MINIs on the Dragon 2007 • May 3rd, 4th and 5th

[MisterMINI]

I know next May is a long way off, but I thought I would set the ball rolling to see if anyone would be interested in heading down to Deals Gap, NC to participate in the 3 Day MINIs on the Dragon event taking place on May 3rd, 4th and 5th, 2007. I have never attended the event but have spoken to many who have and they all say it is awesome. The section of road called 'The Dragon' is 11 miles long with 318 curves and no cross streets or driveways . Last year approximately 400 MINIs attended.

For more information go to MINI COOPER :: North American Motoring - MOTD Overview

LATEST UPDATE

January is already behind us which means there are only 3 months remaining before MOTD. I know that might sound like a long time, but the months just seem to rush by. I've therefore finalized the plans for the drive down to Fontana Village.

To sigh up, please send me a private message.

We'll meet at the Red Barn Coffee Roasters in Hopkinton, MA. Take I-90 (Mass Pike) west to I-495 south. Turn off at the next exit (21B). At the end of the off ramp turn right at the light. Continue straight through the next light and the Red Barn Coffee roasters is a couple of hundred yards on the left. The address is 167 West Main St, Hopkinton, MA, 01748

Departure date May 1st
Departure time: 8.30am. (No later)

Day 1
I-495 north to I-90 (Mass Pike) west.
I-84 west through Connecticut and into New York State.
I-87 South to I-287 South into New Jersey.
I-78 west into Pennsylvania.
I-81 south through Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia and into Virginia
I-66 east to Front Royal.
Skyline Drive south to Charlottesville, VA.

If you want to meet up with us along the route then let me know.

I estimate that we should arrive in Charlottesville around 6pm. At this stage I haven't made any hotel reservations because it'll be best to wait until nearer the time when there is a better idea of how many there will be.

Day2
Charlottesville to to Blue Ridge Parkway south through Virginia and into North Carolina.
!-40 west and then on to Fontana Village.

I have now made my reservation at Fontana Village ( 800 849 2258) arriving May 2nd (4 nights) @ $62/night. They require a 1 night non-refundable deposit but they are already getting booked up and so I figured it was best to get in before it is too late. If you are thinking of going then you may want to do the same.

MINIs that will be heading to MOTD

To add your name to the list reply to this thread or send me a personal message.
Please include your CITY, STATE and NAME(S) of those who will be in your MINI.

A meeting point for the start of the drive will be determined nearer the time based
on the home towns of each of the participating MINIs.

MisterMINI - Upton, MA - (Keith & possibly Ellen)
AntiqueCarNut - Amherst, NH (Adam & Jeanette)
Chesney - Sabattus, ME (Mindy)

[retsej]

Going down in a group is a great idea, that way if any one has any kind of problem you can help each other out.

[chesney]

as of right now I'm going...just depends if I can get the time off of work. I plan on leaving either the 30th or the 1st and return on the 6th

[Victory]

I'm going. I have Fontana Village Reservations. Just need to decide when I'm going.

[jwardell]

I would really like to go this year, but I'l have to wait and see if I ever get out of this financial rut.

[MisterMINI]

Quote: Originally Posted by jwardell (original)

I would really like to go this year, but I'l have to wait and see if I ever get out of this financial rut.

By financial rut, I guess you mean 'HOUSE'. Wouldn't it be nice to have a house and no mortgage?

[MisterMINI]

I have now made my reservation at Fontana Village ( 800 849 2258) arriving May 2nd (4 nights) @ $62/night. They require a 1 night non-refundable deposit but they are already getting booked up and so I figured it was best to get in before it is too late. If you are thinking of going then you may want to do the same

I have also added this information to the main thread.

[jwardell]

Wow...so early! Are there other decent options nearby? They need a nice informative web site like MOT.

[AprilWhine]

There is nothing else close to Fontana Village. But getting there is about a half hour on twisty roads so a fun commute. They have rooms, cabins, and camp sites so can fit all ranges.

In town, about a 45 minute drive away, is a Microtel. I stayed there because it was convenient for services and food.

[chesney]

I'm sharing a room at Fontana with a friend from sunshineminis...Lance reserved the room before he left last May

Hopefully I can ride down part way with a group. Scott will be overseas so I'll be driving down by myself.

[MisterMINI]

Quote: Originally Posted by jwardell (original)

Wow...so early! Are there other decent options nearby? They need a nice informative web site like MOT.

I met some people at MTTS who had been to MOTD this year. They said that Fontana Village gets booked up quickly and when I saw that Victory had already made reservations I thought I shouldcall to check out the situation. I was hoping they would take reservations without a deposit like most hotels, but they require 1 night non-refundable. At $62/night I didn't think that was too bad.

I'm sure there are other places to stay in the area, as confirmed by Aprilwhine, but it was recommended to me that Fontana Village is so much more convenient and is more in the heart of the action.

[jwardell]

Quote: Originally Posted by AprilWhine (original)

There is nothing else close to Fontana Village. But getting there is about a half hour on twisty roads so a fun commute. They have rooms, cabins, and camp sites so can fit all ranges.

In town, about a 45 minute drive away, is a Microtel. I stayed there because it was convenient for services and food.

I would consider camping too, especially if we bring the dog (but then again that is a long drive for the dog!). Where can I find info and prices on campsites? 30-45min isn't so bad for a hotel, that's about how far away the hotel is from the driving at MOT. I've stayed in a microtel as well, I was very impressed with all the amenities fit into the small space and the price. It's just way early for me to even think about it, let alone put down a non-refundable deposit. I wonder is the room at least transferrable? I could always book it and find someone else to take it down the road if I had to cancel right?

[AprilWhine]

Hey Josh, here's a link: Accommodations at Fontana Village

Scroll down the page to campground, open May through December and it's right at Fontana Village. $35 for a full hook up or $25 for a tent site. Also, they were installing wireless access when we were there this year, it should be all over the village by next year I think. Maybe not the campgrounds.

[MisterMINI]

Quote: Originally Posted by jwardell (original)

I would consider camping too, especially if we bring the dog (but then again that is a long drive for the dog!). Where can I find info and prices on campsites? 30-45min isn't so bad for a hotel, that's about how far away the hotel is from the driving at MOT. I've stayed in a microtel as well, I was very impressed with all the amenities fit into the small space and the price. It's just way early for me to even think about it, let alone put down a non-refundable deposit. I wonder is the room at least transferrable? I could always book it and find someone else to take it down the road if I had to cancel right?

Josh,

You might find that Microtel, being a chain, will take a booking without a deposit and allow you to cancel anytime within 48 hours of the resrvation date without penalty. That could be your best option.

[jwardell]

I'm trying to mull things over in the NAM thread, but a big question is also how long it will take to get there. Google says the drive is 20 hrs! So it looks like I would have to take off wednesday too, and stay overnight somewhere on the way down.

So the questions for here are:
1. How long does it really take to drive down there
2. What kind of caravan would be planned if any to make such a long trip more bearable, and where would we plan to stop overnight?