable thing about Portland is how many cool old cars you see around town. I passed a nice PV544 in traffic about ten minutes ago, and a really lovely BRG MGB GT yesterday. (I understand someone in my building drives an MGB V8 roadster. I hope to meet him soon.) I don't know if a Ford Maverick counts as cool, but I parked next to one today too. Lots of Porsches and Teslas, and I rode in a colleague's all-electric Mercedes B-Class on Friday. (Nice car! Needs a quick recharge option, and then I'll want one too.) Many, many Smart cars here! --- And yes, Portland is a great hub for exploring the whole Pacific NW region. My MG is waiting for spring to come to Colorado. I'll fly back to collect it, then drive it here. So many adventures to come - and I'll keep you posted about them.

(BTW, work is incredibly GREAT but I'm still trying to figure out when to sleep. So hectic!)

MGBV8 · March 04, 2015, 07:44:38 PM

Congrats, Curtis! I knew you & Lisa were going to like it there. Shame you keep moving farther & farther away, though.

Charles · March 04, 2015, 11:03:36 PM

Curtis, I don't think You or Lisa look for the bad things about where you are. You will soon settle in with you new employer then yawl will start to explore. When you get the GT out there life will be better.
The best to you both
Perky and charles

harv8 · March 08, 2015, 10:04:48 PM

Curtis,

All the very best to you and Lisa.
Take good care!

Martyn

Oldbloke · March 09, 2015, 01:48:12 PM

Luck to ya mate! My son lives/works in Portland so am in town frequently. Lots of Brit club activity in the area. I am envious!

kayakjack · March 16, 2015, 02:34:57 PM

Curtis, Colorado to Oregon. Quite a jump. Congratulation to you and Lisa. Best of luck to you two!
Jack

Moderator · June 27, 2015, 12:09:12 AM

I thought I'd check in again...

I'm getting excited, because tomorrow I will finally be reunited with my MGB! I'll fly into Denver and then drive my MG to Portland over the following several days. My first short vacation from the new job...

Sadly, it won't be possible for us to attend this year's BritishV8 meet. But we'll be at next year's, even if we have to fly in.

Lisa and I have pretty well settled in here. We love Portland! We're in a 1940s vintage house in the St Johns neighborhood, near a very beautiful suspension bridge. It's a fun-loving and friendly neighborhood with its own little downtown and main street. Our garage is old and small, but it's watertight. (It's nominally a two car garage, but they'd have to both be MGB sized.) And we've got a double lot, which is extremely rare here, so there's plenty of room to add a second garage or workshop someday.

Some places have their "Cars and Coffee" events. Portland has a weekly car show at the racetrack,which is apparently a city park - Portland International Raceway. The car show happens after work on every Wednesday. Sometimes it draws over 1000 cars! Folks can stay late into the evening watching 1/8th mile amateur drag racing. (They race all sorts of things, from real dragsters down those adorable Briggs and Stratton powered miniature dragsters - and believe it or not - snowmobiles too! Seriously. 6 second snowmobiles!!!) Anyhow... if things go well, I may possibly have my car at P.I.R. for the show on July 1st. And even more likely, I hope to return to P.I.R. again on the July 11-12 weekend to see some vintage racing action.

MG four six eight · June 27, 2015, 01:45:28 AM

Curtis,

Congrats on the move! Welcome to near sea level elevation where there is more horsepower to be had;-)!

I believe that they still have a pretty good turn out for the Portland All British Field Meet at PIR. It's been awhile since I've been to it, but they used to let the featured mark drive on the road race course. It was pretty cool to be able to drive on the track the year that they featured MG's!

You'll find plenty of good "MG roads" out here in the Pacific Northwest. Pretty much anywhere along the coast or Cascade Mountains is fun!

Bill

Preform Resources · June 27, 2015, 07:55:06 AM

Curtis, it sounds like you and Lisa are fitting right in there, I assume you are still doing a lot of traveling with your new job so if you are ever in the neighborhood please stop by.
Dave