Fall Outing in the Smokies, Volume V

It is a long time from now, but I would like to inquire about a Friday afternoon outing on the infamous high banks of Bristol Motor Speedway. I tried to arrange this last year, but the chosen weekend had already been taken.

If I can get the firm of Anderson, Crosby, Gardner, Grymwhz...., Hallstrand, Nichols, Pascale, Scott, Steele & White to agree upon a particular fall weekend, I will get the request in ASAP.

FYI: BMS is approx 80 - 90 miles from Asheville.

Put me down as interested.

Tom, please add Owings to the list.

Clint

This may just draw me in!

Hey Tom---I vote for the same weekend as last year; August 10 & 11.
That was a sensational time last year and Alice and I would be up for a repeat.

Beautiful drives, nice hotel and great friends.

Bill--good move!

Don't overbook yourself Marty. Remember we might be doing something local about that time. Then of course, if we didn't what should I do next? Put me down as interested like Marty.

Wrong month, Jack. It was September 10-11. Much more comfortable weather.

Put me down as highly interested, Tom.

Ditto.....

Lane--yep--thanks.

Hell Yeah!

I like the idea of the get-together, but I have a cruise planned in September so I'll probably take a pass. Don't break your necks!

Appreciare everyone's interest.............but

I need a DATE........
I need a consensus weekend for the fall gathering, then I will ask BMS ASAP.

Lane, John: give me the two best weekends for this

Danka, Merce & Gracias

"I need a DATE..."

Now, now, Tom, you're a happily married man.

Some body keeps telling me Lanes married...... Hmmmmm!

Anything close to the first precludes us. Other than that let me know when. Still do not have a new car but we do have a fast one..........

Any date is ok with us. finally finished the refurbish of my car and ready to ride.

Lane got married? When? He trying to convince us that the non existent Pam actually showed up and married him .......NO WAY.....

Nolan, is the paint done?

asked for Friday, September 14th. Stay tuned..............

Sounds like a good date to me. I'm kinda thinkin' I'll take a back seat this year. If one of y'all wants to pick the hotel, etc., I'm good with that. Due to budgetary constraints I can't totally commit just yet, but I'm a good "probably".

Yes Marty, the paint is done, the outfit that did the work does fantastic restorations of original and muscle cars. When I picked up my car they had an Avante, Delorean and 64 Caddie convertible being prepped. The finish shines like a new dime, can't wait to wax protect it.

Nolan:

a.) Nice garage, Dude!

b.) What did you decide on to protect the nose?

OK if I drive the Carrera? Make it the first or second weekend in October...more colors at the higher elevations.

Tom, Anything around Jonesbough, Tn? Nuwary Inn at Burnsville? There is a large hotel at Little Switzerland?

AAron is right about the best time for fall color---we should consider doing this when the colore is best.

Damned right, Aaron---drive that 911!!

Can we do a traveling tour this time?

Bristol to maybe Blowing Rock or Boone, NC for Friday night. The road from Elizabethton, TN to Boone, NC is an awesome ride. I could do some legwork for hotels in the area and see if we could reserve a block for a night in Boone/BR if all were interested? We could do breakfast at the Daniel Boone Inn- a favorite of Tom's and myself!

We could then transit to Asheville on the Parkway for Saturday's drive. Saturday eve we could try for the Italian place again, it's always a big hit.

Sunday can still be a photo-op morning and Biltmore tour as usual for those that are inclined. Some more miles on the twisties gets my vote, but will go with the flow either way.

I think the group Biltmore idea has been pretty much exhausted. Everybody agreed that it was nice, but a bit too pricey when you include the photo-op thing. I suggest that we leave the Biltmore as an individual choice for those who haven't already done it.

I'm ok with the "traveling tour" idea, but my budget may have me staying at my inlaws in Asheville when possible.

Regarding dates, we chose September so that it would be warm enough for more top-down driving than in previous years. the first couple of weekends in Oct. are when the area is besieged with leaf-peepers, and hotel rates go up accordingly. that's why September still seems like the best idea to me. That said, the fall colors ARE glorious. We need to decide ASAP so that Tom can get us in to the track, if he hasn't had to commit already. I won't drive the date since I cannot commit 100% to being there, but my vote is sometime in September.

I'm not sure if I can make it, either, but would prefer top down weather and twisty beautiful drives. I've been to the Biltmore and no right seater in attendance, so it's about driving and socializing, for me. I'm still debating on Carlisle this year but leaning towards the smokies instead. Hopefully, drier weather and nicer drives. The distance is about the same for me.

Gordon: The temporary clear sheeting I saw at Pep Boys is no longer available. Still looking into a detachable bra, just not a fan of the permanent stuff.

I like the traveling tour. I am a proponet of the 200 mile trip to the other side of town......

Richard---you are so right! I am with you.

I (speedsterless) also like Scott's idea of a traveling tour. I will likely not hear back from BMS until after the NASCAR races in mid March.

Richard, you sound like the guys in the 356 club near Boston. They'll drive 2 hours one-way just for coffee, as long as they're driving their 356.

Although speedsterless this year, I

Tom,
What is your desire? A traveling tour seems to the choice. We don't have to stay in one Motel/hotel. We can make a grand circle tour to include Northern parts Parkway. Bistol to Virgina's Parkway South??? Do you remember the Bucks Creek road I took you and Lane for a dizzy run? We need to get things rolling now. How many miles can the group do a day?

Traveling tour for me, but the misses no like ratty motels. Can you guys scope out some halfway decent places along the way?

Can you all put me down as interested and possible to attend?

Here was my line of thinking, and excuse me if I am out of bounds...

Pending Tom's arrangement with Bristol, we could meet up and do the track session on Friday mid AM if possible. Finish up and route through the old town of Elizabethton, TN for lunch. From there, we could run the twisties alongside of Watauga Lake and into Boone, NC for the eve. I can do some legwork for a hotel that is clean and affordable for Marty and his driving gloves. I get home in early March, so that give Tom a chance to confirm with Bristol. I could also rustle up some place for us all to sit down and do an affordable, semi-rowdy dinner in Boone/Blowing Rock.

Next day- Breakfast at Daniel Boone Inn- bring your appetite. Afterwards hook up in Blowing Rock with the Parkway and head towards a break at Little Switzerland. Some in the group may want to detour down the Diamondback, which Aaron turned Christine and I onto last year... nice trip (thanks Aaron), and some may want to continue down the BRP to Asheville and a rendezvous. Dinner possible at the same Italian spot if possible.

Sunday can be planned by someone closer to that end. But I would be happy to do some investigating for the section near to my neck of the woods. Maybe I will be off the boat, and will actually get the opportunity to accompany the group. It truly is a beautiful section of the US.

As always, input is good, and again if I have overextended- let me know. I am not going to stop harping on the driving gloves though... just sayin'

Thanks for looking out for me Captin. I also require a Hyperbaric Oxygen Chamber for me and my gloves:-)

Your tentative plans sound good for me.

Dang! That DOES sound good, doesn't it?