It's coming up soon. We will be starting and returning to Franklin, North Carolina. Gathering at our hotel on Friday, September 14 to check over our cars and get everything topped off for the run on Saturday Morning, September 15. Hotel accommodations aren't finalized, yet but the information will be posted here as soon as they are.
We will be traveling the High Roads (more than 5000 ft. elevation) and the back roads of North Carolina and Tennessee. This is a weekend of spirited driving through some of the best driving roads in this part of the country. Motorcyclists and sports car enthusiasts come from all parts of the country to enjoy the twists and turns.
We have scheduled a lunch stop along the way, as well as fuel and restroom stops. At the end of the day, back in Franklin, we have scheduled a nice sit-down dinner for the group. Each person will be responsible for their own meal.
There is no entry fee and all sports cars are welcome or if your minivan handles like a sports car, bring the family along. We will be accepting voluntary donations of raffle items and also donations to our 2018 charity, The American Cancer Society.
Event Tshirts are available in the Club merchandise section at www.gafiero.org The shirts are preshrunk 100% cotton and are available in sizes from Adult Small thru Adult 3 XLarge. The printing is done with a dye, so you can't feel the print so they don't have that big stiff, sweaty spot like some of the rubber inks have.
Our Hotel for Run For The Hill #23 is the MicroTel Inn, 81 Allman Road, Franklin, NC.
Rates for single or double queen rooms is $90.20 per night or $180.40 for the two nights we will be there. September 14 and 15.
There is no cutoff date for reservations. Because we do not know how many will attend, we did not block out rooms. A credit card is needed for that, and any untaken rooms must be paid for by Georgia Fieros. If you wait until the last minute to try to make reservations, there may not be rooms available. Other hotels in the area are Hampton Inn and Comfort Inn, but their rates are a bit higher, especially during that time of the year.
To get the group rates, call 1-828-349-9000 Tell them you are with the Georgia Fiero Club group.
[This message has been edited by fierofool (edited 06-19-2018).]
We're doing a trial run on June 30. If you'd like to get a preview of the experience, email us at georgiafieroclub@gmail.com and let us know so we can have enough route sheets printed and give you the location and time to meet. It's just the one day thing.
Yes, we do use the FRS radios. Cell phone service is very spotty and even with good service, it's too slow to warn of stopped vehicles or cyclists in the roadway. With the FRS radios, everyone can join in the chatter.
My daughter just sent me a photo of the new Tennessee State Police cruisers that are going into use on The Tail of The Dragon. They are of the standard black, white and gold colors, applied to a Supercharged 3-wheel Slingshot. So what we may think to be just another person out to attack The Dragon, they will also be there to attack your wallet.
Working on it. The exhaust is giving me fits. There is only one shop (muffler) near me that will even think about working on a Fiero, and he is packed with muscle cars and old trucks all the time. My welds are NOT pretty, but may have to do on this one.
Yes. You must tell them you are with the Georgia Fiero Club group. The discounted rate is $90.12 per night, including all taxes. I have set it up that all rooms have 2 queen beds. Other bedding arrangements may be available but may require additional charges.
There are only 2 other major hotels in the immediate area. That being the Leaf-Looker season, rates can soar to over $150 per night. It would behoove anyone who plans to attend to make their reservations early. If unsure, you can cancel them should plans change. They will tell you during registration how many days prior you have to cancel without penalty.
Current speculations on the path of Tropical Storm/Hurricane Florence puts it's path possibly into the coast of South or North Carolina on Thursday then moving northward along the coast. We don't believe this should be of concern for us at Run For The Hills. Our event is entirely in the westernmost part of North Carolina and into Tennessee.
Should we determine that the weather isn't suitable to enjoy the scheduled route, we have an alternate route that is further west, moving farther west into Tennessee and North Georgia.
Don't let the weather cancel your plans. This is a rain or shine event.
National Weather reports the Saturday forecast for the area of Tail of The Dragon is Partly Cloudy with a high of 82*. Current conditions at 9AM is Sunny and 61*. No rain forecast until Sunday.
National Weather reports the Saturday forecast for the area of Tail of The Dragon is Partly Cloudy with a high of 82*. Current conditions at 9AM is Sunny and 61*. No rain forecast until Sunday.
Thanks for the weather update, fierofool. I was bummed last year when it didn't work out for me to go. I've been looking forward to this one since then. And I was going to be bummed again if the weather fouled things up.
We had a small group for this year's run (some may have been scared by the weather), but the weather where we were turned out to be just fine, and we had a good time. Put your pictures of the run in this thread. Here are mine. I had forgotten my camera, and my mount for my video camera, so these are phone pictures.
Getting ready in the morning...
On our first rest stop...
We parked beside a rushing river.
Our next rest stop was on the Cherohala Skyway.
A view of the mountains.
This years run of the Dragon was the "cleanest" I've been on, with no slow cars blocking us anywhere. After the Dragon, we stopped at Fontana Dam
Our cars on the Dragon (photos by US123Photos, and provided by Greg, aka CowsPatoot).
[This message has been edited by fierofool (edited 09-17-2018).]
The Early Arrivals on Friday afternoon. Beautiful weather that remained with us throughout Friday and into Saturday mid evening. GTRS noted what appeared to be an additional Fiero with a blue sign atop it. Could that be the fabled Green Fiero?
Added 2 more.
And another.
There was also a GT from Ohio and a Cadillac from Ohio that were to join us, but failed to meet up, though they were seen on The Dragon by KillBoy.
This year's players. Budgetman 72 and his son. (Budgetkid72 ?)
Sarge
TopNotch
CowsPatoot and Fierfly
Formula Owner and wife Terry
Roger and Brenda hadn't arrived at the time of the lineup. Though they were as much a part of the festivities, they didn't make the run. They elected to spend some quality time together since they had already been on this particular run in a previous year. We thank both for joining us. At least 3 others had to cancel for various reasons.
Our first scenic rest stop along Whiteoak Creek beside Wayah Road.
CowsPatoot at the Cow Pattie stand
Another rest stop at a scenic overlook on the Cherohala Skyway. Elevation +4000 feet.
While we were on the Skyway, we passed an overlook where several people were waving frantically and one was filming us as we went by. When we made our next quick stop, they pulled in with us but never made contact. They later showed up at our lunch stop and were so excited to see so many Fieros together. They came in just to chat and share their excitement but had to leave to attend a wedding.
This father and son team Formula Owner is talking with were very intrigued with the cars. They had traveled some distance so the son could compile photos for a photography project.
Giving them a rest and letting them cool down at Fontana Dam, NC
Notice the beautiful sky in the background. Evidence of the quality of the weekend.
[This message has been edited by fierofool (edited 09-17-2018).]
Thanks, fierofool, for organizing and leading this event. My wife and I had a great time. It was her first time on the Dragon, and my first in over 30 yrs. Weather and traffic was better than we even hoped for. And no crashes, and no breakdowns. By all accounts, it was a great event.
Thank you. Without you and everyone else, it would have been for naught. Many thanks also go out to Sarge, TopNotch, and ScottB for their support and assistance in scouting and organizing the event.
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