I think I succeeded in showing what "heavy" "slow" "slushbox-laden" MINI convertibles with automatic trannies and massively fat old slow drivers can do... though I recommend everyone leave the 4-wheel drifting to the pros...

 

Nice pics Blimey! I convoyed with Mark, Dave and Rich back, and we took the "I am so ready to get home and rest" route! Scenic? No. But being home by 3 and able to prop and ice the ol' knee the rest of the day, worth it. Thanks for all your help, even the help you won't take credit for. And I finally got that hug I promised after our little "STRBUXSUX" tag talk months ago! And nice job on the run yesterday! I loved every minute of it!
Can't wait for MSSD2008!

 

I agree, I've been to the past 2 MOTDs and I had a lot more fun at this event either because it was smaller and easier to get to know everyone, or because MidnightDave was able to make it this time .

Thanks to Jason for setting this up, and lifting my spirits while I was deployed so I'd have a trip the the Dragon to look forward to when I got back, and again during the weekend hanging out with everyone getting my mind off of the hassles of the past few weeks.

Thanks to Paul for setting up the drive, I had a great time looking at the scenery (sure beats flat ground, pine trees, trailer parks, and sand).

Thanks to Dave for letting me ride along, which turned out great since I could pay attention to the scenery on the drive, and not have to worry about hitting some gravel or an errant biker. Also for a bed to crash on, and for being a wingman.

Thanks to Mark for letting me stop over and catching me up with everything that had happened during the summer. Also to Van, Jennifer, Steve, Bryan, and Sgt Pepper (sorry, I can't remember your name!) for the interesting conversations Friday and Saturday night. I learned more about hamsters, fire, and gas then I ever wanted to know.

Thanks to Rebecca from Canadaidia with the maple cookies for being a great disc golf partner. She can putt like nobody's business. I had a blast out there on the course hiking around on the side of creeks and mountains throwing those discs around. Thanks to Jason for all of the work to organize it, and for having some extra discs so I could give it a try.

Thanks to Mark for the convo Saturday night during dinner, it was good meeting you, and hope to see you at future events, and hopefully some track days.

Thanks to Jason for the stuffed dragon Sunday morning. I thought one of the college girls had left a shirt there with a phone number, but no such luck. Had a lot of laughs with the crazy convos Friday night and then again Saturday at lunch.

and thanks to mother nature for a weekend filled with great weather and even better scenery. I'm looking forward to next year, and I won't be in an HHR next time!

 

Sheroyn and I got back to Columbia, SC around 7 pm; we had to take in the 'top' of the dam; some more twisties; many more beautiful views. The weekend was something we'll remember and talk about for a long time: the weather couldn't have been any better; the leaves spectacular; running the dragon unbelievable; the Saturday trip (race thru the hills); and especially all the folks we met!! Have you ever seen that many strangers get together and have such fun and feel so much like family!!! We met so many interesting, funny, just plain 'nice' people. Thanks especially to Jason; I can only imagine how much work putting all that together was; and to have it all come off so well; even the weather and leaves cooperated 100%. U ta man!!! We even got an invite to join a very nice couple (Jim and Alice) on the Mini's to Vegas in March, '08; we're already giving it servious consideration, based on the great time we had this weekend. Thanks also to Mini_Bee for all the tips, advice and friendship. And what can you say about MidnightDave (is he nuts or what??) He kept the entire weekend light and fun. TILLEYs in the garage cooling her tires and wondering it she's going to be back poking around Columbia tomorrow, as usual, or running another Indy race like Saturday. Thanks to all, and hope to see you all again soon. (if anyone can make the Nov. 9th meeting in Columbia, we'd love to have ya).

 

Just wanted to say we had a blast! Meeting new folks, running the Dragon, and the stunning scenery made for a fantastic experience...

Thanks to all who helped put this together, and a special thanks to Jason.

This was our first time to run the Dragon, and I couldn't imagine a better time of the year! It was a great ride...

 

This is MINI_Bee. This MINI_Bee. Is anybody there?

You have all already said this, but WOW, what a great time. I'm exhausted but I'm at peace with my exhaustion because of all the great memories of the weekend. Great times, great people, great scenery, great maple cookies, great jokes, and great driving!

I had to make one more run to get it out of my system until May (if that's even possible to do). So I packed up and went to Deal's Gap, then Tapoco, then through Santeelah, into Robbinsville and took the Cherola Skyway all the way to Tellico Plains. Then I took 68 south to Blue Ridge and finaly made it to Atlanta for the drive on the 318-mile road with 11 curves.

The Skyway was beautiful and I was all alone on it for all but the last five miles. So I tightened up the CG Lock and made the best of it! What a run! I was roaring through piles of leaves on the road and they were flying behind me, like a jet wash trail of fall splendor.

I left Tellico at 12:30 and was home in Tampa at 10:15. I made one stop for gas and a quick stop for dinner, so driving time was 9.5 hours. And in the process I managed to break my previous record for the most miles driven on one tank of gas. I went 456 miles on 13.4 gallons of gas, from Tellico Plains, TN to Lake City, FL. That was with the top down for all but one hour and I was not shy on the throttle, trust me. I guess I had a tail wind or something.

Special thanks to Jason for the incredible job he did putting the weekend together. And thanks to Paul (Blimey), Jason (Xiek), Midnight "Oh Behave" Dave, and well, just thanks to everyone. It's so great to have faces and personalities to go with the names (although now I can't remember the right way to say Canada, Xiek!) We have special little cars that can do some cool things, but it's the people who make them complete.

I'll see you out there!

 

Forgot to post this one, of my carpet eating Dalmatian!

 

Dave, you gotta start feeding that thing!

 

I'd like put together a multimedia slideshow from the weekend. Can you all email your favorite photos to me at minibee62@gmail.com?

 

Post this on the "Post your pics thread, too Jack!

 

Done!

 

Pics are being posted up on the various photographers that line the Dragon. Check for your car! I have seen several of mine, and with the Fall colors, they're great! Here are the links everyone!
http://www.killboy.com
http://www.us129photos.com
http://www.zeefoto.com

 

Hey, it's Cennet(jeannette) Karens(WindyCooper) daughter, just thought i'd share some of my pics with y'all. MiniBEE, i emailed you some

 

Nice pics!

 

Thanks, i had tons more but wasn't about to post them all in here haha!

 

Post them in the
"Post Your pics thread." It's under the main Fall Dragon Run post.

 

sounds like you guys had a blast. The pictures make me wish that May was a lil closer...

 

Only one that has photos of this weekend up is us129.com and they just have Fridays.

 

Here's one I snagged while headed to Deals Gap after the group photo-I just held the camera beside my head and clicked.

 

Nice!

 

The final amount we raised for Blood:Water Mission was $350.00! Not a ton, but a great amount for a great charity! That includes monies from donations, disc golf, patches, and $35 from Detailers Warehouse from their Fall Dragon Run sale. Thanks so much guys!
So, where did you're donation money go?
Organizing expenses, supplies, dinner for 4 folks that needed help, snacks, gifts of appreciation to a couple of folks we talked about at the barbecue dinner, and a little to Blood:Water Mission! Thanks!

 

Thanks Jason for this weekend. It was a blast. Your wife April should be nominated for sainthood.

Kudos to all who had a part in this. I'm ready, let's do it again. except for the ticket I got coming down the mountain out of Asheville... oops!

Steve

 

Well I am back in Canadia now. We left (jason, jason, nelson, tamara) @ 7:30am on Sunday morning, and I pulled into the driveway @ 10:45pm. Some pee breaks, some red bulls, and food later... GPS says from lodge door to my door 1,450 KM (901.03 mi).

I had a blast this past weekend, was worth the drive. It really was.

I wondered where my Dragons got too, I left the car unlocked and they escaped. Take good care of them. Just keep a leash on them...

It was great meeting so many new people, Phil, at least you got 3 hrs of sleep.. It was kewl to drive with you on Friday, how you kept up to me... not that it was that hard, I don't have an S....

Jack, ur fun,
Paul, ur fun too,
Eric and dad,
Rich nect time hopefully u'll have a MINI :P
Jason (again for the first time) soo many and I will forget names I know I will..

I am at work now, and will try to post pics this evening when I get a second, there is some video that I took that will be on you tube.. Jason your boot is going to be plastered all over youtube.. LOL

I agree with other posts, that it was as much if not more fun then the spring one, less busy, more social time.

and I had a good time leading the midnight run, I forget who gave me the glow sticks to hand out, but thank again.

Glad y'all liked the syrup. Next time I will remember to bring Canadian Ice T.. I can't stand cold tea unsweetened, and your so called "sweet" tea, just don't do it for me either...

My arm is still sore from the Fris... err Disc golf game... That was fun, still have a few thorns in my hand from digging for a fris.. disc...

Jason great job in organizing... and I learned that BBQ is not the same down there as it is up here...

Y'all welcome to the summer BBQ that I host up here for the Cannuck club... Our BBQ menu was Hot dogs and hamburgers for lunch, and a prime rib roast on the BBQ for dinner. THAT'S A BBQ up here. :P

The rest of the cannucks said that they had a blast too. Is it May yet?

Oh, and I am 90% in for the AMVIV5 too...

Oh and to the MIATA club, fun it was meeting you, nice people you are.

 

Xiek, glad you guys made it back, and thanks for coming to the mainland to join us for some motoring! It was nice to have and all your 50 canadian friends you brought with ya! ;-) And I thought you were videoing my tail. Can't wait to see it! I mean the video, not my tail. We'll see ya in May, and again in November!

 

This is how rumors begin, and how political careers are ended.