[jvandal]

OK folks, five months out! August 17th-20th

If you have previously attended OTD and had provided an email address, you received a survey email several months back. The results of that survey prompted another and then a third and final one.

The result were that a new venue was in order and the respondents selected Deer Ridge Resorts in Gatlinburg, TN. The resort has blocked out rooms for us at a reduced rate and you only need to identify yourself as being with the OutSmartingtheDragon or as a member of the SmartCar Group when you call to reserve your room. The also have cabins available if you and some friends wish to share, but with no reduction in rates.

With the eclipse happening on the following monday, and with the fact we are in prime viewing territory, rooms may be tight if you wait too long. But the resort is on a higher ridgeline and should provide an awesome view.

Also, any of you who are Diamond Resort Members will be interested in knowing that Bent Creek Resort is at the base of the hill going up to Deer Ridge.

We are still working out the details but have a many things planned. Website and registration are upcoming.

Also, the resort is providing a free vacation stay as one of the prizes.

Proposed Agenda

Thursday
12 pm
Lunch at SMART Knoxville
4:30 – 8 pm
Registration at the Pavilion
5:30 – 7 pm
Dinner at the Pavilion
4:30 – 9 pm
Socializing / Games at the Pavilion
9 pm - ????
Socializing at the Lounge

Friday
8 – 9am
Registration at the Pavilion
9 am
Photo Scavenger Hunt Begins
9 am Day Runs
• Dragon
• Cades Cove
• Mick’s Road Rally
• Roaring Fork Motor Trail
• Pigeon Forge / Dollywood
• Gatlinburg
• Clingmans Dome
• Cherokee, NC
• Maggie Valley, NC
Noon
Lunch on your own or with a day run group
1 pm Day Runs
• Roaring Fork Motor Trail
• Pigeon Forge
• Gatlinburg
3 – 4:30 pm
Registration at the Pavilion
Socializing / Games at the Pavilion
4:30 pm-? Dinner Run
• Hatfield and McCoy Dinner Theater
• Dinner on your own
7 pm - ???
Socializing / Games at the Pavilion



Saturday
9 am GROUP PICTURE
(Meet at the Pavilion)
10 am Day Runs
• Dragon
• Roaring Fork Motor Trail Run
• Pigeon Forge / Dollywood
• Gatlinburg
• Clingmans Dome
• Cherokee, NC

Noon
Lunch on your own or with a day run group

1 pm - 3 pm
Socializing at the Pavilion
3 pm – 4 pm
Setup for Mic’s Car Show
4 pm
Photo Scavenger Hunt ends
(No Entries accepted after 4)
4:30 - 5 pm
Car Show Judging
6 pm
Banquet / Dinner at the Pavilion?
8 pm - ???
Socializing at the Pavilion

Sunday
8 am
Breakfast Run and Goodbye

For Now... Thanks
Nancy, Barbara and me...

 

[pinklady]

Super excited! This will be my 1st rally. What are the dates?

 

[jvandal]

I can't believe I left that out...

August 17th-20th

 

[ArthurRW]

Got my reservation for four, me, my wife, daughter and granddaughter, 3 smart cars. Daughter is chaperone for my granddaughter, the smart driver gene skipped a generation. My wife & I have a hotel room closer to the eclipse path for Sunday night and Monday, granddaughter has classes on Monday so one smart goes home Sunday. Our daughter had her first trip down the Dragon with our granddaughter at the wheel of her own smart last year, granddaughter was a 3 year veteran (twice as a passenger) last year.
BTW, when will the OTD '17 website be open?

 

[jvandal]

OK folks, the website is up outsmartingthedragon.com or smartiesinthesmokies.com

The cost of a storefront is too high so the signup/registration will be an email sign up that we will then send you a registration email in pdf form. We are still working on cost estimates for the dinners, T-shirts, decals and the like .....

Thanks for your patience as we learn how to do what needs to be done!

 

[jmgnyc]

Howdy! I'm thinking of coming to the event for the first time. Questions:


1) How do the day runs work? You list 9 runs for Friday at 9:00am and 6 runs for Saturday at 9:00am. Do I have to choose just one run each day and run it at 9:00am?


2) I've looked at videos of the Dragon run and the Roaring Fork run and they all seem to be going downhill the whole way. Is it hard to get up there to begin with? I'm I just seeing part of the run in the videos, the downhill part?


3) My Smart is a little old - a 2009 with 120,000 miles and has been running OK, but I don't know how much longer it will last. I'm wondering if it will be OK on the mountain curves? I drive it 3 times a year from CT to SC and go through NC mountains, but that's on much less curvy major highways.


I'm really looking forward to meeting everyone, and I will definitely stay for the eclipse! My nephew will come up from Georgia to join me for that. BTW, I grew up in Memphis, TN and know east TN well.

 

[jvandal]

1. gang up with other smarties and pick a run, these are just the one we will be providing maps/directions for

2.You are seeing only one directions....

3.We have had Smarts with twice as many miles as yours participate.

Book your room soon as we are about to lose our block hold on them.

Joe

 

[jmgnyc]

Thanks, Joe! I just booked a condo room for 4 nights, 8/17-20. I also called up my relatives in the area and invited them to lunch and the eclipse viewing at noon on Monday! This will be awesome!! I look forward to meeting you there.
Janice