MINI COOPER :: North American Motoring

**HalAC** · #1 12-13-2009, 08:38 PM

Want to put out a feeler to see if there'd be any interest in a drive around the countryside and end the day with a dinner at Monteagle.

Thinking of doing it the weekend of Feb 13th. What do you all think?

EDIT: See post #9. Due to possible snowy weather this drive is re-scheduled for March 20th.

JohnMonk · #2 12-13-2009, 11:48 PM

Sounds cool, let me see if I can spark some interest.

**HalAC** · #3 12-14-2009, 03:37 PM

Thanks John.

I cross-posted on Mid-Tennessee and Scenic City MINIs forums.

LeahLuvsMINIs · #4 12-29-2009, 10:24 AM

Hey sounds good to me! I'm not 100% sure if I can make that day with it being Valentines day weekend (aka really busy at work) just let me know if your doing it the saturday or sunday! ..sunday would be best for me

**HalAC** · #5 01-02-2010, 05:23 PM

Here’s the itinerary I have come up with so far.

We’ll meet at the Lowe’s in Tullahoma and leave there about 1 PM. From there our route will take us on some nice twisty-turnys through parts of Coffee, Moore, and Bedford counties. That will connect us up with SR 130 which will take us just south of Shelbyville where we’ll take a connector road to over to US 231.

US 231 heading south toward Fayetteville is nicknamed "The Ridge". This road has some really nice hills along with some more sweeping turns with great views across the rolling countryside.

Once we reach Fayetteville we’ll stop at the Elk River Coffee Company for a rest stop for beverages and restroom break.

Leaving Fayetteville we’ll be going up to Lynchburg on SR 55. Once we reach Lynchburg, if needed, we can stop again for a comfort break. From there our route will take us on to SR 50 to head towards Winchester. 50 is another road full of great twists, turns, ups, and downs with beautiful scenery to boot.

When we reach Winchester we’ll get on SR 41a/64 to our final leg. This will take us again through some roads meant for MINIs. We’ll go through the communities of Cowan and Sewanee to finally arrive at our dinner stop, Papa Ron’s Italian restaurant.

If any of you all are going to attend, please post below with how many will be coming with you. That way I can get a head count to let the restaurant know ahead of time on how many people to expect.

If you have a FRS walkie talkie ( CH12, sub 9) you may want to bring it. You also may want to start out with a full tank of gas also, although there will be stations along the way if you need fuel.

oldhippie · #6 01-11-2010, 07:15 PM

HalAC:
I just read Kathy your post and we are in!! Sound like a great run. Looking forward to meeting everyone and having a "Motoring" time. My triplet grandchildren have renamed my Clubman, "The TAZ".
Kevin

**HalAC** · #7 01-11-2010, 07:40 PM

Great to have you aboard!

Just hope I get more responses soon.

So far;

HalAC + 1

oldhippie + 1

Rickey B. + 1

**HalAC** · #8 01-25-2010, 04:51 PM

Did a dry run of our route this past Sunday. Looks like I've planned out a pretty good drive.

Only thing I found wrong was my mapping software drive time were WAY too long by about an hour.

So I thought when we reach Lynchburg we'd go on into town and spend some time on the Square. Should be able to spend about an hour to hour and a half there browsing some of the shops there.

How's that sound?

**HalAC** · #9 02-06-2010, 08:59 PM

Just finished watching the weather report for the next week and it's not looking too good for drive. Looks like we may get snow on and off all week long.

So with that information I'm going to cancel February 13th's drive and try again on March 20th.

phlash · #10 02-10-2010, 05:36 AM

I have added to event info to global announcements in the forum and added the event to primary pages:

http://sceniccityminis.net

and

http://sceniccityminis.org

Thanks for doing all the legwork on this and getting the event rolling.

**HalAC** · #11 02-10-2010, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phlash

I have added to event info to global announcements in the forum and added the event to primary pages:

sceniccityminis.net and sceniccityminis.org

Thanks for doing all the legwork on this and getting the event rolling.

Thank you for putting the word out. Hopefully the weather will cooperate a bit better by March.

hwy74 · #12 02-13-2010, 10:04 AM

I am new to this forum, so let me introduce myself and my '06 Chili Red MCS. I would love to get in on the ride, as I have been looking for a way to make some connections with the Mini community. I have been a motorcyclist for many years and have enjoyed the social aspects that go along with that. I knew that this wonderful little car would generate a similar community.

**HalAC** · #13 02-14-2010, 07:33 AM

Welcome to the MINI community hwy74!

I hope you'll be able to make it to the drive and dinner next month. Please let know if you can make it and how many will be with you so when I call the restaurant I can give them a heads up to how many are attending.

If you really want to get involved more with the MINI community have you heard of Minis on the Dragon?

**HalAC** · #14 02-20-2010, 07:15 PM

Guess I'll start the list again. I'll add to this a people let me who is going. This will help when I call the restaurant to let them know how many to expect.

HalAC + 1

hwy74 + ?

oldhippie + 1

hwy74 · #15 02-20-2010, 07:58 PM

I am in for the ride. I will definitely have one (duh), and I might have two if a buddy can get away from the house that day. Sorry I cannot be more definitive at this time

oldhippie · #16 02-21-2010, 05:36 PM

Hal, I was in for the first one, didn't know I would have to resubmit for the reschedule? Count me in!

**HalAC** · #17 02-21-2010, 06:21 PM

Good to hear you can make it Kevin.

I've added you to the list.

**HalAC** · #18 03-12-2010, 08:52 PM

Only a week to go before the Drive and Dinner.

If you are planning to attend, whether it be the entire drive or just meet up at Papa Rons, I'd like to a head count by Wednesday so I can give the restaurant a heads up on how many people will be there.

Hope to be able to meet some of you all face to face.

hwy74 · #19 03-20-2010, 06:36 AM

I hate to miss this run, but i am still on Spring Break with my family and will not be able to make it back in time to make the run

. i hope everyone is safe and has a good time. i will shoot for the next one.

**HalAC** · #20 04-10-2010, 07:58 PM

Wow. Can't believe this thread is still getting hits after the fact.

Unfortunately no one showed up for the drive at the rendezvous point. Also no one responded on whether or not they were going to meet up at the restaurant.

If possible could some of you all please give me some reasons why you all didn't attend? This thread at the time of this posting has had 600 "looks". Thats a lot of hits for a local thread. Just would like to know what I need to do to get more folks to attend.

Thanks for looking.

LeahLuvsMINIs · #21 04-12-2010, 01:23 PM

Hi Hal!
Sorry for your frustration on no one coming to your event! It takes a lot of work to plan one and when no one comes it's really frustrating!!!

I'm a baker at a restaurant, so while most people kick back on the weekend I am in the busiest part of my week. So valentines weekend there was just no way I could make it on saturday. As for march some saturdays I can make it others I can't. I did not plan on going in march at all because I already knew I could not attend. Sundays are the best day for me because the restaurant is closed!

If you plan another event I'll try my best to make it... Also, in my opinion, you may want to plan where people don't have to drive over an hour just to make it to the starting point.

Hope to see you at an event soon!

~Leah

**HalAC** · #22 04-12-2010, 04:02 PM

Thanks Leah for the advice.

Unfortunately a lot of people go to church on Sundays making it tough to schedule on that day.

Being "Out Where the Banjos Play" makes it hard to find a centralized place to start from. Last time I thought Murfreesboro would be a good starting spot, but that didn't work either. Had to pick up participants along the way.

I'll probably try to do the Fall Creek Falls run again this fall.

BTW, are going to the Dragon this year?

hwy74 · #23 04-13-2010, 06:34 AM

I hate that no one showed up HalAC

. I waited until the last minute to post my regrets, and I did it at 6:30 in the morning thinking that you would check the site before rolling off. I really intended to go, but family definitely comes first and mine was not finished with spring break.
I thank you for considering those that go to church. I ride motorcycles as well and have struggled to hook up with people to ride on Saturdays. The street running on the bike was getting a bit too risky for me, so I am enjoying four wheels and looking forward to socializing with some like-minded folks. The distant start did not bother me, as I know that you have to get out and away from the urban zones to find some fun places to ride, but Leah may be on to something for some people. And as far as I am concerned, you could start early in morning. I am quite used to that. Cooler, less traffic and back home to the family before dinner.
Do you, or does anyone know if the Burgers and Cream Saturday event is still going on. I live in Bellevue and have not wanted to invest in the ride to Cool Springs just to find out that it is not.

**HalAC** · #24 04-13-2010, 02:57 PM

I did get your message that morning and I appreciate that.

One thing I was thinking of trying on a Friday or Saturday is a get together at one of the Moe's Southwest Grills in the Murfreesboro/Nashville area. I think they're owned by a fellow MINIac by the handle of smportis. I could contact him and see if he's game to do something like that. Maybe do lunch or supper there in the evening.

TNMiniMama · #25 04-18-2010, 06:00 AM

Hi Hal,
Sorry I've been such a dud. Unfortunately, the weekends have been jam packed with kids and farm duties, the least of which is trying to get a handle on the MESS in my house! <sigh>. This winter/spring have also had some other issues, which I won't go into here, but let's just say they're not driving conducive.
I do want to do a drive... someday... with y'all, and I'd love to get a drive going here. MINIxb (Steph) is possibly coming thru in October on her way to MSSD, which I would love to attend, and I was thinking maybe we could all get together THEN for a drive- even a shorter evening drive ending up at Papa Boudreaux's Cajun Cafe in Fly. If we had enough people commit (and send some $ up front) he'd arrange for a small party. He's open Thurs thru Monday nights- http://www.papaboudreaux.com/
He doesn't accept credit cards, so it would be cash only.

Thanks for taking the time to try and put things together. Best to Deb!

~V