2013 DGRR weekend was a whole lot of fun.

Several of us more seasoned and wise owners of 1st gen RX-7s (Mike, Tim, Robert and me) took refuge in a cabin on the hillside overlooking the lodge:






The view:















There was a bald eagle soaring overhead:





Here's a little video action on our way down to the dragon:

20130420_161212_zps4e34a840.mp4 Video by Silver85rx7 | Photobucket

 

Some SAs and FBs down by the dam:





Some of the nicer rotaries:

 

A shot of the shot at the dam from up on a hill behind the parking lot:



All these and more at:

2013 DGRR Photos by Silver85rx7 | Photobucket

 

Yeah... That was by far one of the LAMEST trips I've ever taken... Shoulda just stayed at home.

FYI: Deals gap is just a damn in the middle of some curvy roads.... Its not a city or even a gas station. (there is a gas station on one side of the "dragon")

And I'm just gonna further the rant by saying that NC has (and probably always will have) the absolute WORST road signage I've ever experinced. I still remeber passing through Durham a few years ago and seeing a sign that had a dimond, triangle, square, and a circle on it with arrows pointing in all directions.... I mean WTF???

Oh and no offence... but there were TOO many Yankees for my taste.

And a cold front rolled in making my camping freeken colder than ****.


UGH never again.


Although, the "dragon" was interesting to drive on, but NOT worth the PITA to get their let alone the fuel costs.

And I guess it was cool that I got these sexy steelies and a small axle LSD.

 

^^ I would have to agree with Qingdao. My biggest complain is the lack of an ternary. This was my first year attending and had zero clue as to what was happening and when. The ONLY bit of information we received was from someone else informing me that everyone was supposed to meet at Fontana Dam at 5pm Saturday for a group photo. I registered online but didn't receive my shirt/name tag as I wasn't aware of where to pick those items up from.

 

^^ I had to hunt a staff dude down to get mine.

Thats why I missed Ray and the OGTA group.

And the raffel wasn't worth a poop cause it was all FD, FC, and FE parts from what I heard.


On the plus side I just realized I spent 95% of the past 36 hours in the driver seat of my car; I enjoyed that part.


I'm just gonna stick to an occasional OGTA meet. poo poo on these big get togethers.

 

I'm sure the meet is fun for the seasoned attendees that know what's going on but for the n00b's such as myself, I wasn't impressed. I was able to meet Rich and Phil and chase a black 3-rotor through the Gap which was the highlight of the trip for me.

 

Dudes, you are responsible for your own happiness. If you don't make it happen, chances are nobody else will.

All I can say is that the DGRR weekend offered me a chance to have some fun I didn't expect. Can't beat that.



What you guys need to do is build yourself a really nice rotary powered vehicle and bring it on up next year.

You'll find the experience totally different.

Also get one of those cabins with the eagles flying over, well worth the extra bucks.

PS, this was my first DGRR meet. Not bad for a start.

 

Where are the rotors on that jalopy??? JK JK


My trinagles operated fine the whole 500+ miles. I felt bad though cause my wheel contact man's clutch went out on his absolutly cherry single owner '83... I have a clutch that would have worked but I left it at home.

 

Look, I paid money to attend this gathering like everyone else and expected to at least be apart of the group and have an idea on when and where the festivals were going to be. Being that this was my first year there, I'm not aware of how everything works therefore expected a little more organization or at least an itinerary. Me and my passenger drove around on the hunt to hopefully run into everyone but the small groups that I did come across were just as clueless as we were which was disappointing. Not until late Saturday afternoon did we run into Rich and his group. Yes, we enjoyed the runs that we did on the Gap, I just wish the fun would have been shared with everyone else as I expected it to be. I'm not usually one to gripe but your comment I feel was unnecessary.

I apologize for this to be brought up in the picture thread and if I need to create a separate thread to discuss this further, I'll be more than happy to.

 

Guys, the itenerary was posted on the website:

http://www.dealsgaprotaryrally.com/index.php?s=23

While there were changes made due to weather the organizers couldnt imho be expected to contact every participant individually to advise them of necessary changes.

 

Ray, I had hoped to meet you there, but didn't, which in no way diminished my enjoyment.

I arrived Wed. late, from Richmond (450 mi.) checked into Microtel. Up early Thurs. I went about finding 'Nantahala Lodge', of which 1/2 dozen came up on a search. I drove probably 60 miles, meeting some kind people and seeing some spectacular and beautiful sights along the way. At the 5th stop I found the right one, and spent an hour in pleasant conversation with the staff and coffee shop people, learning about the area.

At that point I'd seen 2 Rx's, an SA and an FB, and figured I'd meet some Rx folks soon. So I went off to drive the vaunted Tail of the Dragon, which was enjoyable, but with traffic not quite all that and the bag of chips. I then drove 90 miles to the other side of Asheville to pick up my son who attends college there, and returned to the lodge. By then, (Thurs. afternoon) there were quite a number of rotorheads milling about, and we had a ball seeing what they had and exchanging pleasantries about the drive to Nantahala.

Presently it became apparent that registration was happening, we got our shirts and the itinerary, which was of no consequence to us, and went to the bar for a drink. Off to dinner and then to bed, planning on an early morning Dragon ride.

The morning brought rain! Hallelujah! No motorcycles and damn few cars! After a quick coffee with some pleasant FD folks from Indiana, we lit out for the Dragon. With the driving rain, it was all that it should be. A rewardingly challenging drive through some beautiful scenery, virtually unpolluted by other traffic. Only 4 cars and 2 trucks encountered, none of whom held us up, save a big *** dump truck pulling a bulldozer through the Gap. It was apparent that he'd driven the road numerous times, and I was happy to be behind him amazed at the skill and speed with which he navigated twisties. Then he pulled off, and we went on briskly.

Upon returning to The Lodge after a lovely 150 mile morning drive we were greeted by a sad looking crowd on the porch. It was almost as if they had neither gas nor wipers for their cars. Had a coffee and enjoyed meeting a few more rotorheads, and then off to return my boy to Warren Wilson. We stopped at "12 Bones" in Asheville for an exquisite lunch, saw a steam engine firing up for an excursion which called for its own stop, and on to drop him off.

By the time I returned to the Lodge that afternoon, the weather had cleared and spirits seemed brighter. Folks were returning from their drives, and it was nice to feel a part of a group of people who shared the wonderfully bizarre love for and fascination with the rotary engine. The remainder of the daylight hours were spent looking at cars and sharing the love.

 

Sigh.. I missed it yet again. *maybe* next year I'll get there.

 

Sorry to miss you Cookboy, but it sounds like you took full advantage of the weekend and had a great time.

Believe me, after a year or two you get to know all these guys and they are a lot of fun.

And it was a terrific weekend, even with the Friday sprinkles and even if you were one of the unlucky ones who got one of those fast driving awards.

Robert, so sorry to hear about that deer. I hope the damage is as superficial as it looks and you can make the paint match so close a microscope can't tell the difference.

Sean next year for sure! 2014 is the Tenth Anniversary for DGRR and rumor has it they are going to make it "the year of the Old School".

Anybody got any more pics to post?

 

First i'd like to apologize for posting on your picture thread.Please feel free to PM me to delete my post should you feel the need to do so....now.

This was my first time at DGRR.I chose to drive by myself from New Jersey on a 12 hour journey to this so called"huge yearly event".Although I knew Rich,Ihor and a couple of others from previous gatherings,I had no idea what I was getting into.I worked Friday until 1:30pm and soon after clocking out of work I was in my car heading down.Caught the huge storm in West Virginia but was determined to make it.I arrived at Bryson City at 3am where I rented a room at the Sleep Inn,and slept 3 hours so I wouldnt miss a thing.Upon waking up,I texted Rich to ask him where everyone would be at so I could join them.He texted back,gave me the address and I mapped it,and got there.You guessed it,no itinerary for me either.Once I made it to Nantahala I was just glad to see everyone cleaning their cars,talking to one another and oh the rotaries.Parked my car,asked for registration and was told where it was only to find out my name wasnt there.I hunted Phil down and told me who I was and he quickly solved the small detail.

I felt as if there was no one there that knew me and I was right.Ive met Ray Crowe,David Hayes,Garrett,a young Canadian who locked his keys inside his vehicle at the Microtel,Rich and Ihor as I stated from previous gatherings/meet.I felt out of place at the moment,but let me tell you how and why this was the most amazing event Ive been to with the rotary people;

I won the entry to DGRR while attending the Chris Carlisi Meet in New Jersey last year.Ive gone to 3 of 4 Carlisi meets although I NEVER had the opportunity to meet Chris nor ever talk to him.I also attempted to make it to his funeral and while on my way up,my car broke down,having to get it towed for about 200 miles.I figured thats what the rotary family does,right?Help one another out when in need.Anyway,upon my arrival to the Lodge,I knew nothing,and I simply asked because I knew I would be helped and feel comfortable knowing that someone would help me.I simply went to David Hayes and asked him if I could follow him wherever he went and he just smiled and said sure.I also told Phil that I had won the entry to DGRR at the Carlisi raffle and he gladly went inside and gave me my tshirt,welcomed me and thanked me for coming.

What im trying to say is that you make it what you want it to be.If you had a lousy time at DGRR is because you chose it to be that way.I had a great time,met some really nice people with very nice vehicles and admire their hard work and dedication for the rotary no matter what the circumstance.All of my fellow rotary friends/family wouldnt want it any other way.When you love and have so much passion for these cars/engines,you dont have a bad time,and even when you do,its really not that serious.So what you had to take time out of your busy schedule to see some signs youre not familiar with.So what Deals Gap isnt a city and only has one gas station,and so what if a cold front came in to ruin it for you and the Yankees that were there.None of this really mattered to the other 99.1% of the so called Yankees and they made the best of it with what was handed to them.

I,the Puertorican minority that traveled 1,370 miles round trip,am appreciative that we can get together and support the great rotary community.I spent $600 in two days,reunited with great friends,met new ones,bent a rim,developed an oil leak,a check engine light,and got home with empty pockets,wouldnt trade it for anything and would do it again and again.........all of this WITHOUT owning a rotary vehicle(im the guy with the light blue BMW,not the M3).Lighten up,live life,enjoy your passion...everyone else did.

 

^ nice post! Hope you can make it to next years DGRR

Yep no one is going to hold your hand and make sure you have a good time.


We drove around on Friday in this and still had a great time.... It's what YOU make of it.


.

 

Very nice post Gafu_Mazda

Ray - If that's the case next year I'll have to make a serious attempt to get there. When the time gets closer we should plan something...

Looks like Mike is still enjoying those Konig's I sold him, they look good on his car!

 

Do it Sean! Then I'll have yet another reason to tell the missus I _have_ to go, so that we can finally hang out!

Super cool to see all the pics and videos of the meet, I would love to come down next year and really really want to start planning the trip right now....

 

It would great to see you guys. You wouldn't be setting any records, there were folks this year from Quebec, Massachusetts, a bunch from New York, Pennsylvania, Indiana, etc.

The key is good planning and finding a nice place to stay. I would recommend getting together with two or three folks and renting a cabin. Just a little more expense but lots more bang for the buck.

 

^Good advice. Hopefully my wedding in November doesn't drain the bank account too much. Deals Gap is 5 months later so I should be able to make it happen lol

 

@82transam, @lindahlish, last year at this time I was just discovering this site and buying my first Rx7 in almost 20 years. I was determined to make DGRR, but wasn't sure til I got there that it was happening. Wives, kids, and jobs make it a little tougher, but it's all about desire. See you there next spring!