Check this link to see all the latest drives scheduled so far!!

A famous person once said: "Ask not what the Dragon can do for you, Ask what you can do for the Dragon!!" (or something like that).

Anyway, in 2006 Aaron (Agranger) and myself (Barry aka Snooter) held some open drives at the dragon. Aaron held the Scenic Drive and I held a Dillsboro/Jarret House Drive. Both were very successfull. Last year, several folks complained that there was a lack of such drives. Unfortunately, Aaron was unable to make it and I was tied up with the welcome dinner.

Some thing Aaron and I both agreed upon from out 2006 drives. First, hosting the drives in 2006 were a great way to make new friends. We both walked away knowing so many more people than we would have it we had not volunteered to host the drives. Second we both want to do more drives in 2008.

We have several ideas for other drives too. We just need some brave individuals to step up and take the lead. We'll be more than happy to help get you going in the right direction and share from out past experience.

Our goal is to have two or three drive offered each day to different areas. Of course you don't need our blessing to have a drive. We just thought maybe we could offer some coordination so we don't have multiply drive starting from the same spot or crossing paths.

Here is what we have planned so far:

Snooter: Dillsboro/Jarrett House Drive
Agranger: Highlands Drive and Lunch
Agranger: Smokey Mountain run.
lilruffcat: Tuckaleechee Caverns and Lunch
Professor Zoom - Heinzemannchen Brewery Run
AutoXcooper - The Devils Triangle Run
dlopez8a: Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest Run



Here are some other ideas just waiting for fellow MINIac to jump up and take the lead.

Bryson City Waterfalls: This drive would include driving from Fontana to Deep Creek Park Campground in Bryson City. From the main parking area there are three very nice waterfalls all in walking distance. There is also several restuarants in town, so a lunch could be included. (we ate at Yum Yum Chinese buffet last year and it was very good)

Cades Cove Loop: Includes a nice drive via the Dragon and into the Great Smokey National Forest. A picinic lunch would be great for this one.

Oconaluftee Indian Village: Take a scenic drive to this recreated Indian Village and stop for lunch along the way.


So if anyone is interested in hosted one of these drive please PM or email me or Agranger!


Viva La Dragon!!

Snooter

 

I'll "ditto" everything that Snooter said... Helping to lead the drive in 2006 transformed MOTD for me. I made tons of new friends and had tons of great experiences.

Do you wish that there were more driving activities? Want to help the MINI community? Wish that the event was 'different', that it offered more variety or was more 'grass-roots'? Great! Then pitch in a bit of time to help!

For 2006, I planned the route, set up the meet time, organized a sign-up thread, made maps/directions, set up lunch plans, found a few lead car drivers, pre-drove the route the day before and lead a group of 30 cars on the drive. I had never been to MOTD before and live some 800 miles away, so everything can be done from a distance (though it would be easier if you lived in the area). The enjoyment of the 90 or so drivers (+ passengers) who participated was well worth the fairly modest time and effort that I put into it. I was doing it by the seat of my pants as well... this time you have some experienced folks to help out!


The Highlands Drive Preview:

I'm looking at a new drive from Fontana Dam to Highlands, a cute little town about an hour and a half south through some great twisties. I stumbled across this route in 2006 driving out from Fontana on Sunday morning. We will probably park in town and disperse for an hour or twp... there are lots of little shops and restaurants to hit, plus cool waterfalls in the area. We will then reconvene and head back to Fontana via Wayah road, an up and coming driver's road in the area.

The Scenic Drive Through the Smokys:

This drive is 'in the can', so to say... I've got all of my instructions set up from the 2006 drive, down to the tenth of a mile. I'd be happy to release these drive instructions to anyone who wants 'em. I'm planning to lead a sun-rise group (if anyone wants to get up early with me) on this route (it was STUNNING in the early morning). It would be very easy, though, for someone else to lead a group on this drive on a different day for folks who don't want to get up so early.

 

PM Sent

 

pm sent

 

Five drive so far!!! That's awesome. But I know we can do better!!

 

I'll talk to my husband and get back to you. Great idea!

 

I've got full instructions for the Smoky Mountain Scenic Drive if anyone else wants to run that during a normal time of the day. It would be an easy way to get involved, contribute to the event and make some friends.

 

I led a 144 mile drive of the Dragon, TN-360 and the Skyway, with a late lunch at Sweetwater BBQ in Robbinsville this weekend at MSSD. I plan to do this drive again at MOTD and would be happy to lead a group of up to 30 cars. We have a few stops, but it is NOT a sightseeing or antiquing drive.

It's a "driving" drive. Followed by great BBQ. Ask the survivors.

I also plan to lead a day trip to the Gatlinburg area for families - to do kid-friendly activities there.

Haven't taken time to think about what days I plan to do which yet... geesh, it's 6 months away...

 

I survived the Great Blimey Drive !!!

 

Run the skyway in the morning. There is a good restaurant at the other end in TENN then head back Here is a link http://www.cherohalacrossing.com/

 

So many great routes in the area. If there is a need for another "driver's route" let me know, I can put something together. I would rather lead a smaller group, 10-15 max, so if anyone needs leaders so that they can break up a larger group into multiple small groups, I might be up for that too.

 

Still could use a few more day drive volunteers!!!!

 

I led a nice little drive last year to Heinzelmannchen Brewery in Sylva. Besides the speeding tickets we got on the way back it was a fun little drive, I was planning on a repeat (have empty growlers) hopefully without the police interference. Planning on taking the Classic this year, so speeding shouldn't be an issue.

 

I think Snooter is still looking for voluenteers!

I still have the Scenic drive through the smoky mountains drive 'in the can' and can give someone a complete drive package and route instructions to the tenth of a mile... it would be a very easy way to give back to this grass-roots event.

 

I promised to create a drive last year, but right now I am not sure I will be able to follow through on it. My idea, still very much in its infancy, is a North Carolina film location drive. The two easy examples are the dam that Harrison Ford's character jumped off from in The Fugitive and Jodie Foster's cabin (and pond) in Nell. Beyond that, I know that NC claims to be the #3 film production state in the nation, and that lots of other movies were filmed in the state. I do not yet have details on what other sites are within Dragon driving distance, and my quick attempt (90 seconds) at Googling turned up a book that looks very promising, but no accessible free information.

If I do it, I plan to keep the drive quite small, as I get easily frustrated trying to keep large groups together. However, if someone else wants to run with the idea, that would be great. Obviously, it will take some research, as some locations will be difficult to locate, or to reach. Other locations may no longer exist in their movie form.

Anyhow, I just wanted to put the idea out there.

On another front, the Joyce Kilmer National Forest is amazingly beautiful. My wife and I like to go there alone, so we won't start or join a group, but I encourage one and all to visit, with or without a group drive.

 

Whovous, that's a cool idea. I just emailed Judy Jones of the Graham County Chamber of Commerce to see if she could provide some location. I'll post up what I find.

 

I've just ordered the Film Junkies Guide to North Carolina
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0895872692 . It looks like it should have a ton of useful information on finding filming locations. Just how many of the 160+ entries will be in range of the Dragon's fire remains to be seen.

One never knows how long Amazon's free shipping will take. I could get it this Tuesday, or I could wait two weeks for it to ship.

 

here is the response from Judy at Graham county:

Part of The Fugitive, starring Harrison Ford was filmed at and around Cheoah Dam. Nell, starring Jodie Foster was filmed in Graham Co. (Sniders Dept. Store was the general store; the courthouse was used for the court scenes; clips of Main Street were in the movie; Nell's grandmother's house was constructed on National Forest land near Fontana, but was sold and disassembled shortly after the filming - the site is behind a locked gate and would be a rather long hike). In Dreams, starring Annette Benning included some scenes near Fontana Dam.

 

PM Sent...

 

Thanks Dave, added you to the list. Not too shabby, 7 drives for 3 days

 

I'm definitely doing the Dragon/Skyway loop drive again - just don't know the day/time yet... Probably Thursday or Friday...

 

I'm about 95% sure I'm coming to MOTD- which will be my first. But I need to leave on Saturday. As I was looking at the schedule and maps, I was thinking of a meandering drive in the morning before I hit the interstates for the drive back to Indianapolis.

So here's my idea: if there are many people who depart on Saturday, how about a one-way "get away drive"? Could do the same thing on Sunday obviously. I need to plan a route and interest would obviously depend on what direction people are headed, but one thought was along the Blue Ridge Parkway and/or other routes up toward Boone and drive across the Linn Cove Viaduct, planning to be there by noon or so. Find a spot to stop, stretch legs, maybe grab gas/food before heading for home.

I'd love to plan/lead a small group if anyone thinks there might be some interest in this kind of drive. What do you think?