I cut and pasted this from last year's forum, it's a little dated, but there's some general info in it...hope it's helpful

• FRS or GMRS radio. Cellular phone coverage in the area is poor at best, plus given the number of people and how spread out people can be, these are essential for communicating with everybody. You don't have to spend a lot of money on your radio if you don't wish to, you can often times find two packs of FRS or GMRS radios for around $20, while high end radios may sell for $100 each. The key difference between an FRS radio and a GMRS radio is that the GMRS radios have a higher power output (and theoretically a longer range) and can use more radio channels than an FRS radio. However if you have an FRS radio, you can talk to somebody with a GMRS radio. The key thing to look for when you are shopping for a radio- make sure it supports privacy or sub-channels. The goup will be using chanel 7 subchannel 21, if your radio doesn't support subchannels, you'll be able to talk to the group, but won't be able to hear the group respond to you. If you intend to participate in group drives when you return home, your radios will still be useful, as many MINI Clubs throughout the country use them on their drives.
• Bug Spray: While the bugs aren't too bad this time of the year, we are still up in the woods, and there are some mosquitos about in the evenings (although not enough to carry away small children... yet!) It's a good idea to bring some Deep Woods Off! or equivalent just in case.
• Food: Are you participating in the Chili Cookoff? Don't forget your Chili fixin's or your pot luck item. While there are restaurants at both Fontana and Tapoco, hot dogs and burgers available at Crossroads of Time, and some fast food and BBQ in Robbinsville, if you're staying in a cabin you'll have a full kitchen available to you, and it's not a bad idea to bring some groceries with you too. There is a small convience store at Fontana which carries many of the essentials, but this is still Fontana's off season so they may have a limited inventory. There's also a supermarket in Robbinsville if you need to pick up some last minute options.
• Clothes: Definately bring some! If the weather is similar to the previous two Dragon events held at this time of year during the day most people will be comfortable in long pants and short sleeve shirts. However it may get chilly in the evenings and you may want to have a sweatshirt or jacket with you as well for the cool nights.
• Alcohol: First, under no circumstances do we support or encourage drinking and driving! Especially on the roads in the area, they're challenging enough sober, let's not add alcohol to the mix please. That being said, if you do wish to drink while you're there then you need to bring your booze in with you. Graham County NC, and Blount County TN (the two counties on either side of the Dragon) are both dry counties. While not illegal to consume alcoholic beverages in these counties, with a few exceptions it is illegal to sell them. One of those exceptions is Tapoco Lodge where there is limited alcohol sales there.
• Camera: Trust us, 200+ MINIs gathered together is something you're going to want to have pictures of! With that also make sure you have plenty of film and batteries, both of which may be expensive to purchase down there. Shooting digital? Make sure you have either plenty of memory or a laptop to copy pictures too, don't expect to find anyplace down there that carries memory cards.
• Flashlight: As always safety first. If you're staying at the Fontana it gets very dark at night, should you decide to go walking around the property at night a flashlight will make it you more visible. Plus it's always handy to have a flashlight with you.

It was also suggested to me that a camping chair or two might not be a bad idea as well. Especially if you're going to be hanging out with your car (say at the Dam, Crossroads of Time etc...) and chatting with everybody.

 

Things have changed from last year. Fontana Village now has beer sales in the general store and the Texaco gas station. The Peppercorn has a full bar.

 

Like I said, it's a bit dated....

 

Actually, this is wrong, the opposite is true, without subcodes, you will hear everything on channel 7 regardless of subcode, but no one will hear you.

Steve

 

I always pack some large trash bags, can be used as:
Garbage bags (duh)
Laundry bags
Wet clothes bag
Poor man's Poncho

 

batteries for everything you have that needs 'em.

 

Umbrella! (To complete snooter's trashbag poncho ensemble!)

Your favorite portable musical instrument(s) for the Off Topic Band Dragon Jam.

Treats for Lotsie's Black Lab navigator, Ruby!

 

How about flip-flops if youre camping to avoid any foot fungus from the communal showers???

 

 

Don't forget the umbrellas come in handy when you have to make an emergency stop to do your business in the woods! Bathrooms are few and far between and the umbrella will give you shelter! Just be sure to pee down hill and don't pee on your shoe!

 

Those are slippery! The little swimming slippers (available inexpensively at Target) are non-skid.

 

Bring more Chili Chefs!

 

Motion Pills (for Co-Pilots )
Cash
Allergy Pills (this one someone esle's idea)
Air Compressor
Tire Goop
Tequilla (my preference)
Frisbee (never leave home without one)
Air Freshener
I think someone mentioned batteries
Maps
Boom Box to listen to Italian Job

 

Please don't take this wrong And I like to party along with the best
But PLEASE

MINI's, Booze, and the Dragon DO NOT MIX

Party Hardy and have a Fantastic Time I plan too

Just please don't DRINK AND DRIVE

Sam

 

Sam, the list at the top of this thread mentioned alcohol and Pat was merely clarifying the fact that beer is now sold at Fontana at the General Store and the Texaco Station. Also, Fontana's restaurant (formerly known as The Peppercorn), "The Mountainview Bistro" now has a full bar. Nothing wrong with folks staying at Fontana enjoying some drinks once they're done with the day's motoring.

I believe that responsible motoring has always been key to the past success of this event and am confident that MOTD-4 will be another big success!

 

I'll add to the list a full sized spare for folks driving a Cooper or non-non flat tires. I had a blow out in 2004 during a day trip drive. Did not want to do NC to DC on the doughnut.

It was about 65 miles from where we were (over 100 miles from Robbinsville) to the nearest town with tire shops. The first three places we went to had never seen a MINI and did not stock anything near my tire size that would work. It was about 35 miles to a larger town before we got a new tire.

Now I bring the full sized spare with me anytime I am going to be out in the country. Bought a nice custom bag for it from The Bag Lady that matches my MINIs colors.

 

a couple other things on my list:
• sheets (I think the cabins don't have their own)
• towels (but a seasoned hitchhiker always knows where his towel is...)
• laptop and blank CDs (for backing up your images)

 

The cabins do come with linens, both bed and bath. The bathroom towels are a tad skimpy, so I bring my own....

 

money & a spare..................i'm good to go

 

Actually, the camp cabins do *not* come with linens. I'm in a Dogwood, however, so we should be good. :-)

 

ah..ok..I didn't know. My Dogwood had bed linens last year....

 

Hey, Katie...here's what it says on Fontana's site about Dogwood cabins:

2 Bedrooms (1 Full/1 Set Twin Beds) 1 Bath. Kitchen Utensils, Bed Linens and Towels are provided. Living Room and Bedrooms have ceiling fans.

And yeah....the towels are way skimpy! But maybe since the sprucing up, they're a little nicer!?

 

That hoopy frood really knows where his towel is...

 

Of course! Because he drives a MINI! ;-)

 

How about a CB radio? Or will we just be fine with a GMRS/FRS Radio?

Any recommendation as I plan to purchase it fairly soon?