MG2012 Dillard Events

Today, Day 4, Thursday, June 7, is another bright and beautiful day.  We had breakfast at the hospitality house.  Said hi to lots of fellow MGer's.

Hospitality House

Registration and Welcome to MG2012

Then we (Jenn, Ron, Pat, Gracie) drove Jenn's car on Tour #3 of the self-guided driving tours to Lake Rabun.  Great MG road. 

After lunch, Gracie went horseback riding with Kimi.

Also, after lunch, and best of all, we met an MG owner who lives in the same town at Jenn.  Wow!  How wonderful for Jenn to have an MG group locally.


This is one of the main events for the MG owners.  Quality time was spent with their MG, tweaking, polishing, washing - all to make the car shine!  And shine they do.

There was also major repair work going on.  Here is Ron and a team of other owners fixing Dick's car.  They are installing a new starter.  Didn't take too much time with all the help available. 

That's Ron under the car.

Then we went to a tech session to hear Peter Thornley talk about the 50 year history of the MGB.  Ron purchased Peter's book about his father John Thornley and the MG Car Company. 

Peter is signing the book for Ron

Ron spent part of the afternoon as a teacher.  He taught granddaughter Gracie (age 11) to drive the MGB.  She did fine - at least she did not hit anything or anyone.  Watching this was a 15 yr old boy who was interested in driving the MGB.  So Jacoby was next to get a lesson.

Gracie and Grandpa in the MGB at Dillard

Jacoby (from Ohio) and Ron learning to drive the MGB

Our MG girl - Gracie

The evening activity was the drive in movie at Tiger, GA.  We saw Men In Black 3.  A good time was had by all.  100 MGs attended the drive-in on Thursday.

STATS:  Drove 25 mileson Day #4

SPECIAL THANKS TO:   Kimi for taking Gracie horseback riding and to Ron for giving MG driving lessons to Gracie and Jacoby, our next generation of drivers.

Asheville to Dillard

We had a nice leisurely day with gorgeous MG top-down weather again on Wednesday, June 6.  I am late for this post to the blog because I couldn't get internet service at my room.  Today I am at the MG2012 Registration Room where they have great internet connection service to complete the blog.

It rained lightly overnight in Asheville so the morning was spent drying the cars so that we could pack and not have rain fall into the boot while we completed our packing.  It was cool but bright and beautiful for the whole day of driving.  We drove to Cherokee and then on to Murphy.

Driving to Cherokee

We had lunch at Doyle's in Murphy.  Food and conversation was very good.  Tim from Cumming, GA, in his 1959 MGA Coupe met us at the restaurant and then drove with us to Dillard.  We sat outside on the porch for lunch and the atmosphere was like being at the beach.  Behind the curtained stage was a beach scene complete with dancing girls and beach balls!

In Doyle's parking lot

On the porch

Our MG hoola girl at Doyle's

My one and only mission this day was to find a  "Welcome to Murphy" sign that we could use for our photo op to record our being in Murphy in the MG. The one sign we found when we arrived in Murphy was a stone sign at a busy red light intersection so it was not safe enough to get pictures.  After lunch, we learned of a welcome center in Doyle and decided we would drive there.  But it was not a welcome to Murphy - it was a welcome to Cherokee County, NC.  Not exactly proof of being in Murphy.  Georgia said she saw a welcome to Murphy park sign on the road to the welcome center but not sure if the sign would do the proper recording of being in Murphy.  And then we looked across the street and saw a sign that said Town of Murphy and the sign was in a parking lot and it would be a safe location for a photo op.  So we shot across the busy 5 lane road and pulled each MG into place under the sign and I took a picture.  Great!  Here is Ron in the MGB under the Town of Murphy sign that just happens to be attached to the ABC Store sign!!!  Whatever, it serves the purpose.

Then we formed up again and drove to Franklin where we stopped at a gas station.  As we were pulling out of the gas station, another of our NCMGCC club members pulled into our line.  Nelson and Sally were on their way to Dillard and now we were 10 British cars heading to Dillard.  We arrived in Dillard just before 4pm.  We registered for MG2012 and then checked into our respective hotels.  Just after we checked in we saw Vicki & Freddy and Kimi, Paul & Jordan.  Our daughter and granddaughter are also on their way to Dillard.  They arrived about 2 hrs later.  Jenn and Gracie will be with us until Friday.  And then there were lots of greetings with other MG owners that we know from other MG events.

STATS:  Drove 172 miles Day #3.
SPECIAL THANKS TO:   Georgia and Trip for noticing the Town of Murphy sign across the street so that we could complete our mission without having to drive all over town to find a sign!

Dobson to Asheville

From the valley to the mountains to the valley...or in other words from warm to cold to warm weather is a good description of today's drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway.  We had the most gorgeous MG top-down driving weather with perfect temperatures as we went up and down the mountains.  We pulled out and put on our club sweatshirts, our ear muffs, gloves, and more jackets as we climbed the mountains and even drove to the summit of Mount Mitchell.  As we came down into the valley of Blowing Rock for lunch and into Asheville for the hotel and dinner, we peeled off the layers and were once again back in our shirt sleeves.  Words for today are brisk, refreshing, bright, and beautiful.

We left the hotel in Dobson at 8:30am and traveled to the Blue Ridge Parkway.  Our first photo op of the day was an overlook.  I took the next picture from my side mirror to capture those on the tour following behind.  And then there was another overlook and we lined the cars up for another photo op.  We did that a number of times as we headed to Blowing Rock for lunch.

LUNCH IN BLOWING ROCK

Look at the group outside the Foggy Rock restaurant in Blowing Rock - all British car owners.  The Catawba Valley British Motor Club hosted the luncheon.  Thanks to Bobby Cox, club president, and all the club members for making us so welcome.

That's our tour banner behind us while we had lunch.  Pictured: Peter, Trip, Georgia, Ron, Pat, Terry.

Kathy Ahrendt of Catawba Valley club presented each of us with a goodie bag - loved it! (Photo by Dick)

 
Then we went to visit Jack Austin's 5,000 sq ft facility in the very back woods off a single lane gravel road.  Here we are as we come down the road to park.  We thought for sure that if Jack got us deep enough into the woods, that he could take our MG's to add to his collection!

One of the cars to be restored???  One day this too may be a drivable beauty.

We continued our drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway south to Asheville.  I took this picture while standing in my seat when we were stopped waiting for one-way traffic due to road construction.  Some of the Catawba Valley club members joined us for part of our trip from Blowing Rock.








Here we are at the summit of Mount Mitchell - the highest elevation in Eastern United States at 6,684 ft.  The drive up here was cold but it was rather calm (not windy) at the top.  Stopped for another photo op.

Pat and Ron at Mount Mitchell State Park

After our photo op, we made a temporary fix to Dick's MGB cooling system so that he could drive to the hotel.  The fix worked well!  And when I say that WE made the fix, I mean it.  We all supplied some part for the fix - from a clamp, to the correct tools to use, a bottle to get water, a funnel to pour the antifreeze, a plug - and the idea how to do the repair.


We finally made it to the hotel south of Asheville.  We checked in and immediately went to dinner at Pack's Tavern in downtown Asheville.  The dinner was arranged by the British Car Club of Western North Carolina.  Many thanks to George and the members of the club that joined us.  We enjoyed our dinner and drinks!

Dick's suitcase and the many stickers he collected along the way (photo by Dick)

STATS:  Drove 236 miles Day #2
SPECIAL THANKS TO:   Catawba Valley British Motor Club for lunchtime fun (goody bag with "MG" cookies, candy and toy) and garage visit in Blowing Rock and to the British Car Club of Western North Carolina for dinner arrangements.

Rolesville to Dobson, NC

What a gloriously beautiful day - good temp, good breeze.  Top-down driving weather doesn't get much better than this!  Wish you were here with us.  We started today at the Rolesville Main Street Park.  There were 9 cars (6 MGB's, 2 MGB/GT's, and 1 1100).  We had our driver's meeting and then at 9am the Rolesville police stopped traffic on Hwy 401 for about 2 minutes so that we could exit the park and take off driving north.  Participants today were Trip & Georgia, Peter, Terry, PJ, Dick & Beth, Tom & Laura, Gary & Wayburn, Dennis & Pat, and Ron & Pat.  Friends Peggy, Don, Ellen, Don and Bob, and Rolesville officials were there to cheer us on.

Our first official stop was lunch in Danbury at the Dan River Family Restaurant - delicious.  Then we drove to the Hanging Rock State Park and walked to the Upper Cascades Falls.

After lunch we walked to the falls

Climbing down to the bottom of the falls

Wayburn at the falls

Laura peeking around the tree at the bottom of the falls

Next was a drive to the top of Pilot Knob at Pilot Mountain State Park for a look at the scenery and way in the distance you could see downtown Winston-Salem.

Look at that scenery!

Ron and Pat

Pat, Pat, Georgia, Laura

Driving down Pilot Mountain - just one of many curvy, twisty, MG driving roads

Then we split up with some going to meet family, some to Mt Airy, and the rest to the hotel in Dobson.  After checking into the hotel, most of the guys, lead by PJ, went to Ken Nick's Eclectic Rods and Restoration.  There were vehicles in progress of restoration - and one completed especially outstanding car was an MGB/GT customized V6 For-olet.  The ladies repaired to the wine bar in the lobby and enjoyed a very good wine tasting and drinking.

Then it was off to dinner at the Harvest Grill for a wonderful dinner and more wine from Shelton Vineyards.  Once back at the hotel, we signed the tour banner and then off to bed.

Trip, Dennis, Pat - signing the banner (photo by Dick)

STATS:  We started at 142,857 miles.  We traveled 226 miles on Day #1.
SPECIAL THANKS TO:  Town of Rolesville - Mayor, Police Chief, and Town Manager who came out to give us a send off, along with friends, and, of course, the police officer and cruiser with the siren going to stop the traffic to allow us to drive out of the park all at once.  Thanks also to the merchants in Rolesville who gave us coupons for eats at Sonic and Bojangles.

Pre-Event Activities - LOTS of FUN!

What a day!  It was filled with lots of fun and friendship with lots to eat and drink.  Weather was sunny and breezy.  First, we went to the Rolesville Concert in the Park where there was special parking for the MG's.  There were 11 MG's and about 250 people in attendance. 

That's Skip, Cindy & Kurt listening to the beach music.

That's Trip, Dennis & Pat, Bill & Debbie listening to the band.

After the concert, all the MG'ers moved the festivities to our house for a Noggin & Natter.

The cake had our logo on it - and it was good tasting, too.

Tom, Connie, Terry, and Dick enjoying the food.

We have a banner for the trip to hang at all our events along the way.

We will see each other tomorrow morning before 9am at the Rolesville Main Street Park.  Everyone reluctantly said good night and went home to finish packing and to sleep.  Dick & Beth and Dennis & Pat are staying overnight with us.  Others are at the hotel in Wake Forest or drove home and will be at the park in the morning.  As soon as I finish tonight's blog, I will pack up the computer and we will be all packed.

It was a wonderful beginning!

SPECIAL THANKS TO:  Debbie for the good-looking cake.

More to Get Ready!

Added the NC Border Tour license plate and the Rolesville magnet.

Gee, I thought I had everything ready to go.  Ron has added more bits and pieces to the boot but he assures me that my suitcase and computer will still fit.  I had the snacks ready and he's added more to that, too.  And today he thinks that the CB mic is not working so we had to buy another CB.  It's being installed as I write.  So, see, it is not me that adds too much to our stuff! 

That's our Rallye 2 Reno badge on the front of the MG.

My, aren't we colorful from behind!

Oh, yeah, I added the basket on the luggage rack to carry all the extra paperwork - stuff like NC maps (to be sure that everyone on the trip has one), coupons from Sonic (for free eats), brochures from a hotel along the route, copies of the press release to hand out if needed along the way, etc.  Some of these items will get handed out to the tour participants Sunday evening and Monday morning.  We also received some very useful items from Advanced Auto in case they are needed on the trip.



SPECIAL THANKS TO:  Advanced Auto in Wake Forest for car supplies that may be needed along our way (oil, of course, an engine belt, antifreeze, funnel) and to the Town of Rolesville for magnets for our cars and the special edition 2012 calendar.

All Packed!

Counting the days till we start the trip.  The suitcases are packed and they fit in the boot, along with the tools and bits and extra oil.  The stickers have been applied to the doors to show that we are part of the group for 2012 North Carolina Border Tour.