MOTD 2018 Most liked posts in thread: Motoring Alliance returns to MINIs on the Dragon 2018 (MOTD)

Our Philly crew will be at the Dragon Monday - Sunday AM. Stop by for a cold beer when you get in Sully. All the others that know us and where we are are welcome to stop by for a cold one also.

Just ask for me.

We are the round cabin on the corner across from the field ramp.

 

Looking forward to it. We'll be easy to find...just look for the smoke trails and/or the Silk Green/White R50.

 

N14 owners There's plenty of idiots out there driving all generations, but I'd say the younger/newer/less experienced crowd is in the 2nd gens as they're the cheapest (now) and most readily available. The dumbest vehicle operators I've had the most close calls with at the Dragon are motorcycle drivers. Last year I almost clipped 2 of them who's tires were on their side of the mustard, but the top half was about to smash into my headlight. If you're on 2 wheels, how do you manage to make your bike so damn big you need to lean over the yellow?! After my first Dragon's close calls, I drive safe so I don't wreck my car. Even at my 2nd I almost slid off the side at Crud Corner, but luckily my tires caught grip right at the edge and saved me from some embarrassment and possibly an insurance claim

 

Oh no, the new holder of the forum keys is a ginger that came with faulty wiring from the factory and lives in the biggest transit F-up on the map, we really are doomed! [emoji23] But so far I do kinda like the guy...

If y’all think that MINI’s have bad apples on the Dragon, please don’t even bother coming when some of the other groups are in town. The sports bikes are bad, but not quite the worst... The Sport/Touring crossover bikes are the worst by a pretty considerable margin.

I went over the side in 2015 in the Rat at mile 5.5 avoiding what would’ve been a pretty bad wreck. It was because of a GP-1 who was stopped mid corner after that short straight. I remember my speedo saying up around 80 in that straight and about 60 when I saw his marker lights... I had two choices: Hit him, take out both cars, and probably injure someone else and myself at the same time... Or lay on the brakes and hope for the best... From my skidmarks which made Killboy’s Pic of the week, I can even say that I was being a little too stupid on a public road.

Do I still push the Dragon hard? Sure do on occasion, but most of the time I actually drive it, I have plenty of fun keeping things around 40~50... But most of the time I avoid the Dragon all together now after living here. It’s just another road full of tourists, living the fast life, seeing what they can do and how many limits they can push... Sometimes they make it, sometimes they don’t, and I don’t want to be the guy just heading to Home Depot that gets caught in the middle.


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Got my car back from Helix today and damn she runs nice and smooth with even more power. Now I just need to clean / polish the refurbished summer wheels and ceramic coat them with Gyeon. I have a few little odds and ends stuff but I am ready for the Dragon.

 

If you smoke cigars, look me up [I'm there from Tues. afternoon thru early Fri. morning]. I fully realize that everyone cannot make the Cigar Salon Wed. night, so I always have extra cigars on hand for any smokers [who weren't there Wed.] until I leave!

 

I'm running a couple of the official drives:

1: THURSDAY MORNING: Sunrise drive around the Smoky mountains - Yes, it's early, but it is the single best drive I've ever done in my life. When I'm stressed out and I need to go to my 'happy place' during the rest of the year, this is where I imagine I am... driving Little River Road in the Smoky Mountains in the early morning.

2: FRIDAY MORNING: The Donut Run! This popular event is back again with a twist. It's a choose your own adventure type of run. Want a quicker drive? Do just part A that gets you out for 1.5 hour each way w/ a stop for donuts. Do Part B to add another hour or so, but you get to see the OutMotoring.com HQ and shop for all the swag your credit card will handle. Do part C for the full tour... a circular trip back to Robbinsville and then Fontana via the Cherohala Skyway. Do one part... do all three... It's up to you.

3: THE UNOFFICIAL TEXOLINA RUN! (Updated 2/14) OK. I went to register and the apple pie run filled up before I could get there (3-4 hours) and I want something more than the Ice Cream run on Saturday, so here it is... something new for my (Texas) Metroplex MINI friends, my new Tar Heel MINI friends (Carolinas) and, of course, my MA friends! After some ice cream on the scheduled Ice Cream run (around 1-1:30pm, depending on how quickly ice cream is served and consumed) I'll be leading whoever wants to go a bit south down to another great: Wayah Road! It will take us about 2.5-3 hours to get back to Fontana. We will be heading south down 28 to Franklin, west across Wayah and then back up 129 through Robbinsville. With a quick stop for gas in Robbinsville and maybe bathrooms in Franklin (depending on need) we should get back to Fontana around 4:305 or so... plenty of time to get to the farewell dinner (doors open at 5, but dinner and announcements start at 6)

Map: https://www.google.com/maps/dir/125+Everett+St,+Bryson+City,+NC+28713/Fontana+Village,+NC+28733/@35.2856392,-83.74743,11.25z/data=!4m29!4m28!1m20!1m1!1s0x8859485ee3aba50b:0xf6d1813dfb913d83!2m2!1d-83.4465348!2d35.4290094!3m4!1m2!1d-83.4951589!2d35.3046009!3s0x885936ac48fec5a1:0x52d6b7c6698b7fc8!3m4!1m2!1d-83.3741812!2d35.184072!3s0x885924e11938ef99:0xeec4f7c9b6b3baf7!3m4!1m2!1d-83.4944529!2d35.164232!3s0x88592e8c362fde4b:0x645516aa0b94ad74!1m5!1m1!1s0x885eb8ee9bc41c5f:0x448b383171bc3f8a!2m2!1d-83.819065!2d35.4356433!3e0

 

WOW! There's an M/A tent? I don't think I EVER saw an M/A tent at MOTD before.

 

Honestly, the Sunrise drive is my personal favorite... plus it leaves early so we get back to Fontana in the the morning and you have the rest of the day for other things. Regular MOTD attendees have probably been down those roads before, but they never disappoint. If we get a clear day, the views from the Foothills Parkway are stunning and you really understand the "Smoky" in "Smoky Mountains".

 

Lee, that would be the one... As always! [emoji23] Anyone know what happened to all the banners that were normally hanging off the house?

Chuck, I look (glanced really) over all 10,000 pictures in my old phone but no luck. [emoji53] I know I posted them here multiple times in my old posts...

Sully, I believe you underestimate what exactly our livers are still capable of... With a statement like that, you’re gonna need to rent an F-series Clubman. [emoji23][emoji23][emoji23]


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I'm registered and counting down the days. I'll be there from Tuesday thru Sunday, so if you need help with anything, just give me a shout.

 

I'm there from Tuesday thru Friday when we return to Ohio. I sponsor the Cigar Salon on Wed. night, right after the Welcome Dinner, on the Porch, until we run out of cigars.

 

Love the foothills parkway. It’s great to run anytime and even better with government park restrictions which means the rangers are not on duty and using radar.