************************************************** **********

*****PLEASE READ THE ENTIRE PAGE HERE ALL THE WAY THROUGH TO THE BOTTOM OF POST 5*****
We have gone out of our way to provide all the information we can in advance of the event.
If you are attending for the first time we recommend you read through these 2 other thread links below:
*****Info for first time attendees to the Dragon meets*****
*****An introduction to the Tail of the Dragon*****

.................
Come Join all of us at the 16th Annual Fall 2022 CROSSFIRE "Tail of the Dragon"
In the Mountains of North Carolina (off HWY 28 just 9 miles south of the Dragon's South end)
Official website - CLICK >Tail of the Dragon
__________________________________________________ _________

PLEASE POST IN THIS THREAD IF YOU WILL BE ATTENDING
Please provide your name(s) and city and state
Please indicate your arrival day (am/pm) and check out (departure) day
You will then be added to the attendance list in post #2
__________________________________________________ _________

About the event:
Enjoy the accommodations at the Fontana Village Resort in the beautiful mountains of North Carolina.
Enjoy meeting other members and experience some incredible driving in groups around the Smokey Mountains.
This get-together (GTG) is for drivers of all skill levels and driving interests.
Route leaders will be taking individual groups on daily routes that vary from a relaxing drive in the mountains, to those that might make some passengers (and even DRIVERS) hold on tight.


Room reservations

If you think you are going to call and get a room two weeks before the event - you aren't, the lodge will sell out by July or August. PLEASE do not message me or Gary this Fall asking us to help get you a reservation , we couldn't before and we cant now.
We have added Thursday night to our room block for those who want to arrive a day earlier than the majority of folks who will arrive Friday
Check-in time is 4:00PM - Check-out time is 11:00AM

Just call (828) 498 2211 and ask for the reservations desk.
Tell them your booking with the "Chrysler Crossfire Group" to be certain to get our reduced group rate.

Our discounted room rates are:
$92 + Tax (without any additional fees) for rooms with either 1 King or 2 Queen beds in the lodge or Garden units (these are adjacent to the lodge).
When making your reservation your credit card will be charged $92 + Tax (One Night) for a deposit
Reservations must be made by August 1 to get a room at our group rate.

Consider sharing your room with another attendee to reduce lodging costs; room shares can often be found by mentioning in your post in this thread that you are interested in a room share. Cabins are also available at a reduced rate on a case-by-case basis but not as low as $92 a night.

CANCELLATION POLICY:
Reservations cancelled within ninety days of arrival and up to thirty days prior to arrival date will be charged a $50.00 cancellation fee.
Reservations cancelled within thirty days of arrival will result in a forfeiture of your deposit.
AVOID CANCELLATION FEES:
Please keep in mind that we always have last-minute attendees looking for a place to stay
(and the lodge WILL likely be booked as we near the cutoff date ).
If you must cancel, announce it in this thread before contacting Fontana Lodge
There may be someone here who will gladly take over your reservation.
Once they choose to do this for you ....you can then call the lodge and ask them to give your room to the other guest by providing their full name
Your credit card will be credited once they have the new credit card info from the person who takes over your reservation

CLICK > Google Maps
Set your GPS to:
300 Woods Rd.
Fontana Dam, North Carolina

This will bring you directly to the Fontana Lodge


CLICK > to see Spring & Fall Dragon Attendance History

If distance to this event is a problem consider flying into Knoxville and renting a car
It's only about a 75 minute drive to the Lodge where we all stay
There is always a passenger seat open for you to ride along in a Crossfire and enjoy the fun
This event is not to be missed I assure you
CLICK > Tyson McGhee Airport














BELOW IS A TYPICAL AGENDA FOR THE WEEKEND - this is not gospel, but its close!

 

Attendance List - First time attendees in ALL RED, international attendees in italic.
Each line represents a car, if you are bringing more than one Crossfire, tell us, as we plan the event based on how many cars AND how many people will be there.


Pizzaguy - Mark & Mystery Girl - Bentonville, Arkansas - Thursday PM - Monday AM (It's a totally NEW mystery girl THIS time!)
Valk - Gary - Aurora, Illinois - Thursday PM - Monday AM
Crystal - Crystal - Baton Rouge, Louisiana - Thursday - Monday
Cap10Rob - Rob & Julie - Bargersville, Indiana - Thursday - Monday
dcas17 - Dennis & Dan - Forked River, New Jersey - Thursday - Sunday
The Brothers Madigan - Patrick - Phoenix Arizona - Thursday - Monday
pnorton215 - Phil - Blairsville, Georgia - Thursday - Sunday
pnorton215 - Michele - Blairsville, Georgia - Thursday - Sunday
critical8282 - Winston Salem, North Carolina - Late Friday - Sunday
Callred - Chuck & Marie, Moraine, Ohio -Friday - Sunday

bmuccbbin - Bob & Jodi Oldes - Olathe Kansas / Lincoln California - Thursday - Monday
oledoc2u - Doc - Cicero, Indiana - Thursday - Sunday
cjmz888 - Chris & Josie - Ktown, Ontario, Canada - Thursday - Monday
Osofast2 - Ray & Susan - Lexington, Kentucky -Wednesday - Monday
Dschnbgr - Dick & Karen - Maitland, Florida - Thursday - Sunday
#### - Glenn & Pam - Boone, North Carolina - Thursday - Sunday
Massgold - Patrick & Christine - Port Colborne, Ontario, Canada - Friday - Monday
#### - Gates & Gail - Stevensville, Ontario, Canada - Friday - Monday
Iamfink2 - Pat - Laurel, Maryland - Thursday - Sunday
Mr Peabody - Zachary & Mimi - Bluffton, South Carolina - Thursday - Sunday

wildmanmopars - Dean - Mount Juliet,Tennessee - Thursday - Monday
wildmanmopars - Lori - Mount Juliet, Tennessee - Thursday - Monday
Dusty - Annette - Autryville, North Carolina - Thursday PM - Monday AM
GannyX - James - Maiden, North Carolina - Thursday - Monday
TeamSapphire - Kara & Dorothy - Pensacola, Florida - Thursday PM to Tuesday AM
GWN05 - Terry & MaryEllen - North Bay, Ontario - Thursday - Monday
Team 108EER - Steve - Wahnema Warsaw, Indiana - Thursday PM - Monday AM
mickey5469 - John & Ella - Gainesville, Georgia - Thursday - Sunday
Rets - John - Chattanooga, Tennessee - Thursday - Sunday
xfClifford - Clifford & Mystery Girl - Dayton, Ohio - Friday - Sunday

MoJoXF - Joe & Kerri - Ellabell, Georgia - Thursday - Sunday
Ayzpilot - Greg - Atlanta, Georgia -Friday - Monday
Ayzpilot - Karen - Atlanta, Georgia -Friday - Monday
Bigdog1742 - Mark & Janice - Knoxville, Tennessee - Thursday - Monday
ptimby - Steven & Patricia - Frankenmuth / Ann Arbor, Michigan - Thursday - Monday
Preacher Man - Cliff & Robin - Knoxville, Tennessee - Thursday and Friday
NeedSynthetic - Michael & Son - Savannah, Georgia - Thursday - Sunday
SRQfun - Michael - Sarasota, Florida - Thursday - Monday
#### - Brian - Palm Coast, Florida- Thursday - Monday
Glenn - South River, New Jersey - Thursday - Monday

Tar Heel David - David - Charlotte, North Carolina - Thursday to Sunday
Donze - Donze & Susie - Gonzales, Louisiana - 2005 Alabaster Roadster - Thursday - Monday
JSK - Jeff & Bernie - Mesa, Arizona - Thursday thru Sunday
Larskeller - CRUZN42 - Lars & Joyce - Acworth, Georgia
Oakwood XF - Tricia - Oakwood, Georgia -Friday - Sunday
Tom3120 - Tom & Patti - Lafayette, Indiana - Thursday PM - Sunday AM
BMcDonald0628 - Bruce- Santa Rosa Beach, Florida - Friday AM - Monday
###### - Sonya & Tonya - Chattanooga, Tennessee - Friday - Monday
KNOWHIM - Klay & Kathy - Alma, Michigan - Thursday - Monday
The Brothers Madigan - Allen- Phoenix Arizona - Thursday - Monday

Jeffandmara - North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina - Friday-Saturday
RandyRadio - Randy - Franklin, North Carolina - Thursday - Sunday
TexasT - Danny & Sonia - Wills Point, Texas - Thursday - Monday
#### - Jack & Inge - Northport, Florida - Wednesday - Monday
cg80 - Carl - Myrtle Beach, South Carolina - Thursday - Sunday
#### - Donnie & Patty - Simpsonville, South Carolina -Friday - Sunday
luvjesus2day - John & Tracey - Birmingham, Alabama - Thursday - Saturday PM
dcas17 - Dennis & Dan - Forked River, New Jersey - Thursday - Sunday
Beede05limited - Donnie - Simpsonville, South Carolina- Friday - Saturday
Beede05limited - Larry - Morristown, Tennessee - Friday - Saturday

GreggSRT - Gregg & Rhonda - Mt. Vernon, Illinois
Jdawson16 - John & Joanie - Port Orange , Florida - Arriving Thursday - Leaving Tuesday.
BettyNVeronica - Veronica & David - Orlando, FL - Thursday PM to Monday PM
RSBaird - Randy & Sally - Rutherford, Tennessee - Thursday PM to Sunday AM
BRDEE - Markus & Mary - Greensboro, North Carolina - Friday to Sunday
copperman1960 - Jim - Cornelius, North Carolina - Thursday - Sunday
Ssquill13 - Scott & Rachel - New Albany, Indiana - Thursday PM to Sunday Am

 

As your drive north down US129 in North Carolina, you eventually cross the state line into Tennessee. The first 11 miles in Tennessee consists of 318 curves and is the actual “Tail of the Dragon”. This stretch of road consists of nothing but curves – no intersections, no driveways, no homes and no businesses – nothing but trees and curves.

Very little of our weekend is spent on the Dragon, this area consists of almost nothing BUT wonderful roads – the Dragon gets most of the press, but the fact is, most of us have a favorite road or drive up here and it often is not the Dragon.

A worthwhile video about the Tail of the Dragon . . .>> Drive the Tail of the DragonWhen we speak of “The Tail of the Dragon”, most of us really mean the whole weekend. The Dragon consists of driving some wonderful, fun roads that feature more than fun curves. We will drive routes that take us up above the clouds and down into forests with wonderful waterfalls and other such natural beauty that this area is known for.

The weekend also means spending time with a group of people who all have at least one thing in common: The appreciation of a unique car with an involved pedigree. We will be sharing food, fellowship, fun, inside jokes, and often, several of us end up fixing someone’s car in the lodge parking lot – it happens almost every time.
Test Some tourists become upset when they pass photographers on the Dragon and other roads in the area, but this is all part of the fun. You can order high-resolution photographs of your car as a souvenir of the weekend. The major photographers are listed here; note that you can search their sites by date and approximate time. Killboy and US129 Photos usually also subdivide the photos in folders that contain ONLY Crossfire photos – so finding yours can be quite easy. If we have enough cars and make enough runs past the photographers, special offers will show up on the sites below targeting our group – watch for these special offers when visiting their sites AFTER the event. Most offers and photos are posted by the Tuesday after the event.

http://www.killboy.com/

http://www.129photos.com/

http://129slayer.com/129Slayer/129_S...on_US_129.html

 

Each year, we vary the routes we offer. Often, regular attendees invent their own runs and find various museums or attractions to visit. Below are a few examples.

UPDATE JULY 30, 2022:
There will be a Chimney Rock run, details and signup is here:
https://www.crossfireforum.org/forum...e-weekend.html

Cherohala Skyway Run

We can't have a Dragon without this one. You get it all: A run down curvy, high-elevation winding roads, a run thru the Dragon, a visit to one of the following: Bald River Falls, The Lost Sea or a Winery. Also, we encounter a Walgreens, liquor store, big grocery store, Harley-Davidson accessories store, Deals Gap stores as well as several gas stations in Robinsville, Tellico Plains and Vonore.

################################################## ####
Mark's Mystery Tour

Totally accidentally, I found/invented a new run for us and offered it two years ago, it was a hit and will return this fall.

WHAT IT IS:

• We will be gone five hours.
• We will stop for lunch.
• We will see some wonderful roads and scenery.
• No further information is, or will be, available. So do not ask.

NOW:

• No maps will be given out; no description of the run will be given to anyone.
• No one without a QUALITY (Kenwood or Midland Mobile) radio will be allowed to drive on this run. (No Walmart/Amazon FRS radios; I will have at least two spare REAL radios. There are unique aspects of some of this route - you MUST be able to hear what the leader is telling you.)
  And the most amazing (or suspicious) part: It will be almost entirely Tourist Class - only the slightest "Sport Skill" will be required. (When did I ever lead a tourist run?)

################################################## ########


The Church Run

The Church run started in 2018 in Honor of Johnathan and his Sunday morning devotionals he led for many years until his passing in 2015. Each year we choose a different denominational church. This years run will take us out of Fontana on a road you probably didn’t know existed then on through Robbinsville for a fuel/potty stop then on down Wayah road to Franklin for a church service at Discover church 11:30 AM. Lunch is at a favorite in Franklin, the Motor Company Grill at about 1:00 then on to Bryson City for a small waterfall hike. It's about a half mile round trip to the falls.

Route http://mapq.st/2UDlCnC

We will line up at 9:00 on the upper road in the lodge parking lot and leave at 9:15. We plan to stop in Robbinsville to get gas/snacks/potty/etc then on to the church in Franklin.
https://discover.church

Lunch website Motor Company Grill - 1950s Themed Diner Restaurant in Franklin, NC

Waterfalls are optional due to the hike in. It is hilly and a lot of terrain changes but on a marked trail.

################################################## ###


Other Runs

We vary in what runs we offer. The factors that determine where we go are: What the leaders feel confident with, what attendees express interest in at the Friday night driver's meeting, weather conditions and number of cars. Please understand that ANYONE can invent a run and lead it. Don't worry about how it will go - the first time on a new route is always interesting. (This last Dragon, we tried a new route, not knowing the best road of the route was closed - that turned into some unexpected fun ! )

We try to limit runs to ten cars each, as it is hard to handle a LOT of cars and more than 20 people at a time will overwhelm some of the little restaurants we visit over the weekend. If we have more than ten cars, we usually break into two groups for that run.

Check back here over the next few months for updates on routes that are being offered, as leaders discuss their plans. If you want to be a leader, simply post that in this thread and we will add you to the conversation (which is held elsewhere, including conference calls, email and private messages).



##################################################


From DEDWARDS0323:

If there is sufficient interest, I would be willing to lead a group of Crossfires over to Chimney Rock, NC to see this favorite spot near Lake Lure. Kinda makes for a long day, but the view would be spectacular. We'd spend around 2-2.5 hours taking in the state park & having lunch in Chimney Rock. Probably a Friday trip. Would drive on a section of the BRP coming back. (see attached map) Note: If you've seen the movie Last of the Mohicans, several scenes in the movie were filmed in & around Chimney Rock.

Chimney Rock State Pack

Hickory Nut Gorge Brewery (Chimney Rock)


Other FUN!
tttt
Other places or activities we will probably visit:

The Wheels Thru Time Museum
https://wheelsthroughtime.com/
We turn this into an all-day event, as we drive to Maggie Valley, visit the museum, get lunch and then come back to the lodge via the Parkway and other roads. This can be a LONG day (over 7 hours) or a shorter event - depends on leader motivation and participant interest.



The Road to NoWhere
https://www.greatsmokies.com/road-nowhere/
It's a short drive to Bryson City, NC. The Road to NoWhere does not take long to drive, so we either hike to the lake or stop in Bryson City for shopping. Lunch is is in Bryson City at any one of many restaurants.

Sunset Ride on Fontana Lake
This is a chartered boat ride guided by a local expert who can tell you all about how the lake and dam came about, decades ago.

Go-Karts
https://www.nascarspeedpark.com/
We've had some attendees drive to this park only to drive AT this park - it's an all-day event, as it's a considerable drive thru the Smokies to get there.

 

We use FRS/GMRS radios to coordinate activities and keep in touch on the road. Formerly, I was recommending the Midland MXT line of mobile radios, but lately, the failure rate has risen to up to 30% out of the box.

So, for now, my only recommended radio is the Motorola T100.

Here is my updated tutorial on radios for Crossfire meets.

 

Put us on the list for two of those, whenever you clear them. We plan to bring two Crossfires to the next event. Thanks, Mark!

 

KDW4Him - Klay & Kathy Alma, Michigan Thursday-Monday

 

Add my sons to the list:
@QuadPrism William & Wesley Emiro, Holt, FL - 2004 Limited Coupe, Friday-Sunday

 

Please add Bob McCubbin/Jodi Oldes
Olathe KS/Lincoln CA
2005 Alabaster Roadster
Thursday 9/29 to Monday 10/03

 

Doc Holliday, Cicero IN, aero blue SRT6. Thursday PM thru Sunday noon.

 

Well, HELL! I did not expect this!

 

Ya have a bunch of old friends counting on you to be here Doc !!!!

 

Roberta & I will plan on attending this event.

Roberta & Dennis / Upstate SC / THU PM - SUN AM

Update: Booked a Lodge Room this morning.

 

Hello Mark,
please put Lida & Andre on the List.
Germany
Thursday 9/29 to Monday 10/03

 

If there is sufficient interest, I would be willing to lead a group of Crossfires over to Chimney Rock, NC to see this favorite spot near Lake Lure. Kinda makes for a long day, but the view would be spectacular. We'd spend around 2-2.5 hours taking in the state park & having lunch in Chimney Rock. Probably a Friday trip. Would drive on a section of the BRP coming back. (see attached map) Note: If you've seen the movie Last of the Mohicans, several scenes in the movie were filmed in & around Chimney Rock.

Chimney Rock State Pack

Hickory Nut Gorge Brewery (Chimney Rock)

 

I added this to the post about routes! Thanks!


Also, I added my latest tutorial on radios in post 5.

 

I currently have the Midland MXT105 installed in my Roadster but it hasn't been the superior radio is was thought to be
I'm going back to the simpler way and just ordered a new set of the Motorola T100 handheld radios

 

I've never been a fan of the MicroMobile 2-way Radio style. The hand-held 2-way radios have made such significant progress over the past 10 years giving a good performance vs. cost benefit. I've got a pair of Midland hand-held 2-ways with a max range of 26 miles in optimum conditions. So far no issues receiving or transmitting at Crossfire events in Fontana or Eureka Springs. We also use these with the VW Beetle group that drives ToD roadways in May every year.

 

We also began a new run this year: Tuckaleechee Caverns Run, which we will plan to do again. It includes lunch at The Abbey, and shopping off time permits. We have been to many caverns, and this is our favorite so far.

 

Not really new but worth the trip...