I'll be looking for the VA drives, they're probably closer for me than the MD ones. I would've been at the tubing trip had I not had a rough night of sparring. :(

 

Sparring?!....never mind, I don't want to know!

Any nice roads over your way? I know we have done some nice runs in WV, and I would love to do some more! Maybe this year we will get to have the large outing to Seneca Rocks we were hoping to do last year.

 

i know how that can be. enjoy the pain, thats what my instructor says anyway. he's a little strange. waking up sore, thats how you know you actually did something last night.

 

My first Burtonsville get together netted 4 cars with only one going on the run to the restaurant. Needless to say I was bummed not to mention my wife ended up with a bunch of scones. The first run I went on was MINIs by the Bay and there were like 40+ cars. It made me wonder if this was just a club of cliques and I was being shunned.

The next one I planned there was 15+ MINIs and we had a wonderful time, restored my confidence and faith in the club !

You probably wonder like I do, "Where are the 300 members ?"

The runs over the last few months in MD have been populated by mainly new members to DCMM from what I can tell, including myself. Yes, some of the "older" crew show up but lots of new members.

The flying club I'm in is like this too, newbies show up, want to be active, gonna change everything for the better.......the older members go "yeah yeah" been there done that. I would bet that is what is going on here. The novelty wears off. So it is up to us, the active members, be it new or old, to do our best to keep things going and try to get other old/new members involved.

Posting nasty and negative comments about things in the club insures that no one will want to show up to something you put together, not to mention the potential that they might not want you to show up either.

I can't imagine that the no show for your runs was due to anything personal or the fact that they were in VA. I would guess it was just bad timing.....

Granted, this is a club, there will be smaller groups that have similar likes and dislikes, and there will always be personality conflicts. The key is that we're all in this together and need to try and get along.....bite the old lip if you have too sometimes. Again, the flying club is like this, I've seen and been involved in incidents where the situation was heading to bodily harm

I really would like to do some VA runs, I ran one with my wife that had been posted from one weekend and it was awesome ! Whomever planned it out knew what roads a MINI likes, nothing but pure enjoyment ! We ended up at that burger joint in Front Royal.

The up coming club picnic is going to be great.....we really need to get the word out and do everything we can to get a large attendance !

Cheers,

Mike

 

Unfortunately nothing *that* exotic! (Wow I sure left that open to interpretation didn't I? lol!)

Seneca Rocks would be awesome! I also had promised to check out some WV routes for you guys, with it being winter I just kind of put it on the back burner for now. I'm not native to this area so I find things by stumbling on it or from asking coworkers.

 

*nevermind*

 

VA event's "Spring Fling", the detail is on the way.

Stay tuned.

 

Craig, Chris and I are starting to talk about setting up something here in VA. Do people want a drive that ends at a restaurant, just an evening meeting at a local coffee shop? Let us know what you'd like!

 

I understand Sunday noons at Misha's are kind of quiet these days. Parking may be an issue, though.

 

I think the evening thing is difficult both ways, VA members can't make it to MD and MD members can't make it to VA. It would be sooooo much easier without all those other vehicles on the road ! If only everyone drove a MINI/Mini and was in DCMM !

That should not keep you from planning one though, just that you will draw more from VA than MD. (IMO)
Now.....Weekend runs are a total different matter ! Food always draws a crowd, good food even more so !

Plan it, schedule it, and this old chap will do his best to make the calender open to participate !

Cheers,

Mike

 

Cool.

That is a great idea, a fun twisties and good meal. Love it.

 

Have you ever considered a road trip on Skyline Drive?

I was also thinking it might be nice to have a road trip that started in Warrenton and headed out 211 west and took some of the twisties off 211, like 688 or 522 to 55 and go east to Haymarket or west to Front Royal? There are a bunch of nice roads in the area bracketed by Warrenton, Sperryville, Front Royal and Marshall.

Just thought I'd toss the idea out there.....

 

Skyline sucks. 35mph, 'leafers' and Feds.

The other routes....part of my 'PGT's Burger Rally' I run every August (the MINI no-show event). We end up at Spelunker's in Front Royal for burgers that make Five Guys seem like McD's.

 

Dan,

I'll make you a deal... you come on the Spring Fling in April... and I'll come to your Burger Rally in August. Bring your wife and little one too - with a stop at Naked Mountain Winery, it's fun for all! (OK, maybe the winery isn't "fun" for the baby )

 

I'll try to make it but the wife wants nothing to do with DCMM any more. I'd like to get out more....the car has been mostly sitting since I work from home now and that's a damn shame given the mods since last season. You still need to hear the stereo...compare to the DPSM to see how it works.

 

PGT, Skyline drive doesn't "suck". You don't have to drive hell bent for leather to appreciate a nice drive with nice scenery, places to stop and talk, etc. And the only time you have to deal with the leaf-peepers is in October. There are 11 more months in the year.

I can see why there aren't too many GTG's in VA. You're a real Debbie Downer.

 

Depends on what you're looking for. Nice country drives have their place, but some folks enjoy a little more pace and challenge.

My personal experience, from numerous motorcycle trips, is that the Feds don't care what time of year it is - they're still there.

 

Funny, I go up there at least once a month (all year round) and have been for the past 20 years - have yet to see any serious traffic enforcement.

The speed limit on the Dragon is mostly 35 mph, yet look at the draw they have.

Ya know, all I see for this club are events in MARYLAND. So, I'm trying to garner some interest in doing something in VA. I don't see anyone else making suggestions so why shoot mine down and say "it sucks"? That's just f-ing rude. I made other suggestions too, just trying to get something started so I don't have to drive 100+ miles to Columbia friggin MD to meet you guys.

Perhaps I'm wasting my time...

 

I like the Judas Priest reference. Just listened to Sad Wings of Destiny this morning.

 

I tend to slip those references in - I keep forgeting it dates me tho!

 

bite me. my wife had 5 acres near Front Royal (when we were single and dating). We'd drive and hike and spend time up on Skyline between FR and 211 almost every single weekend (White Oak, AT, Old Rag, etc). I don't throw this stuff out there without having some experience first. Seriously...if your idea of a 'fun drive' is setting the cruise on 35mph and watch the scenery go by, there's an easier way.....rent a bus and have someone else drive.

Not a weekend went by where we didn't see the Feds running radar. It's all about revenue generation, not safety. Proof - we were in our Jeep, heading to a short evening hike (Marshall Run I think)....the wildlife was very active. Deer, bear, bobcat...we saw them all and you had to have sharp eyes on the road. A bunch of deer were blocking the road....we stopped to let them pass (with flashers on). A guy behind us was impatient and wanted to speed....he passed us on the wrong side of the road, not realizing there were deer.....swerved to miss them and sped off. We got his plate and stopped shortly after when we saw an officer running a speed trap and told him what happened - he said 'oh well'...didn't care to stop the guy even though he almost caused an accident.

 

Set up an event like Edge is doing. Can't do anything in VA if no one sets up something. The only reason there are events in Columbia is that Maxi is there.

 

Um, that is what I was TRYING to do - by making suggestions? That is all I was doing with my original post....

I guess where I come from people don't just blurt out "your idea sucks". I don't see anyone else making any suggestions. Maybe being shot down for even trying is why?

And PGT, I guess your luck just sucks. In all the years I've been going to Skyline (at a rate of 15-20 trips per year), I have seen exactly 2 radar traps. Then again, I usually do the middle section - 211 to 33 - for the hikes up Stony Man, Bear Fence, Dark Hollow, White Oak Canyon, Hawksbill, etc. Have conquered Old Rag a few times as well, although I don't get there via Skyline Drive (you can get there via the fire road near Limberlost though) I drive to Nethers.

I was up there last week and we saw a herd of 11 deer just standing on the road. They were followed by 3 bucks including a 10 pointer. Just beautiful. Last summer hubby and I were up there and saw 2 bear just hanging out on the side of the road. Very cool!

 

I didn't say your idea sucks, I said Skyline does. It's not conducive to a run, at least not one I'd care to go on. If you want to organize it and others want to go....have at it. Nobody's stopping you. There are 100 other routes that are more fun, less patrolled and allow a little 'fun' without anybody getting a ticket.

let me be clear - my luck doesn't suck. we were there 2-3x a week for months on end while the weather was good....one weeknight and usually both days on the weekend (camping out via a backcountry permit). We saw speedtraps nearly every time. That's not luck, that's the man making money for the park.

 

Why not just say, "I don't care for Skyline Drive but how about.....?" then make some suggestions of your own?

I suggested some other roads that have been summarily ignored in favour of bashing Skyline....