meet at the junction at 6am. 8 hours puts us at 2pm. i checked the math this time.

 

Don't calculate it as an 8 hour trip - it's going to take 40 mins to an hour to get through Pigeon Forge. You should also plan on about 3 20 min. stops.

I drive down there 4 times a year. Sherwin - I won't be around to bail you out if you if try to make it in 8 hours. Last time I tried it cost me $250.

 

Most likely..since 1) I want to get there!!! and 2) I am bringing the salad for Katie's dinner!

 

Thanks, Sam.

Alright guys, it looks like meeting somewhere around 4 or 5 is more reasonable at the junction of 81 & 66. nice! lookin like a midnite run TO the dragon.

ok, i'm gonna try and go back to bed now.

 

 

What the heck is the HellBender?

 

That is what they call 28 coming in from the other way. It is really a FUN FAST twistie road

 

If you guys are going to be there around midnight, or enen at night, you will miss official registration and really a full day of Dragon stuff. If I were you all, I would thry and get there mid-afternoon or midnight the day before.

 

The Dragon begins with Thursday's welcome dinner doesn't it? I plan to be there in time for the dinner.

 

Wow, I guess I am still sick

 

Well, the 'officical' MOTD starts with Thursday dinner. But a good number of people come in earlier. I MUCH prefer driving the Dragon driving Mon or Tues through Thursday afternoon. It's much lighter traffic, and less patroled. It also means I can stand around Fontana more Thursday and on doing more socializing and more of the functions without feeling like I'm missing out on the driving.

With a ten hour trip I'd feel like Thur and Sunday were lost to travel, and one full day of Dragon ain't enough for me! Heck I mostly take pics for one or two days!

If the Britain on the Green car show weren't the preceeding Sunday the 29th I'd probably go down Sat the 28th since I'm taking the whole week off.

 

we would probably be down for a group drive there. Me and MINI-Bee were orchestrating leaving together to head down there, ill shoot him a pm and see what he thinks if we can join, then let you all know.

 

you're not the only one! [recovering]

 

so did we figure who is goin to be rollin down in this caravan for the dragon?

 

Take me off the caravan list mark, please

 

I believe that is decided. But the route and meeting time is up in the air. Getting us together to drive a long distance to make it by a time (5pm) is a toughy.

Done.

 

If you want to drive down there with other MINI owners, not worry about the planning, get some free stuff (including dinner and beer), have an alternative to the welcome dinner (for those that couldn't sign up for it) and probably make it there right around 5pm you could always sign up for the MINICup....


(yeah I know, shameless plug but its going to be a great event)

 

helix minicup doesn't leave until 8am thursday morning, and that's from philly! would never make the dinner then.

 

It leaves Philly at 6am because some people from DC that wanted to participate also wanted to make it to the Welcome Dinner. 8am is right around when the group will be leaving from DC

 

Would more people be interested if the DC group left earlier? I know Krut expressed some interest in leaving from DC around 6am.

 

Well the biggest issue for most groups going down is to make it in time for the dinner. So the earlier the better. I do realize that means people leaving from the PA area would be leaving @ the double @$$ crack of the morning

 

Yeah, I don't think its fair to anyone in Philly to leave before 6am. I just wanted to have both groups meet on the road so that we could drive down in one large group instead of two smaller ones.

Tonight I will play around with the route a bit and see about how long its going to take us.

 

iggy earlier in this thread we discussed that leaving any later then 6am as a group will cause us to not have enough time for stops. With the average drive of 8-9 hours + gas, food and bathroom brakes we're talking approx 10 hours without any traffic.

 

And going through VA on a thursday morning at rushhour...you will be sitting for a while probably.

 

Since a few people have expressed interest in participating in the MINICup, but weren't sure about being ablt to make it to the welcome dinner if you leave from DC at 8am, Im going to leave the launch time for the DC group up to Kurt and anyone else interested in the event.

The Philly group will still be leaving at 6am, but all of you can feel free to leave whenever you wish. The BBQ will open to anyone who participates or wants to come and hang out.