Knoxville, TN is the closest.

also try reading this topic

 

Actually the two closest cities with decent populations are Maryville, TN (South West of Knoxville) and Robbinsville, NC. Between the two Maryville is the largest...by a good margin. If you plot directions between Maryville and Robbinsville you should see US 129 which is the Dragon. Hope this helps!

Mark

 

Hi, Xiek! Be sure to visit www.tailofthedragon and www.fontanavillage.com for information about the Dragon. If using Mapquest, you can use Fontana Dam (get the zipcode from the Fontana Village site) as your destination address, and it will get you close enough to follow signs in...hope that helps.

 

Info and ordering for the dinner portion of the Chili Cook-Off are now
available. The dinner is $5 per person (kids under 12 eat free).

When you go to the ordering page, it defaults to 1 T-Shirt and the
price is $5+$15=$20. You can set the number of shirts to 0 to get the
$5 price if you want (but we hope you don't because it is a very cool
shirt!!!). I mention this so there won't be any confusion over the
price of the dinner and to let you know that if there is more than 1 in
your party and you want 2 different sized shirts, you should order one
dinner with one shirt and then go back and order a second dinner with
the other shirt. That seems to be the way you have to do it.

I hope to see you all there. It will be great fun.

 

thanks for the info, Pete. I'm going to go register right now....

 

Now that's a price of a burger I can handle.

 

Is there a point where there are too many Minis? Can Fontana Village handle such a large number of cars safely? Will there be enough room to turn around without getting in someones way? This is my first dragon and I don't know how big the area is. Thanks

 

There is always a limit of some kind but given that people will be going different directions during the day, driving to different locations, etc. it sometimes looked empty during the day last year. The only time it really feels like there are a lot there (and its very festive) is at the dinners. There are lots of great roads in the area and when you are out driving you'll likely encounter a MINI or two but you won't likely see 50-100 of them at the same time.

 

I agree with Mark...it's a large area and the cabins and rooms are spread out well, with plenty of parking available. While it does get busy with the various dinners and for some of the events, it isn't a bumper-to-bumper event. Also, with the varied activities and times thereof, it sometimes appears that not many people are there at all.

 

Thanks for the info. That helps alot

 

The best way I can describe it is...

Imagine an area the size of a decent sized suburban-rural subdivision. Lots of quaint little houses and bungalows. There is a hotel and community center here as well, with lots of activity area. Lots of driveways and roads/streets/courts. Now imagine all of this, but with people that not only share common interests with their neighbors, but everyone living here drives the coolest cars ever made. This is Fontana during MOTD. Yes, there's a lot of cars, but it never gets gridlocked (except during some of the mass drives of last year, which have been reconsidered this time as a result). The busiest area in constant use would probably have to be the car wash area.:impatient

Lots of room, but at the same time intimate enough to make you feel like you are part of something special.

 

It IS a very cool shirt... but I didn't get one. Why? Because it has another club's name on it! I would feel kind of funny walking around in DC wearing a shirt that said "AtlantaMINIs" on it.

I'm sure people would not have been happy if the MOTD shirt had "DC Metro MINIs" on it.

That being said, I'm going to be at the cook-off, and really looking forward to it!

 

Hello Everyone:

We are planning a roadtrip from Miami, FL to Nashville, TN around the time of the MOTD event. Wife and I will be going to the Erasure concert in Nashville (First city to host their US tour) on Saturday May 6th and immediately after that we will begin heading back home early Sunday morning.

However, we both have decided to take the detour through the mountains and experience for the first time ever the Tail of the Dragon and The Cherohala Skyway even if it is on the last day of the MOTD gathering.

Here is the tentative itinerary I have planned for the drive that day from Nashville:

Nashville, TN to Robbinsville, NC (This of course will include the vaunted 11 miles and 318 turns of the Dragon). Distance = 240 miles

From Robbinsville, NC to Tellico Plains, TN (The entire length of the Cherohala Skyway). Distance = 45 miles

From Tellico Plains, TN to Chattanooga, TN (We plan to spend the night in Chattanooga). Distance = 95 miles

Since we live in Florida and have very little to almost none exposure to mountain road driving, I am not 100% sure if doing both the Tail of the Dragon and the Cherohala Skyway coming from as far west as Nashville is actually doable in a single day. 45 miles of road mountain driving is like driving 80 miles on the interstate, at least that is my perception when planning driving on slow and curvy roads.

Also the last thing I want to be doing is to be driving in a pitch dark desolate mountain road at night. May be in a caravan group but by ourselves, no way.

Since some of you are well familiarized with the region, do you think I have a realistic driving schedule here? Or is it better/safer to split the Dragon and the Cherohala in 2 separate days? I want to be back in Chattanooga no later than 8-9PM on Sunday. It is assumed we will be leaving Nashville no later than 8AM on Sunday.

Any help, pointers, suggestions are appreciated. I want to make this road trip a memorable one and I want to make sure that I have done the best planning possible.

I will be taking my '05 MCS as it hasn't been yet on a road trip outside of Florida and really want to excercise it as much as possible (Within posted speed limits of course) in those wonderful roads.

Also, what is the event schedule for the last day of the MOTD?

Thanks!

 

Anyone?

 

click on this link
https://www.northamericanmotoring.com/motd-home

then click on the "event planner" beyond this, there will be a "white erase board" where people can place their ideas and organize small day trips

 

Well, leaving Nashville at 8AM CST, it's probably 4-4.5 hours to the Dragon
which will get you there around 1:30 or 2 EST. The Dragon itself is a pretty
straight shot. Stop at the Crossroads and have a little lunch, then 30
minutes to Robbinsville, putting you at the start of the Cherohala around
3 or 3:30. Spend a couple of hours on the Cherohala, including gawking at
the beautiful views from some of the turn-outs, and you will be in Tellico
around 5-5:30. Then a couple of hours to Chattanooga and you will get there
around 8 EST (7 CST).

I think it's doable.

 

Pete Crosby, I really appreciate your input!!!

 

Pete, what is the exact location of the "crossroads"? Is this a town or restaurant? Any good recommedations for BBQ places in the area for lunch?

 

The crossroads is known as "The Crossroads of Time" and is the intersection
of US129 and NC28. There is a gas station there where they sell Motorcycle
stuff, T-Shirts, and Dragon memorabilia. They also have a restaurant which
serves burgers, hotdogs, etc. I don't recall if they sell BBQ. It's pretty good
for that kind of food and very convenient for folks driving the Dragon. If
you go on to Robbinsville, there is Sweetwater's BBQ (turn left on NC143 and
it is on your right) which is pretty good.

 

Cool thanks for all your info.

 

Dear C4

If you have never been to Sticky Fingers BBQ in Chattanooga, you simply must go!! I have their BBQ sauce shipped all the way to Texas! The original site is downtown in Jack's Alley and there is another one near Hamilton place mall off Interstate 75 - don't miss it!

 

Hey Mark (or anyone else that can answer this)

Do we have a time and place when we can check in and get out registration stuff at the dragon. I figure it's Thursday (duh), but how bout a time and location. Or am I just being impatient ?

Will we be able to get all our stuff at one place: buttons, shirts, cling, dinner tickets for the three nights?

thanks

 

steady...easy does it...that information will become available, believe me.

 

DC Metro MINIs is still pulling the details together for check-in. That said I would expect it to open mid-day on Thursday and be staffed most of the day Friday. On Saturday, for late comers, I would expect it would be open at different times during the day. As for check-in I would also expect you to pick everything up except for meal tickets. Given that its just one more thing to remember to bring there will likely be a list of everyone that has purchased tickets and you will be checked off when you arrive for the dinner.

As with last year the center of operations will be the Adventure Center (also known as the Rec Center). This is where check-in will be held as well as the Welcome Dinner and other events. For the Chili Cook Off the check-in for those tickets will be at the Tapoco Lodge.

Hope this helps!

Mark

 

I want to kno do we have to purchase meal ticket or what if we don't have the meal ticket? Can we still buy the food there?