High Tach Motorsports (www.hightach.com) is celebrating its 5th year as an organization, and 4th annual mountain cruise. At first it was a call upon racing and car enthusiasts, but now its grown into an annual meeting of corner carving enthusiasts to look at cars, talk about cars, and of course drive their cars though the beautiful and demanding Smokey Mountains for a very rewarding day off.

Highlighting this year's cruise is aerial footage & photography from a helicopter for the vast majority of the caravan through the Blue Ridge Parkway. Adding to the footage will be stratigically placed camera mounts (pictured below) on participating cars and also other volunteers placed further down the road for fly-bys. During the event we will scope around to look at all the cars, talk to the drivers and so-forth. The finished full-length video will be $15, but of course a 4-5min internet video will be hosted on hightach.com for all to see


(ok so when is this happening)
When:
July 10th, meet @ 9am, depart at 10:20am sharp!
Where:

Western North Carolina
Cherokee Fun Park parking lot at entrance of Cherokee Indian Reservation
enter this address for personalized directions:
1693 Tsali Manor Dr.
Cherokee, NC
The parking lot is HUGE, you'd have to suffer from severe tunnel vision to not see

As stated we will depart from the meeting spot @ 10:20am, and head north 1m to the Blue Ridge Parkway for the official cruise. The city will escort us out so we will be able to remain in order. From there you will be surrounded by 100's of sportscars while enjoying the beautiful Blue Ridge Parkway, and of course check out the helicopter that will take your mugshot.

After ~2hrs of crusing the parkway, we will end the official cruise at a picnic area shortly after the parkway intersects Hwy 276 that hosts 100+ grills which you can pull your car up to and grill some hotdogs and hamburgers. We love to drink as much as you do, but please don't bring any alcoholic beverages to the cruise.

What we like to call the "unofficial" cruise is after that. People will then pick and choose their "wingmen" and maps will be givin out to participants that notes key roads in the area. Roads of interests from the picnic area are 151, 276, and 215. Play at your own risk (o and make sure your brakes are bled ).

Well that's it!! Hope you can make it, this year is sure to be a trip to rememeber
Cherokee Hotels:
http://www.discovercherokeenc.com/_lodgin/aalodgin.htm

Past Mtn Cruise pics:
2003


2002


2001


drink red bull, watch Formula 1
post comments or questions if you have any

 

I heard this is a great event. I plan to be there!

 

Last year hosted about 4-5 350Zs. I'm a Z owner myself, but i'll be taking my subaru instead With the response I've gotten so far, i seriously wouldnt be surprised if 200 cars attend the event.

 

We're going to be doing some driver interviews and car profiles for the video... we'll have our hands full by simply not asking beforehand, but any volunteers?

show cars need not apply

 

Expect at least 1 SC'ed 350Z this year! Springs and Sways should be on by the time of this event, too. Catch me if you can!!!

 

sounds like you have one helluva car, mind if we choose you as one of the few for the car/driver interviews? It would involve you spending the next half of the day with us getting camera angles and commentary.

 

Sure... I'm up for that. I have only one caveat... my appearance is weather dependant. I'm not a big fan of wet road driving and with the amount of power I'm now putting down it is a bit much to drive on a slippery road. Of course, I'm talking serious rain here... an afternoon shower will not keep me away!

Barring a monsoon that weekend, though, I'll be there. Do you need any initial info from me? I can email you my cell number and general information on what's been done to me car. Or do you want to wait and get that when we're in the mountains?

 

Good to hear, i'm trying to get everyones emails of who is going to be doing the interviews. If you can email me at SonicZoom7@hotmail.com i'll get things in motion

 

bump...

anyone else going to attend?

I'm heading up Friday night. Just wondering if I'll see other 350Zs there. I think a lot of guys/gals attending are staying at the Stony Creek Motel in Maggie Valley on Friday night.

 

it will be a game time decision for me, mainly because i am going to be out of town from the 30th to the 6th, and i was just up at VIR weekend before last. it might be hard to convince the powers that be that i need to spend another weekend out of town with my car. hopefully i'll see you there. should be a blast. if i'm not there, have a great time.

sean

(andy...i need a ride one of these days)

 

I'll swing up if my Exhaust Manifold / Turbo leaks are fixed by then (should be fixed and tuned to 10 PSI by then). Hey, it would be a good chance for me to test out my new Wilwood 14"ers .

I'll post yeah or nay mid next week.

I have to help you represent the FI Zs!!

 

Good to see some Z's coming out. The Z31, then Z32 were my first cars

 

Hi everyone!

My car is on the transport to Charlotte, and should arrive my middle to end of next week. If I can break away from the movers, I'd like to attend this drive...looks like a lot of fun. And absolutly gorgeous roads.

I'll have to play it by ear, becuase I am not sure when the movers are schedule to arrive with my household belongs. I am more focused on making sure the TT gets there in one piece...and on time. I have the driver's cell phone number, and I promised him a very generous tip if he gets the car there early.

 

One helluva Z you got there gq. Do you just take your bike to the track?

 

Thanks HighTach,

So far, I havent taken the Z to the track yet. Although I would like to make some 1/4 runs just for reference. I do quite a few track days with the bike every year, and I'm looking forward to the great racetracks within driving distance of Charlotte.

I feel the TT needs a few more heat management mods before really pushing it on the track...especially at higher boost levels. I'd like to get an upgraded oil pan, oil cooler, and radiator.

I suppose I can do a track day with the Z and just run stock boost levels. I will definately be hitting the track eventually with the Z.

Looking forward to it.

 

hehehe... GQ, he asked if you take you bike to the track, not the Z. Guess you have Z-driving on the brain!

Also, I feel your pain on the heat management issue. My Vortech has the same problem. My temp gauge often reads 10-15 degrees higher than the actual outside temp on hot days because of the engine bay heat. Looking at venting heat through the fender or developing some type of blow through vents.


Clint, If Sharif & Bini can make it, you'll have 3 FI 350Zs in the crowd! They both have TT. Should be a blast!

 

How thoughtless of me...this being a 350Z forum and everything...ha!

Yes, I have taken the Ducati to the track.....it's an amazing track tool that requires no mods other racing slicks to really turn some competitive times. I love it!

I'd like to test it out at Road Atlanta, so I can feel like the AMA SuperBike guys!

 

Watch out for that gq_626 guy...

Seriously, though, our loss here in SoCal is your gain. We're going to miss Sharif on our canyon/mountain runs out here!

 

Likewise Scott! I'm sure you'll be visiting here shorty....the lure of great racetracks is tantalizing!

 

If you already have experience on tracks, give www.seat-time.com a try. $150 for 120+ minutes of track time.

O and mcduck, i was talking about the Z

You said we may have 3 FI 350Zs... i'm trying to get the GMP 350Z out to come play.