Anyone from MR planning on attending this year's Gap rally?
Depending on when my surgery is scheduled, I should be good to go.
I need to find a room to crash in, or a place to pitch my tent. :teehee:
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Anyone from MR planning on attending this year's Gap rally?
Depending on when my surgery is scheduled, I should be good to go.
I need to find a room to crash in, or a place to pitch my tent. :teehee:
It's a maybe. Might want to go when it's less crowded.
yeah, I definitely think it would be cool to see that many Miatas. Not sure that I'd want to drive with that many.
Agreed.
Oh, it's easy to avoid driving the dragon with a bunch of Miatas during M@TG. Just run it while most everyone is distracted by other activities and drives. Regardless of when ya go, it's tricky to get a clean run. You'll run into people that know to pull over for faster traffic and then those people that are oblivious to what's behind them... or stubborn Harley riders.
There's also all the other roads in the area.
I plan to go, but don't have anything figured out yet. It was sort of a last minute thing last year. Been trying to find time to get back since I left.
http://i.imgur.com/9pD6NOu.jpg
I don't live entirely too far from the dragon and I've only been once and never been for Miatas at the gap. This just happens to fall on my sisters birthday so I won't be there! :(
too far, maybe when the kiddos are older I can roll out there and meet some of you guys.
If I can get my engine together by then, I'd like to be there.
I do my Gap runs either early in the morning, or during the dam photo. The dam photo attracts everyone of the people just there to get their picture taken and buy a shirt.
I live close enough, and have set it as a possible due date for my basic improvements. However, It's in the middle of a blackout period for my office (tax deadline) so I'm not sure if I will be able to swing it.
Also, checked on the MATG forum and it seems its pretty full already lodging wise.
Excited by the possibility to meet friends though!
I have been to the Dragon but have never done MATG, our local Miata Club has a group going and we have signed up for it so I plan on driving the Rooster and we will be there.
Sweet. If I go, I'm taking a tent and finding somewhere out of the way to pitch it
I'll be there again for either the 4th or 5th year in a row.
Since I have not done the MATG is there a certain place and time that folks from this forum are going to meet at this years MATG?
Not this year.
Just trying to make plans, our club is going and they have some side trips in the works.Quote:
Originally Posted by kung fu jesus
The majority of the gatherings center out of the Fontana Village. Usually the cars are recognizable, the restaurant at the center is the normal rally point. I may go in the autumn.
A friend of mine that has to work during MATG wants to go later in the fall also, let me know when you plan on going, we might be able to meet up.Quote:
Originally Posted by kung fu jesus
Sure!
I think late October is probably the best time to go. The weather is still mild, the trees are in full color and the crowds are light.
I'll be there. We've got a cabin again this year (mostly people from CR, idk if they're on here) but everyone is cool.
Josh Hankins has a site dedicated to M@TG. It is gapmiatas.com. It is a mix of people, but scheduled drives are posted, tips, people looking for others to share costs on cabins, etc. You can also sometimes find others from your area to caravan to Deal's Gap. Josh is good people.
I usually try to link up with Marcus Luttrell. He usually takes a group on a spirited drive or two. More spirited than most consider to be. He's a good driver and knows the area really well. I would also look up MR.n member JamieH. He and Zach can run a great drive, and they are genuinely fun to hang around.
The key is to have fun, but know your limits. Don't be afraid to break off a run if their limits are higher than your comfort zone. :)
Looking like I, nor Zach, will be able to make it this year. Real bummer too. Was really looking forward to making it back this year.
Wow! Well, I am bummed I can't go, and it's maybe a two hour drive from my new location, most of that being in the mountains:)
I'm skipping out. Don't need to be deep in the woods while I'm still on the mend
Well crap, there's another fellow that I will not get to meet in person.Quote:
Originally Posted by Demon I Am
Prep for MATG: Had the local garage to change oil and do a check-up, add an extra power port & they cleaned throttle body. I have cleaned & vac interior, treated leather seats and steering wheel. Still to do: check air in tires, wash car, charge camera and CB radios, pack clothes and load up. Can't wait to hit the road in search of that rascally Dragon. Anyone else on here going besides Moor and Andy? I know that Demon is out- going back into hospital, also out is Phat, KFJ, JamieH, Zach, and my possible cousin theothersawyer.
Phat and Jamie h are out?
I am. It sucks.
But why?
I'm in. Will be loading the truck and trailer full of parts and shirts and heading out Thursday morning
Shirts, what kind?Quote:
Originally Posted by Unk577
From my favorite parts developer/supplier.
The parts are more impressive than the shirts though, just sayin
Is it Adam?
Que?
Almost done packing, still need to wash the car but it is raining this morning. Meeting up with 11 cars from the local Miata Club early tomorrow morning at Cracker Barrel in Murfreesboro TN and taking nothing but backroads to Robbinsville. Really ready for some road time.
Well I made it back home in one piece, spent most of Friday at Fontana Village showing Rooster and talking to people about the car and it's history, several folks came by that knew what the car was, some follow both the MR and CR forums and quite a few did not know about the car but asked a lot of questions. At times I wandered around and looked at the other cars and took a lot of pix, will post later when I get them sorted and edited somewhat. Met a lot of nice people with sharp cars. On Sat. we spent the day running the Cherohala Skyway, stopped at Bald River Falls ( I think that's the name), the roads of Six Gap North GA. and Anna Ruby Falls just outside Helen GA. and back to Robbinsville. Sunday morning we packed up and before running the Dragon we stopped at Killboys to pick up last minute shirts, stickers and or patches. We then started out to run the Dragon one last time, we had a mostly clean run, Steve was bringing up the rear and had a motorcycle following a car in front of him and about a mile from the end the van brakes in a straight section then speeds up and a half grown bear cub then runs out in front of the biker, they miss hitting him but the biker pulls off on the shoulder, probably shook him up some. Anyway we had a good time at MATG XIX. While we were up there we kept hearing about an NC going off the road, well US129 Photos caught it on film, here is the link: http://xtremesportsphotography.photo...004&po=0&pc=16
I've seen bears run across the Dragon a couple of times. As for the NC, there's always one. Don't be it.
Looks like a temp tag on the NC. Ouch.
Someone said he locked up all 4 wheels and went off the curve.
Judging by the looks of his left fender, this wasn't his first time crashing that car
I know how that can happen, it isn't that uncommon. You start getting into the rhythm of the curves, heading downhill, then there is a decreasing radius turn. You are carrying too much momentum when you initiate the corner, then the car begins to under steer. Hitting the brakes only makes it worse and over you go. Add some debris or bravado from spotting the photographers and it compounds the issue.
Someone said they think he was looking at & waving to the camera and lost control.
I know Daryl (killboy) will not station at sections that are more dangerous. Too many accidents happen when people showboat for the camera.
Looking forward to any and all pics and videos from the event.
I damn near killed myself on a midnight run about 8 years ago down there, managed to not wreck the car, but it certainly scared me and hurt my ego a bit. Don't try to chase the road race guys in a 300hp turbo Miata, it won't end well!
:bow: A wise man knows his limitations. :bow:Quote:
Originally Posted by Airbrush1
I do have some pix to post but need to edit and sort them, will work on it later today.Quote:
Originally Posted by JamieH
That's pretty scary if you're a passenger or behind the wheel or coming the other direction when he crosses the center line. At least where he went off it wasn't as bad as it could have been. I've seen much worse. Thankfully there's no reports of serious injuries, just bruised car and ego.Quote:
Originally Posted by TNRooster3
US129 is very much a momentum and rhythm road. And it's very easy to overcook a turn if you don't know the road well and it's easy to assume that because the Miata in front of you made it through that you will, too. I've followed some very smooth and fast drivers on lesser equipment than me and I couldn't keep up (boston813 and Blake? from BTDT Racing to name a few). It's best to always leave some grip in reserve and not drive 10/10ths on a public road. Just a few years ago all I wanted to do at MATG was drive, drive, drive and do it fast whether day or night. I had lots of fun. But slow traffic and all the crashes have put a damper on that excitement. Now that I'm older and wiser all I'd want to do is socialize and drink and hang out to talk shop. I find the roads more fun to drive in early-mid November after tourist season.Quote:
Originally Posted by kung fu jesus
Yep, a good friend of mine will not do MATG and waits until an off season time to do the roads around Deals Gap, I followed him up here during one of those times last year and was my 1st time on the Dragon.
^ that X elevntytrillion. I think the *best* drives I have had out there are taking a map (yes the paper thingy), and a general direction, and go drive to a town or attraction. That is to say, go explore, get lost, find a new route. You're never too far from a town or help out there, just keep your tank full and find somewhere to drive to. It's the larger organized drives that really kinda suck. They are slow, cumbersome, and you spend the drive looking at the same car from behind.Quote:
Originally Posted by freedomgli
My wife and I went out there last year the week before Independence Day. We drove her station wagon. Found Bald River Falls, then we decided to see how far back that road goes. After about 45 minutes, it turns into a two-track with some steep slope near the edge of it. Bad idea? Maybe, but it was sure fun to find out. :) I ended up making a 9 point u-turn to make out way back, we were DEEP in the forest. Now we know what's back there, like semi-rural camp sites, river access, untouched forest. We still talk about it, and we've been out there many, many times but never there. Now we sort of want to eventually get a 4x4 and try more exploring like that. Maybe tow the Miata out there with it. :)
I am looking at doing a September/October trip out there. It really would be nice to bring the NB out there.
Steven, are those areas open for people to drive off road?
I hear a dual sport bike is the best way to really explore the area. But I don't know all the rules governing where you can legally ride off-road.
I don't know, I watch for signs prohibiting areas that are inaccessible.
Autumn, mid-late October, is my favorite time to be around there. It can be eye-opening though. Some areas you might carelessly fling your car through have some dropoffs that are otherwise masked by foliage in the summer. In the autumn, as the leaves drop you see those drop offs and slopes. It gives you a moment of pause at times. :)
The Dragon is the kind of road that the first time around you will tell yourself you are just going to take it easy, learn it a bit, try to get used to what it offers. Thing is, before you know it, in a matter of minutes you are likely to find yourself pushing harder than you intended to. And you don't even realize it until you are either pulling away from your group, or on the ass of some Harley.
It's an intoxicating and addicting road once you get going at a good pace.
Steven is right about the surrounding area. Last year he took a couple of us around some B roads that none of us would have known about without him. Plus, we went to a great bbq joint, the name of which escapes me at the moment, but it was well worth the drive last year.
Shared by a local guy earlier today...
http://mazdaroadster.net/attachment....id=14653&stc=1
ugh, always an idiot
Wow. Just wow.
The only close calls I've had were on the Dragon, 28, and Cherohala. Mostly the Dragon. I might run it once or twice, but BTDT, so I don't like idling down the length of the road if I get stuck behind a Hog. Robbinsville is ledd than 3 hours from me and 75% is mountain driving. (Yissssssssss!) The drive up from ATL is pretty cool.
Ok here are some pix I took Friday at Fontana MATG XIX:
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c2...psmkl3cefa.jpg
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c2...psjp3pfpq3.jpghttp://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c2...psxmceccch.jpghttp://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c2...pselwjykla.jpghttp://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c2...psdrpiyb6s.jpghttp://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c2...psrlcxqkrl.jpghttp://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c2...psxg5ndper.jpg
V8 Roadsters was set up across from where I parked the Rooster early Friday morning to show and meet folks:
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c2...pstguzboqe.jpghttp://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c2...psxjsymjqn.jpghttp://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c2...ps69sjqb1s.jpghttp://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c2...psdfx7dy6g.jpghttp://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c2...psfb3xfrym.jpg
My camera had a SD card that was messed up so some of the photos were lost so I found some on the MATG page on Flickr and are mixed in with some that I took:
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c2...pskdszo7ba.jpghttp://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c2...psjjb1qfsv.jpghttp://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c2...ps4lzycil4.jpghttp://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c2...psopdb3b2h.jpghttp://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c2...ps3p1yslyv.jpghttp://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c2...psiokyvn9x.jpghttp://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c2...psoucnucg6.jpg
Venders and folks looking at cars:
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c2...psqwyd2u9y.jpghttp://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c2...psmavrffxo.jpghttp://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c2...pskldqv4rq.jpghttp://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c2...ps3armoixc.jpg
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c2...psy0ah4cs4.jpg
Somebody even caught me wandering around and yes I am wearing the NEW Mazda Roadster T-shirt and Phat you could have sold a bunch of these, a lot of folks asked where I got it!:mrgreen:
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c2...psz936saxt.jpg
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c2...pscdnwmgxt.jpg
The tires on that 5.0L car are killing me. I sometimes feel like such a tire snob even though I only run the BFG Comp 2s, but come on, that 5.0L needs something far more serious.
Also, it was mostly Harleys crossing the double yellow when I was there last year. Really, Harleys nearly ruin that road. I'd ban them like semis.
While I was at Fontana a fellow pulls in driving a 2016 ND and a mob surrounds him and the car, you'd have thought Elvis had shown up or something. I try to get close and after a few minutes finally get to see the car but no luck on taking any pix, too many folks crowded around it. After hours of looking at cars and showing Rooster to people I left to get some late lunch and took in some road time and wound up at Killboy's, wanted to pick up some patches for my jacket and stickers since I have done the Devil's Triangle and the Diamondback and when I came outside guess what was pulling into the lot and no miata people notice it:
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c2...psmhf3rkzf.jpghttp://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c2...psisxdcxug.jpghttp://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c2...pshwv701tj.jpghttp://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c2...psdxcd7xm8.jpghttp://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c2...pssywuwdqp.jpghttp://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c2...pszmacqtd0.jpg
Friday afternoon after being at Fontana most of the day I go back to my hotel and not much going on and my fellow club members have not got back from their day of running roads around Maggie Valley, Blue Ridge Pkwy and Cherokee. I take a break in my room and cool off for a bit. Later on I come outside to chill with and meet other miata owners staying there and a couple of my fellow members come back and while we are standing there Anthony points toward the street and says OOHH !! OHH!!, Candace turns and sees it to and says a 2016!! a 2016!! Its the same guy that I had seen twice that day and say "aaahh so what seen it already" they look at me like I'm crazy and I tell them see what you miss when you leave for the day- HA HA:mrgreen: Anyway the ND pulls into the Hotel it turns out they are staying there. So I get more pix after everyone gets thru looking at the car. Rooster the 1st gen meets the new 4th gen:
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c2...psxxxfry99.jpg
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c2...psqgaxwnry.jpg
I like the tri-color interior palate.