Just finished loading the Crossfire. Glad we own a Coupe! Will probably leave around 10 AM. To those driving up & planning to meet others at NC Welcome Center on I-26 West, we changed our plans & won't meet the group there. See you at the Lodge.

 

On the fast track by air at Chicago's Ohare airport to a weekend down in North Carolina for the 11th annual Fall Tail of the Dragon Crossfire event
If you're in the area come join me for lunch today at the Deals Gap at the south end of the Dragon US129
I expect to be there around 12:30 to 1:00 today on my way to Fontana Lodge

Gary

 

B n Atlanta around 4pm

 

Change of plan for lunch
Tapoco Lodge for lunch at 1:15 to 1:30
I'm on the way from Knoxville

Gary

 

Daniela & I left home @ 6 this morning and we're staying in Virginia tonight. Looking forward to seeing everyone @ the BBQ tomorrow.

 

As some of you know, I am a Photographer (Hobbyist). If I can stop being so excited long enough, I plan to take lots of pictures and post them here:

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B1...002SEVkUkxYWEk

The folder is empty right now. I just wanted to get the link here while I am on my PC. I will be uploading some pictures (not all) throughout the day via my phone if I can get a signal or WiFi connection (I have a wireless SD card). Once I return home, I plan to do a mass upload of ALL of my pictures to this folder.

Also, I brought my son's GoPro. I'll be doing some videos of my drives. I might upload those to YouTube due to their size. If I decide to do that, I will post that link here.

I am looking forward to sunrise so I can start taking pictures of all those gorgeous cars in the parking lot!

I am going to be at the BBQ tomorrow, so be ready to take a picture.

 

A great day yesterday at the Mountain home barbecue and some others went on runs including the wheels through time museum

As Saturday morning starts today we will all be getting lined up around 8:30 here on the Fontana Lodge property

This will be the first opportunity to try and count the number of cars that are actually here this fall
We then block US28 to make the exit from the lodge clear for every single Crossfire to proceed in a single line the 3 miles south on US28 down to the Fontana Dam visitor center in parking lot

Once we are all down there and parked we will spend some time taking photos and then we will separate into the five or six groups today with their respective leaders and then leave for our daily runs.

Something new this year will be "Drone Video" being taken by Andy King
Andy has mastered taking drone video at CAA7 back in June with a high quality drone and video camera.

Those drone videos will be posted in this thread in the upcoming week after the end of the event

There has not been a lot of posting activity here but you have to understand cellular service and Wi-Fi connections are limited and most people are just out having to much fun to be on a computer

With that being said I'm going to get ready to go now to

Gary

 

I have arrived home safely, I want to apologize to anyone I did not say goodbye to.
I felt it best to be home before the big storm comes through tonight and tomorrow, as some roads may be closed due to the heavy winds and rain.
I enjoyed the time there, great gumbo night and Friday BBQ !
I miss not seeing Wheels Through Time today though.

 

Thanks for letting us know George
I'm glad you were able to join us for the Gumbo potluck dinner on Thursday night and the Friday BBQ in Franklin
Hope the coming storm doesn't cause you any loss or damage

Gary

 

SUNDAY

breakfast at deals gap or the lodge
Be inside the Fontana lobby at 11 AM if you choose to go on any runs scheduled for Sunday
Runs will be determined at that time based on the number of people attending and the weather
Feel free to make this your own day if you wish and go explore on your own or shop or whatever interest you
Hoping to have good weather and good runs tomorrow will see you in the lobby at 11 AM if not sooner at breakfast

Gary

 

Roberta & I arrived home safe & sound this morning from Fontana Dam, NC. Like some others, with the remnants of Tropical Storm Nate in the area, we decided to leave a day early. However, we really enjoyed our stay this weekend. Congrats to all who took an active role in putting this event together, along with those that arranged special events (THU Gumbo & FRI BBQ). Great seeing all those Crossfires together in one place. I'll post pictures from the weekend in Photobucket and will provide a link soon.

Special thanks to Paul for taking the role as Leader for the Bryson City Water Falls run on Saturday. We had nine cars in our group, which was a good size. Paul led us at cruising speeds during our driving segments - very much appreciated. This allowed us to enjoy the surrounding scenery along with the Crossfires either ahead or behind us in line.

Later,

 

Glad ya got home safely
Just a tip ..... links from Photobucket no longer work on this forum

 

Many thanks to Paul for stepping up , we had a great time. When we stopped , while we were talking, looking at the cars, we had every color of the crossfire line , except black , in our group. They are beautiful.

 

Just 'cause I'm curious. Is this a Forum issue or Photobucket issue?

 

We're under a tornado warning until 5:30 PM today! Nate still has some attitude! Those still at Fontana Dam, NC need to take any necessary precautions.

 

Photobucket changes implemented this
All past links posted on this forum also no longer contain images

 

Many of us are just here enjoying the lodge after a nice lunch in Bryson City
Some of the others are out with Michael on an all day run
Hoping they all return safely soon

 

Got home an hour ago, not a pleasant ride, I've never driven in winds strong enough that a CROSSFIRE got wobbly! Until today. And the heavy rain and fog meant a 4 1/2 hour ride that should have been well under 3 hours.

As if the weather was not enough:
Coming into Blairsville, I had a sheriff SUV behind me, I was driving just fine, no issues, and came upon a person who pulled out and got into the left turn lane to merge with my lane. They acted like they were going to cut in front of me, so I slowed down but did not brake hard. The deputy in the SUV behind me was not paying attention and, at the very last second, realized I had slowed from the limit of 45 to about 20 --- and stood on his brakes but did not hit me.

IRONY: After all the tickets and lectures about safety given me by LEOs in the last eight years with these cars - would it not be outrageous to have my car damaged by a sheriff deputy's driving?

 

Glad you are home Mark

 

I have never come home with so many gifts from a Crossfire Event. I am afraid I will leave someone out (cause I was drinking a bit this weekend and you know I dont' drink).

But I must try to remember, so Special thanks to: Paul, George, John, the other John, Robert, Nick, Mary as well as to the person Saturday evening - I don't remember who you were cause I'd been drinking what ever Nick gave me.