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General MINI TalkShared experiences, motoring minutes, and other general MINI-related discussion that applies to all MINIs, regardless of model, year or trim.
Some of you may be aware that NAM is a sponsor of the 2018 Minis on the Dragon this year. NAM will also have a tent set up in the Vendor Area that leads to some interesting questions, such as:
1.) Are there any members that would like to become let's say an "Official NAM MOTD Greeter?" Benefits? Well no benefits other than putting names to faces for some of those that you love/hate from here. Anybody interested please make a post and somebody will contact you via PM.
2.) Thinking there will be some simple postcard size handouts.
3.) Could have some type of message board where you could post messages or car/parts sales.
I have been busy getting ready for next week. If anybody from these parts are around, stop in to say hello. Have gotten some good help and should present NAM well to those that only know FB.
Last edited by Whine not Walnuts; Apr 25, 2018 at 04:04 PM.
OK, heading out to the Tail of the Dragon tomorrow and the 2018 MOTD event. The MOTD home is Fontana Village, a small slice of heaven in the NC Mountains and a short drive to the Tail. There is no cell phone coverage, at least for my phone, and the internet is also spotty.
I normally have to sign-in with a special code, yes being an Administrator here requires high level security clearance, that provides me a window of several days of not having to enter a new code. With a non-static IP this will not work and planning ahead for limited service at Fontana, I have created a clone account so that I can post pictures and other information for those of you not attending. Will not have high level clearance but will be able to post.
I'll send my Grandson out and about vendors row and surrounding area to take pictures Thursday. Hopefully we can get a good enough signal in the Lodge that night to post.
I am staying in Robbinsville so will have decent internet. Hopefully will be posting stuff each night.
I was able to put some stuff together (created eight 18x24 posters) as well reached out to both vendors here and some other MINI folks. Will have:
1.) Some swag type stuff to hand out, thanks to AWS and ECS.
2.) Some prizes to give away via a drawing thanks to AWS, ECS and MINI Mania.
3.) Both AWS and ByteTronik provided some information about some tuning.
4.) Flow MINI of Raleigh loaned me a nice pull-up banner.
5.) I reached out to Luis at LAP Motorsports that owns and runs the JCW MINI IMSA Team, he provided a great 8' long by 4' wide banner of the JCW MINI Race Team win at Daytona this year.
6.) NAM provided some good postcard size handouts as well as a NAM banner.
OK remember that my clone took these pictures and I am only posting them. I told him it would help if he had taken a picture of the outside of the NAM Tent. He just looked and me and said "oops".
Do have some help coming tomorrow so will perhaps get some road shots. Will take some shots inside some of the other vendor tents. In particular we are going to do some Vendor Spotlights. Detroit Tuned, OutMotoring and Way Motors are all here so will take pictures that will be incorporated into their specific threads. More MINIs in this area than fleas on a dog.
Weather is perfect, no rain, warm but not high humidity. Coming in the trees on some of the higher mountains have not budded yet. For those of you that have never done the Dragon thing, there are numerous and I do mean numerous roads in the area that are MINI heaven. A guy from Idaho rode with his Dad and we got talking about roads. He said there was nothing like the Dragon or the area in general out in Idaho. When he first started driving a semi back in the 90's he saw that the map said "US" 129 so what the heck, he took it. Said it took him a couple hours to stop shaking after he finally got through it.
DAY 2 - Another day of great weather. This was going to be a two part post about the MOTD Village aka Vendor's Alley, BUT, the internet here keeps going off and on so will do one vendor at a time, or until I get fed up and stop for the night. If you want anything for a MINI there is a very good chance it will be here. You might even be able to get a haircut.
G3 Automotive: A Raleigh, NC full service MINI and BMW shop. Chris Gerber the owner packs up his laptop and does Manic Turning and also ECU programming. They just did an alignment on my R52 after I lowered with KONI Coilovers. Handles great.
Original Silly Art By Emily Martian: A very talented Lady, Emily is the MOTD Village Barber, an artist and also a great photographer as it is her photo that I used to create the front of the card we are handing out.
Out Motoring: The second longest NAM Vendor, Out Motoring is in Knoxville Tennessee, which is not that far from the Tail of the Dragon. They have over 16,000 parts in their system so chances are if you need anything for you MINI, they have it. For MOTD, they bring MINI accessories and you can also place an order for parts that will be shipped to you.
MINI Skirts: MINI Skirts is national charitable organization dedicated to supporting victims of Breast Cancer. My oldest sister lost her battle to this vicious killer after battling it for over eight years so for me it was nice to be able to contribute to their effort as well as being able to inform others.
Wolf Creek Motorcycle Rentals: OK, so you have just taken your MINI, one the best handling vehicles ever built, out on the Tail of the Dragon. What could be better? Well first, no speeding ticket and second renting a Slingshot to try it on the Dragon or a even a dirt bike to hit some of many trails in the area.
