Article about the Moonshine Rally

[mdrburchette]

One of the Miata fellas wrote an article about the Moonshine Rally that was held on May 3rd. I thought you guys might enjoy reading it since it pretty much describes the event. I have to tell you that I finally beat my arch nemesis, Kevin Harper this year. I wonder if he'll even have a write up about it in our monthly newsletter....I doubt it. I came in 18th with him coming in 19th and one second behind me. Not as close as the 1/4 second he beat me in the autocross!
Here's the article:

2008 Appalachian Moonshine Rally article by Charlie Roberts
Pictures to follow tomorrow afternoon.


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2008 Appalachian Moonshine Rally

By Charlie Roberts





“I will not be able to feel my right side tomorrow, “repeated my navigator, my wife. The 2008 Appalachian Moonshine Rally held May 3 offered a wondrous opportunity for sports cars and roadsters to enjoy some of Elkin, North Carolina’s lesser known and traveled roads. This was 8 in ’08 for the rally, which began in 2000, by the Triad Austin-Healey Club. The rally is open to all makes and models. The rally had, of course, Austin-Healeys, Triumphs, and MG’s of all types, a Jaguar XK-140 and XKE, Lotus Elise, Maserati, a handmade streetable racecar; The McBearen, and Miatas; from NA to NC. The field this year was 102 cars strong with Miatas comprising better than a third of this number and two Miata clubs; Triad Miatas and Carolinas Miata Club comprising most of these.



Elkin, NC welcomes us by closing off West Main Street and offering City Police presence in blocking the streets and our initial starting line street crossing. The business owners opened their doors to occupy the rallyists prior to the driver’s meeting and the start. You had a choice of a coffee shop to a good old-fashioned soda fountain to antique shops. Even the blooming dogwoods seemed to be in full glory for the attendees.



The driver’s meeting was called at noon, all were instructed in the manner, and courtesy we should afford this community and each other. We did some final preparations to our cars and sat down, buckled up and instructed our navigators to be ready to hang on. 12:30 brought the start of the rally. The navigator is handed a direction sheet and the driver awaited the green light to launch on this adventure. The Rallymaster and helpers launched the cars every thirty seconds. We headed into a residential section, with a stated average speed of twenty-five to begin with. The directions took us out into the countryside and all seemed to be a nice easy curve after curve, with little traffic, excepting the car in front and behind you.



We arrived at North Carolina State Road 1002. John Saylor and the Other Austin-Healey folks decided this is where cruising along, ended. Now, if you are prone to motion sickness, you might want to move along to the next article now, however, hang on for the ride. SR 1002, began the “thrill coaster, e-ticket, scream fest” drive. We ascended several thousand feet and fell back, just as many. The foothills around Elkin provided great scenery, as well as these thrills. The twists, turns, and switchbacks were unending. We never saw higher than third or fourth gear the entire trip. The rally had us enjoy some roads that grew tighter in the turns, followed by a road that climbed and increased the rolling. We soon found ourselves traveling the Blue Ridge Parkway and to a scenic overlook of Stone Mountain.



Our directions had us turn off the Parkway. The road below could be seen as about an inch wide and far below. The nose of the car pointed into the sky and over the tops of the trees. Roller coasters have drops like this road. We rolled onto the road and hoped that the descent was straight. Amusement parks would have been proud of our cars as we dropped down this incline. The fun was only beginning. Again, “My muscles are going to be so sore tomorrow,” came from my right side.



We drove on, in and out of Surry, Wilkes, Alleghany, and Yadkin Counties. Many residents we passed, on the road, or in their yards waved enthusiastically at the cars as we passed. It seemed this entire area welcomed our minor intrusion into their lives. The roads of these counties were and are carved and cut by some brave men following cattle and, possibly moonshiner’s trails. We saw very little straight pavement in front of us and many times the pavement disappeared into trees, banks or sides of mountains. Roads that gave enjoyment to owning our Miatas, from both the spectators to the curves.



The rally organizers programmed a fifteen-minute break for fuel and restroom breaks. This is a mandatory requirement, or you will be penalized for being too early. In this rally, early cost you two penalty points per second. Late was only a single penalty point. We all finished twisting, turning, and doing switchbacks to arrive at one of the Yadkin Valley vineyards. The Yadkin Vineyards are the newest in America and considered some of the best. Grassy Creek Vineyards and Winery welcomed us at the finish to their tasting room. We all gathered and enjoyed viewing the cars as they arrived and awaited the results. Three Miata driver and navigator teams finished in the top ten of the rally, each receiving a gift bag with items for both members of the team. The Miatas out performed some exotic sports cars and other roadsters.



All the Miatas finished with only one team, a non-Mazda entry, pulling out due to rain sprinkles that threatened us all day. We look forward to next year’s event. We look forward to seeing this same kind of fun and excitement in 2009. We hope that more of you can enjoy this with all of us from the Triad and Charlotte. We all hope for ‘shine to wine in ’09. Yes, my wife and excellent navigator had very sore muscles on her right side from bracing herself in the cockpit of the Miata.

[ventura ace]

Sounds like fun! I'd like to take part in one of those one day. How much moonshine do I need to bring along??

Alvon

[mdrburchette]

The moonshine's free. You can show up for the Fall run in October. We finish it off with a chicken stew.

[ga.spyder]

I am really sorry that we couldnt attend the rally. It sounds like a blast ,and my son has really wanted to do a rally together.Is the fall run a similar event?Also ,congrats on beating Kevin ,and Im sure his concession speech will be in the next newsletter.
Craig

[mdrburchette]

Please try to make it Craig. You won't be sorry. There are 8 routes so there are times when you won't see another car and you often wonder if you've made a wrong turn, but the instructions are easy to follow and we have a great time. You are getting the newsletter, right? There will be information about our events in it. Plenty more are scheduled.

[ga.spyder]

Hey Denise ,yes I am getting the newsletter and look forward to it every month.I plan on driving a couple legs of the 'mille miglia' and maybe the Concourse in the fall.I am looking for a trailer and hope to find one(affordable) soon.Its a 6 hour round trip to W/S ,and even though the car is dependable ,I hate to put so many miles on it.It sounds like y'all have a good group and it would be fun to join in!
Craig