It was AWESOME!!! Great weather and even though we "crashed" the big Miata Meet, they LOVED our MINIs and waved to us as we carved twisties! Can't wait to slay the Dragon again!

Hey, kool....where's the gnome?

Clo/Wanda

 

^^^^^
took the gnome to Pocano Speedway to go racing with me on the way home from the Dragon

 

Were there as many cops over there on Friday and Sunday?? We counted 10 in less than 15 minutes. We were there Saturday.

 

^^^^saturday there was lots'o cops
i split early cause of them, ending up racing at Pacano speedway sunday....legal like

 

We saw you headed north and wondered why you never came back. We saw a pure silver from Ga. Was that R-Speed??

 

That's probably who you saw, we ran into him and his family at Tapoco on Saturday afternoon.

And sorry Clo, it was HOT!!!! on Saturday. I'm very glad that our event is in the spring because it was way too uncomfortable to really have fun outside the air conditioning or a pool!

The way those Miata's were driving the cops needed to be there... They are not very attentive, we had almost had a head on when we were coming in because one moron felt the need to cross the double yellow right into our lane. Luckily I saw him through the trees well before the turn and was watching him. I know we can be a little daring when we're up there, but at least we're alert and paying attention.

I know one Miata wrecked on the Dragon Friday, and a sport bike was laid down on 28 between the dam and the pumping station Sunday morning. Don't know about the rider, but the entire front end of the bike was under the guard rail...

Honestly, I'm not sure why the Miata people want to be there this time of year. We saw a LOT more slow moving traffic on all the roads in the area this past weekend than we did back in April/May. Heck I almost flew into blinding road rage after getting stuck behind a Sentra that did 25MPH on 28 from the top of the dam to the bottom, AND he'd slow to 15 at every curve!!!!!

 

Michael, I got to Fontana a bit after noon on Thursday, and it was lovely! It did get hot on Saturday, but we were able to keep our "kool!"

I agree that holding our Dragon MINI Meet the first weekend in May is ideal. It is before most folks are vacationing, the weather is mild, and the whole area is thrilled to see us as they open for their season.

Can't wait to return to the Dragon! Maybe I can squeeze in a Fall of the Dragon trip!?

Clo/Wanda

 

Sorry about those Miata people. Hope none of them were my friends! But as you know, I gave the Miata up for my trusty MINI-I hardly ever drive it anymore & with Sunnie the Cabrio coming soon, I'll probably never drive it. But I do have to say that I cut my teeth as they say when I learned to drive the Miata at a spirited pace. BTW, the Cabrio will be coming to the Dragon in May


Lois

 

Hey Lois, since this past weekend was Miatas at the Gap, what Miata event were you at right after the MINI Dragon event this past year?

 

BTW, let me also say all the Miata people we encountered were very friendly. Even our neighbors at the Fontana did seem upset, even though I know David disturbed them a few times with some pretty feroucious temper tantrums at odd hours of the morning or night...

 

We were there with 4 other couples from our Miata Club who didn't want to fight the July crowd. Some of us went on to a Miata event at the Biltmore. The Miata thing in July got started just like the May MINI event. It was very grass roots & then grew into what it is now. I don't know why they go in July Too many tourists & hot hot weather. And there's no back seat to haul the kids in
Lois

 

Please do post pictures- all ye summer slayers!
I'm stuck on an island and don't get out very much

 

Awwww...poor minihune...bored in paradise! LOL!

I've got a few shots to share....sndwave and YuccaPatrol will help me to post them tomorrow.

Clo/Wanda

 

Summertime Dragon Slaying - I had a blast!

Weather - Reminded me of my days in Miami; hot and way humid, icky!

People - The Miata people were fun, if a bit older on average than I expected. The Crotch-Rockets get my Snoozer Award for the weekend for slowest driving everywhere. I finally got to run with a Turbo Miata: all I'm saying is afterwards he thought I had [literally] 70 HP more than I really do! It was nice meeting Brant, the President of BF Performance (a Miata Supercharger specialist), and the management of Fontana in planning our MINI-meet '05. Of course it was great to see Clo and Kool and Sndwave and Sarcux and the Babishkins and Mark Ferguson :smile: We all had great fun scouting for the best food in the area, doing hwy-28 and Dragon runs, and partying it up. Special mention to Koolmini's Gnome.....and his other conquests

Pictures - yep I got a few



...and of course, Sarcux showing his true colors! (as requested!)


Cheers, and Motor-On!
Ryan

 

It sounds like everyone got back from the Dragon without any problems. It was a blast. The roads were clean and the weather was great. The only rain came at night and by the mornings the roads were dry and fast.

Unlike our May event the Miata’s bring the local law enforcement out in full force. Saturday had 8 cars and 2 bikes patrolling the road. We got our runs in early and then went off to find other fun roads. We’ll get some pics Clo took of the weekend posted later today.

 

In no real order....and this is merely a few of the things I learned:

1. While the Miata folks were very nice and always smiling and saying hello. I found many were a little nutty on the road.
2. My trashcan in my room was 30 years old (an original to the Fontana)
3. Ryan "just washed his car, and can't do anything with it."
4. "An opportunity like this doesn't come along everyday."
5. Mark knows the "KnobMeister" (who happens to have a LARGE wooden ****)
6. It is hot and humid in July -- even in the mountains.
7. If you like to drive slow; don't mind being behind lots of campers, boats, and Excursions -- then go in July.
8. There was a knome, need I say more?
9. Clover invented (and is in the process of patenting) a new system for the MINI -- the "Nag"agational System.
10. Random Factoid: The first year of the Miata gathering 43 Miatas went into the Dragon -- only 42 returned. The woman who had a wreck is now affectionately known as "Flipper" -- seems she's rolled the car MORE than once.
11. It is considered an "*********" move to block a MINI into a parking space with a Subaru.
12. Ryan is the only person I know who can be in lead and still the last car to arrive to dinner.
13. Under NO circumstances, expect all the meals at any given table to arrive at the same time -- or even within the same 1/2 hour.
14. (and the most important):
I learned that the MINI event in May of 2005 will be a NOT TO BE MISSED, all out FUN-fest with lots of cool surprises and even cooler people --- and the COOLest cars.

Hugs,
PB

 

i should have my pics back tomorrow......will post

 

Seeing many familiar faces & cars that we met in May. Roadodendron & I wish we could have been there but he wanted to go to Road Atlanta instead, hoping there'd be MINIs racing (there weren't any ) Sorry to hear about all the cops but thats what y'all get for crashing the Miatas meet We did go back to Fontana & the Dragon the weekend of Jun 5, it was nice weather and not too crowded.

"Nag"agational System? I love that term! Sounds like what I call "me driving with roadie in the car" (ie. not driving fast enough while getting lost)

 

The "Nag" System in the jets I use to repair are known as "*****'in Betty", but when Clover heard this she said she had to come up with a more NAM usable name.

 

Ahem! The true story of the "Nag" system...and that is its correct name, not nagagation...is this:


When YuccaPatrol and I drove from Cali to 'Bama in Wanda this past spring, he had his radar detecting system, his Garmin Street Pilot III, and what I termed his "Nag System."

I found that I have a highly-developed sixth sense for sniffing out...um...law enforcement on the road. (Not in my own hometown of L.A., unfortunately! ) I'd simply "urge" him to slow down, or whatever, and sure enough, we'd come upon Johnny Law just around the next bend! Voila! The Nag System was born!

Clo/Wanda

 

So, instead of paying big bucks for some electronic device that is illegal in a few states and may not even prevent your ticket.....just simply invite Clo to drive with you and you will be be safe from all speeding traps....and you'll have a few laughs about the Nag System in Clo own brain. (and I'd bet a laugh or two with Clo that doesn't invovle the Nag system).

Mind you, the Nag system also seems to come with a DDP obsession and multiple pit stops. So, you have been fairly warned and the truth in advertising has been met.

Hugs,
PB

 

Another slayer...

 

Oh, here's a typical anecdote about the awesome Nag System powers:

sndwave and I stopped at an ABC store in Murphy, NC (the Dragon is dry-county land!), and I had NOT activated the Nag system. So, we were just getting back onto the road, chatting, not a worry in the world, when we espied a sherriff on the other side of the road. Said sherriff immediately whipped a u-turn and pulled us over.

Soooooo...there sat MINIclo, clutching a french blue throw pillow, looking ever-so-vulnerable...tee hee! First of all, the deputy asked sndwave if he knew what the speed limit was, and since we pulled over directly in front of the sign, sndwave pointed to it and said "55?" Mr. Deputy chuckled and said, "That is correct." Then the deputy asked us where we were headed and I said "Robbinsville." He replied, "Oh, you're going to the Dragon! These little cars are great on the Dragon!" He ran a check on sndwave's license and registration, came back, told us to watch the speed, and sent us on our merry way without a ticket!

Thus, the NAG system deflects tickets even when in a slumber/idle mode!

Clo/Wanda

 

Here are some pics that MINIclo and I shot up at the Dragon. I shot the Misty Waters, Clo next to the MINIs and the Hidden Jewel Falls pics.

#1: koolmini's "knome" posing at Deal's Gap


#2: Mist rising up off the Tennessee River along Hwy 28 near Fontana


#3: koolmini at Sweetwater


#4: MINIclo next to BLU MENE, Sprog II, and MM2 at Deal's Gap


#5: kool's "knome" posing with Babswife, her son David, and condiments at Sweetwater


#6: Hidden Jewel Falls, next to one of the few pullouts on the Dragon


#7: Blast from the past Dragon Meet in May: Babsie sitting on Minzilla's lap in the Party Cabin, chatting with Phil, aka "The British Guy"

 

OKay, so its not what I thought, but still funny! Also still applies to my husband...how else does he do most of the speeding and I get most of the tickets? I should have him in the car more often w/ his Nag System turned on!