slngsht

On the other hand, if you plan to come with Erica, getting a separate room is probably a good idea http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/images/emoticons/rofl.gif Actually, we are going to be looking for an official tool truck to help any stranded cars, so if you're interested in that role, that'd be good.

You can come as part of my family http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/images/emoticons/smile5.gif Just let me know if you can make it, so I can pay for the food and registration fees.

http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/images/emoticons/toetap05.gif http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/images/emoticons/lol.gif

It's as slow as I thought I was driving http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/images/emoticons/leaving.gif Camera setup works pretty well. BTW, a few notes on driving the dragon: First, Al is the man for handing me the keys http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/images/emoticons/thumbsup.gif The Audi TT is a great introductory car to the dragon. It's very stable, and powering out of corners, the AWD really plants the car, so there is no conern about any funny business with the tail stepping out, etc... With a RWD car, there is really not much room for mistake if you overpower out of a corner and get crossed up. Most corners are 2nd gear (at least with this car). If you have a high revving low torque engine, be prepared to play with the shifter alot - it was alot of fun. You gotta save a little of the car's capability for the unexpected, as there are other cars and bikes on the road. We ran up and down the dragon 3 times, and only once saw a group that I felt were driving dangerously. My definition of dangerous is if you're taking your normal line, and the car is squeeling, getting wide, or you're crossing the yellow line. That leaves no room for the unexpected. There is at least one spot (Thanks Bill for mentioning it to me) that some of the Sevens may have a clearance issue. The road goes from a heavily banked sharp 90 degree right to a heavily banked sharp 90 degree left. In between those two, you have to creast the curve, and the proper line through the corner may make something in the middle of the car drag. Occasionally there might be a little bit of gravel kicked up on the road from someone dropping a wheel off, but we didn't really find that to be a problem. probably more of a concern for bikes. There are a few guys on this board who have driven this road on their Sevens, hopefully they'll chime in.slngsht2006-11-04 19:19:21

One more pic by Marcy http://www.usa7s.com/forum/uploads/20061104_174228_Breakfast2.jpg There are a couple of pics of Al's breakfast... I'm not sure if I can explain them, so I'll leave it to him to post if he wants to.

Welcome to USA7s. Looking forward to meeting you at the Dragon.

WestTexasS2k, Excellent input. I'll look into steel as well.

I'm hoping Bill had BIG smile deep down inside http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/images/emoticons/lol.gif REALLY enjoyed spending time with both of you today... This is the best part of Seven ownership. I'll see if we can arrange a trip around April (kids' spring break) to come visit you guys (and SteveT). We'll have the minivan next time. http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/images/emoticons/biggrin5.gif

Some pics from today It was 28 degrees at 6:30 AM http://www.usa7s.com/forum/uploads/temp/20061104_124223_IMG_1327_Small.JPG Some views from the Cherohala: http://www.usa7s.com/forum/uploads/temp/20061104_124302_IMG_1330_Small.JPG http://www.usa7s.com/forum/uploads/temp/20061104_124319_IMG_1332_Small.JPG Breakfast with Bill and Marcy: http://www.usa7s.com/forum/uploads/temp/20061104_124407_STA_1335_Small.JPG Marcy, Bill, Mazda and Al at a Cherohala overlook: http://www.usa7s.com/forum/uploads/20061104_124549_IMG_1338_Small.JPG Typical car port setup (this is Steve's room) http://www.usa7s.com/forum/uploads/20061104_125212_IMG_1354_Small.JPG View from our room http://www.usa7s.com/forum/uploads/20061104_125333_IMG_1351_Small.JPG A shot of the Mini club group pic (the cars were actually parked in a circle http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/images/emoticons/coolgleamA.gif ): http://www.usa7s.com/forum/uploads/20061104_125407_IMG_1349_Small.JPG The theater at Tapoco: http://www.usa7s.com/forum/uploads/20061104_125501_IMG_1347_Small.JPG

Wow... what a fantastic day. Met up with Bill and Marcy today. Drove up and down the Dragon and the Cherohala skyway at a very relaxing leisurely pace. Met with the owners of Tapoco Lodge. It is a fantastic setup. If you got one of the cabins, you'll have a car port too. Tapoco will do very nicely for our get-together. Tomorrow morning we'll be leaving early. We plan to stop by Fontana, and the autocross lot before heading out. Steve T. You have a nice room and a car port http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/images/emoticons/thumbsup.gif

Mrs. Slngsht has joined the party http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/images/emoticons/hurray.gif

it's almost 6:30 and we're off to meet up with Bill and Marcy http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/images/emoticons/seeya.gif

Ron and Nancy Johnson are amazing people. I was really impressed by their personalities, their stories, hospitality, etc... I wish I had the Frankn7 here http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/images/emoticons/banghead.gif

I'm on the left in the first picture. Michelin man is Steve http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/images/emoticons/lol.gif Al is on the right in the 2nd pic http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/images/emoticons/cheers2.gif

Hi ALL!!! We're at Microtel. WHAT A TRIP! We're short on time... Here is the cliff notes: 1- Just as we are entering the Dragon, a white Chevy Lumina is coming the other way. The lady looses it and runs off the road into the trees http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/images/emoticons/eek6.gif We stopped and helped her out - nice welcome to the Dragon. Al has this on tape! He'll post it up. 2- About 1/3 of the way through, we ran into one of those scenes where a tractor trailer is stuck on the road. 3- If you're not haulin', be prepared to get passed by a bike or two 4- You gotta FOCUS on this road. Very tight turns with elevation changes. No guard rails in many places. It's really like an autocross with elevation changes and trees for cones. Taken at 70 - 80% pace, it will be very satisfying, while leaving room for the unexpected. I recorded the GPS coordinates of the run. Al has video footage. Going to go stretch a little bit, and off to dinner with the Johnsons. BTW, this is a dry county http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/images/emoticons/toetap05.gif Have one for us http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/images/emoticons/cheers2.gif

We're coming back Sunday... I'll give you a ring.

Well, SteveT is DA MAN http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/images/emoticons/thumbsup.gif It's 30 degrees!!! http://www.usa7s.com/forum/uploads/20061103_054718_IMG_1310_Small.JPG http://www.usa7s.com/forum/uploads/20061103_054805_IMG_1311_Small.JPG http://www.usa7s.com/forum/uploads/20061103_054844_IMG_1312_Small.JPG We're back on the road.

We're at Mrs Rowes in Staunton, VA... Waiting for SteveT http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/images/emoticons/toetap05.gifhttp://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/images/emoticons/biggrinjester.gif If he drove his Seven, we'll have to pry him from the car. It's in the low 30s

I forget the part number. Look in the tech section for the Rotus replacement part list. I ordered the Moog part number from Carquest.

Here you go... my first couple of welds came out crappy, so i gotta grind 'em and clean 'em up a bit. The fender is almost true. It'll take a little leaning to get the front just right. It is slightly off, but not bad at all. It does seem pretty stiff, but I won't know till I get her on the road. If that goes well, I'll take everything apart, sandblast and powdercoat (and I have a new lower balljoint. Not much left of the one in the pic). http://www.usa7s.com/forum/uploads/20061102_200027_CIMG1194.JPG http://www.usa7s.com/forum/uploads/20061102_200142_CIMG1196.JPGslngsht2006-11-02 20:51:56

Al and I are meeting up at 5 AM in Hagerstown, MD to start the trip. As my wireless wide area network card permits, we'll post up pics, progress, and other crap as we go http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/images/emoticons/smile5.gif. It's a long drive and one of us will need something to do.

So many talented people out there

My wife does not understand the 7 obsession. Maybe it's because I told her 3 years ago that the C5 will satisfy me for a long time. I think she does really enjoy encounters with the other members when we go cruisin' though. To me it's as important as the car itself.

Life is short http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/images/emoticons/biggrin5.gif

All, I spoke to both Dennis Hedges and Dean from Alumina during the last couple of days... The dimensions I gave Dean was outside-to-outside of fender = 67", and overall car length=12 feet. He'll leave room upfront for a set of tires or a tool box. Separate line item for electric brakes. These trailers use the torsion rubber axle. My initial impression is that $2K will not be doable. Apparently the price of Aluminum has gone up. Dennis didn't think $2K was doable either. I will keep y'all posted as I get more info. Thanks. Dean's response