August 14th... General Lee's Last Stand! (Formerly the Unnamed Run)

[Bugged]

Given the reports I'm currently hearing, right now I'm less concerned with the actual weather during the run, I am however concerned about flooding along the route...

I will drive parts of the route tomorrow to see what things look like. If the route is in bad shape by tomorrow afternoon, or anything on the route looks questionable, I won't take any chances...

Again, expect a decision to be posted by 9:30 PM tomorrow...

[WxSquid]

Okay, the Wx Squid is weighing in....

Right now, I concur - my biggest fear out of this will be the flooding. Not so much hydroplanning, but high water in general. I know that we had about a week to kinda dry out, but there are still ditches with standing water in the HR area.

Will wait to see what you find on the roads. I'm looking for breezy (okay, real wx term - 15-20 knots) with some funneling in the passes. Lots of rain starting in the afternoon, and getting worse as you head toward Richmond and Tidewater areas. (wetter side of the storm).

Doug

[Bugged]

The latest info I'm seeing from the National Hurricane Center shows Bonnie sliding more to the East, with the heavier rains staying east of DC.

Charlie's path up the eastern seaboard now looks to be slower than originally expected, it's now expected to be south of the FL/GA state line at 2 AM Saturday, and only around Richmond and dramitically weaker (sustained winds below 39MPH) by 2 AM Sunday.

This is a major change from the forecasts I was looking at 24 hours ago, which showed the storm still being at Tropical Storm strength at 2 AM Sunday and north of DC.

I had one of our club members express some concern over the ceilings and Skyline Drive, if the ceiling is too low, Skyline could be VERY foggy, so you might not be able to sightsee up there...

[Bugged]

Hey Doug,

I hope you're better than the last Navy Weather Guesser I dealt with!

We were in Juneau and he predicted nice calm weather... Although if he had stepped out side he would have discovered the 60 knot wind pushing us against the pier!!!!

[Bugged]

I'm not even going to bother to wait until 9.

THE RUN IS ON!!!!!!!

While there is a flood watch that will be going into effect tomorrow, the latest forecasts I've seen expect that there may be 1 rain storm pulling through at 8 AM, then clearing until the first rain bands from Charlie start to roll through close to 4:30 PM. The heavier rain isn't expected until later in the evening...

See you all either at MINI of Sterling at 8 AM or at Wegman's no later than 9!!! I'm going to leave orders with Sterling to kick everybody out by 8:45!!!!

[Paul!]

Quote: Originally Posted by Bugged

I'm not even going to bother to wait until 9.

THE RUN IS ON!!!!!!!

YAY!!! I just got finished doing a 4 hour field day (sorry, Navy term )... err, wash, wax, and detailing! I'd be a shame if I couldn't get it soaking wet and full of mud tomorrow!!

It was kinda funny too - In my apartment complex, there is a public car washing area. I had about a dozen people pass by and tell me "Don't you know that its going to rain tomorrow?". Yes, I know, thanks....

-Paul!!!

[WxSquid]

Well, I want to go, but I've had some stuff come up that will preclude me from making the trip now.

I'm a bit better than that Bugged Actually, quite good.

I did a "field day" on Eleanor right before the rains - on the inside. Leatherette had a tendency to "fog" the windows.

[MoonPie]

have fun you goobers, be careful!!!!!!

[Paul!]

Hey all,

That was a good time!! Hope everybody else had fun, and that everybody made it home safely. It got kinda nasty on the way home!

Can't wait until the next run!

Oh, two pics that I took:





-Paul!

[DaCrema]

What a great drive with a fun bunch of people. Thanks to daWorkers.
John

[S2000&CooperS]

Phewwww, just got home 11:30pm. After the meet, a few of us went to Summit Point to crash the BMWCCA party and catch a little racing action

More tomorrow...........17 hrs, 400+ miles today from start to finish.......time for some zzzzzzzs.....

[Jen]

Michael and I had lots of fun. Good cars, good roads, good weather and good company all around.

[S2000&CooperS]

I would also like to thank Mike and Patricia B, Mike W, Jen, and the other DCMM officers for a nice drive and lunch on Saturday. Well organized. Thanks to MINI of Sterling for opening (early) to allow us to preview the new Cooper Convertible :-D. The weather held up until after the event which was great as we could drive more quickly and have more fun on the twisties on the way up. My favorite parts of the drive include making the left off Rt 15 and doing those series of S bends, the heavily wooded area with the 5mph bridge, and the "hillclimb" race up to Skyline. My car had a little bit of stumble or hesitation on the way back and over to Summit Point but seems to have gone away...I think. Will check it at the next oil change. Added 440 miles to my MINI on Saturday! .

It was nice to see everyone again and meet a few more owners! Paul's Cosmos Black/Cosmos Black/Corboda Beige Cooper with anthracite trim is striking and certainly different - had only seen CB/CB/Black myself at Crown.

[MoonPie]

pics???

[Bugged]

It was such a good drive that we were too busy driving to take pictures!!!