Meanwhile, calling to get plugged in on the group thing on Sunday is not how it works. The best I could get was to call tomorrow morning and ask for Shawna (?)
Looking forward to seeing Cory and all of his disciples. Arriving 0 dark 30 on (in time for breakfast) Saturday and staying that night at the Hampton Inn, Brevard. Hope Lane has resolved all issues with da coupe de bleu.........
Update on the Hotel: I called and talked to Shawna (?) and she mentioned that it seemed like we have at least doubled our attendance since last year (
), and had in fact reached the limit of the initially blocked rooms and special pricing (
). But, no worries, she will accommodate (
). And so I have secured the room at the right rates, Wed - Sun. Advice: if you plan to attend and have not secured a reservation, be sure to call the hotel ASAP. If you did call and got a reservation, and now know you will not be able to come (
) also call to inform.
PS: the universe of emoticons available here is really pathetic -- @Theron
PEOPLE OF EARTH!!!! ...and any friendly aliens among our group.
The Tour de Smo' is less than a month away and I have been asked several times recently who is definitely coming. I know that we have more reservations than I initially created the block of rooms for, but I don't have a definite number. If you are planning to come, please let me know ASAP. If you haven't yet made your reservations, you'd better do it quickly.
Arrivee Saturday 9/24 before 8 AM, staying at HI Brevard overnight
TR
I'll keep this post running as more confirmations comes in. So far we have:
- Confirmed
- Me
- Carlos Galarza ( @Carlos G)
- Stan and Jeannie Galat ( @Stan Galat}
- Mike Warjas and Dianne Croxford ( @MikelB)
- Mike Fincher
- Danny and Michelle Piperato ( @DannyP)
- Cory and Jeni Drake (barring issue with house closing is the following week) ( @Jeni Drake)
- Tom Raymond ( @Former Member)
- Expected but not recently confirmed
- Kelly Arnold (C5 Corvette Z06)
- Kelly Frazer ( @El Frazoo)
- Ron and Maddie Mullis ( @Ron Mullis)
- Marty and Sandy Grzynkowicz ( @Marty Grzynkowicz)
- Possibly, based on earlier correspondence, but no recent communications
- Tom Boney ( @Tom Boney)
- Jack and Alice Crosby ( @Jack Crosby)
- Bob and (Ann? Sorry, drawing a blank here) Carley ( @Bob: IM S6)
Did I miss anyone (probably)?
Of COURSE I forgot someone! I left of Fancy Phil!
- Confirmed
- Me
- Carlos Galarza ( @Carlos G)
- Stan and Jeannie Galat ( @Stan Galat}
- Mike Warjas and Dianne Croxford ( @MikelB)
- Mike Fincher
- Danny and Michelle Piperato ( @DannyP)
- Cory and Jeni Drake (barring issue with house closing is the following week) ( @Jeni Drake)
- Tom Raymond ( @Former Member)
- Phil Luebbert ( @550 Phil)
- Expected but not recently confirmed
- Kelly Arnold (C5 Corvette Z06)
- Kelly Frazer ( @El Frazoo)
- Ron and Maddie Mullis ( @Ron Mullis)
- Marty and Sandy Grzynkowicz ( @Marty Grzynkowicz)
- Possibly, based on earlier correspondence, but no recent communications
- Tom Boney ( @Tom Boney)
- Jack and Alice Crosby ( @Jack Crosby)
- Bob and (Ann? Sorry, drawing a blank here) Carley ( @Bob: IM S6)
And Chris MacDonald. Sheesh! I'm gonna give him a complex.
Too late, he's already got a complex. lol
Just remember Chris, Spyder Spyder Spyder....
SpyDER! SpyDER! SpyDER!!!!!!!
@Lane Anderson posted:And Chris MacDonald. Sheesh! I'm gonna give him a complex.
He really knows that you just don't like him. We just can't figure out why?
LOL, just messing with you Lane. It must be your age...
I'll be there.
Fantastic, Tom. Looking forward to seeing you again.
We’ll be there with the Spyder, 997, and the ERV. Cigars, Single Malt, Blue Label, and Peanut Butter Whiskey also.
Anybody mentions the China virus and they will lose access to the above.
Mmmmmmmm.., Mum’s the word!
Hopefully this trend dries up.
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Better bring the car cover. Maybe the tonneau. But I do like those high temps.
Stop.
Be a "Boy Scout".
"Always Prepared"!
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A week from tomorrow, folks! Gonna be a great time!
@Lane Anderson posted:A week from tomorrow, folks! Gonna be a great time!
I'll admit I was concerned, because we're not trailering, and driving with the top up in a thunderstorm is less than ideal (last year's trip to Charleston/Savannah is seared in my memory). Because I love this event so very much, I've been watching the weather all summer. I'm not joking.
We're just coming into the window with the 10 day forecast, and everything could change because "mountains" - but the weather looks fantastic right now. I'm hoping it holds.
For anybody still on the fence - this is the one to come to.
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It looks like you all are going to have a great time. I will be just up the road in Knoxville visiting my daughter then off to Columbia SC to see my son.
@Lane Anderson I will need to pick your brain on Charleston/Mount Pleasant area. We will be spending the week of Thanksgiving in the south as opposed to flying the kids home for the weekend.
Hope y'all have a great time.
Maybe next year...
@Joe Fortino posted:It looks like you all are going to have a great time. I will be just up the road in Knoxville visiting my daughter then off to Columbia SC to see my son.
@Lane Anderson I will need to pick your brain on Charleston/Mount Pleasant area. We will be spending the week of Thanksgiving in the south as opposed to flying the kids home for the weekend.
Gimme a call, @Joe Fortino. Glad to help.
Weather IS looking great, but this IS the mountains. I got out briefly today and it was REAL nice.
Hopefully my links work.
So on Thursday I was thinking of this: Deliverance before lunch Deliverance after lunch. I will be leading at a quickish pace. More can be had if necessary, route wise.
If these links can be down loaded to a device that can also be your navigation, that would be highly recommended. We lost some peeps on the first run, and it was a smallish group with supplied maps. Sorry in advance, it's not personal, it's just your turn.
Friday is the Rattler. I will lead to a point then Stan and or Danny will lead with a fervor to Hot Springs where we'll more than likely have lunch at the same place as last year, The Iron Horse Station. Rattler to lunch
Saturday is open. I was thinking we'd not so ferociously drive up 276 up and over, grab a shake at a soda shop at 215 and 276. Then we could go up 215, maybe some Parkway and come on down and see if Quixote Mexican Restaurant in Brevard can seat all of us for lunch.
I've got a few ideas cooking for dinner reservations. Friday night, almost for sure, will be at Wild Morel in town at 6 for 20ish peeps. Everyone else that I've talked to almost hung up the phone when I mentioned 20 people. We can try the Square Root for Thursday night, but they don't take reservations. I have a few more calls to make.
Carlos: You da man! All sounds great!
Wow! Have a ball out there and be careful after lunch!
Ya'll are gonna have some company next weekend: Carolinas Audi Club fall Treffen, based out of Little Switzerland; English Car Show in Mill Valley, NC; WV Corvette and Camaro Club running the dragon, along with all the usual suspects.
Plus I am told Cherahola Skyway has construction going on between US 129 & 321.
Last, and by far certainly least, yours truly will arrive the Hampton Inn, Brevard by 8 AM on Saturday to tag along. No more BIGBIRD, this one sez "GIZENDE"
@Carlos G - you sir, are (and always will be) the man.
@Carlos G, what a great set of events! Hope you all have fun and good weather!
My son will also be driving his 280 Z from the Newport News area for the event. He's currently installing a 5 speed, and an upgraded EFI.
@550 Phil Where are you coming from, the coast or the mountains and are you bringing the Spyder?
Thanks, Carlos, for doing all this legwork. I reiterate that you are, in fact, THE MAN!
Carlos. I keep my car in Charlottesville. Otherwise I could have met up with your son. I’ll spend most of my time on my least favorite road, 81. I’ll probably leave pretty early on Wednesday morning to miss the traffic. So if anyone wants to venture out Wednesday afternoon I’ll be there. I’m going to break away at lunch time on Saturday to head back to Charlottesville. Then home to Norfolk on Sunday. Weather is looking hotter. So bring your shorts and sunscreen.
Yes Carlos. I’ll have the Spyder. It’s fresh out of a car show. So it will be “sparkling “. 🤩
Me too, Phil. Just minor bugs(the kind that go splat!) to remove after getting back from LRP Labor Day weekend. Getting a routine blood draw this morning. She's running great! 
We should be there fairly early on Wednesday as well. Looking at Galax, Rocky Mount, Fancy Gap area. There's even a town called Meadows of Dan! And Piper's Gap. Funny town names down there.
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So dinner Friday night is at Wild Morel. https://www.wildmorelrestaurant.com/ @ 6pm.
It'll be for up to 20 people, pretty tight, in our own room. The menu will be limited. Soup and salad, two choices for an entree. I told her a fish and a red meat and dessert for $55 per head before drinks and tip.
We still have time to change the entrees, so speak up.
The other nights? Well, we'll see.
My brother and I will be at the hotel somewhere around 1p Wednesday but I am fairly certain he isn't bringing either of his two cars. I have a buddy that lives in Brevard and I will probably disappear for a bit Wednesday afternoon.
I'm stopping in Christiansburg Tuesday night and a stop at El Bronco for the emergency rest stop special.
Really looking forward to the trip and so I get my harrumph in, thanks Carlos!!
We're now fully in the window for the 10 day. Looks very, very good so far.
As far as cleanup, I've already done that once this year (in May), so I think we're good. No need to get carried away before driving 11 hrs through the bugs.
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We're going to miss the ride to the restaurant in the limo, Stan, but I'm sure we'll make do.