We will be doing a shakedown run for RFTH 15 this Saturday, June 19. Anyone in the Georgia area, we will be meeting at Sharon Baptist Church at Exit 126 off I-85. We will be departing around 7:30AM and should arrive at the Ingles on Brevard Road just west of I-26 in Asheville, NC around 10. We will be meeting some NC folks at that location.
You're welcome to join us. Bring your FRS radio and post here so I know how many route sheets to bring.
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10:07 PM
Jul 15th, 2010
fierofool Member
Posts: 12912 From: Auburn, Georgia USA Registered: Jan 2002
How is this run? like a high speed lead and follow or cruising through Blue Ridge and town? I went through Blue Ridge parkway about 6 months ago for the first time and remember thinkin "going through here with my Fiero must be a lot of fun!
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09:09 AM
Jul 27th, 2010
2002z28ssconv Member
Posts: 1436 From: Orlando, FL Registered: Jun 2005
The run will not be on the Blue Ridge Parkway. The maximum speed limit on the Parkway is 45. We try not to get under that except at traffic lights and stop signs. Our path will take us from Asheville up to Old Fort and Marion. From there we'll go up and over the mountains to Micaville, then to Burnsville. Lunch in Burnsville then we hit the back mountain roads again, going through the Mt. Pisgah National Forest over toward Spivey Mountain, Rocky Fort, into Tennessee, through Hoot Owl Holler, back into North Carolina and Hot Springs, working our way back toward Asheville.
Except for the first 25 miles to get up to Old Fort, the roads are all two lane. They are well maintained. Beginning in Marion, there are very few straight sections, and many many 180 degree curves. Many of the roads run alongside rivers and follow the river's course when we are in the lower elevations. You can drive The Run at your own pace, as long as you aren't holding anyone back. For that reason, we usually let people assign themselves to one of 3 groups. The lead group, sometimes called The Maniacs, is generally the ones who want to drive the fastest and have engines other than the stock Fiero engine. I say generally because you often find TopNotch right in the midst of them with his Duke Coupe. You would want to be sure that all your suspension, tires and brake parts are in good condition. A failure could cause some major problems, and phone service to call for aid is almost non-existent in the back hills.
The second group is a little less agressive, but still more so than the tourist/sightseers who bring up the rear. Each participant has a route sheet but one of our staff will be with each group to keep everyone on track. We use FRS radios for car to car communications in case of a breakdown or to warn of police activity.
This particular run is about 185 miles and including lunch, we'll be out for about 7 hours. I've set up a gas stop and a lunch stop. I'm still working on the event hotel and Saturday night dinner.
We usually have a fund-raising raffle of Fiero items donated by the various Fiero parts vendors and participants, on Saturday night, but I'm not sure if that will take place this year. It hasn't been decided, yet.
Here's a link to the Georgia Fiero Club website at www.gafiero.org On the bottom of the home page, click on the RFTH 2008 link or http://www.gafiero.org/rfth13.shtml to get an idea of what the run is like.
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09:54 PM
Aug 6th, 2010
CowsPatoot Member
Posts: 2792 From: Skidway Lake, MI Registered: May 2007
Personally, I was not impressed with Tail of the Dragon. Seems too commercialized. I enjoyed the other roads in last year's run much better. The route this year will definitely get the adrenaline flowing.
There are uphill and downhill turns. Lots of braking and downshifting. We start out the twisties by climbing up the side of the Blue Ridge Mountains and going underneath the Blue Ridge Parkway, then we descend the other side of the mountain. Lots of 180 turns, mostly curves and very few straights, but when there is a straight, it usually is terminated by sharp curves. That's just the first 90 miles. There's another 95 beyond that. You should have good brakes, ball joints and tie rod ends on the car.
You can get a bit of an idea what the run is like for the front groups by going to www.gafiero.org and clicking on the Run For The Hills 2008 pictures and video link. Those videos were shot on more level ground.
I'll try to be there in my '88GT. I just hope the suspension's in good shape, I'll go get it checked out in the next week or two and find out. When I go over bumps the passenger-front suspension seems to be a little loose, even though the car handles fine and feels very solid in corners. The steering rack might be a little loose or the car might need new balljoints or something. Other than that the car is in good shape though, I've been waiting to test out my 12" Corvette rotors and ceramic brake pads up in the mountains .
Charlie, you know if Don is planning on attending the club meet this month? My '86 SE is having a cooling problem, I've burped the coolant several times and it keeps overheating. The waterpump/radiator and headgaskets seem to be fine, I'm not sure what to do with the car right now. When it overheats steam comes from the coolant line that goes towards the front of the car from the thermostat, I removed the thermostat and it still does it. When the waterpump blew on the RFTH back in 2006 it was blowing steam out the overflow tank in front, so I don't think its another bad waterpump. I need to get it fixed soon, my MR2 isn't working either so I've had to commute in my '88GT to work every day .
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[This message has been edited by Tinton (edited 08-06-2010).]
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03:54 PM
Aug 9th, 2010
fierofool Member
Posts: 12912 From: Auburn, Georgia USA Registered: Jan 2002
The event hotel this year is the Fairfield Inn by Marriott, located near Biltmore Square Shopping Center. Biltmore Square Shopping Center is on Brevard Road and the hotel is just across the road. The rooms, with 2 beds are priced at $100 per night. Regular rates are $130 per night. You must reserve your room by phone and ask for the Georgia Fiero Club rates. If there are any questions, ask for Kim, the manager. Our prices will be offered through September 7 then they will return to the regular seasonal prices.
Here is a link to the hotel, for informational purposes only. Please do not reserve your room through their webpage links. You will not get the special Run For The Hills rates.
Hotel information is Fairfield Inn at Biltmore Square 11 Rocky Ridge Road Asheville, North Carolina 28806 USA Phone: 1-828-665-4242
Wow, flashback... I went to Brevard College for a year, and used to cruise the Blue Ridge Parkway in my '86 GT ALL the time! Wonder if I can get this '87 Coupe up to snuff by then...
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08:34 AM
fierofool Member
Posts: 12912 From: Auburn, Georgia USA Registered: Jan 2002
Ok, all the run for the hills that the Ga. Fiero club has been doing for years now is just about the most fun you can have in your car with your clothes on these are the roads that were made for your car so come join us and fall in love with your car all over again.
what can be better than great people, roads and the wonderfull town of Ashville, Nc. ?
come join us you will never stop talking about how much fun you had.
as many of you know I only do a few shows a year and this is one of them and the best part it is in my own back yard D.
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08:26 PM
Aug 15th, 2010
carnut122 Member
Posts: 9122 From: Waleska, GA, USA Registered: Jan 2004
I'll be there! This is a must attend event for anybody who likes to get together with great Fiero enthusiasts for a fun day of spirited driving through some of the best scenery in the Southeast(not that I ever get much of a chance to see it). I like to be where all of the action is; that's why I follow Dean.
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09:49 PM
Aug 17th, 2010
whodeanie Member
Posts: 3819 From: woodstock,Ga.,USA Registered: Jan 2008
I'll be there! This is a must attend event for anybody who likes to get together with great Fiero enthusiasts for a fun day of spirited driving through some of the best scenery in the Southeast(not that I ever get much of a chance to see it). I like to be where all of the action is; that's why I follow Dean.
LOL! thanks Tom! I will most likely be in an auto this year but I will see what I can do to bring a little action for you.
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08:36 PM
Aug 19th, 2010
fierofool Member
Posts: 12912 From: Auburn, Georgia USA Registered: Jan 2002
Check out http://gafieroclub.org/bbs/index.php?topic=591.0 to see what will be up for raffle this year. In addition to the automotive items, there will again be a set of 6 limited edition coffee mugs with the event logo and information.
It's getting close. Time to find out.....
WHO'S GOING TO RUN FOR THE HILLS 15?
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01:54 PM
fierofool Member
Posts: 12912 From: Auburn, Georgia USA Registered: Jan 2002
I'm in charge of the raffle..Here's what I' ve got so far...
Box of goodies coming from The Fiero Store ( they allways send plenty of items)...Thanks Matt.
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For those that want to put in a better set of injectors( I perfer the Bosh type3): Fuelinjectorconnection.com has sent us not 1 but 2 gift certificates for a complete set of injectors!! ($160 value) .
Thanks goes to Jon Banner. ________________________________________________
For the Notchback drivers...Paul McKibben of Fierosails.com is donating a gift certificate for a pair of notch back sail panels for Coupe, SE,or 85GT.
Thank you Paul! ________________________________________________
For the people that want to personalize there car...The guys at Fiero Fiberglass is sending us a $50 gift certificate!!
We are cramming to finish the 3400 swap....but even if we don't make it, we have the convertible to back us up. We will definitely be there, and Chris will definitely be bringing the Lotus again.
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08:35 AM
PFF
System Bot
Aug 26th, 2010
88_4mula Member
Posts: 109 From: Auburn, GA, USA Registered: Jul 2008
I better get my butt in gear and get my car back together soon. I have been slammed with other peoples cars that it is hard to find time to work on mine. the metal work part of the chop is done and most of the glass work is as well. I just need to finish it and put the car back together. if not I will just have tofind something else to drive but I will D.
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07:01 PM
fierofool Member
Posts: 12912 From: Auburn, Georgia USA Registered: Jan 2002
If you haven't ordered your tshirt, you need to do it quickly. I talked to the printer and they can take orders until Sept. 7. You can order either by mail or through our link on the home page. There will be no tshirts available at the event, nor after the event. The only shirts being printed are shirts that are prepaid.