lt1_rx7

iTrader: (13)

cliff notes:
450 mi Blue Ridge Parkway...want to get large RX7 and other rotary caravan to drive the whole thing one weekend...need help in planning and knowing when...

http://www.blueridgeparkway.org/

Ok, so the idea has come up in another thread about planning a Blue Ridge Parkway trip of RX7s and other rotary powered cars. And I figured I would start a thread about it instead of continuing to hi-jack the SC meet pic thread...

So, here we are! Blue Ridge Parkway, runs from Cherokee, NC to Shenandoah, VA. Its about 450 mi in total length. I think that 1 1/2 days - 2 days would be enough time to enjoy it and get home safely.

Ok, who wants to do this? when do we want to do it? and who would like to volunteer to help plan it? with fuel stop, eating, sight seeing, etc.

Some ideas would be start a friday afternoon. drive a few hours, sleep, get up saturday, knock out a good bit of it, and then finish on sunday and give everyone time to get home...

or just start sat morning, finish sunday afternoon...

or drive the entire thing (either north or south) on saturday...and then the entire way back on sunday! (like 10-12 hours both days!! with out stopping!)

Also, if we do just one pass as a large caravan, which way do we want to drive? north or south?

ok, so thats the idea...who's up for it? fall is approaching...and the leave will be beautiful!

lt1_rx7

iTrader: (13)

And to help understand what type of trip this shall be, this was taken directly from the website listed in the opening post:

DRIVING THE PARKWAY

The speed limit is 45 miles per hour (a little less in some places). The Parkway was designed for leisurely motoring. Take your time and discover the subtlety as well as the grandeur of this special place.

You do not have to be at an overlook to stop and enjoy the scenery.

Unless otherwise posted, parking is permitted along road shoulders.

Choose a place where you can pull your car completely off the road so as not to endanger yourself or others. Be alert for wildlife. Deer and other animals may dart in front of you.

Extra vigilance is needed when driving in fog and rain. Slow down and turn on your headlights. A little caution will help assure that inclement weather only dampens picnics and temporarily impairs the scenic views.

Motorcyclists should be especially alert. Helmets are required for operators and passengers. In North Carolina, the headlight must be on anytime a motorcycle is in motion.

(found on this page to be specific: http://www.blueridgeparkway.org/visiting.htm)

Noxlupus

Hey Tray, I'll help you get this organized. Give me a call and we'll work on the logistics. We'll make a few phone calls, etc. and try to get some group rates on lodging, etc.

Skylance

May I suggest the 2nd or 3rd Week in October? I don't know about the NC parts of the Drive, but in the Shenandoah Region, I know for a fact that is the peek leaf-color-change times. Anyone who's ever looked down on the Shenandoah Valley from an overlook on the BRP or Skyline Drive during that time never forgets it!

mazda.junkie

Thanks Tray, I spent most of the evening thinking about this. My deduction is that it would be great to enjoy the leaves, however leaves= slow *** people from everywhere so if everyone is fine with that then I say shoot for October. This is not going to be like the DGRR where we can haul *** in groups, but some spirited can be done primarily at night when there is no traffic. I guess Cherokee would be the place to start and since the SCRX-7 Club already frequent this area then it wouldn't be to much farther for them. I will do all I can make sure this happens because I think everyone will enjoy this. Also seeing that there are so many roads
that meet the BRP that even if some people didnt want to go the distance they could just meet up with us and drop back off wherever. BRPRR FTW!

lt1_rx7

iTrader: (13)

Eli, the idea behind this is not to haul a$$. My view on it is that this is a relaxing trip, stopping frequently to get pictures and possibly some little hiking. We are looking at stretching the 450 mi over a Friday evening, all day Saturday and finish up Sunday morning. So we are not pressed for time really.

If people enjoy this Blue Ridge Rotary Run, then we will do it again next year, but start in VA and come back to NC. The idea is to have it switch directions each year.

The other idea is to start off in NC this year because I already know several people from this area who are most likely to do this. (Like you mentioned, the SCrx7Club)

Gianny and I have already started planning this and we are looking at the weekend of Oct 6th - 8th. We plan to look for hotels and attempt to get group rates along with making t-shirts available. I will also work on a website giving information and to post pictures afterwards.

We didn't mean to "cut" you out of planning, we were just able to chat today and throw some ideas back and forth without cluttering up the thread...so PM me and/or give me a call this evening and we'll go from there. Don't worry, you will get credit for the idea

mazda.junkie

I completely agree with the relaxed and laid back approch to this trip. Seneca and I talked about this lastnight and he mentioned some hiking too, which I wasnt sure how it would go over with everyone. Since its not something we will get to do often "whole parkway" I to would love to enjoy a few trails, overlooks, etc.
And Ill prolly bring a tent and post up on the parkway and just enjoy the parkway at night, which as you know is sorta magical lol. The Idea for me is not to have to be pushing the envelope the whole time with our cars and just enjoy the place and our company, that way we can walk away from this with more that a tired *** and burnt up tires and brakes. And true, if there is enough interest in this than I see no reason not to make this a concrete event every year.

liquidblackracing

iTrader: (3)

sweet man im down as long as its not the weekend of the 5th of oct my step bro is getting maried in colorado so i wont be here. and i think gt live at vir is that weekend if any one is going. im sad that i cant but i would love to do the brp. that would be awsome

lt1_rx7

iTrader: (13)

the other weekend we are considering for 2nd choice is Oct 17th - 20th, but I'm not sure I will be available that weekend

Skylance

Couple of things.

1). Y'all have done a good job so far of planning the cruise on the parkway from one end to the other. What about the trip home?

2). Oct. 6 - 8 may be a bit early for the leaves (pre-peak). Should still be a great view though!

Not trying to be a dick or anything. Just my $0.02

Noxlupus

We are actually leaning more and more toward the 17th - 20th of Oct because of that very reason. Not to mention the fact that, a) It'll be 6 months to the day of DGRR, and it will give us a bit more time to plan and make sure everything goes according to plan.

mazda.junkie

1). I can only speak for myself, but ill prolly turn around and drive the BRP back to 276 where I live. It will be about a 900 mile round trip for me.

2). My only argument with the (peak color) of the leaves is that there will be SO MANY PEOPLE up there. I can live with that I guess, but not everyone does the 45mph speedlimit. Obviously, people from FLA to locals will be up there and while some people will pull off if they choose to drive 25 or 35, some wont. I guess it all boils down to what is the optimal date for everyone to be able to participate

Skylance

1). Personally, if we are able to go, the wife and I will probably stay and visit family in VA and come down a few days later. My bro is coming home from Iraq for his mid-tour leave "sometime in October". So, it'll be awesome to make the trip the long way instead of the interstates for a change.

Good point, mazda.junkie, on 2). I don't know about the whole parkway, but i can guarantee that once we hit Shenandoah, the Drive/Parkway will be slam full of RV's and Campers. Trust me, there is NO way those things can come close to the 45 mph speed limit in the mountains. They won't turn off and get out of the way either. Those people tend to be dumb tourists who left their brains back home on the shelf next to their financial difficulties.

mazda.junkie

^^^lol, at that point we might as well be driving riding lawnmowers.

rotarybeat1287

iTrader: (16)

you know out of anybody that I am down for this. driving slow (the speed limit) on the BRP is fun enough rather than speeding. there are those turns that have multiple apex's on the parkway and in some places, no guardrails @ 5k ft up in the air w/ the cliff edge just feet from the road shoulder.

so yeah, im down for just cruising, saving gas and enjoying the trip.

btw... i will probably invest in a bra cover for the front of my FC for this and depending on when we do this i think others should look into this as well. lol.

a mixture of cell phone and camera pics i have from my trips:

lt1_rx7

iTrader: (13)

the main idea i'm trying for here is just a cruise, not to drive fast...yes there will be alot of people up there...i accept that...

as for returning home, i'm kinda leaving that open to those who go, if they want to drive the parkway back, thats on them...i'm personally most likely going to take interstate...i'm mainly concerned with planning the meeting in cherokee and driving the parkway...a nice and leisure trip...doing about 2 hours of driving on friday, 6 total hours on saturday and the final 2 on sunday...but it wont be just driving, i plan to stop at mount mitchell, probably craggy gardens, devil's court house and possibly grave yard fields...

we are talking right now about finding areas with large camp grounds and nearby hotels for those who dont want to "rough it"...

mazda.junkie

I dont really want to haul *** either, I just want to be able to make good time when we want to. It is a long drive, and we will want to stop and check places out and take some great PICs. Hell, once im up there its VA or bust no matter how long it takes. Watched Modern Marvels on the History Channel the otherday and they it covering Americas Greatest highways and they covered the BRP, and how they built the Viaduct (sp) Pretty cool stuff.^^^

mazda.junkie

7x7ft 3 man tent and some campfire hotdogs and burgers, and a 6 pack of Red hook IPA FTW!

Hitokiri_Gensai

iTrader: (2)

oh mannnn that would be an AWESOME trip...
I hadnt even thought about a rotary caravan trip tho xD
ive made the trip in my Subaru before, was sooo worth it.

mazda.junkie

^^^If the date"s" seems doable, then welcome aboard!

Hitokiri_Gensai

iTrader: (2)

you know, it sucks cause the weekend you've picked is like the weekend AFTER ill be returning to Connecticut for the rest of my schooling. Sooooo close haha.

Ill be heading back from Johnson City, Tennessee, on Friday the 12th and hopefully getting home the 13th, but if you guys are taking the BRP that weekend id swing over and ride it up with you guys before continuing on to Connecticut.

SouthSideSlider

by then i should have my licends so i could make this and if a supply car is realy needed i'll just get the 740 turbo volvo back online and run that with you guys.

mazda.junkie

Good luck on the license, as for the chase car....well um why is the turbo Volvo offline? Does it have a 13b in it?? j/k hope you can make it.

liquidblackracing

iTrader: (3)

my dad might come as well in his car so it might not be all rotary anyways either that or he will hitch a ride with me

mazda.junkie

Im going to say that we just lock it down right now, and make the weekend of
October 20 a date to shoot for. All those in favor say"I". My friend Seneca is down for the run and another guy from my area seems interested to,
and I will talk to Keith about it in detail within the next few days to see if he can get away from ATL on that date.