Checking Out Fontana Dam

Fontana Dam, the view from down below. I just thought this was a cool picture...
http://www.tva.com/sites/fontana.htm

Stoopid Girl Working on My MINI

It didn't take long to make it down to the giant venor tent and start flashing my cash.

Here I am getting an install from the seller of MINI eyes. Nice job Stoopid Girl! Here are links to her sites:
http://rogueminis.com/3.html
http://stoopidgirl.blogspot.com/

Early Arrivals into Fontana Village

On Wednesday afternoon we arrive into Fontana Village and the place is pretty quiet. Just the calm before the storm of hundreds of MINIs inbound for adventure.
http://www.fontanavillage.com/

On the Way to MOTD 2008...Black Mountain, NC

Another year, another MINIs on the Dragon. We had a small caravan this year out of Clemmons, NC and we collectively decided to stop at a very nice local pizza place in Black Mountain. http://www.myfatherspizza.com/

After a really nice lunch we all decided to stretch our legs and visit some very cool local shops. This place has that old small town feel and the shops are worth visiting for some really unusual stuff. This picture shows a view back down one of the streets.

The Mobile Version of Grassroots Garage

A picture of one of the best MINI mechanics in the USA. Dan Zipkin. We are lucky to have him so close to us in North Carolina. Here he is seen in action installing yet another supercharger pulley. He must have installed a truckload of pulleys this weekend!

http://grassrootsgarage.com/

The MINIs on show

Some of the clubs members had several cars on display. Here is a shot of two of them. There were quite a few MINIs there, my only comment is we needed more room to park them. This place is not small and it was packed with cars! I have this event on my calendar for 2009.

My Favorite Car.

The inside of the engine compartment of a red Austin Healy Bugeye Sprite. What a nice car! I have always liked these cars and I owned a MG Midget myself. One day I need to dig some pictures of my car out...In the mean time I have to stay away from these cars, if one were to come up for sale I might be tempted to pull my wallet out.

Uh oh.

So much for the tire dressing!

Line 'em Up.

A whole line of classics with the bonnets up. There were so many cars at this event there is no way I can post all the pictures. This was a lot of fun.

A view across the hill...

Looking back at the large building that houses the gift shop, a huge tasting room, and other things you can see the music shell on the hill. This building will be the stage for some awesome music this year. Take a look at the schedule...these people have most of the classic beach music bands that ever hit a stage....I will be back. Soon.
http://www.sheltonvineyards.com/default.aspx?shelton=39

Shelton Vineyards...Beautiful in the Spring.

I have seen the vineyards in California but there are no vineyards that exceed this place in layout and beauty. As I came through Dobson for my first visit to this area I was stunned at the large entrance gates and the detail in the landscaping. I am a landcaping nut myself and this place reminded me of some of the best I have seen. I thought I had arrived at Biltmore! Nice job folks!

Had Your Pork Chop Sandwich Yet?

On the way to the vineyards we stopped by Mount Airy. http://www.mountairy.org/

This is a very nice town I really enjoy walking around in.

The Snappy Lunch is the place to get your pork chop sandwich. Just remember it closes at 1:15 sharp on Saturday! http://www.visitmayberry.com/detailsnorthcarolina.asp?BusinessID=58&BusinessCategoryID=85

On the way to Shelton Vineyards!

As I motor down the road on my way to the British Car gathering at Shelton Vineyards http://www.sheltonvineyards.com/ I picked up a bit of a caravan of really three nice English automobiles. I captured this picture in the western edge of Rockingham County from my driver mirror. I thought it was cool that we just casually met on a country road.

Dirtgasm...

You have to understand something about my car. It lives a protective life. I watch the weather constantly and if there is a chance of rain my car stays in the garage. That is the temperature controlled garage. I never let it get dirty and it has only been driven in the rain once when I got caught in the rain at the Dragon run last year. At this point the car even still has the new car smell in it..well this trip I was made fun of for my "pristine MINI." OK by me I like my cars in like new condition baybe. SO I finally named my car. He is now "Mr Clean."
As we finished our day at the Hickory Tavern for some fine British Ale and great food this picture was taken in the parking lot by some MINI paparazzi...Not to matter...I was out in 30 degree weather the next day washing Mr. Clean and detailing the fender wells...All is good...

A detour....

We continued our ride through a bunch of twisty roads and through a mountain pass. We tried to get on the Blue Ridge Parkway for a short stint but the road was closed due to snow. So we changed the planned route and had to detour. Our leader was using google maps on his Iphone. I asked him on our radio frequency if he was lost. He said trust me and I did. The next thing I know we are on a frozen dirt road! OMG. There were all kinds of people making comments on the radio like..."if I had known we were going four wheeling I would have brought my WRX!!" "Don't look now, he has a gun." "I swear I hear banjo music." As I crossed a bridge of hand-hewn trees I prayed the weight of my car would not break it. Rifle Range Road...what a story.


Now our trip has become the Ned Beatty Classic" adventure canoe trip / world rally championship training run...

All Lined up on Stone Mountain....

All the MINIs lined up in the parking lot. We paused to stretch our legs, chat, and take a few pictures. The park ranger rolled though and smiled at our pack of cars. Everyone loves the MINIs.

Yes it Was a Bit Cold...

A picture of me with my layers on to keep the cold way....Love my Ferrari F1 team coat...that is one warm coat.

The GPS View....

My view of the GPS while cruising the area around Stone Mountain....I love my Garmin Nuvi 360. Remember you can click the picture to enlarge it for reading..

Surrounded by Deer....

There were deer everywhere in the Stone Mountain area. They were all over the side of the road. I counted over twenty in one field alone...

Headed to Stone Mountain, North Carolina

The MINI line headed for Stone Mountain last Saturday. It was a cold day. We started in Winston-Salem with about 20 MINIs. We had a nice twisty route up to Elkin and into Stone Mountain Park.