N GA spring drive/mountain tour!

[the nsxnut]

For Atlanta area owners/members, we are way overdue to gather for a rewarding country drive... Spring in N Ga is perfect, before the leaves come in, you get great long vistas, and you can see around the corners in the twisty bits! Plus, there is not as much traffic as in the fall. We have a range of dates to choose from; everyone who's interested please reply and indicate a first and second choice, and we'll use the date that is most popular:

Fri, 4/9
Sun, 4/11 (easter...)
Sat, 4/17
Sun, 4/18
Sat, 4/24
Sun, 4/25

I have researched a route that includes a healthy dose of tight twisties on some remote roads (light traffic, low exposure) that is gauranteed to excite! Interspersed with some open highway cruising to relax. Total route distance about 200 miles, with a lunch stop in southern N. CA. With driving, lunch, sightseeing, the whole route is estimated to take about 7hrs, and we could end up back in metro Atl for dinner.

This will be an official NSXCA sanctioned activity, and current dues-paying members will have lunch paid for! Non-members are also welcome, but you will have to accept a membership application!

please post on your choice of dates.

We would also welcome owners in NC and eastern TN to rendezvous...

 

[bangbang001]

I'm in on any Saturday

94 x

 

[DONYMO]

MAP

 

[DONYMO]

I vote for April 11, 17 or 18

 

[mojo]

Either

Sat, 4/24
Sun, 4/25

work best for me...

 

[FinallyNSXing]

any of the Weekend days. Not friday.

I can't wait!!

 

[RacerX-21]

Sounds like Friday is out.

If the decision is this Easter Sunday, then call me on my cell… I will still be in Phoenix, and would want to give Denise the plan.

 

[FinallyNSXing]

sounds good. I will call you one the cell. Easter Sunday sounds fun.

 

[EIFFEL]

I prefer april 17 or 18.

 

[FinallyNSXing]

Looks like it is going to rain or at least be overcast this weekend. Maybe we should wait until the 17th????

 

[RacerX-21]

Easter is out for me

 

[the nsxnut]

UPDATE

Responses here and offline are leaning toward Sunday, April 18th, for this activity. Does this work? Don't want to leave Mojo out, how about it CH?

 

[DONYMO]

Awesome! I'm in

 

[FinallyNSXing]

Sounds good. I will plan on the 18th (Sunday). I will let you know when I have a definite answer.

See you all there.

Any idea as to how many of us there are??

 

[the nsxnut]

At this time (9 days away) there are at least 8 cars, with more to come...

 

[jlporternsx]

Sounds like fun to me. It has been a long time since the NSXCA has done a drive that I have been aware of. The 4/18 date works for me. I can probably get another NSX driver to come along as well. - JP

 

[the nsxnut]

Confirming that the date for this spring drive/mountain tour/club lunch will be Sunday, 18th. Take a look at the route map above... we will rendezvous at the end of 400/junction with hwy 60, at 9:30am and take off from there. Complete details will get posted later this week.

 

[EIFFEL]

Mark, do you mean at North Georgia Premium Outlet? If not, would this be a more recognizable place for everyone?

 

[the nsxnut]

Good idea. For those coming from the I-85/985 east side, it is a small inconvenience, but the Outlet Mall could also be a good starting place. It is a useful landmark.

 

[Barn Man]

Hey Mark, all,

Make sure and let me know where you guys will be around 11 or so. I will meet you guys before lunch. Creighton is gonna come up also, so that makes 2 more cars.
Have a great week all, look forward to seeing you.

Barn

 

[the nsxnut]

In 4 days, this Sunday, 4/18/04, we will gather and enjoy a day on the road with our cars.

the weather outlook is excellent, clear blue skies, sunshine, dry.

Here is the program; subject to change based on user input and stops for no apparent reason...

Atlanta area owners, rendezvous at the N GA Premium outlet mall, west side of the junction of 400 and hwy 53, at 9:15am, SE corner of the parking lot (nearest the first entrance). This is about 30 min N of 285; plan accordingly. We will meet and greet, have a little trip orientation, and roll at 9:30. If you haven't made it to the rendezvous by then, you will have to catch up! Before you arrive: eat breakfast, FILL YOUR TANK. It is important that we maintain a schedule, as other owners will join us en route throughout the day from other parts of the region...

We will head out from there, cruising to the end of 400, and go west on hwy60, past Dahlonega, where it begins to wind a little towards Stonepile gap, then north on 60 towards Suches, then east on 180 toward Wolf Pen gap, now it gets really windy, pass a few mountain villages, enjoy the twisting, cambered curves and great mountain views, past Lake Winfield Scott, then Vogel state Park. Now going north on hwy 19/129, to Blairsville. Continuing up 19/129, peaceful cruising, past Nottely Lake, then into N. Carolina, at about the 2 hour mark. Next, junction with hwy 64 in NC, where some others from Tenn will meet us and join, at about12:15-12:25. Now, continue NE on 19 to Andrews for the lunch stop. This will be about 1:00pm. Other enthusiasts from Tenn will join us here also.

LUNCH IS PAID FOR, FOR CURRENT NSXCA MEMBERS.
Non-members will also have the opportunity to sign up and join on Sunday. Pay your dues on Sunday, and your lunch is also covered.

Continuing after lunch, about 2pm, going north on 19, past Topton and Red Marble gap, then go east onto the Wayah road, winding severely into the hills of NC, past another lake, climbing and descending, twisting downhill into Franklin. Now, from Franklin, start the leg home to Atlanta, the Tenn crowd may have to bail to return to their side of the mountains. South on 441, a continuous cruise to 985 north of Gainesville, then on south to Atlanta on interstate. Please do not exceed the posted speed limit (HA!). This is a general outline to give an idea of time and place. We will have some flexibility and invite suggestions on stops, etc...

Useful tips:
If you have club radios (2-way VHF 455.65 mhz), bring them. If you have FRS style household radios, bring them, use channel 2.
Start with a full fuel tank and an empty bladder! The entire route is about 250 miles, you should be able to make it on 1 full tank. Normal road courtesy will apply! Some desolate sections may invite spirited driving, others will be thru small towns with homes on the roadside, prudence prevails. You are on your own if you get pulled over! Bring cameras. Bring common sense. Bring smiles.

My cell: 770.378.1694 will be 'home base', but will not have coverage in all the mountain regions...


We should be back in the metro area by 5pm. I don't have a plan yet, but maybe a dinner finale? Suggestions...?

 

[RacerX-21]

Mark, can you charge a radio for me? All of mine are on the rig.

 

[rakster]

Looking forward to a great drive on a great day!

 

[the nsxnut]

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!

Thanks and congratulations to all who participated in this drive, it turned out to be top notch. 13 cars total, 20 people, enjoyed a fabulous circuitous tour of the southern Appalachians. Mountain streams, lakes and waterfalls, ascents and descents, twisting double-hairpins, cambered esses, hardwoods, rhododendron, and mountain laurel. Enough lock-to-lock twisties to make you tired!

The southeast region of the NSXCA funded lunch for current members, and several more also joined the club as a result of the get-to-gether!

Recognition to Barn-man and comrade Creighton, who treked over 400 miles to join the fun!

Let's look forward to the next time...

 

[DONYMO]

Pictures and thanks

Thanks to Mark for a helluva job setting this up.
What a blast.
I enjoyed meeting all of you.

Here are the pictures from the day