Mountain Madness 2011

Nice job on the photos Lane.

This year's November shot is from last year's visit to the Biltmore. I'll send in something different this year.

Thanks Lane. We can always count on you to come through with the goods.

Daaaang. Beautiful photos, Lane. And it looks like nobody's aged a day since we saw you last. Is there a Fountain of Youth at the Biltmore?

I keep TELLIN' y'all you need to come on down, now don't I?

Nice shots, Lane. As Vince pointed out, names to faces is a nice addition. Thanks.

Corey...... Grab Bert and join us next year...... The new wheels may be ready by then...

Here's my contribution the Mountain Madness II:



http://s46.photobucket.com/albums/f143/scottnp/Mountain%20Madness%20II/?albumview=slideshow

I took a few pictures while joining a lot of nice people in Asheville. I had the Healey, and not surprisingly took lots of pictures of it, but got some shots of interest to others as well if you don't mind sorting through.
http://www.pbase.com/mdlempert/mortimer

Mike Lempert

Great pictures, guys! Wish we had been there, too, but this year it just wasn't in the cards. Looked like a terrific time!

Gn

Mike, you have a good eye with the Camera.

Missed you guys, Marty.

Scan Mike's whole photo album set. He's really very good with a camera.

I should have mentioned... Please feel free to copy any of my images, but first select "original" from the size menu below the picture; this will give you the original higher resolution version.

Great photos and thanks for the recap. Looks as if you guys had a great time. I may be speedsterless next year, but would love to join the group anyway. Hopefully no last-minute fire drills from my employer next year. Plan to attend Petit LeMans at Road Atlanta next month, and I may make a detour up to NC to sample the roads. I

Alice and I just rolled into the garage at Hot Springs---very damned tired but very happy after a wonderful trip.

Including the side trip down to Wilson to visit Russ and his family
the numbers show:

Total miles driven , 2,329
Total gallons consumed, 92.4
Average MPG total trip, 25.2
Usual speed on highway, 75-80
oil consumed, 1 1/2 quarts of good old Brad Penn

Damned fine time with great friends, food, drives & sights.

Russ changed my brake fluid and bled the brakes which was a nice thing for him to do for me! What a high pedal I have now and those 4 wheel disc brakes work better than ever.

Great job Lane, Tom Aaron and everyone who helped out!!

Photos from our perspective are at:

http://mountainmadness2011.shutterfly.com/pictures/8

When prompted for a password: MM2011 (case sensitive)

There are a few shots of individual cars in front of the Biltmore that I am partial to. I am not sure Shutterfly will let you copy shots from their site, so if anyone wants copies- shoot me a note.

Thanks again Lane and Aaron for putting in all the work. Great group of guys, with some pretty cool cars. Looking forward to the next time.

Oh yeah, Aaron- Chris and I did the Diamondback this afternoon on the way home. We met exactly 3 cars and 0 motorcycles on the way up to the BRP. GREAT recommendation!

Gents,
I enjoyed this run also. But, I am now in the throws of deciding to to put Merlot on the block! Why...I was not able to use my left knee to drive the hydraulic clutch equipped Merlot for Saturday's trip South on the BRP. I have discussed this move with Carey. I was looking at a tiptronic transmission installation on a Beck Cabriolet. NO DICE! Carey isn't producing any in the future. I'm a very loyal Beck owner. So, that leaves me with only one alternative...A Porsche 911(1990-98) with the large air cooled engine coupled to a 5 speed tiptronic transmission. More as time goes on!

Sorry to hear that, Aaron. Does this mean that the Lafer is also on the block?

Aaron--give Jake Raby a call and ask him about how he makes a hydraulic clutch VERY easy to operate. He did that to mine---something about an extra-long lever he uses to make the clutch easy to press down. I wish I could be more descriptive but ask Jake. Certainly worth a call if it keeps you among the Bretheren.

Thanks for the various racks of photos of the Asheville show. That was some fancy Digs you people stayed in. Very nice stuff and a very nice piece of the local landscape.

Lane,

Looks like the MP Lafer will go too. I plan to sell it in Brazil. Better known over there and will bring a better price. This Lafer has been autographed by Percival Lafer, himself. These are the cars to own and drive in Brazil. The Lafer Clube always has a turn-out of about a 100 members at a gathering.

Aaron, sorry to hear that. Looking forward to see your 911, though.

I've returned home and in one piece, now! The knee was split and low and behold, the tendon was ruptured. The pain is worse than the implant surgery. Percocet, 1 to 2 every 4 hours may help, we'll see.

I'm working on a California 911.

Aaron, try not to buy that 911 while on the Percocets. Just trying to be helpful.

Right! You might think you're buying a 911 until the drugs wear off and you discover an AMC Pacer parked in your driveway.

Mus and Rich,

From what I read in Hagerty's mag this month, I'd be a pretty well off to even buy a Pacer or Gremlin, maybe a AMC Javelin!

I'm looking for a large 300+HP air cooled, very late model 911 in a Carrera or Targa suit. A tiptronic 5 speed tranny is a must. BUT, a green on dark brown sold for $40,500 on eBay last night. Doesn't anyone check the "book value" any more?

Unfortunately, the Percocet just isn't doing what it is supposed to do...A ruptured tendon repair above the knee cap is more painful than the total knee replacement. Now they tell me after the surgery!!!

One of the reasons for seeking a tiptronic clutch-less. is that the wife will not ride in the Speedy...wind in the hair and to low on the ground!
the other is the left knee. The drive up and back from the Bavarian helped me make this crazy decision. I couldn't push the clutch to drive Merlot up to the Blue Ridge Parkway on Saturday. So, I took the Rodeo.

Any help from the West is appreciated!

Aaron - if you need 'eyes' to inspect a car in SoCal let me know.

Aaron: get well soon, good sir! Very sorry to learn of your knee issue. Hope you'll still come to Carlisle even if you end up with the '74 Gremlin.

Good call too on Brazil sale of the Lafer. That place is blowing up, economic bubble-wise. Might want to hurry that one up.

HEY WAIT A MINUTE!.....Did I miss some Pics?

"Pam's mom may be joining us at the Biltmore on Sunday. She'll fit right in with this group and she can vouch for Pam's existence."


Wellll?


~WB

Bill---we all know that there is no Pam therefore, no Pam's mom. Get it?

There was general concensus about this at Mountain Madness.

Maybe Pam will post and disabuse us of this notion?

Oh Pam honey----are you out there?

I CANT MAKE IT

The general consensus seemed to be that Pam's "mom" was some lady I hired to try and put this to rest. Apparently my nefarious plot didn't work. You'll all have to live in uncertainty a bit longer, I guess.

Lane--that is a hoot! All in good fun, my friend.

Ok folks. THIS is what gives Pam a SEG. She's the one in front (of course) in the green T-shirt. The others are three of our nieces, the trainee guide (in back) and the trainer.

This is on the stretch of the Chatooga river in GA where they filmed "Deliverance".




Notice the expression on the guide's face below.

Lane tried to explain to us that his "other half" would not take his last name. After all, why would anyone want to try to measure up to Canada's version of Pam Anderson?

I think the guide's expression had to do with the banjo music playing on the river bank!

Dat guide shor du hav a purdy............

Man, there's more balls in that raft than in a bowling alley on league night!

Funny you should say that. The only male onboard is the guide trainer.

Metaphorically, my dear Lane ..... metaphorically. ;-)

As Charles said, metaphorically, I don't have enough to do what Pam is doing! That ride makes the Tail of The Dragon look like the Florida Turnpike.