How to spend a day in the Smokey Mountains...

84_Carrera · 04-06-2009, 12:03 PM

Had a blast with everyone, my thanks to the RGruppe guys for welcoming a ragtop 3.2 Carrera along!

scottrx7tt · 04-06-2009, 12:29 PM

was that at Hwy 129?

BK911 · BK911's Garage

Nice shot!

I was just up there last week. Now you are making me want to go up again. Maybe next week.

Which route did you take? My fav is Foothills parkway to tail of the dragon to blue ridge parkway and then back again.

84_Carrera · 04-06-2009, 12:36 PM

Yes, 129.

That is how we came in, Foothills 1st.

One HECK of a time, glad I made the 1000-miles each way trip.

Buckterrier · 04-06-2009, 12:55 PM

Glad to see you made it home Fred! (Long day eh?) Yes a special thanks to Paul and the rest of the R Gruppe brethren for the special invite.

Halm · 04-06-2009, 02:41 PM

Here is one more from the weekend. It was great meeting everyone. And glad all of you northeast guys had a good time!

84_Carrera · 04-06-2009, 03:55 PM

Hal,
It was so much fun I'm already asking if we're doing it again next year! Although I think if we do this again, I'm going EAST on 40 to Asheville instead of following Paul WEST on 40 to Knoxville...

Halm · 04-06-2009, 04:03 PM

Yikes, west on I-40??? On the way home??

Lot of fun meeting new friends and seeing some old one. And yes. We'll do it again, hopefully without the Crossfires and MR2's hanging around.

KarlCarrera · 04-06-2009, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 84_Carrera

Had a blast with everyone, my thanks to the RGruppe guys for welcoming a ragtop 3.2 Carrera along!

That's a great picture. Looks like great weather and friends.

Karl
88 Targa

scottrx7tt · 04-06-2009, 06:09 PM

next time you will have to let us local folk know so we can meet up with you also.

Buckterrier · 04-07-2009, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Halm

And glad all of you northeast guys had a good time!

A good time????? A good time????? That's like saying the space shuttle is just another airplane!!! Words literally can't describe the good time. And finding out how well the Carrera handles, (my driving sucks), was a huge bonus. It certainly will give me confidence for my 1st DE in July.

tnchris · 04-07-2009, 10:31 AM

How was the traffic? Last time I was up there we got stuck behind a couple of hybrids

.

JerryL · 04-07-2009, 10:38 AM

Yes please do, I can most always make time to do a run thru that area and there is a couple great ways to get there from the Asheville area.
Throw a post up here if anyone ends up in the area, there are some other notable roads that are not so public knowledge read less crowd and less Police

Regards

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottrx7tt

next time you will have to let us local folk know so we can meet up with you also.

84_Carrera · 04-07-2009, 10:46 AM

Jerry,
We had ZERO police, and all of 3 cars I think (and they all pulled over to let us pass) on the 2 times we did the Tail section. It was a fantastic weekend to drive it, and the people really made the difference.

I have a bunch of the photos up on the Early S Registry Forum, but here's a few more (cross posting to Rennlist too):

84_Carrera · 04-07-2009, 10:47 AM

T77911S · 04-07-2009, 10:58 AM

you know, it would not take much to organize a group to go up there. my brother has been wanting to go, we just need a weekend and a hotel.
you could pick a month and do a poll for the weekend of that month. the weekend with the most replies gets it. might even be able to get a reduced rate at a hotel.

84_Carrera · 04-07-2009, 11:03 AM

At Fontana we paid $85 ($100 / nt after taxes etc); the Crossfire guys got $10 less per person, likely based on the qty of rooms they booked.

There are maps of likely enforcement areas at www.tailofthedragon.com, and the route that Vic took us on was just splendid - some twisties, some cruising. We did the Foothills Parkway on the way in, and saw the other side of 28 toward Robbinsville (now that's a nice road right there, 28 from 129 to 143 section, new roads, and a little faster than the tail... more like DE vs. AutoX argument).

JerryL · 04-07-2009, 11:20 AM

Great Pics, and 28 is real nice along the lake, and you can take it into Franklin, great ride and many more options to stay (including my folks house farm if some want to camp but room for some at the house or a place to light the grill and beverages to wind down from the day)
The Tapoca lodge at the bridge by the Dam on lake Cheoa used to do group rates and cabins, not sure it is still open but can do some checking.

Looks like a great weekend, you timed it right, snow last night and this morning!!

Regards

84_Carrera · 04-07-2009, 11:49 AM

Tapoco Lodge was where we were supposed to stay. We were booked, and they sent us an email saying they decided not to open for the season this year.

Oh, and Bill on S Registry just posted a pic from this morning - it SNOWED this morning.

berettafan · 04-07-2009, 12:09 PM

Great pics guys!

Fred did you get to follow that red RS Rep? Ruf built motor? If it's the one i'm thinking of i hope you had your windows down to hear it. Absolutely bad assed.