We will be doing name tags. gaminis is doing that for us! Thanks to him for the help!
jason

 

Thanks great! Thanks a bunch gaminis!

~Rebecca~

 

If the Hubby and I decided to take a road trip to find out what all this Dragon stuff is about, what are our chances of hanging out with a few great Mini owners that can show us the ropes about this event? Such as hotels (seemed to be booked solid), decent places to have a bit to eat, and of course share all the fun places to play safely on The Dragon.

We'd be willing to just drive out of the area a ways to hotel it. Sounds like everything close to this area is booked solid.

Any pointers?

 

Naaaah..no rivalry, Jenn B...just a little friendly bantering..They're both great little cars...otherwise, we wouldn't own them; right? I'm an old fart, but not too old to have a little clean fun!!
gaminis

 

Please refer to post #411 There is no rivalry; I obviously insulted some by the "ricer" comment, as someone who drove them for years I apoligise; it won't happen again. take care, out.

 

Did you try calling Fontana Village? Remember to say you are with the MINI group, they have rooms/cabins blocked off for us until Oct 1st. I think they should still have a room left.

Give that a try. Don't forget to mention that you want to join the Dragonslayer club for a discount!

This is my first time going, and I am really excited! And I am coming all the way from Toronto Canada for this!

~Rebecca~

 

It's okay. Goes both ways though... if i hear any MINI owners insulting Miata's or Miata owners insulting MINI's.... I'll feed them to the bears. Trust me, there are bears



As for hotels being full. Call them. No on on here can tell you what all is available since it changes constantly. Call Fontana, next call Tapoco... those are the closest. After that, it depends on what you want to spend and how far you want to drive.

There aren't a ton of places to eat up there without a drive. I do suggest the burgers at the Crossroads on Time store (if they are open after it gets cold). Quite tasty. Fontana has a big restaurant and then a little cafe type quick food place, it's really not bad at all.

 

Tapoco will be closed for the season...I think sometime in Sept.

Bears in Atlanta?? Only at the zoo...but, you can bet there are bears up around Fontana!! Some of them drive cars with bubble gum machines on their roofs!!

gaminis

 

Sucks about Tapoco. I knew they closed for the winter but I wasn't sure when.

Yep, there are bears by Fontana and around Atlanta... not just at the Zoo. Maybe not right in the city but there was one hit on the highway in Cobb County a few months ago, one was spotted in Roswell and of course there was that odd story of a local guy killing a bear that was going towards his child at a park just north of Atlanta. He whacked it in the head with a flying stick.



If everything is closed, you can always try the Microtel in Robbinsville. It's cheap and not to terribly far away.

 

I'll be surprised if Fontana is really full up - as long as you tell them you're with the MINI group, you should get a room...

If not - the closest place is actually the Tuskeegee Motel
They have a nice little store there with good biscuits some mornings... and you get a GREAT drive on the Hellbender between there and Fontana!
I stayed in a private cabin right around the corner from there for MOTD this year.

 

Thanks for the hotel recommendations. I'll check with the hubby this evening and see if he's still up for a road trip in the Mini. He owes me. I just did one for him with his GT500 group.

 

I have a spare bed but I"m pretty sure Rich is taking it when he comes back from duty. If however, he's bunking with Mark or has other plans, somebody is welcome to it. I'm a partying, non-drinking, light snoring, non-cig smoker goofball axe murderer--oops, non-axe murderer. (Inside joke about Magoo hosting axe murderers for the MS voluteerism each year, I was this year's special guest.)

It's funny and too bad how the 'net makes things appear different than they are and take off like wild fire--a slip about ricers and away it goes. We'll have a blast with the Miata guys. They had their annual meet across from a "Hangin' at Hendrick's Saturday" recently and we had a lot of fun with them--I think they're also the judges for our MINIs at Charlotte Auto Fair.

Zoom Zoom!


Question about CIGARS! I'm thinking of bringing some classified as 87, 93 and 100 octane for mild to wild newbies. If anybody has a particular brand, size or type you'd prefer, let me know. Also, can everybody who smokes 'em bring your torches and an ashtray? I only have one and if it's raining or something, we won't want to set them on a railing and the like. I'll have cutters and matches, and (one) torch.

Fear not, I can't and won't lecture on proper preparation, including the practice or licking the whole thing--sometimes a cigar is just a cigar, which cutter is more effective and how long it takes to finish a Churchill--it's just about enjoying a good smoke! And...if you don't like it, just stub it out! It's only money--they'll print more...

 

i might have to check yous guys out

 

as for rooms, as of right now, I think we have some floor space available in the cannuck cabin...

there will be plenty of maple syrup, and canada goose juice.

J

 

Yeah... that is pretty close. I always go by it but can never remember the name,

 

If you have never been. This past May we had one Mini on its side and 1 Mini totaled. Both from just not driving within your means. The past year we had 1 totaled 1 hit a deer 1 hit a Bear and a crotch rocket slide into the side of one. Other wildlife to watch is wild Turkeys and can't fly to high or too long but they can mess up your Mini. Never cross the double yellow line and remember the speed limit is 35MPH and the Sheriff is checking pretty close on the Tennessee side. Robbinsville is probably the best and shortest drive to get something to eat. Good BBQ place there, plus your fast food joints. Have fun and come back in one piece! Oh yes, be prepared in the blind curves to meet a lost 18 wheeler and be prepared to stop, he can't! Also watch out for the DAMN Motorcycles (crotch Rockets) The harley guys all know better and drive within their limits. Have fun come back in one piece! If its too crowded which I expect it to be there are numerous roads like down to Franklin NC 74 along the Nantahala River to Hiwasee, brasstown etc.

 

Hey, I 've got a cabin booked and will be coming with the Canadian Mini's. Just wanted to get signed up, and from scanning through the posts, I am willing to pitch in 20 bucks for patches. Just let me know how that is working, and name tags etc.
Thanks,
Nelson

 

Cine,
Happy to hear that you guys are coming to the Gap. The name tags will be on the house...You can PM 1qukMINI about the patches...we'll probably get a report on them soon. I'll be at Fontana Village with the name tags.
See you at the Gap in Nov.,
gaminis

 

I will count up all the funds pledged for the patches later this weekend, to see if we have enough to place the order. I think we're getting close.

 

I agree with warning people to be careful, but I'm not sure those two incidents at last year's Dragon were due only to "driving beyond your means." The cabrio that tipped over cut the outside corner too tight and drove off the pavement, which tipped the MINI over. Later when analyzing our video tape I noticed I was doing that too, concentrating so hard on the center line that you don't pay attention to your outside line and your exit from the turn. It's an easy mistake to make. On the other one, I heard his brakes faded from overheating. The wildlife warning is definitely important. We almost tagged a deer on the run back to Fontana last May after the midnight run.

 

I remember that Midnight run...Ahhh, yeah. Someone even has a video of it, from what I hear!

 

I should have the MINIs Slay The Sleeping Dragon Guide link posted in the next few days. One question though. The Tech Session with Dan Zipkin about worthwhile mods will be Friday night at 9. How does this work for everyone. The only other option was on Saturday, and would take away from motoring time. Is there a better time even Friday night? Thanks.

 

Friday nite is good for me..I'm coming up Friday morning..only takes me 3 hrs. to get there..If some are coming on Thursday, I can mail the name tags to Fontana earlier...just let me know.

DON'T HIT BAMBI!!!

gaminis

 

I know, I know. Maybe someone will be bringing that video to someone else who will be at Fontana in November....

 

You can count me in for $20 on the patches.

Is there going to be a list of the mods? I'm a big chicken when it comes to cutting electrical stuff in my mini. I'd like to see the radar detector attached to the upper console, and the rear light pulsar put in also.

I have taken out the back seats and put in a shelf (paid to have the shelf made) if anyone wants to see how that is done, but cutting stuff? Not quite brave enough yet.