Some of you probably know I just spent a long weekend in Andrews, NC with a sort of loosely semi-European sports car club. Mostly Porsche 911 drivers (although mostly older 911's, many air cooled). Several Beemers, a Miata, a supercharged Saleen Mustang, a Noble (South African pseudo-supercar), and a couple of MINIs.

Somehow, I got selected to lead our Cherohala Skyway drive on Saturday. It was kind of surreal seeing the Coupé leading a pack of 911's, and a Noble bringing up the rear. Being on stock suspension & stock runflat tires, I couldn't push it as hard as I did in my R53, but I did my best & only 3-4 of the 911's managed to keep up the entire way. They could've gone faster, but assured me the pace was plenty fast enough to keep them all entertained. I also got a few comments that the Coupé was surprisingly fast and nimble. I think we did MINI proud.

We also ran Moonshiner's Run, The Hellbender, The Dragon, and Wayah Road on Friday. But it was still wet from Thursday's rains, so they were relatively tame runs, and there was no Killboy on the Dragon. So my only pics there were our group shots @ Tabcat, below.

A few pics from the trip...

Met my buddy Jim and his family in Ocala to caravan up. They were in the BMW's flanking the Coupé on either side here.


Rocky & one of the 911's in front of Hawkesdene House, our accommodations for the weekend.


Lineup @ Tabcat Bridge.



Couple of gratuitous shots of the Noble, just because:



Morning temps were sub-freezing. See the frosty Coupé.



Photo stop on the Cherohala.



Had to laugh after finding this sticker on the Cherohala. "EECMM" is the "Epic East Coast Mazda Meet," which took place in June, I believe. 50 ricers get together and it's supposed to be epic. What the heck would they call MOTD???


Another photo stop on the Cherohala.

 

+1

 

Thanks for sharing I like the sound of an air cooled 911 over the newer water cooled.

 

Cool, did the Dragon twice driving from Texas for the BMW Z3 reunion at the factory in Spartanburg. If you have not gone, do it!

 

Killboy posted a pic of a new Coupe two weeks ago in his highlites section and the bikers really "flamed" the Coupe and MINIs in general in the comments attached to the photo

 

I heard that at least 1 Coupé had attended MINIs Slay the Sleeping Dragon. Did not go looking for Killboy's pics on that one. Now I think I'm glad I didn't. Oi vey.

 

Welcome back sir, glad you see you get to stretch the new car out on some real roads.

 

Thank you! This trip was actually planned a year ago when I had no idea I would be considering trading in my Mazdaspeed3 on anything. When I ordered the Coupé, one of my first concerns for my MA was that I wanted it in time for Mickey and MINI and/or this trip. Mickey and MINI was not happening, but I was glad to have Rocky in time for this trip.

After my one actual Dragon run happening on a wet day, I am now even more eager for MOTD X in May.

 

A co-cospirator took photos @ Bald River Falls. Just posted this morning: