I won't be able to make MOTD 2007, but I hope that many more people will pick up leadership of group drives. A greater variety of drives would be very cool... especially if you can pre-define the purpose of the drive so everyone can pick the one that best fits their needs: Spirited driving, scenic driving, shopping run, etc.

I would love to help anyone who is interested do so with all of the lessons I learned last year putting together the "Scenic drive around the Smoky Mountians". Actually, someone could very easily recreate that drive... I've got the instructions, maps, phone numbers, lunch menus and everything else all packaged up and ready to go... you would just need to find a group lead driver or two, manage a sign-up thread and give the little pre-drive talk. I have full turn-by-turn directions with odometer readings (down to the tenth of a mile) that lead 2 group leaders who had never seen the roads before (with 30 cars behind each, no less) over the 150 mile drive with no problems. It's a turn-key group event. (https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ad.php?t=64311).

For a more adventurous planner, I've got a great drive in the back of my mind on a STELLAR road that I found on my way out of the Dragon last year. It has a great twisty country back-road route to Highlands, NC, a little antique and boutique shopping town. The run back could easily come across Wayah Road, another up-and-coming driver's road like the Dragon. This would make for a great driver's experience, give some shopping and lunch time in a cool little mountain town for passengers (great family or husband/wife drive) and then come back through Robinsville (for groceries/gas/hotels) to Fontana. It would require more fleshing out than the Scenic Smoky drive, but it would be very, VERY cool. I'll lead it in 2008 if someone doesn't pick it up for 2007. (http://maps.yahoo.com/#mvt=m&q6=font...35.23945&mag=8)

To everyone going to MOTD 2007, I very highly recommend getting involved. This is not a big, corporate run event. It is a grass-roots gathering of MINI enthusiasts. The more you put in, the more you get out. It was my first (but definately not my last) MOTD last year and I organized the drive all the way from Texas. My other 2 group leaders (Bob and Rowdy) were also from Texas, so please don't let distance discourage you. I got so much more out of the event because of my participation in the planning and I met so many different people that I would have simply missed had I not been as involved. I'll miss everyone in 2007, but I've already told my wife that MOTD 2008 is going to happen come hell or high-water.

Please PM me if you are interested in leading a drive and I'll do my best to get you started.

 

The drive you are talking about to Highlands is truly great one and is one of my favorites. We ran a group there year before last for the Dragon Run using a combination of Wayah Rd. going and 28 to return. The route has been laid out on the MOTD website last two years for area drives if no one picks up on it for a group drive. You can also use Wayah OR 28 as a fun, longer route to Dillsboro to eat at Jarrett House.

I like Wayah Rd. better than the Dragon myself, mainly due to less traffic. Sssshhh......don't tell anyone about it.

 

Highlands is the town I grew up in, (except according to my wife I have not grown up yet!!). There are some truly great drives and scenery. I plan on leading a group up there the MOTD. If you go be sure to eat at the Fireside Resturant. It is run by a MINI owner, that arranged a group of 10 local MINI's to be in the Highlands Christmas parade. Contact Alan.

Several suggestions once you get on 28/64. Continue to Highlands stopping at the waterfalls along the way. From Franklin they are, in order, Cullasaja Falls, (no room to stop along the road, but you can and will drive slow enough to get a good view); Bust Your Butt falls (great place to stop, plenty of parking; Dry Falls, (parking available, but depending on the cars may be tight) you can walk under this falls; Bridal Veil Falls, (plenty of parking, and you can drive your car underneath for a great photo.



After arriving in Highlands just past the first traffic light is Fireside in a little shoppin area. Plenty of parking.

From here there are seveal choices.

Continue through straight through town (after shopping as much as you like) into Horse Cove (great road, although tight, with several switchbacks). Continue through Horse Cove (this will turn into a dirt road, although very good and generally smooth, and plenty wide). When this reaches 107 turn left through Cashiers and either continue staight toward Sylva and back to the MOTD, or left back toward Highlands. If you go back to Highlands, continue about 7 miles and take a left on Buck Creek. This is a great drive that will take you back to 64/28 and continue back to Franklin and then MOTD.

I anyone need more details please let me know. As we get closer to the Dragon, I will be posting more detail about a drive.

 

Originally Posted by Jen
DCMM is still working out whether we have any left over money after the Dragon this year.

We did not announce that any of our events would have proceeds donated to charity because we really were not sure we would make any proceeds. We decided quite a while back that the vasty majority of proceeds would go to charity. And then we got bogged down and never picked one!

So, we plan to make a contribution to charity (most likely the Make a Wish Foundation, but we are still getting suggestions and have not decided) with the vast majority of any proceeds. We had hoped to annouce this at the farewell dinner, but as been said, the event was just taking way too long and I could not stomach holding people any longer. Once we know what we are doing we will post about it. Proceeds remaining go to pay our insurance policy and misc. club stuff and a thank you event to keep us going until the next Dragon. No one takes home money. We are not in this to make money -- we are in this to help put on a fun event for the MINI community nationally.




Hmmm...8 months after the Dragon....

Btw, how was the "thank you event" the DCMM held for itself with this money?

 

Hmmm...8 months after the Dragon....

[/quote]

F. Y. I. Since I was deeply involved with MOTD 06 and DCMM at taht time I would like to make this statement (unless I get cancelled before)

During and a couple months after MOTD 2006 I was the Treasurer of DCMM and none MOTD money was spent during my time but I resigned from position on July 31st. and I don't know anything after that.

I do agree that 8 months IS a very long time ... but donations can still happen (it will be a 2007 donation tho )

Marina Martin
AKA La Strega

 

If you go to my "Daytrip" Section of my website www.minisonthedragon.info I have a lot of the drives mentioned above. Under waterfalls I have the three waterfalls on the way to Highlands. Plus there are three nice waterfalls all in walking distance to each other in Bryson City. If you guys have suggestions on drives or roads to ad, let me know!! Alos check out the "The Roads" section too.

 

You know, I don't recall us having one. As Marina said above, no MOTD money was spent prior to her resignation on July 31st, and I don't believe that has changed since... with one LARGE exception. Stay tuned.

It's better to be late than not at all... even if it is ridiculously late... and I'll be the first to admit it is. The intent was always there, as posted by our president (Jen) within a few weeks of MOTD4 (5-19-06 post). Without going into details, it's been a very complicated year for us, to say the least.

EDIT: And now the word is out... Announcement

 

That would be because we didn't!