7/7/07 Cruise to Tail of the Dragon

[slngsht]

After much discussion and interest in a cruise on 7/7/07 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Lotus 7, I'm starting this to serve as the central place for group discussion for this event. Thanks for Al, the event has captured alot of interest.

 

 

 

Al and I will update this first post on the thread with the latest developments.

 

 

 

An event registration page is almost complete, and will be online by Wednesday, July 19th.

 

 

 

Looking forward to a great outing with fellow seveners!

 

 

 

 

 

Registration Page:>http://www.usa7s.com/forum/shopping.asp

 

---------------------------------------------------

 

Here is some basic event information:

 

 

 

General information about the dragon can be found here:

 

>http://www.tailofthedragon.com/

 

 

 

Preliminary schedule of events:

 

7/6 Friday AM Registration

 

7/6 Friday PM Informal Car Show and Mixer

 

7/7 Saturday AM Auto X/Track Day/Group Drive

 

7/7 Saturday PM Group Dinner

 

7/8 Sunday AM Group Drive

 

7/8 Sunday PM Farewell

 

 

 

Recommended place to stay:

 

>www.tapocolodge.com

 

Ask for Marsha Cody or Dana

 

Adams and tell them you're part of the Sevens group. Phone number is 828-498-2435/800-822-5083

 

 

 

Autocross event:

 

We have had discussions with the TN valley SCCA group, and they are ready to step up and host an event for us. More details to come...

 

 

 

Guest speaker:

 

Al is working on this one... more to come...

 

 

 

Registration page: to be announed on 7/19/06

 

Registration Page:

 

>http://www.usa7s.com/forum/shopping.aspslngsht2007-03-10 13:28:45

[slngsht]

A little update on the autocross...

 

 

 

I've talked to the local TN SCCA chapter, and they are willing to setup an autox for us.

 

 

 

They prefer to do it on Sunday, but Saturday is possible too.

 

 

 

The next step is to reserve the lot, which they normally do in January. I'll keep you posted.

[slngsht]

Registration page is up!

 

 

 

I asked my QA team to look at it smileys/smiley36.gif[/img] </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> Let me know if you run into any problems</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> <a href='http://www.usa7s.com/forum/eventregistration/index.aspx'>>http://www.usa7s.com/forum/eventregistration/index.aspx</a></p>

[snettleship]

I'm getting really excited about the 7-7-7 "rally" next year.  One thing I was thinking of is how much do we want this event to grow?  Is the intent to have a LOG 27 East?  If that's true then the humble beginnings from Al may need a bit more organization, and possibly financing.

Personally, I like the lower key approach but if people want to volunteer their time and not add too much to the overall cost of the event, then so be it.  Either way, we'll be there.

Scott

 

[slngsht]

Hi Scott,

 

 

 

My personal preference is to keep the atmosphere as a big group of friends going cruising .

 

We'll have an autocross to take some of our aggression out safely.

 

We'll have to pay something for the autocross event, but generally I'd like to keep the cost to a minimum.

 

 

 

I do an event like this with the vette crowd every year. We generally get 150 cars... There are no guest speakers, but we do a group lunch, etc... It's a great way to make new friends and catch up with the old ones.

 

 

 

As things are now, Al is focusing on sponsors and speakers, I'm working on registration and autox setup, and Marsha and Paul will be doing alot of the tasks that require local presence.

 

 

 

We have a year to go - so time is on our side at this point to make sure this goes smoothly.

 

 

[slngsht]

When I called to register for the room, I did ask about parking for trailers. They do have an area for dropping off our trailers, although it won't be in the main parking area if alot of us tow our cars down.

[Al N.]

For starters, I want to state for the record that although I may have been

 

the one to pen the first email, the idea for the 7-7-7 TotD really came out

 

of a dialog among the June 2006 Skyline Drive VA attendees (which

 

Mazda organized).

 

 

 

I actually remember a quote by Steve T. when we were talking about the

 

potential dangers of the road and he said "Yeah, but I still want to do it."

 

 

 

As for what do I want this event to be? I'm with Mazda & Scott. As low

 

key (and as inexpensive) as possible. I did want the manufacts & dealers

 

to be in so that we can all have a looksie at the latest and greatest.

 

 

 

And since we're all convening, it would be nice to hear a speaker - if the

 

costs aren't crazy. I've got the LOG price sheet one hand to see what is

 

reasonable and customary.

 

 

 

Here's a selfish reason for this not getting TOO big...I want to enjoy

 

myself at this thing. And if I have to worry about some hotshot speaker's

 

coffee being cold, that is going to harsh my mellow.

 

 

 

Just my "fitty" cents.

[Al N.]

Additionally, the "bigger picture" of this event IMHO is really captured by

 

the Dennis Ortenburger book, "Lotus Seven & Independents"...it's a

 

celebration of the original "four wheeled motorbike" concept, and the

 

MANY executions that have followed in its wake, even long after Lotus

 

stopped making the car in any form.

 

 

 

I think we are going to have original Series 1, Series 2, Series 3, and

 

Series 4 vehicles represented - which is just a great historical timeline for

 

all LSiS enthusiasts to see in one place. I envision those being on static

 

display for the evening events so that we can all touch and feel them and

 

ask their keepers all sorts of silly questions.

 

 

 

Finally (for now), I really dig all the variants and have always wanted this

 

to be all inclusive - so if Cat USA or one of the speakers won't touch the

 

event because of our diversity, it's their loss. I could see it from an

 

editorial POV, but this is just an enthusiasts event and hopefully they

 

could get over themselves and just come out to have fun.

 

 

[slngsht]

all, I got this question via email from Jeremy (posting with his permission). Chime in with your opinions...

 

Hi guys,

 

 

 

I've registered for the Dragon Event. But I'm a bit concerned about the

 

direction you are going with the preliminary schedule of events.

 

 

 

Here's my impression from an initial look at your registration page

 

I would find it a very long way to go just for a "Car Show" and an

 

"Auto X".

 

What are the Group 1, 2 & 3 Drives?

 

Will we have to sign up for a Group in order to run the Dragon?

 

If so, does that mean we only get to run it once?

 

Is there any way you could run timed runs on the Dragon?

 

 

 

I run a lot of Vintage Hill climbs and track days with my Seven as well

 

as driving it on the street.

 

I also go to a lot of events where there are many other Sevens in

 

attendance. So the idea of standing around at a small car show or

 

watching people burn tires in a parking lot is not a real motivator for

 

driving seven hours to an event.

 

 

 

If the draw of the event is the Dragon, then why not concentrate your

 

activities on driving it?

 

 

 

Just my thoughts. Keep up the great work.

 

 

 

 

 

 

... and my response...

 

 

 

Group drives 1, 2 and 3 are just placeholders right now. You don't have to register for them. As we get closer and make some dry runs down there (we have a couple of local volunteers signed up), we will

 

nail down the times.

 

 

 

The idea is to run the dragon several times. Some of us will bring family down, so not everyone may be able to make every run. The group drive is just a way of nailing down the departing times, so everybody

 

is ready to leave together.

 

 

 

As for a timed trial, that won't be possible. the Dragon is a public highway, and from what I've read, the local law enforcement has not make a habit of closing the road down (unlike some other roads in the West).

 

 

 

Regarding the car show, there will probably a few "mint" early cars there, as well as demo cars (I think Dennis already said something about bringing a few Stalkers). This probably won't be a formal car show, where you have to camp out by the car. Again, drawing parallels to the corvette cruises I go on... we gather an hour before the cruise starts, and while people are gathering and chit-chatting, we have a group of kids walk through and pick out their favorite car - that's the "car show" winner.

 

 

 

All this still has to be hashed out. The schedule will probably be different when we're done.

 

 

 

about the autox... Al already knows I earned a speeding ticket at the last cruise we were on. I wanted to provide a venue for people to take out some of their aggression. This won't be an official autocross event, so you will get more than just 4 runs. When I talked to the local SCCA chapter down there, I made a point to make sure we have the same understanding. They have done similar setups for other

 

car clubs, and he mentioned that they haven't had anyone complain about not getting enough runs.

 

slngsht2006-08-31 17:55:39

[Al N.]

Here's what I wrote to Jeremy (another example of redundant efforts!):

 

 

 

----

 

 

 

Everything is just preliminary, so thanks for the input. It will only make

 

the event better.

 

 

 

One or more of the group drives will definitely be on the Dragon, and

 

obviously we won't be so overly scheduled that you can't pop out and

 

crush it yourself in between dinners, before breakfast etc. The other

 

group drive will most definitely be the Cherohola Skyway, which will

 

probably have far less traffic. And, I've heard that there are lots of other

 

great roads to hit in the area with less idiot bikers. The Dragon is still a

 

public road so you are free to drive it all you want.

 

 

 

The locals tell me that it will be near impossible to get too many cars to

 

get a "clean" run at the Dragon. So my initial thinking is to send cars out

 

in "flights" of 3-5, with a rendezvous at the end, then as slow parade lap

 

back. I'm trying to coordinate some chase car/bike video too.

 

 

 

As for why you should come and how it's different than everything else.

 

Well, technically it's not. However, not many of us have the Dragon in our

 

backyard. Nor upwards of 25 (so far) Sevens of all types available to

 

check out - including a Series 1, Series 2, Series 3, and Series 4.

 

 

 

As for "timed runs" Japanese touge style, I doubt that will happen. All

 

sorts of liability that I don't want. And besides, if the bike clubs who stalk

 

the dragon haven't done it yet, then I doubt we'll be able to. It's not Pikes

 

Peak, after all.

 

 

 

 

[Al N.]

Folks-

 

 

 

I went through all my "confirmed" emails last night, as well as through

 

most of the threads on se7ens.net.

 

 

 

And I'm both happy and shocked to say that we have 24 people who are

 

either already booked into the Tapoco or very seriously intending to

 

come.

 

 

 

I sense that there might be a need for overflow lodging, so I'm going to

 

contact the Fontana Village and let them know to block out some rooms

 

for the Friday/Sat nights.

 

 

 

Don't forget to register at usa7s.com (there are 13 folks signed up there),

 

which will be the "official" host site going forward.

 

 

 

-Al

 

 

 

X-post on se7ens.net

[Al N.]

ANOTHER REASON TO 7-7-7

 

 

 

I just got off the phone with Ron Johnson, the person who runs the TotD

 

website.

 

 

 

He and his wife will be available to give a presentation on the history of

 

the Dragon as well as show a video they have (probably on bikes, with a

 

fair about of lean angle involved!)

 

 

 

Sounds like a good event for Friday night.

 

 

 

Additionally, some folks have asked me about what nights to book.

 

Here's what I wrote to them:

 

 

 

"There is a two night minimum, so all we are asking people to do is make

 

one of the nights the Saturday 7/7.

 

 

 

It’s up to you what other nights you wish to come. So you could do a

 

Friday Sat and leave Sunday, or a Sat/Sun and leave Monday (But then

 

you’d miss out on the Friday events.)"

 

 

 

Also, USA7s.com has got the reg site up

 

 

 

http://www.usa7s.com/forum/eventregistration/index.aspx

 

 

 

and running and a thread about the event here

 

 

 

http://www.usa7s.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=137&PN=1

 

 

 

EVEN IF YOU'VE WRITTEN TO ME THAT YOU'RE COMMITTED, PLEASE

 

REGISTER. Mazda and I will be reconciling our lists on an ongoing basis.

 

 

[Al N.]

Would people be interested in either of the following:

 

 

 

• Using this event to kick off a US chapter of the UK/worldwide club?

 

• Having an "attendees scrapbook" that catalogs the folks/cars in

 

attendance (you fill out a form early next year and take a pic or two of

 

your car, I compile, proofread, print, bind, and give out at ToTD) ?

 

 

 

I want to touch on costs for a brief second...hopefully everyone

 

understands that there will be some out of pocket for the dinners/

 

lunches/auto x events/car stickers or dash plaques, etc.

 

 

 

I've got the LOG form on hand to see what's reasonable and customary,

 

and we'll try to keep it as cheap as possible (from what I know already,

 

our main dinner will be pretty inexpensive compared to LOG).

 

 

 

PLease chime in on this topic(s), as we want as much input as possible to

 

make as many people as happy as possible.

 

 

[BillMarcy P]

Bill and Marcy Power took a drive on the Tail today.  We visited Tapoco and had Sunday dinner there.  The whole place is immaculate.  There are a pool, horseshoe pits, shuffleboard, tennis court, and ping pong for recreation.  The food was great and plentiful.  The accommodations, while simple, are fine.  There is a large lot for parking trailers.  A great area for parking our cars and displaying to interested folks.  The drive on the Tail was great.  The cautions about traffic and policing are appropriate.  One cannot always travel as quickly as one might like!  The alternative accommodations at Fontana Village Resort are quite nice and not but a few miles down "Hellbender 28", NC Hwy. 28.  There are also camping facilities available in Fontana. 

Tapoco annually hosts gatherings of Minis and Miatas.  They know how to handle us car folks!http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/images/emoticons/smiley2.gif

Mazda has posted some photos we took.  Although they're not captioned, perhaps you'll find them helpful.

[slngsht]

Here are the pics:

 

http://www.usa7s.com/forum/uploads/slngsht/ToTD/Bill%20and%20Marcy%20having%20fun.JPG

 

 

 

http://www.usa7s.com/forum/uploads/slngsht/ToTD/Fontana%20Resort%20Lodge.JPG

 

http://www.usa7s.com/forum/uploads/slngsht/ToTD/Lawn%20and%20Pool%20at%20Tapoco.JPG

 

http://www.usa7s.com/forum/uploads/slngsht/ToTD/Our%20Caterham%20parked%20below%20cabins.JPG

 

http://www.usa7s.com/forum/uploads/slngsht/ToTD/The%20Obstructor%20II.JPG

 

http://www.usa7s.com/forum/uploads/slngsht/ToTD/The%20Obstructor.JPG

 

http://www.usa7s.com/forum/uploads/slngsht/ToTD/Trailer%20Lot%20at%20end%20of%20cabin%20drive.JPG

 

 

[slngsht]

Marcy, thanks for all the notes and the pictures. The back lot seems perfect for trailers. I wasn't sure how good it was going to be after talking to the guy on the phone there.

 

 

[BillMarcy P]

Mazda, thanks for putting my post and photos on the correct topic.  For anyone who's interested the photos are 1) a self portrait; 2) the entrance to Fontana Village Resort Lodge (alternative accommodations); 3) the lawn at Tapoco; 4) our Caterham parked at the foot of the cabin closest to the lodge; 5) & 6) traffic on the Tail; and 7) the trailer lot at Tapoco.  Bill had to remind me that several years ago we'd done a drive with the local English Auto Society and had lunch at the Tapoco Lodge.  We enjoyed it then, too.  Other photos I took are of scenery and some cycles.  There are photographers who camp out on curves, and we had our picture taken several times yesterday.  Be prepared to smile and wave!

[Al N.]

X-post from Se7ens.net:

 

 

 

Regarding 777, we're now up to to 29 cars (and last night I looked at my

 

initial list of handraisers to dedupe lists and the actual number is more

 

like 35!) And one recent addition is coming from Cali! Hoorah!

 

 

 

I now think 50 vehicles is not out of question, and perhaps we should

 

even start to consider a ceiling number. As noted by others, we still have

 

lots of time. The nice thing about people signing up early is that the

 

volunteer organizers can gauge the interest in "optional" events (like auto

 

x and tech sessions) and also get a read on where the "birthday" dinner

 

should be held (really depends on # of attendees). Thanks again for all

 

your interest.

 

 

 

A few thoughts on the inclusiveness of the event:

 

 

 

• I haven't reached out to the Lotus Limited folks directly because of the

 

potential snob factor I sense I may receive, and don't really intend to

 

reach out to them any time soon. I think the Seven crowd among them

 

will find us one way or another. (That said, I am indeed a relatively recent

 

member of LL.)

 

 

 

• I have already reached out to the UK club and they think it's a great idea

 

(although I think Tony P. thinks we're all crazy for our choice of road) and

 

may even promote it in an upcoming Low Flying (the full color club mag)

 

 

 

Additionally, my correspondence with the UK club leads me to believe

 

that they are fairly inclusive over there (not that there's as much variety in

 

available MFGs there as over here). I found this attitude refreshingly

 

encouraging, and feel we should err toward this inclusiveness.

 

 

 

If some people don't want to mingle with the other makes and even get a

 

chance to meet some manufacturers and hear how they've evolved Colin

 

Chapman's original concept, then I think it's really their loss.

 

 

 

 

[slngsht]

It takes all kinds... smileys/smiley36.gif[/img] </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> <a href='http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3023099021721761508&q=deals+gap'>> http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3023099021721761508 &q=deals+gap</a></p>

[DeanG]

Al;

 

 

 

Please stop with the ugly comments about other groups. The world of Lotus is too small without further Balkanization of the community.

 

 

 

 

 

The board of Lotus Ltd has already had a brief discussion about the 7/7/7 event. We as a club are trying to find ways support more and better events. I personally believe that local Lotus Ltd affiliated clubs should try to do more and the national organization should try and help them.

 

 

 

As an aside, one Lotus Ltd. board member is already planning to attend the event and another (that would be me) would like to attend provided I have a running Seven and can afford the time and treasure necessary.