Re: Mountain Run 4
 

Been on MR2 and 3, would love to do MR4 but I'm a weak maybe.
IF you've never participated this is something you need to do!
Maybe none of my nieces will get married next year on this date!

Re: Mountain Run 4
 

Just made my reservations at the Double Tree in Gatlinberg.
Guess that means I'm going on the Mountain Run this year.

Re: Mountain Run 4
 

Soooo, are the rooms available at this point?

Re: Mountain Run 4
 

yes.

Re: Mountain Run 4
 

Thanks Robert, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday all at the same place?

Re: Mountain Run 4
 

Yes.

Re: Mountain Run 4
 

Booked!

Re: Mountain Run 4
 

Booked. Last 2 years something came up at the last moment so let's hope all goes according to plan this year. Can't wait!

Re: Mountain Run 4
 

Booked!! Can't wait!!

Re: Mountain Run 4
 

:happy1:

Re: Mountain Run 4
 

Booked :thumbsup:

We will have a driver's meeting on Sunday evening no earlier than 8 PM, possibly a little later so that everyone will have time to arrive, check in, and eat dinner.

The road tours each day will begin at the hotel (or other staging area in Gatlinburg) and will return to the hotel each day except Wed, when we caravan to BG for pizza and :cheers:

I've updated the route maps on my website. Click HERE to see the routes for MR4. As with the previous runs, flexibility is the key to everyone having lots of fun, so if we need to adjust any of the runs we will do so. However, I think everyone will find it difficult to choose which route to take each day since all of them will be very good for scenery, roads, and more. At least one of the routes includes the Smoky Mtn Loop, Foothills Parkway, Cherohala Skyway, and the Dragon (twice, back-to-back) ... I'm unofficially calling this one the "Iron Butt Run" ... you younger guys can battle over who will lead this one. Last year, about a month before MR3, I started at 6 AM from my mountain home in the middle of the mountains and ran two complete day runs in one long day. It was beyond fun but I gotta admit that this ole body doesn't bounce back quite so quickly the day after driving 12 hours of mountain roads.

I'm driving back up later this week to work on the house but may have time to check out some more roads, restaurants, etc. Hopefully I won't be dodging snow/ice on the roads this trip ... two weeks ago I was really glad I wasn't in the Z because the roads were a tad slippery in several places.

Reminder: bookmark this thread and check back frequently for updates.

Re: Mountain Run 4
 

CARAVANS TO MR4

It's not too soon to start planning regional caravans to Gatlinburg. Your MR4 experience will be even better if you can caravan in groups from your region.

• From the west - take I-40 east, then take exit 407 south to Gatlinburg.
• From the north - take I-75 south to Knoxville, east on I-40 to exit 407.
• From the northeast/east - take I-81 south to I-40, then west on I-40 to exit 407.
• From the east/southeast - go north to I-40, then west on I-40 to exit 407.
• From the south - go north to I-40, then continue to exit 407 ... OR, better still, go to Atlanta, take I-85 north to I-985 that becomes US-23/US-441. Stay on 441 through Cherokee NC, the Smoky Mtn. Park, and finally Gatlinburg. The hotel is a few blocks east of 441 right after you enter Gatlinburg ... can't miss it ... large hotel on the side of the mountain overlooking the city. Anyone driving up 23/441 contact me since that's the route I'll be taking.

I suggest using this thread for the initial organization of caravans ... if it gets too crowded/confusing then we might want to start a separate thread for each of the caravans.

Re: Mountain Run 4
 

I'll be hooking up with a newbie from this area on Saturday at 11:00. We'll go halfway (haven't picked a stopping point yet) then continue on on Sunday. -Steve

Re: Mountain Run 4
 

Steve-
Is the newbie Dave from Sanborton? If so, he contacted me & is on the list. Have you contacted any of the Wazoo gang? They usually caravan down I-81 ... seems like they meet near Winchester on Sun. AM for a quick breakfast and then make the run from there.

Re: Mountain Run 4
 

I think you'll like the view from the hotel ... a big thanks to Robert :thumbsup:

http://www.parkvista.com/images/mast...p-masthead.jpg

Re: Mountain Run 4
 

I will not be able to join any route on Wednesday. Hutch asked me to display one of my cars on the Boardwalk for the 20th Anniversary.

Re: Mountain Run 4
 

George, That is a spectacular view.

Re: Mountain Run 4
 

Congrats on the display opportunity. Will you make Mon & Tue runs and then depart Wed morning for BG? I really hope you will be able to make the Tue run as we will be on some roads you haven't seen plus we will have several terrific photo ops ... plus I hope you can be there for Tue night dinner.

The shortest/quickest route from the Park Vista to the UPlaza is 245 miles / 4:21 driving time according to google maps plus you gain an hour with the time change. It's mostly interstate and/or 4-lane so I think it can be easily be done in less than 4 hrs w/1 fuel stop ... i.e. leave Park Vista at 9AM and ETA UPlaza at 12 noon. Very doable.

Re: Mountain Run 4
 

Yes, I will be touring on Monday and Tuesday. I have the Banquet scheduled for Monday night. We have to come up with a menu after April 1st.

Re: Mountain Run 4
 

Yup, Dave from Sanborton. Haven't heard from the WAZOO guys.

Re: Mountain Run 4
 

I will be coming to the Mountain Run 4. If I can't get my flywheel replaced on my 95 by than I will drive my C6 ZR1.
Nelson

Re: Mountain Run 4
 

Well, OK. But, just try to keep up as best you can! ;)

Re: Mountain Run 4
 

Best part of this trip....I get to see old friends. And hopefully make some new ones so next year will be even better.

Re: Mountain Run 4
 

Glad to hear you will be joining us on MR4 ... it will be great to see you again.

Re: Mountain Run 4
 

:thumbsup::thumbsup: :cheers:

Re: Mountain Run 4
 

Reservation made. I will be there and I am looking forward to having a good time.

Thank you George (Gunny) and Robert for all your work planning this 4th Mountain Run,

Jim

Re: Mountain Run 4
 

What car are you bringing? Dark Purple 95!

Re: Mountain Run 4
 

Hi Robert, I haven't decided yet. Too many choices.

Re: Mountain Run 4
 

My wife, Ann and I will be there. Looking forward to it.

Re: Mountain Run 4
 

Kaye will be there also ... it will be good to see you guys again. Maybe we can find a Steak 'n' Shake :D

Re: Mountain Run 4
 

Yeah! And you can hear my exhaust that you sold me last summer (and charged me way too much!).

Just kidding. I get a lot of complements regarding how it sounds. I love it. We'll see what Ann thinks about it after the 4 hour drive up from ATL.

Re: Mountain Run 4
 

What route are you taking? coming up 441 through Clayton? If so, maybe we can caravan from Dillard to Gatlinburg.

Re: Mountain Run 4
 

I am going to try to make it to Kennesaw/Marietta area for dinner on Saturday Night. There is one more car that could possibly be in our group.

Re: Mountain Run 4
 

Glad to see so many gals coming to the MR4! But I warn you....I took Ami to MR2 and she came home having selected her own ZR-1!!

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x...ps8a44zjgz.jpg

Re: Mountain Run 4
 

Haven't thought about it yet. We'll touch base when it gets closer.

Well, that's an interesting detour. Maybe we'll hook up for either the dinner or the drive up.

Re: Mountain Run 4
 

I told you red cars are not faster, They just fly further.

Re: Mountain Run 4
 

I am going to be driving from Alexandria, LA. My Office is in Kennesaw. I figured why not meet some of my colleagues out for dinner.

Re: Mountain Run 4
 

Checked google maps ... two basic routes from Kennesaw to Park Vista Hotel
I-75 to Knoxville, east on I-40, south to Gatlinburg - 232 miles/3:45
US-76/US-74 to Blue Ridge, Murphy, Cherokee then north on 441 to Gatlinburg - 189 miles/3:58

The route I-85/I-985 to US-23/441 to Clayton, Franklin, Cherokee makes some sense from mid-Atlanta but is less direct than the 2 routes above. I can rendezvous at Cherokee unless you decide on a route that goes through either Clayton or Franklin. If it works, great ... if not, I'll see you at the hotel.

Re: Mountain Run 4
 

George, I am good with meeting you in Clayton or Dillard. Might even go 575 North East on 130 North on 85 do top half of six gaps down through Cleveland up to Helen east to Clayton than North with you. What time do you want to depart out of Clayton?

Re: Mountain Run 4
 

Robert,

We plan to attend Sun AM services at the Sky Valley Chapel ... I need to find out what time the services are over but I'm guessing before noon, so we should be able to meet you in Dillard at the Chevron around 12 noon.

If you want a good route to 6 Gaps with a couple of legs of 6 Gaps I have a suggestion for you to consider. Try this LINK. Looks like its 144 miles / 3:16 time. Then from Dillard to Gatlinburg is 82 miles / 1:55 staying on the 4 lane (K will be driving her SUV and I doubt she will want to do any of NC-28 north of Franklin. If this route (or similar) looks OK to you we could do lunch in either Franklin or Cherokee or even a late lunch in Gatlinburg. FWIW, this route takes you by the Atlanta Motorsports Park as well as the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame in Dawsonville. Decent roads/scenery, a bit out of your way, but worth it IMO. I haven't driven at the Motorsports Park but Russ goes there on a regular basis ... perhaps he will chime in.

The most direct mountain route from Kennesaw to Gatlinburg is HERE and is 189 miles / 4:00. Not many twisty-turnies but very scenic from Blue Ridge to Cherokee.

Plenty of time before deciding final routes/rendezvous points, etc. If we can coordinate a caravan from the Dillard area (or points north) that would be great. I'm guessing that my earliest ETA for Gatlinburg will be around 2 PM, later if we stop for lunch. I want to get in early enough to re-acquaint myself with the hotel parking lot, access, traffic flow, etc. Gatlinburg can be a bear with heavy vehicle & pedestrian traffic at certain times of the day but this can usually be worked around by choosing which streets/traffic lights to take.

I hope all the links work ... won't know for sure until I post this and then try on another computer w/a different browser.