The Small Cars of the Gambler 500

Andy and I just attended Oregon’s Gambler 500. With approximately 500 miles of pavement pounding, dirt trail tackling, and rocky road wrestling—this navigational non-race two-day event was just plain crazy and awesome.

Imagine $500 cars of all sorts, often driven by people in costume; off-the-used-car-lot bought compact cars chopped up in every manner running ragged; and long-timed owned tiny trucks decked out in duct tape and Harbor Freight accessories tooling up and over trails. The event started and ended at the Portland Meadows horse race track. Check points were littered around Portland, Bend, and surrounding on- and off-pavement tracks. Attendees had the choice of navigating easy, medium, or difficult trails. Run what you brung, and own your awesomeness. Subcompact Subarus to mammoth machines (like the articulated bus we saw!), everything eccentric showed up. Recovery vehicles and tow trucks were abundant if anyone lost a wheel, dropped an axle, or experienced a plethora of other auto naughtiness. Everyone camped overnight at Hoodoo ski area near Bend. A super party was had! Those lucky enough to drive their darling back to the end check-point (Portland Meadows) attended the Gambler car and vendor show, give-away session, and post-rally beverages.

If you want to experience a crazy, creative, and all-around awesome navigational vehicle event, plan to attend or enter the Gambler 500! Buy a $500 crap-can cruiser to run (or at least sit by the roadside) and watch everyone else doing it. #alwaysbegambling

Anyhow, here are some of the small cars from the 2017 Gambler 500. For even more photos, check out our sister site, Crankshaft Culture.

These matching Toyota Corollas bumped their way through the Gambler 500! Just a little bump, however.

Yes, that's a Mitsubishi Expo, Andy's first car.

This Festiva had Alberta plates. When asked if they drove it all the way from Alberta, they calmly replied, "Oh no. We
flat towed it behind a Mazda Protege." Oh, that's much better!