mcduck,

i just thought this could use a bump to the top to let interested parties know of the date change. i'll be lazy and leave the posting of the specifics up to you. might be able to add a few this way as well.

hopefully the weather will indeed cooperate next weekend.

sean

 

Thanks, bigdaddy... I was actually on the way here to do that myself.

After the current discussion on the General forum, I'm hoping one of the moderators will grab it and make it "stick" over there for this week.

 

350Z Blue Ridge Parkway Drive!

Hey, everyone! We're planning another 350Z drive in Western, NC. The drive will be next weekend and will be to the Blue Ridge Parkway!!!

Here is the text from the flyer I have distributed to the local Nissan dealerships. If you are interested in joining the group, email me so I can add you to the mailing list. My email address is... mcduck@earthlink.net


Here's the flyer info..

350Z Blue Ridge Parkway Drive!!!

Date: Saturday, April 5th
Rally Point: Eastridge Mall parking lot, Gastonia, NC
Rally Time: 9:00am

So…. would you like to join some other 350Z drivers on this road…
<Linn Cove Viaduct pic omitted>

Then add your Z to the line up…

Several 350Z owners in the Charlotte area have already met for some local drives and we would like to see even more participate in our future events.

There is no charge, no club obligations… all that is required is that you (or the person you ride with) bring their 350Z to the event!

Our next drive is an all day event to the Blue Ridge Parkway. We will head from Charlotte to Asheville, where we will stop for lunch before beginning our Parkway drive. From Asheville, we will follow the Parkway up to Boone, taking us over Linn Cove Viaduct (above), near Linville Falls, and around Craggy Gardens (below)!

At the end of the drive, those interested can stop for dinner at Canyons on the Parkway restaurant in Blowing Rock

For more information about this and other events,
Contact Andy Morris at mcduck@earthlink.net.

 

Andy-
I merged the threads together and changed the title to the same one you just had. Hope this is okay.
-Jill

 

Thanks, Jill...

For everyone else, we have had another weather delay. Due to crappy east coast weather, the drive has been changed to next week, Saturday, April 12th. I was reluctant to do this again, but the group voted and by popular consent, we agreed to do this next week.

The good news is that the current long range forecast has no rain showing for Saturday or the two days before or after so this time it should be a definite thing.

 

I just took a major road trip, from Maine to Atlanta and back, to attend the Women's Final Four. After reading of your enthusiasm for the Blue Ridge Parkway, I drove the whole thing from Waynesboro to Cherokee on Saturday (4/5). I started at dawn and there was zero traffic for the first 160 miles, allowing me to really test this car at slightly more than 45 mph. The car handled all those turns really well, and the stock tires actually performed better than I expected.

It was a total blast, and definitely the best part of my trip (especially since my Lady Vols lost). Thanks for the suggestion. Next trip: The tail of the dragon.

 

mcduck,

man, sorry about the poor turn out. that is really disappointing. i REALLY wanted to go, but had to take the Fundamentals of Engineering Exam yesterday. No way around it.

we will all be looking forward to your pictures. i'm sure they are great.

i'm willing to bet the participants will come out of the woodwork for the dragon's tail trip.

on another note...i am thinking about getting in on this new iforged group buy. i saw that you bought some in the first one and still haven't gotten your stuff. how have you liked dealing with them? do you still recommend them? pm me if you wish.

sean

 

Sorry, Sean... no PM behind the firewall...

As for the Tail of the Dragon drivers... well, they should have come out for this drive. Big parts of the Parkway were closed so we hit a bunch of mountain roads. I would say the 20+ mile stretch of Hwy 221 around Grandfather Mtn was likely as much fun as TotD will be.

As for the iForged... I'm still waiting. I have mixed opinions about dealing with them and I have never recommended them. I would not do so until I have the product on my car and am sure it is something I would endorse. In fact... thanks for asking. I'm going to post something on the wheel forum about this...

 

There is no substitute for the Tail... It is the sickest piece of public road in America.

 

After having just gone there this past weekend, I would have to agree. It was the craziest road I have ever been on. So when is this trip to the Dragon planned?

 

Welllll... since the turnout for the drive last weekend was so poor, we really could not discuss the upcoming trips.

My thought was to do a group event to Tail of the Dragon toward the end of August/early September... possibly Labor Day weekend. nothing is set in stone yet...

 

How many people turned out for the Blue Ridge run? When I was at the Dragon, the S2K's and MR2's had big turnouts. But, they have both been out longer too.

 

Just 2 Zs and a Viper. We had a good drive. Like Andy said, that one section of 221 was an excellent run. That damn Viper was just too fast though.

Even though he has a Viper, he is in to the Z. I think he knows more about it that I do. The Viper came all the way from Atlanta to support our run and see a "Bunch" of Zs.

I tried to a post picture of the two Zs. Andy has other pics. I think he is planning an posting them.