This will be my first MOTD; Dont know any of you guys yet, so just seeing who all is going for the first time:
I am coming from Georgia
I will being camping out at Fontana, and will be driving:

 

awesome!!!! We can never get enough Classics at the Dragon!!!

 

I am also a first timer. I come from upstate NY and will be staying at the Microtel with my husband and Chihuahua. We will be celebrating my 35th birthday while at the Dragon (it will also be the 11 month anniversary of owning a MINI)! Maybe we need a special Dragon Virgin meetup. Oh wait, we have one...the Newbie Orientation!

 

First timer here too.
Wow! Love your classic!
I look forward to seeing you there.

 

Dude, you had to show off a picture of your classic!!! Makes me regret getting rid of mine. Look forward to meeting you.

 

I will be a first timer too!! From Alabama and will be at the Newbie Orientation on Thursday. I will be getting in too late for the Wednesday one. I can't wait for it to get here!

Great looking classic Mini! I don't see too many with the checkerboard top. Looks great!

Look forward to meeting all you guys (and gals)

Kevin

 

I'm a MOTD virgin too! I will be there with my Hubby and the Clubby! LOL

 

First time to the Dragon for us too. Can't wait! Love your choice of roof graphic! Hoping to attend Wednesday's newbie run. We'll be camping at Fontana. See you around!

 

Lovin' your screen name! We will be at the Dragon too... third year for us!!!

 

This will be my first motd too, I'll be driving out from California with my new hubby and my new JCW clubby.

 

First year! Camping at Fontana with Carve906
Can't wait

 

Wow!! A three mini family?! I thought we were lucky to have the two! Very nice.

 

Yay - Another clubby and a JCW at that!
Have a great trip from CA.
I dream of motoring out there one day...

 

Welcome to all the First Timers. 5th time for us. Looking forward to meeting you all

 

Hey me too - Hubby and Clubby -

I'll be helping with registration on Wednesday and NEWBIE Orientation on thurs. Can't wait to meet other Newbies! I'm comin' with some veterans from Texas though!

 

This will be my first Dragon as well. I'll be coming down from Ohio Tuesday evening. I've got an appointment setup with WMW to do some upgrades on my JCW Wednesday morning.

 

There are driving tips on the MOTD registration and information site: (here)

http://www.minisonthedragon.com/driving_the_dragon.php

For any first timer, it is a MUST to understand the rules and precautions of driving the Dragon.

This will be my 4th MOTD event. It really is quite a bit of fun, not only just driving the Dragon, but all the other trips and group events such as the dinners and Beer Swap, etc.

But what can ruin the trip for you is wrecking your MINI. I've seen it happen the last three years of this event. I consider myself an experienced driver, but I also have great respect for the Dragon and have witnessed what it can do to even the most experienced driver. This is NOT a competitive event, it is between YOU and the Dragon. The ONLY trophy you want to take home is your MINI.

Also, every year I have been to this event, there ALWAYS a complaint announced at one of the dinners about some MINI driver crossing the yellow line on the Dragon, causing a motorcycle to go off the road or something like that. But also, you need to watch out for them, too. I have attached a photo I took last year, just one of many, showing how some bikers cross the yellow lines on curves, which can have severe blind spots until you are in the middle of the curve. So if you are over the line and they are over the line, well, you know what will happen.

Be safe and DON'T drive over your ability. If you feel you are being "pushed" by another MINI, biker or whatever, pull over to the next possible turn-out and let them go by. Just enjoy the ride and experience as best you can.

One last tip....IF you have a passenger that maybe gets motion sickness, you may find it best NOT to eat before driving the Dragon, or maybe even take some Dramamine! (Carry a barf bag in your MINI!)

 

Thanks for the advice Cooper Guy. I am definately keeping all these tips in mind and not crossing the yellow at all costs!

 

My first time also; driving from the low country in South Carolina.

 

First time for me too...coming from Oklahoma.

 

first time for us to... really looking forward to the Dragon!! I'll be there with my youngest son(17 yrs). No, he will not be driving. He has too much fun as it is, it's my turn.

 

Another first timer here! I'll be bringing my Optimus Prime and a fellow car enthusiast friend of mine. We're coming up from the lovely Gainesville, FL early Thursday morning and I can't wait to take a spin on the Dragon in my MINI. I've done it in a VW Golf already, but I can't wait to see how mine handles. And speaking of being careful, I found poor Nano Car on the tree of shame two days ago...Best wishes to everyone that we all have a safe drive! Can't wait to meet you all there!!

--
Racheal and Optimus Prime

 

This will be my first time also, Leaving on Tuesday with my Co Pilot from NYC will stay a night on the road and then fiinsh the ride Wednesday. Have a cabin at Fontana

 

Hi NightFlyR--Any ideas about where you are stopping? We are coming from Albany so should be on a similar route. We are planning on leaving Tuesday and stopping too, just not sure where to stop yet!

Also, there are plans to have a NY table at the welcome dinner (in case you didnt already know). We havent made plans yet to attend the welcome dinner but there are several NYers that are.

 

Looks to be about an 800 Mile run for us, did not pick a Hotel out yet along the way, but someplace around the 550 Mile mark. There are a few Best Westerns along the way off 81 I believe. Will update you as it gets closer