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Mountain "Spring Fling"

Lane AndersonLane AndersonMt. Pleasant, SC Supporting Member
I covered over 1400km in the last three days when Mike Lempert and I went up to Lake Lure for a bit of a Spring Fling in the mountains. Get your minds out of the gutter, guys, this involved many hours of driving some of the most incredible roads on the planet.

The roads were unbelievable. We (Mike, Tom Raymond, Aaron White, and I) got a serious workout on some of the roads. There were a few curves that Mike wasn't sure his Healey ('56 100) could actually make simply because they were sharp enough to be at the limits of his turning circle. Many stretches were as twisty as the Dragon, but without the speed limit. We all got workouts, but Mike got the toughest one with that heavy Healey steering. There were many times that you never kept the wheel still for minutes at a time. I'm not sure they're suitable for the fall run, because they'll be crowded with leaf-peepers, but this was incredible. I'll post pics this evening. Unfortunately the most awesome shot all of us had ever seen escaped capture because we didn't have our cameras with us. This was on the way to dinner Friday night when Aaron took us up to a spot in the surrounding mountains near Lake Lure. It was at sunset, and there was a low cloud ceiling and a lot of humidity in the air. The sun was aimed right down this valley between two ridges, and the light had this once-in-a-lifetime, Ansel Adams quality that took our breath away. We went back on Saturday evening, and got some nice shots, but nothing anywhere close to what there had been the night before. Tom, who makes his (ample) living with photography, said that was a once in a lifetime sunset. Ah well...

We covered much of western NC from Lake Lure up to Blowing Rock, where we had lunch. At one point we were at ~4500 feet in altitude, and it got a bit chilly, but we all kept our tops down. One of the most striking spots was on the Blue Ridge Parkway near the famous Linn Cove Viaduct, which is the subject of many Blue Ridge photos. We also stopped in an apple orchard and took quite a few pictures. Saturday was just a wonderful Speedster day.

Thanks to Mike for being an excellent caravan buddy. Thanks to Aaron for being an excellent host. And thanks to Tom for being excellent company - even if I didn't get the chance to drive his '08 Porsche Carrera 4 Cabriolet ;-).

Formerly 2006 Beck Speedster (Carlisle build car), 1964 Beck Super Coupe

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Lane AndersonLane AndersonMt. Pleasant, SC Supporting Member
I covered over 1400km in the last three days when Mike Lempert and I went up to Lake Lure for a bit of a Spring Fling in the mountains. Get your minds out of the gutter, guys, this involved many hours of driving some of the most incredible roads on the planet.

The roads were unbelievable. We (Mike, Tom Raymond, Aaron White, and I) got a serious workout on some of the roads. There were a few curves that Mike wasn't sure his Healey ('56 100) could actually make simply because they were sharp enough to be at the limits of his turning circle. Many stretches were as twisty as the Dragon, but without the speed limit. We all got workouts, but Mike got the toughest one with that heavy Healey steering. There were many times that you never kept the wheel still for minutes at a time. I'm not sure they're suitable for the fall run, because they'll be crowded with leaf-peepers, but this was incredible. I'll post pics this evening. Unfortunately the most awesome shot all of us had ever seen escaped capture because we didn't have our cameras with us. This was on the way to dinner Friday night when Aaron took us up to a spot in the surrounding mountains near Lake Lure. It was at sunset, and there was a low cloud ceiling and a lot of humidity in the air. The sun was aimed right down this valley between two ridges, and the light had this once-in-a-lifetime, Ansel Adams quality that took our breath away. We went back on Saturday evening, and got some nice shots, but nothing anywhere close to what there had been the night before. Tom, who makes his (ample) living with photography, said that was a once in a lifetime sunset. Ah well...

We covered much of western NC from Lake Lure up to Blowing Rock, where we had lunch. At one point we were at ~4500 feet in altitude, and it got a bit chilly, but we all kept our tops down. One of the most striking spots was on the Blue Ridge Parkway near the famous Linn Cove Viaduct, which is the subject of many Blue Ridge photos. We also stopped in an apple orchard and took quite a few pictures. Saturday was just a wonderful Speedster day.

Thanks to Mike for being an excellent caravan buddy. Thanks to Aaron for being an excellent host. And thanks to Tom for being excellent company - even if I didn't get the chance to drive his '08 Porsche Carrera 4 Cabriolet ;-).
IfrinnIfrinn
Boy, do these guys make me feel like I really slighted'em. :~) I was a wee bit under the weather with some kind of allergy infection...thus the leather jacket. Also, I didn't want to miss out the conversations, jokes, lies and this time Tullamore Dew!

Tom, Lane and the Healy got a nice gentle workout here in the mountains. The big compliant...passengers would be "throwin-up"!!! I don't understand why? 180 degree hairpins and of course horseshoes, narrow bridges, water side and in some areas no guard rails. .

The group got a feel for a real mountain road know as Buck Creek Gap road. Micaville to Marion, NC.

Dusty knows that I keep my routes to myself...until it's to late. Best to know heel-toe braking and don't miss a down shift or an up shift.

Sorry Guys, I couldn't supply G-suits. The route that is mentioned above is tremendously more challenging that the "The Tail of the Dragon". Elevation changes and zero visibility in some turns really test your driving skills and your machine.

You might need a seat something like this to make sure things are held inplace!


Ifrinn, The....

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IfrinnIfrinn
OK, Gents

You left 2 days too soon!! We could've done the route with SNOW. Today, Tuesday, the Good Lord decided to let the White Stuff come on down. Hope the driveway doesn't ice over.

The photos that Lane shot with the sun set is looking North toward Asheville. That is the Hickory Nut Gorge. It appears to be a rift valley and runs from Asheville to Mill Spring. The stream that transits its way down through the valley is the Rocky Broad River.
FM Former Member
Lane did a good job of keeping the African contingent in pictures on the old Gub'ment e-mail ... but then decided to forward a bunch of some red Tub with red wheels.
I can't see PhotoBucket from here.
Anybody else want to post pictures up on the old SOC, like we USED to do?
(Okay, I'm being selfish. I'm in Djibouti, for crying out loud! I'm lucky to see a Toyota Hilux!)

http://www.ridelust.com/wp-content/uploads/top_gear_toyota_hilux.jpg
IfrinnIfrinn
OK, Gents and Lassies,

What Tom and Lane viewed was a planned show that I scheduled for just for them. They were looking at a planned artist painting of the Hickory Nut Gorge with Pecker Peak in the foreground and John Kincaid late afternoon lighting similar to the Scotland "Glooming".

The roads that were driven are more difficult than the "Dragon". Always elevation changes, blind hair pin and horse shoe curves, no guard rails and a stream flowing beside the course. We didn't need radios because the music of "Dueling Banjos" accompanied the Speedsters(oops,forgot the Healy) all along the way! Note that passengers would have needed a button or buttons on their arse to stay in their seats and a barf bag, in order to protect the interiors.

Tours/drives such as this can be scheduled and reserved with Aaron via Linne `Ardan. Guide services are free as long as one screams "like a stuck pig"
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