I got it all, video goes from when I turned the camera on just after leaving the lodge to just after Topless caught up with us on the pavement.


The run on Moonshiner looks pretty good, too.





You are NEVER gonna live this one down, Franc.
And Andy has a backup video - just in case anything suspicious happens to me.....

 

All photos shot on the Tail of the Dragon
US129 professional Crossfire Photos from the weekend are now online

FRIDAY US129 photos

SATURDAY US129 photos

SUNDAY US129 photos

 

If I had known that was where y'all were going I probably would've joined you.

 

It is getting to where we have enough people familiar with the routes that we CAN have four or five "classes" of runs. We can't fit EVERYONE'S pace EVERY time - but we CAN accommodate all drivers.

The Cherahala run is not a hard one to navigate, you can almost do it with a map your first time out.



I'm taking notes.....

 

Thanks Mark.

I already called Vinny. A limey in North Carolina shouldn't be hard to find and Vinny says he knows all the Hooters bars in Georgia.


Contract is made man. Good luck to both of you.

 

Franc, yep i got some on Video as Mark said. I am going under cover as an Aussie now so that your "Mafia connection" doesnt find me, lol.
Watch this space for "Franc's Off-Road Crossfire Club" Tee shirt info.

 

Franc deep in thought after our "off road experience"

 

Nick showing some style.......

 

It was great to see everybody! The weather, people, cars, routes all worked out so well. We got to spend all weekend with some of our favorite people.

Everyone who joined us on the boat cruise, thanks, Miss Hazel was quite a good time Someone will have to take that over for the next Dragon because sadly, we will not be able to make it.

Looking forward to the next time we can make it down!

 

I am never gonna hear the end of this.....

 

After a couple of stops along the way we made it home last night . . .

Cindy and I had a super time. THANKS to everyone who gathered at Fontana Village to make this such a special event.


Friday

A special THANK YOU to FRANC RAUSCHER for leading our group to the home of his friends Jim & Trish who graciously hosted a tasty barbeque for all of us. Beautiful people and a good time.

Saturday

A special THANK YOU to THIRTEEN DOG (Nick) for leading the aggressive group on Saturday. It was like spending the whole day on a road race course. Also a THANK YOU to all who were in that group. Good drivers running fast nimble cars . . . I thoroughly enjoyed the whole day. Pizza Guy . . . I'm sorry you got "picked off" by that radar cop and had to make a $218.00 contribution to the local revenue collection fund. For those keeping track, I WAS able to take advantage of a rare opportunity to pass Nick (specific details to remain secret).

Thanks to BoilerUpXFire (John & Molly) for organizing the sunset trip on Miss Hazel giving us a water tour on part of Lake Fontana. It was a perfect unwind and relax experience with an informative Capt. Carl. We enjoyed the tour as well as everyone's company!

Sunday

A special thanks to SRQfun (Mike) for leading our group for the day. Cindy and I enjoyed a great day running and hanging with another special group of Crossfire owners. THANK YOU to all in that group for making it such a great day.

We appreciate all of you who attended this fall's TOD. We are already planning some additional mods to the SRT6 and looking forward to next year at TOD . . .

 

I hope the Colorado/Wyoming bunch made it home OKAY.

Especially Carlo and Janet (CMZ) who had to trek all the way to Casper. Seems the State of Wyoming had a little snow. Cause for concern.


Any word from them?

 

Yes Franc we made it home after a little stop in Burlington for a tire fix and I spoke with Janet and Carlo last night and they were 50 miles from Casper and doing fine. We are all good just tired after the looooong 2 day trek.

 

After what Mike said about the dragon being too fast for me. I think I need to clarify. Mike said it was the slowest run he had ever been on, and I said it is a matter of perspective. It was the fastest run I had ever been on, (It was my first time.) In fact I said the dragon did not live up to it's hype. I thought it would be harder than it was. After the talk about it, I was expecting to find myself fighting for my life. It was a lot of fun, and I want to do it again, faster!

 

It was a great pleasure to run with you and the others this weekend. Thanks for letting me tag along with the cool crowd.

You guys were great!

And if I may, I must give a plug for the Colorado bunch who will most certainly host the best CCA ever next summer.

BTW Rob, I replaced my MAF sensor yesterday and all is well.

 

Obviously you weren't following Pizzaguy, Nick or Maxcichon thru the Dragon.
Driven hard it can be a crap your pants run. Our crossies are built for this road.

The biggest danger is a biker who cannot, or will not, see the yellow line.

 

Glad to hear the MAF was the "fix" ......the plug was well placed for the CAA #5 as well and yes it will be a BIG deal for all who come to Colorado in July! Guaranteed good time and lots of runs! Thanks franc

 

As Robert said, we made it home last night (plugged tire still holding)! It was another fantastic visit to the Dragon. Great to see old friends and meet some new ones. I'm processing the photos and video still.

Here are a few:

Hellbender (westbound):

TOD:

 

OK. Wayne and Mrs Wayne can split up - one ride with me and one with nick or Evan or max.....

 

I really enjoyed this Dragon. Thanks to all who planned the event and attended. The first timers were great and their enthusiasm added to the excitement of the weekend. Some of the best weather we have had for a Dragon week end. It was fun to see what everyone had done with their cars since the last event. Don Barbies new hood is a work of art in progress.

Part of why I attend is the driving experience and Saturdays aggressive group did not dissapoint. Nick, Shaun, Itsky and I are veterans of this small interest group and I always enjoy running with you guys. As usual Nick did an excellent job leading and set a challenging pace. The new guys were a ton of fun and very good drivers. Dementors ( and Dad), Red Dog, Mark and TRV were all welcomed to the group. Mark I am glad you decided to join us and hope you enjoyed the pace. Rotten luck on the under 10mph ticket.

Two parts of the day were high lights for me. The first was a section of the DT when the road opened up ahead and Red Dog and I hooked up for a flat out sprint that lasted a while until we ran into slow traffic. It was a very technical section of road and our two cars were linked together braking and accelerating, superchargers screaming, in the zone type focus. That's as good as it gets. Thanks for the dance Red Dog.

The second occured on the Dragon late Saturday afternoon with Itsky leading. With all the traffic and Leo's on the Dragon these days it is rare when everthing comes together for a great run. We did not get a complete run but we had enough open road to have a lot of fun. Itsky, Dementors and I were nose to tail in a pod and we got a great rhythm
going through the turns that was a blast to drive. It always amazes me how awsome our cars are on these mountain roads. The SRT's explode out of the turns and the brembo's let you drive deep into the braking zone for the next turn, and the suspention works hard as the weight of the car shifts and then the next explosion.

Better stop writting or I will have to head back up there for some more driving. Hope everyone got home safely and that the newbies are hooked on the Dragon and we will see you all in the Spring.