Ok, so for those of you who don't know what the hell the Dragon is, here is a short description.
The Dragon, or Tail of the Dragon, is part of Hwy. 129 it is 11 miles long, with 318 curves. Absolutely amazing stretch of road to drive on... Believe me. Here is my account of my DRAGON Experience.
PRE-DRAGON
After hearing about the Dragon, doing some research on it, looking at threads and photos from last year, I decided to go. Now I had to find a navigator. I tried Jeffy first, but alas, he had an exam on the Friday and could not miss it (understandable). So then, I knew that Jamie liked cars and was a car guy, so I asked him to come along, but alas he had to work and could not get out of that much time as it was a new job. So when talking to Kris, he offered to come if I could not find anyone, I said sure, you're in. Two people backed out already, you're offering to come. So there was talk and some planning, I registered us on NAM, and booked a campsite at Fontana Village. He was excited, I was excited, then 2 days before he gets word that a client wants to meet on Friday to sign a deal... ARGH. After trying to get the client to move days, he wouldn't. So I was alone again, already having turned down my brother cause Kris had been confirmed, it was now too late to find a navigator and ended up going alone.
I was having a roof decal designed for Betty, and once I found out I was going, I put the pedal to the metal and pushed on the decal. But the designer never replied to my 3 e-mails, and by then, it was late. So I went to Sun Sport Signs in Midland, they were going to be printing and installing his design. I asked them to design and install it, and had to be done by the 3rd at 6pm. It got done, barely. :P I am really pleased with how it turned out.
So as you can see, I had to work until 6pm on the 3rd, I got all packed the night before, and brought more then I planned (thanks Mom, I know you care). Managed to fit it all in the MINI no problems. I set out for Detroit by 6:45pm. Arrived Detroit at midnight, checked into the Super Motel 8 in Livonia, the 1/2 star motel it was. Dirty tub, dirty sink, and bed had a bend in the middle of it. Hey, it was only for 4 hours. Then I had to be up and ready to meet the Detroit group.
HOW NOT TO DRIVE ON THE DRAGON
although it is kind of kewl how the road and the mini are mirrors. Blank on yellow, yellow on black.
DAY 1
Met MICHIGANMINI.ORG at 6am at the Meijer (like a Real Canadian Superstore). We were to depart there at 6:30am. Not as many people showed up there as planned, about 10. Turned our radios to 7-21 and on our way we went. We were meeting some more at an exit 30 min down I-275. Another some ways down as well. By the time we were whole, we were 14 MINIS strong, 1 talon, 1 neon, 1 Subaru. It was a long drive ahead of us, but we were ready for the challenge. We stopped at a chain called CHICK-FIL-A. Popular down here I hear, it was really good. They claim recognition for inventing the grill chicken sandwich. The talon had some overheating issues, and half the group got off with them, and half stayed on the road, most of them caught up though when they realized what happened. We made excellent time, 14 MINIS booking it about 80-90 mph (130-140 kph) turning heads non-stop. Something about it just gave me shivers (maybe the being watched part :P)
We arrived at the start of the Dragon and regrouped for a short pep-talk by the experienced Dragoneers. Picked up some more there, about 30 strong now. I was near the front not sure how that happened, so I had to call out cars coming back and drive, I managed. I never imagined it would be how it was (make sense?). The curves were sharper then I imagined, the road was actually banked in in the corners, no shoulders, some turn off spots. The slow movers in front of us, were gracious enough to pull over and let us pass. Taking some of the corners, hearing the tires scream, looking over and seeing cliff, all I can say is, to quote "The Incredibles" "THAT WAS TOTALLY WICKED" More then I ever imagined it would be. To rub it in a bit, to my navigator bail-outs. YOU MISSED OUT.
So we pull into Fontana Village, this place is catered to the Dragon, shops, merchandise, oh and there a hiking trail too (but who cares). There were MINIS everywhere, 400 registered not all were there at that time, but still, streets were lined with MINIS on both sides, parking lots full of them. It was a very awe inspiring site. Checked in, got my gear, met some more people from all over. I thought I would be the farthest at 1406.97 KM trip, but there were people from FLA, and all over, even one guy from Manitoba ( I forget your name) YEAH CANADA! Check in, go to my campsite, set up tent (harder to do alone).
Went to the welcome dinner, met some more people there, the food was ok. Chicken, beef, hotdogs. More for the social then anything. They had some door prizes, but I didn't win. Hung out afterwards, walked around, taking pics of the MINIS, talking to vendors.
Then it was off to bed.
Here are pics from Day 1. (in no order, and not not sorted yet) I am posting from the Dragon... :P
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Day 2
7 am wake up. Grab a shower at the site, some breakfast bars for food. Then over to the Dam for a the morning meet and morning tour on the Dragon, about 100 showed up. Drove down all the MINIS going back and forth it was great. Took a stop over at the Deals Gap store. Bought some stickers, I decided I am going to sticker my car. I like the look of it, so look out, going to be lots of stickers coming for my car. :P he he..
Heard some rumors about a car going off the road, and down a 50ft ravine . This afternoon, they were confirmed. Car is done, driver is ok. A tree saved him from rolling into the river.
Note to SHAWN.. you think I am obsessed, you should have come and met some people down here... they are much more obsessed with their MINIS then I am. But I am becoming more fanatic. :P
We met back at the Dam again for the panoramic picture, about 150 MINIS, not sure why more didn't show up.
Afternoon did some wondering around, buying some little gear, more stickers, have to figure out where to put them. So there will be more to come.
It did torrential downpour last night, was a sunny morning and then at lunch time it downpour again, I think they cancelled the drive-in night for tonight, due to weather, and re-scheduled it for tomorrow. So not I am not sure what I am doing tonight.
Day 3
Got up, met the new guys at the campground, Jason, his Dad, and a 3rd guy.. he he, they were from South Carolina. Ended up seeing them again when I went to go to the greasy spoon for breaky. It was closed, so we went to the restaurant. I sat with them and chatted. Great bunch of guys.
After breaky I MacGuyvered my camera to the GPS window attachment. Got Pattman, and we did a run on the Dragon. Video turned out pretty good, a lil fuzzy and shakey, I will try for a better mount next year. I have some time to experiment. :P
We ran the Dragon, got in 2 good half runs, and 2 bad half runs. Cars would not pull over for us like they are supposed to. Stupid Baptist van, took him forever to get the hint. And then a Chevy pickup on the way back.
After a run and back on the Dragon, I got the DragonSlayer decal put on my car, met Jeff and we were going for lunch. Went to the greasy spoon, met up with Jason from CooperSport.ca, Dave, Paul, and Kurt. Lots of fun at lunch, met some old guy driving a Ford GT. At first he was a bit rude, but then he softened up and let us sit in his car. He turned out to be a pretty kewl guy.
Jeff had a plan for a drive. Kurt wanted to go to the Dam first. Kurt asked if I wanted to drive his car to the Dam... He has a Cooper S with JCW package... DROOL It was a sweet drive, soo different then Betty. I still like Betty though. Who am I to turn down an offer to drive a JCW, especially from a Cute guy... There were lots of cute guys there actually, I don't think that many were TEAM players... But there were a few, and maybe a few that would consider it, given the right circumstances.. he he
So up the Dam we went, hung out for a bit, and then Jeff took us on his drive. He had a good route picked out. 3 Bikers came up behind us, but they had some trouble keeping up to us on the corners. We pulled off to a gas station for a bit of a brake brake, and as the bikers past us, we got a thumbs up.
We got on our way from there, down the back stretch of the course, got stuck behind a slow moving van, the others got to pass him on a straight away, but I was the only one that didn't have an S, couldn't get to him before the corner, and didn't hear them on the radio say it was clear. Got stuck for a bit behind him, the boys waited for me up ahead. Finally got to pass him, caught up and we were back on track again. Hit the other side of 129 coming back to Fontana Village. Not as sharp corners, could get some more speed.
Stopped at the GAP, and got some more knods from bikers. Started back to the resort and got stuck behind a slow moving MINI.. They do exist. He didn't pull off like he read and knew he had to. 9 of us now got stuck behind him. When he pulled off into the Dam, we followed him and talked to him about it. He was confused, it happens. The conversation continued later on at the resort, it was a bit of a misunderstanding. Did some walking around, to the vendors, got into the goodbye dinner, it was full. Then to the Ice Cream Social, that was fun. Mingled with the people that I met the days before. They had some prizes to raffle again, some good ones too, but alas, I didn't win. I lost Kurt and co. so met up with some great ladies from somewhere, hung out for a bit, a lil bit of the movie, then to the start of MIDNIGHT ON THE DRAGON. I wasn't going to drive it, as I had to get on the road at 7am, and still had to break camp.
Forgot to say that I got dry-humped by that Chocoalte man.... :P
Day 4
Got up early, broke camp, and the 3 Canucks started on our way home. We ended up making great time, with a 20 min detour, (sorry guys). I-75 is apparently like the AUTOBON... We were gettin passed by cars as well. :P
And saw some great road signs on the way home.
Until next time, hope to meet some you other MINIACS soon. Y'all always have a place to stay in Canada. Well Central Ontario.
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Pictures not taken by me, but that I liked. Many different sources.
