For a second, imagine you don’t live here. Deep in the southeastern part of Portland, there's a dormant volcano. Around this volcano, there's a massive forested public park (191 acres), with hiking trails, several reservoirs, a dog park, and a disc golf course. Every summer Portlanders huddle around the concrete walkway in the middle of the park and watch gravity-powered homemade cars hurtle down the track, from the top of the volcano to the bottom. Some cars are built for speed—sleek and low to the ground. Far more are built for artistic expression, to get the crowd hooting and hollering.

Now, you, a person who doesn't live here, hearing about this for the first time? You probably think it’s a little much. And you’re right. Portland is never beating those charges. It’s a place where a lo

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