Early thoughts for Fall run in the Smokies

Lane - Count me in!

Lane,

After just making the trip in my daily driver, I've decided to wait until Carlisle next year.

Tom

Ok folks, I'll get a 10-room block held for us at the Hilton for the 15-16 of October. Those of you who want to stay longer might want to set things up soon, as Asheville gets booked up for most of October.

I will also negotiate a morning photo shoot for us in front of the Biltmore mansion. That should be memorable. Might even make next year's calendar.

Hoss, sorry you and Sarah won't make it. Any chance of meeting us for the cruise day or the Biltmore?

Got it set up with the Hilton, and they are mailing the paperwork to me. I will post specifics when I have them. We have 10 rooms avaialble for the "Speedster Owners Club", although more can be added if needed. The $179/night rate is good until August 15th, at which point any remaining rooms go back into inventory at the normal October rate of ~$200-$220/night. I could have held them until September 15, but only if I was willing to pay 80% on any unclaimed rooms. Nah

It sounds like we got in just under the wire, as we are the last group for which rooms will be made available at a reduced rate for October.

Now to figure out driving routes, Biltmore time, meals, etc.

Lane----you left out Oban!

There used to be a great BBQ and Bluegrass music venue downtown Asheville. The head of the band was Mark Pruett. Large place with lots of seating that can easily accomodate a group like ours.


---Just a thought.

Ya got a name?

Lane,

The Biltmore Tour will take all day if the winery is included. The house tour has been expanded to another floor. There is also buffet lunch and dinner at one of the old barns. I believe it was the calving barn.

Lane--sorry but no. Maybe Aaron has heard of this place if it's still open.

I don't know of any place around Asheville. I heard of 12 Bones, but never tried it. However, I have a GREAT place that burned Christmas. Thom White and his wife Amy are reopening in Forrest City. They make their on sauces and do "REAL" BBQ. Thom smokes his Boston butts the old way...No injected flavoring as most are BBQers now doing. Thom does over 325 buts a week. The sauces are real... no corn starch or added fillers and he offers 3-4 styles. Find a place and I'll bring it or have Thom cater it in. Now I could also do a BBQ research in Asheville to find a great place. Sample all of them. I be glad to do this special request. :~)

Aaron, I'm sure that I can say for all of us "Thanks for the research." It's a dirty job, but someone's gotta do it.

Ok folks, here's the link for our group at the Hilton. All necessary info is on that page.

http://www.hilton.com/en/hi/groups/personalized/AVLBPHF-SPC-20101015/index.jhtml?WT.mc_id=POG

BBQ!!!

So many...I don't know were to start. This is a site that explains North Carolina BBQ and sauces. Take a look and let me know which one or types preferred. Note that 12 Bones is a lunch only place. List the ones that you ALL want me to try. Why you ask, I'll "Pig-Out". I prefer "REAL" smoked BBQ. Some joints are now injecting the meat with smoke flavoring and slather it with a sauce and cook it. Ain't for me. I want mine slow smoke cooked, outside meat and let me add the sauce. Hickory, mesquite or apple wood is best!

http://www.exploreasheville.com/where-to-eat/culinary-tourism/north-carolina-barbecue/index.aspx

Wherever we go MUST have the red BBQ sauce, not ketchup/catsup! I have never developed a taste for the mustard or vinegar based sauces.

Aaron, I assume that you and your better half be would be commuting in rather than staying with us at the Hilton. Am I correct?

Lane,

I'll try to get special sauce just for you. Actually, I like the red Texas style sauce (can't get no Texas brisket or beef sausage here) and the Tennessee style. Ah, Lockhart,TX at Creuz's Market...home-made beef sausage and mesquite smoked brisket served on brown butcher paper with "light" bread, hell-o-pena peppers, Lone Star or Pearl for a belly washer, cut it with your pocket knife and eat it with your hands!!! Grease dripping off your chin and a roll of paper towels on each table with saw dust on the floor. Hongary yet?

We'll more than likely drive up and back.

Yup, I'm "hongary". In fact, we're having a BBQ cook out at work here today, and I'm slobberin' just thinking about it. Tennessee style sauce is my favorite since I'm a Memphis (center of the universe for pork BBQ) boy myself.

Gentlemen (and I use the term loosely),

By scheduling the trip later in October, I am SO in! Booked my room, so consider me there (as long as my car is done...and I don't see why it won't).

I have the current car in production at SAS. 2.5l Turbo Cabriolet, Blue with dove grey interior. As for now, I am watching the build from my home in the foothills of NC. I head back to my part-time job in mid-June and will be on site until early October. I am planning to have my shiny, new, SAS shipped to NOLA area for the "Cruizin' the Coast" event the first week in October. Afterwards, I will join up with the SOC family before hopefully taking on the Tennessee vs. Alabama game the following weekend.

Hoss, wanna join us at the game? I am sure my wife and myself will NOT be rooting for the Vols, but the offer stands! If you have any interesting ticket connections, I would be inclined to treat for a good seat... (hint, hint). Maybe we could talk Steve and Lisa into joining us.

I look forward to meeting and greeting all!

STeele

Message for Jack:

Have you visited the BBQ listing above? I'll not be able to get into Merlot if I have to try ALL the pits! There are just to many for me to visit in one day!

Also, you other attendees please take a look, too!

Scott, Sarah and I do not have season tickets anymore. We do have a source, but I doubt I would be able to get six or even four seats together. Also, the seats would likely be upper deck. It might almost be better to go on the street to get them, but that's a gamble.

We will just be getting back from Europe around the time of the Alabama game so we might be a little busy for a few days. It doesn't look real promising, but I hope we can get together anyway for something.

Lane and Aaron

Excellent! Look forward to meeting you, Felix. Guess I oughta book mine, huh?

Spent last weekend in Asheville. MY fav restaurant, Picnics on Merrimon Ave is no more. There rotisserie chicken was out of this world. Tried to play golf at the Grove Park Inn, but some guy named Barack had the whole course to himself !

That Barack fella did return (with his wife & 50 plus guys in suits packing guns) to 12 Bones. we gotta check this place out in October.

I've eaten there. It's mighty tasty.

12 Bones...cost us tax payers $250+ for 6 people to eat BBQ just for lunch (12 Bones is only open at lunch time)!!! Per the Asheville news paper Citizen-Times...also, the visit cost the city tax payers alone over $250,000+ to date. Both vacationers departed in different aircraft... each at a cost of over $11,000/hour. Our tax dollars at its worst! Stayed at the Groove Park and played golf. I was keep wake for 3 nights with fighter aircraft flying over my property 24 hours a day!

Now a real fun place for the group. Inside or outside dining and we'll get waited on by real servers, no standing, waiting and pickup your order and then seat yourself (as shown per local TV with Obama doing so). Let's have fun at...are you ready...The Fiddlin' Pig! Opens at 1830 hours until 2330 hrs. Real Mountain Bluegrass Music from opening to closing. All local mountain living band members. Located on Tunnel Road near the the Tunnel with lots of parking. What's better than that???

Ok, here's the website!

http://www.thefiddlinpig.com/

I'm game. I KNOW Jack Crosby would enjoy the bluegrass. Maybe he could bring his fiddle and join the band onstage.

Folks, we need to decide whether we all want to do the Biltmore on Saturday or Sunday so that I can set up for the morning photo shoot out front. I recommend Sunday so that we can do the drive event on Saturday when the Biltmore is most crowded. Also, those who are leaving on Sunday could go straight from the Biltmore.

We could do the early morning photo shoot around 8:45, tour the house (takes a couple of hours), eat lunch on site, and then those who want to stay could tour the winery (it's very short), the gardens, or indulge in another drive in the mountains.

What say yee?

Lane I'm gamey... err I mean game. lol

Howdy all--we just returned from Morro Bay last evening so I have not seen a computer since the 19th.

Aaron--I guess that BBQ place where Marc Pruett played is gone--it was sensational. Too bad.

Lane---it's a banjo--not a fiddle!

Looks like this Smokies event will be fun!

Even better!

Eating BBQ...ain't easy! Tried Okie Doke's great smoked pulled Boston butts. Sauces: very disappointing!!! NOT home-made, but Cattleman's out of the gallon jug. I hope this is not the sauce that Lane wants! Will continue on!

Hummmmm - mid-October might be a new target line in the sand for Shubbie and I to finish our Speedsters! My Speedster will be legal drinking age (21) about that time! (Kit delivered Nov 1989).

Ok Greg, I think we'll hold you to that. Can think of a better shakedown cruise than the mountains. I didn't think so.

Everybody - Follow the link to our Hilton group webpage, and make your reservations. The link is: http://www.hilton.com/en/hi/groups/personalized/AVLBPHF-SPC-20101015/index.jhtml...

Aaron - I've had a few decent bottled sauces, but usually I prefer homemade. Needs to have a nice, smokey flavor, not too sweet, with a little heat to it.

All you denizens of the northeast who were at Carlisle this year, please consider joining us on this trip. Depending on the length of your particular journey to Asheville, you might want to make it a longer visit to be worth the drive. Asheville is about one long day's drive from Carlisle, but you could split the drive into two easy days (~4 hours) if you wanted to sight-see in the mountains on the way down.

UPDATE: The link immediately above is corrupted. Here's the link to the group discount at the Hilton: http://www.hilton.com/en/hi/groups/personalized/AVLBPHF-SPC-20101015/index.jhtml?WT.mc_id=POG

Just arrived back from Peru...Please don't mention potatoes!!! Always served at all meals 3 times a day!. No, I want even touch French fries. I've lost 15 pounds thanks to Peruvian diet! BBQ search time provided I can get the roast guinea pig out of my mind (head on w/ feet up)! UGH! A highland Peru specialty! I hope my system returns to it's proper functioning ASAP.

It's the revenge of the Incas, Aaron. Welcome home.

As long as it isn't ... "Montezuma's Revenge"

Aztecs, Incas, not much difference when you're rooted to the toilet for a couple of days.

Alan, you doing any more thinking about joining us?

He's gonna have to build something first.
Or borrow the Sloppy Jalopy ...

Lane, Business wise logistics are always an issue.
I'll have to wait and see to commit and if so, I may offer up round trip from PA. multi transport. Alan

Well Allen, you could bring your rig on down and pick up your next Spyder......I'll make you a "special" price........... {8>}

Alan, keep me in the loop on that one, eh? We'll have to see if it's do-able.