Current Year Drives & Events
FOR DRIVE INFORMATION CONTACT: James Deane - Cell Phone: (865) 386-3774
The following are expanded links from the Calendar page:
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Knoxville Christmas Parade
December 4, 2009
The MM parade caravan will be by Roger Stewar - leaving from Twin Cities Mazda at approximately 2:30pm for Gay Street - the actual parade starts at 6:30 PM with 10 decorated MM cars included. Broadcast is on WVLT-TV.
Bring signed waivers to the Nov 30th meeting for both drivers and passengers in the parade. NOTE: You do NOT have to provide your social security number on the 2nd page of the waiver/release form. Amanda at WIVK has confirmed this.
We will convene at 3:30pm near the parade staging area in Knoxville - this gives us 2 hours for car decorating before we have to enter the staging area at 5:30pm – Roger will provide FINAL details at Monday's membership meeting at PULEO'S GRILLE.
Below are tips for getting car ready for parade:
1- Wash car so decorations have good surface to adhere to (and car will look good also)
2- Lay out all your decorations and lights on a flat surface in the arrangement you plan to decorate to – helps identify missing or unnecessary items and for new lights allows the cords to be untangled and stretched out before the cold outdoors on Friday
3- Lights and decorations must be on both sides of car
4- Insert new batteries in lights during this mock-up and check out the lights
5- For lights strings that come pre-packaged with batteries, replace these batteries with new ones
6- Identify the type of connectors you will use for each item to be attached to car – if in doubt the connect will work, try it on car (pipe cleaners, wire-ties, painters tape, coat hangers, bungee cords, small suction cups with hangers)
7- If there are portions of your car needing protection from the decorations, bring some matting and painters tape for placing on the car first
8- Decide whether you (or rider, if applicable) plan to wear a costume (must not be Santa Claus!)
On Friday Decembers 4th
1- Bring spare batteries, connectors, all decorations, costume (if any)
2- Bring your magnetic MM door signs – if you don’t have any, try borrowing Monday night (11/30) from those not in the parade
3- Plan on the top being down regardless of the temperature or even snow. However, should it rain, and then make sure you can put your top up without ruining your decorating design.
4- Don’t decorate your car until arriving at our MM staging area by 4:30 PM – Roger will lead us to that location
5- Dress very warm, and consider bringing a blanket to lay over your legs while we are in car with tops down
6- Bring camera?
7- Bring hot chocolate, food?
8- We will be lined up 2 cars wide and 5 cars long (10 cars) in the parade. We will determine the car placement sequence based upon car color and decorations.
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Archives
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Day Drive and picnic at the beautiful Falls Creek State Park (TN)
October 24, 2009
Saturday day drive to the beautiful Falls Creek State Park (TN) with a stop-over there for a picnic lunch around NOON. Pack your own de-licious picnic lunch and beverages! Park picnic tables are available. Mileage estimate: 120 miles from Alcoa to Falls Creek Falls. [The return trip will be quicker as we will be going through Crossville and then taking US 70.]
We will be departing from Twin Cities Mazda at 9:00 am (Drivers' meeting at 8:45am)
Call Lesley on her cell phone at 228-7276 if you need to get in touch with us en route. Otherwise call Lesley at home prior to the run: (865) 984-9121
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Day Trip to the Biltmore House in Ashville, NC
October 11, 2009
There will be two departure points: (1) Twin City Mazda for 8:15 drivers meeting and departure at 8:30AM and (2) I-40 Exit 407 (at 1st gas station on right heading toward Sevierville) about 9:15AM when the Twin City group arrives here to join up.
Note: BRING CASH or a BLANK CHECK MADE OUT TO MOUNTAIN MIATAS since our club discount is dependent upon a single payment at the Biltmore for all of us. (NO CREDIT CARDS).
Empty Seat assistance is available to member drivers or riders if you email me 24 hours before any event’s start time.
The ride will take approximately 2 - 2 1/2 hours. The Biltmore House is open on this day until 4:30 p.m., with the winery open until 7:00 p.m. We will go to the winery as a group on the way out of the estate. There are a couple of wine and chocolate seminars in the late afternoon that are complimentary and are something we can look into.
Any additional requested tours and all food/concession purchases are extra. There are several restaurants/eateries on the estate for meals. Depending upon group interest, we will make a stop for dinner on the way home.
Options at the Biltmore: tours of the house, gardens and winery; estate shopping; speciality tours requiring advance reservations; see also options for IN AND AROUND ASHEVILLE
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'Ladies Run' to Brasstown, NC for the Folk Art School Festival
[Our New 'Ladies' Group Name: MADAM MIATAS]
October 3, 2009
GPS information: One Folk School Road, Brasstown, NC, 28902
Ladies, come and join us for a fun-filled day of autumn colors, good food, great companionship and, of course, fantastic shopping. We will be leaving Twin Cities Mazda at 8:30am (drivers' meeting at 8:15am) - led by Georgiana Deane.
Being a ladies-only event, the drivers are asked to double up with a passenger .Arrangements will be made for parking of the passenger's cars while we are gone. Our route will be interesting and easy, with plenty of activities. Come and share the fun with other enthusiasts. If there is an overflow of more participants than cars, consideration will be made for a support vehicle to accompany us. Let Georgiana know you will be joining us for the day! Cell: 865-755-6431 - evenings: 379-2399
The Folk Art School is hosting their annual fall festival and juried craft show, with something for everyone. There will be ongoing demonstrations by top artisans throughout the day. We will have a brief stop at a surprise location for breakfast, so plan to grab a quick and delicious treat. We will continue on to the festival, where there is good shopping and lunch available. In the afternoon, we will return to Alcoa with a planned arrival before dark, to eliminate driving on unfamiliar roads. There is an optional plan for dinner once we get back in home range.
In keeping with the fun, “Madam Miatas” shirts can be ordered. All sizes are available. More information will be available shortlyon pricing and logo.
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Big South Fork Scenic Railway Run
September 27, 2009
Call for advance reservations at: 1-800-462-5664 [THESE TRAINS FILL UP FAST!]
Adults $18.00
Seniors (60+) $16.50
The train route is a 16-mile round trip into the Daniel Boone National Forest and Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area. This trip is full of spectacular scenic vistas, lush vegetation and mountain streams as it descends 600 feet into the gorge before stopping at Blue Heron Coal Mining Camp, a NPS outdoor interpretive site. Your ticket also includes admission to the McCreary County Museum in Stearns. Round trip times vary between 3 to 3 1/2 hours in length and run rain or shine
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Third Annual Nashville Track Day
September 18 - 19, 2009
This is a true Zoom-Zoom event. Exercise your Miata and driving skills on the road course at the Lebanon NASCAR track for a full day of FUN-FUN-FUN! You can register for either day and will need a SNEL 2005 approved helmet and be at the track no later than 7AM to go thru technical inspection. Registrations are limited and there is a Sept 10th deadline for them. Download the registration form for details or contact MM's Roger Stewart at 865-408-1611.
Location: Nashville Superspeedway
BREAKING NEWS: Those attending Friday can meet Roy and Roger Thursday afternoon and leave at 3PM from the Exxon at the Lenoir City Exit 81 off I-75. Track day is also available on Saturday, but registration closes Sept 10th and it is advisable to call the number on the registration form to see if there are any openings left before mailing form.
| GPS: 4847 Mccreary Rd #F, Lebanon, TN 37090 [Tele: (615) 547-7500] |
| Google MAP to Superspeedway |
| The Weatherin Lebanon, TN |
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Barter Theatre/VA Creeper Trail Run at Abingdon, VA
September 5th and 6th, 2009 [Overnight]
*Please RSVP your intentions to Debbie Ellis
Scenic Drive: 100 miles, 2.5 - 3.5 hours depending on # of stops
GPS Info: Town Hall, 133 W. Main St, Abingdon, VA 24210
Highlighted Group Activities:
Virginia Creeper Trail: [See this important cycling update from Gerry Harms]
Possibly the easiest, prettiest mountain bike ride you will ever encounter! The Trail is actually the retired railway corridor of the Virginia-Carolina Railroad; a gently descending grade and well-groomed surface. We can book a shuttle from either Aingdon or Damasus on one of several companies offering bike rental and shuttle service. Group rates (12 or more) will run approx. $23 each; non-group rates are approx. $26 each. They shuttle you (and rental bike) to Whitetop. The ride is 17 miles to Damascus, almost all DOWNHILL (you'll have to peddle the last three miles as it flattens out a bit at that point). Time: 2.5 - 3 hrs depending on how leisurely your rate. There are vault toilest at numerous places including the trailhead at Whitetop. The Creeper Trail Cafe is at Taylor's Valley, about 10 miles downhill, where you can stop and have lunch but there are also many places to eat in Damascus at the end of the trail. Shuttles run every hour on the hour starting at 9am from Damascus and 8:15am from Abingdon.
NOTE: There are plenty of other things to do and see in the area SUCH AS: the Arts Depot, the Fields-Penn House 1860 House Museum and the William King Regional Arts Center, the Abingdon Vineyard & Winery, the Cave House Craft Shop, White's Mill (on the National Register of Historic Places), and numerous quaint eating establishments. The Harvest Table Restaurant is supposed to be terrific by all reports (including this one)!
OPTION #1: Holiday Inn Express featuring 'Smart Breakfast at I-81, Exit 19 less than 1.2 mile from the ramp; 940 East Main Street, Abingdon, VA 24210. It is a little more upscale, has a pool, stay and play package of 1 night +2 tickets to Barter Theatre = $149.00. Contact Amber Bird at the Barter Theatre (276-619-5406) to purchase this package.
OPTION #2: Super8 Motel at I-81, Exit 17 in Abingdon; newly remodeled with free hot breakfast, no pool, stay and play package of 1 night +2 tickets to Barter Theatre = $105.00. Call (276-676-3329) to purchase this package.
| Google MAP for Abingdon, VA |
| The Weather in Abingdon, VA |
| Abingdon Visitor Center |
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5th Annual Miatas at Mentone (Alabama)
See club photos from Saturday, August 15th, 2009
DeSoto State Park Lodge
265 County Road 951
Fort Payne, AL 35967
256-845-5380 or 1-800-568-8840
DeSoto.StateParkLodge@dcnr.alabama.gov
Click HERE for Mentone updates from the Rocket City Miata Club. And see their MENTONE PHOTO GALLERY from previous years.
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August MM Membership Picnic
Date: Sunday, August 9, 2009 beginning at 3:30pm
Location: the TOP OF THE WORLD at the 'the cousins' Barna Log Home that looks out over the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. The MM Board will provide the food and refreshments but members can also bring something if they like.
Host: The Mountain Miatas Board of Directors, at Ellen and Lesley's mountain home
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Miatas at the GAP XIII
Friday, Saturday, Sunday - July 24-26, 2009
See photos from this event
For more detailed information, visit the MATG Forum.
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MM's to Murphy, NC
Sunday, July 19th
See club photos from the run
We had a record 13 MM Miatas travel for lunch to Doyle's Cedar Hill Restaurant in Murphy, NC - "Your Oasis in the Mountains." We had reservations on the patio, recommended by Ellen's friends who publish the Blue Ridge Highlander. It was a great day with a gaggle of new MM members!
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Jumpin' June - Wine and Blues Event [RAGS run] at the Jamestown Wine Festival
Saturday, June 27th
See club photos from the run
A day's excursion to Highland Manor Winery, Tennessee’s oldest winery, in Jamestown, TN for their Jumpin’ June Event. There were 17 Miatas in all involved in the Rag's sponsored run, including a great showing by MM's! Led by Fred Ellis
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Huckleberry Knob Run
Saturday, June 20th
See club photos from the run
[HISTORY NOTE: THE STORY OF DEAD MAN’S RUN at Huckleberry Knob]
Drive to Tellico Plains and hit the Cherohala Skyway; Drive to the State Line to Huckleberry Knob pull off; Walk 2.5-miles round-trip to Huckleberry Knob to see the grave of the Moonshiner; Drive to Robbinsville, NC for lunch - three great places there to choose from!; Drive back by way of US 129 (Tail of the Dragon)
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Saturday, May 30th - Sunday, May 31st
Lodging at Goose Creek Cabins in Blairsville, GA. Make reservations at goosecreekcabins.com or call 706-745-5111. Keith Bailey, owner.
The rustic cabins are at the actual site and the contemporary cabins are in other locations. Keep in mind folks, this is an experience and they really are rustic, but clean and with inside bathrooms and heat. It is really quite charming and you can even fish for trout if there is time. There is a limited amount of space and some parties may want to share a larger structure. This is at your own discretion.
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Nashville Track Day
Friday, May 22nd - Saturday, May 23rd
Registration information can be found here. A Snell-approved helmet is required for driver (and other if you plan to have a passenger). People should be at the track no later than 6:30AM with a full tank of gas (about 15 miles from Lebanon). The event lasts all day both days. If people want to participate they should register now – Roger will provide more information at our April 27th MM membership meeting if anyone else plans to go.
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32nd Annual Classic Mitty at Road Atlanta
Thursday, April 30 - May 3rd
There are also two Miata races over this long weekend (Spec Miata and an MX-5 Playboy professional series race). It appears Mazda is the biggest sponsor of this event. The drive down there is on great roads through Tellico Plains to Copper Hill and then similar Roads to Brazelton, GA which is in the Northeast direction from Atlanta where the track is located.
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Top of the World Run
TRAIL MAGIC Run
See club photos from April 4, 2009
Route: Go 9.2 miles South on US-129
Turn left onto US-129 South at Traffic Light & go to the Dragon
Continue 11 miles through the Dragon
Bear Right at Deals Gap Store, continue on US-129 South to Robbinsville, NC
Turn left at Traffic Light onto US-143
Go 10 miles to top of the mountain at Stecoah Gap to picnic area on right
(Elevation 3165 ft)
Stecoah Gap is a crossing point for the Appalachian Trail thru hikers, going from Georgia to Maine. The hikers call this gathering TRAIL MAGIC and lets all make sure this is what it is to them. I have been there and I know I always loved it when it occured. We will gather here to pass out food, drinks and goodies to the hikers as they pass through. Just try to think of what you would want to have after being on the trail for 3 days :) Cold drinks, fruits, candy, hamburgers – you bring it, they will eat it. The timing should be good as it is right in the middle of the thru hiker season ( Mar 15 - April 15 ) We hope to see quite a few hikers if we are lucky.
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Top of the World Run
See club photos from March 7, 2009
ROUTE: From Twin Cities Madza, turn left onto Hwy 129, driving to Hwy 321 in Maryville; turn left and travel a short way on Hwy 321 to Montvale Rd. Turn right [at the light] on Montvale Rd. (Hwy 336) and drive approximately 11 miles to Happy Valley Rd. where you will bear to the right at a 'Y' in the road.
Follow Happy Valley Rd. out to Hwy 129 at Chilhowee Lake. Turn right on Hwy 129 for a short distance, then turn right onto the Foothills Parkway. Travel 7 miles up the parkway, stopping along the way at one or two vista points including Look Rock.
Immediately after Look Rock turn right onto Flats Rd. where we will have a surprise picnic stop. Continue on Flats Rd. to Butterfly Gap, eventually winding your way back into Maryville.
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Ocoee Run [RAGS Event] - led by Fred Ellis
See club photos from April 11, 2009
This drive took us through the area lying between Maryville, Copperhill and Cleveland. We began at the BP Gas /Kenjo Market/ Hardees located at 2601 US 411, south of Maryville. The entire trip: approximately 150 miles.
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