New Annual GTG Proposal at the Tail of the Dragon

[Aonarch]

MS PAINT SKILLZ

Howdy folks,

My name is Alec and I am a alcho... sorry habit. We do not have enough GTG's in the South, even though we have some of the best roads in the world. You would think that there would be more meets here. Yes, we have SoWo, yes we have Wookies in the Woods. However, those are all offered during the busy summer; I don't know about you, but I am hard pressed to attend. The rest of North America hosts events during the beautiful fall, so why don't we?

I am proposing that we hold an event during October, hosted either at the Tail of the Dragon, or in North Georgia, my stomping grounds. The Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina border has some fantastic roads and meeting spots.

What I need from you guys is a show of support. How many people would be interested? How many people would attend? I know that it is hard to commit, but I would love it if we could figure out if this is something people would be interested in, so we can get the planning ball rolling.

Sponsors... Would this be something any tuning companies would be interested in?

Lodging... I propose we stay at Fontana Village Resort, they are near Fontana Dam, NC, group friendly, and they are the closest lodging to the Dragon. http://www.fontanavillage.com/ I would arrange a group rate for us, but still expect it to be pricey, $100+ a night, but with a roommate it is do-able. They also have cabins that you can stuff people into, as well as camping. There are plenty of good camping spots, and typically people are cool about letting you use their showers. Look out for our own right?

Name... it needs to be something catchy and lame.

Smoking Dubs? Smokin' VAG... etc.

Dates... I am proposing the first weekend of October, but it is flexible. One issue, October is one of the most expensive months for the lodging, September would be cheaper, but H20 is the last weekend of September. We also can't go too late, because of weather. The average temperature for the first weekend is October is 75F, perfect if you ask me.

Who can come? Anyone. Any make, but the target audience is VWAG owners/ European.

So please feel free with responses, feedback, and criticism.

Thanks,
Alec


Facebook Post

Attending:
1. Aonarch +1
2. chubs625
3. HollisJoy
4. case m
5. rhodri45
6. RU1NED
7. FissionMailed
8. dubb34r
9. hrama803
10. fredgsanford
11. RCKEV
12. rainerfuller
+ Facebook group

Let me know if you want to go, or if I need to add your username. I am probably forgetting someone. Also, not everyone going posts here.

READ ME:

Ok so possible issues... First, October is the most expensive month to go, that will dissuade people to attend. Second, all of the local hotels are fully booked for the 5-7th. The 19-21st does have availability, several lodge room, several cabins, nothing wide open.

Therefore, I have a new proposal. Just a proposal.

Helen, GA.

We meet in Helen, GA, and then cruise to the Dragon. I am going to be a pessimist here and for the sake of this argument only, take the side of the Dragon sucks now. I do enjoy the Dragon, however it is heavily travelled, and heavily patrolled. The speed limit is 35 in most parts, which is easy to get a ticket. I would know. # Just to argue this proposal, I still love the Dragon.

Jalopnik has named the road I propose one of the Top 10 Roads in the World. It starts in Helen and dumps out near HWY 129. We can then catch HWY 129 up to the Dragon. There we can ride the Dragon once or twice, pictures, etc, and then head back to Helen, where we can eat and drink. Helen has tons of Hotels (If needed) as well as awesome bars and restaurants. The Dragon has nothing nearby. You have to go many miles into Tennessee to hit restaurants. Below is a map of my proposed route. Again it is up to the majority of the group; I am just trying to throw out an option. We could always just move the date back and still do Fontana.

Helen to the Dragon Map

Point A to B is Helen to the end of the Jalopnik route. Then point B to C is to the start of the Dragon.

[Aonarch]

https://www.facebook.com/events/1107...context=create

Facebook Event!

[chubs625]

there!

;-/

[Aonarch]

there!

;-/

[HollisJoy]

Smoky Dubs
Today while driving thru the I-40 "Canyon" (Knoxville to Asheville) I dreamed up a Gumball Rally style event.

Call it The Deliverance Triangle®? Smoky Dub Rally (kidding)? MK Fall Rally?
Start from Fontana & go to Helen GA, back to NC and it ends at the Dragon.

Points for time, points for pics, points for "Style", Points for best speeding ticket, Best Turbo, furthest attendee, best costume, best video? We have miles & miles of great back country roads.

So, yes, I'm down for a GTG

Like Franco said, [Franco rips off his rear-view mirror and throws it out of the car]
"What's-a behind me is not important."

[case m]

would you take 90% off? oh wait this isn't the classifieds.

[Aonarch]

Smoky Dubs
Today while driving thru the I-40 "Canyon" (Knoxville to Asheville) I dreamed up a Gumball Rally style event.

Call it The Deliverance Triangle®? Smoky Dub Rally (kidding)? MK Fall Rally?
Start from Fontana & go to Helen GA, back to NC and it ends at the Dragon.

Points for time, points for pics, points for "Style", Points for best speeding ticket, Best Turbo, furthest attendee, best costume, best video? We have miles & miles of great back country roads.

So, yes, I'm down for a GTG

Like Franco said, [Franco rips off his rear-view mirror and throws it out of the car]
"What's-a behind me is not important."

We used to do this? Damn what club was it... Pretty sure it was a VW club?

[Aonarch]

would you take 90% off? oh wait this isn't the classifieds.

[rhodri45]

im in

what day of the first weekend though? beerfest is in durham, NC on october 6th, the first weekend and saturday of the month. if you did this sunday/monday (monday is a holiday!) then it'd be perfect! i'd already be in the area.

[afunnysmell]

[Aonarch]

im in

what day of the first weekend though? beerfest is in durham, NC on october 6th, the first weekend and saturday of the month. if you did this sunday/monday (monday is a holiday!) then it'd be perfect! i'd already be in the area.

Up to you guys! I am not sure how many people actually have the day off.

Friday will be chill, nothing really planned. Friday is a day for those who live far away to make it up there. Figure a meet and greet in the evening, night time drives, and then drinking.

Saturday will be a full day of events, meet and greet/ cruise at midday, show late afternoon, relax, dinner, drinking.

Sunday will be farewell/ last drives/ drive home.

Saturday will be the only structured day, so technically if you live close enough you do not even need a hotel. You can arrive in the morning/ early afternoon, meet everyone, go cruise, show, individual/ small group exploration, dinner, and then go home.


None of the plans are set in stone, and they will be changed/ solidified pending a show of support.

If this GTG does gain traction in the future we can have 2-3 days of full events, but since this is the first year we have to be realistic.

[FissionMailed]

I'm in for this, will join Facebook group later.

[Aonarch]

I'm in for this, will join Facebook group later.

Joinn naow!

[FissionMailed]

Joinn naow!

Ughhh fine let me get on my phone and find this thread and get on it good grief ya dinguses

[Aonarch]

Ughhh fine let me get on my phone and find this thread and get on it good grief ya dinguses

[lilrdwgn]

Might be attending this have to check what's going on that weekend. Keep me updated!

[FissionMailed]

That link isn't working for me...it redirects to facebook.com/events/

Is this just happening for me? Am I blocked?

[Aonarch]

That link isn't working for me...it redirects to facebook.com/events/

Is this just happening for me? Am I blocked?

PM Sent. You have to be a friend of someone invited.

[Aonarch]

Alright so I got off the phone with Fontana Village. Looks like the 5-7th is a no go. They only have a few cabins left, and they would be full price.

So either we push the date back, October 19-21st anyone? Or we can do my new proposal, which I added to the first post.

[Aonarch]

Ok sorry for the constant updates and confusion...

Right now I have four attendees voting yes for the Helen idea.

As chubs said, Keeps cost down, better vibe.

I agree. We will definitely hit the Dragon though, so it isn't just a mini SoWo.

I will call around tomorrow about lodging, but the Helendorf is a great place.

http://www.helendorf.com/

They have four rooms left as of Sept 11th.

Also Oktoberfest in Helen is a lot of fun, so you could do that as well.

[michalborz]

I probably will come to this event I was planing go to dragon later in October

[Aonarch]

I probably will come to this event I was planing go to dragon later in October

Did you see the possible venue relocation? Basically everything near the Dragon is booked, which is a good and bad. For us Southerners it is fine, because North Georgia has better accommodations. For anyone coming from the north that means you have an extra 80-90 miles to drive.

Helen, GA is an awesome "German-town" and we will be there during Oktober Fest, so we shouldn't be in short supply of fun.

Saturday I was planning on meeting up at let's say 10am in Helen, cruising to the Dragon, riding the Dragon to the end of the twisties, pulling off by the lake for pictures and chatting. Then possibly cruising around some more, maybe another Dragon run, and then heading back down to Helen for food and drinks.

Again please feel free everyone to make suggestions, I am not a party planner!

[dubjager]

I really like this idea.

I would be down for a day of driving and I'd probably head back to Atlanta that night. I just moved down here from New England, so I am curious if this will be during the peak foliage season?

I am in!

Now, to get the unibrace before we go

[Aonarch]

I really like this idea.

I would be down for a day of driving and I'd probably head back to Atlanta that night. I just moved down here from New England, so I am curious if this will be during the peak foliage season?

I am in!

Now, to get the unibrace before we go

Yeah it should be during the peak time. Also the weather should be awesome. Average temp is 74F.

I have been to a lot of Dragon events, Z-Days, WitW, BF.C, etc.

What I have learned is this; the dragon is a lot of fun once. You cannot speed and there is a lot of traffic. There isn't much to do there, so when these clubs have 3-4 day meets it blows my mind, it can get awfully boring. That is why I am wanting to meet in Helen and just drive up to the Dragon instead. Yes it will be about 200 miles round trip, but it is worth having the civilization, plus the drive up there is absolutely fascinating, even for passengers. My significant other hates coming to these, because they get boring, but she loves going to SoWo, APR BBQ, and cruising up through the Mountains, especially with the windows open, fascinating colors, and a cool breeze floating in.

^ See what I did there, painted a picture.

[lilrdwgn]

Did you see the possible venue relocation? Basically everything near the Dragon is booked, which is a good and bad. For us Southerners it is fine, because North Georgia has better accommodations. For anyone coming from the north that means you have an extra 80-90 miles to drive.

Helen, GA is an awesome "German-town" and we will be there during Oktober Fest, so we shouldn't be in short supply of fun.

Saturday I was planning on meeting up at let's say 10am in Helen, cruising to the Dragon, riding the Dragon to the end of the twisties, pulling off by the lake for pictures and chatting. Then possibly cruising around some more, maybe another Dragon run, and then heading back down to Helen for food and drinks.

Again please feel free everyone to make suggestions, I am not a party planner!

This sounds good to me as well. Just keep me in the loop!!

[Aonarch]

This sounds good to me as well. Just keep me in the loop!!

Will do!

[SpX404]

September 29th a few of us will be headed up from Columbus, Newnan, and Atlanta area to hit Helen, GA for a Day full of Beer drinking for their Oktoberfest. Maybe we will see you on the way or when you pass through.

[Aonarch]

September 29th a few of us will be headed up from Columbus, Newnan, and Atlanta area to hit Helen, GA for a Day full of Beer drinking for their Oktoberfest. Maybe we will see you on the way or when you pass through.

This is on October 6th.

[chubs625]

;-/

[SpX404]

You're probably right. However, looking on their calendar of events it says the 42nd Annual Oktoberfest starts Today (9/13) until 10/28/12.

Either way is fine however, we will still be going up that day,

[Aonarch]

You're probably right. However, looking on their calendar of events it says the 42nd Annual Oktoberfest starts Today (9/13) until 10/28/12.

Either way is fine however, we will still be going up that day,

I also posted this on BF.C, for those who know what that is.

[SpX404]

Sweet, the more folks the better. For this little get together is more of a just something to do, we will have a bunch of friends tag along (hopefully), and as far as VW owners go, I am only expecting 4 GTIs and 2 Jettas to be in the mix.

[Aonarch]

I just ordered my wheels and rubber for this trip.

[129Euro.com]

As a local I would recommend several things

1. Let Darryl know when you are coming, he may list the event on his calender and check if there will be any photographers out. ( www.Killboy.com )
2. Come as late in the year as possible.
3. Come as late/early in the day as possible.
4. Watch for D-Baggers and other slow moving vehicles.
5. Use The Pull Offs, The Trash Cans, and Common Sense.
6. H&H Towing 865-804-0526 (Lowered Vehicle/ Euro Friendly even if he is a flappy headed Canuckistanian)

Depending on the exact dates this will be prime slow mover season especially during daylight on a weekend, There will most likely be van/mini bus tours for foliage viewing.

Enjoy

[Aonarch]

As a local I would recommend several things

1. Let Darryl know when you are coming, he may list the event on his calender and check if there will be any photographers out. ( www.Killboy.com )
2. Come as late in the year as possible.
3. Come as late in the day as possible.
4. Watch for D-Baggers and other slow moving vehicles.
5. Use The Pull Offs, The Trash Cans, and Common Sense.
6. H&H Towing 865-804-0526 (Lowered Vehicle/ Euro Friendly even if he is a flappy headed Canuckistanian)

Depending on the exact dates this will be prime slow mover season especially during daylight on a weekend, There will most likely be van/mini bus tours for foliage viewing.

Enjoy

Yeah I am fairly local and I hate THE LEAF PEOPLE!!!

Thanks for the tips!