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Way back in 2006 I organized a drive for MOTD from my home in Texas that ran almost 100 cars through the Smoky Mountains and down Little River Road.  I was worried about planning the route from so far away, so I got up before dawn to pre-drive the route and make sure that all of the roads were OK.  That wound up being the best drive of my life.  Windows down, sunroof open, heat and seat heaters on full-blast.  It was exhilarating and to this day, when I’m over stressed in the office and need to decompress, I take myself back to that morning, driving down Little River Road in my MINI.  Whenever I’m in the area, I recreate that sunrise drive and take along my MINI friends.

Bob Whitney was an early fan of this drive and has lead a Wednesday morning version of this drive.  Due to road conditions and closures in the area, I’m picking up a good part of Bob’s modified route for 2025. 

We will meet at 6am and head out of Fontana after a brief driver’s meeting.  We will drive across the Tail of the Dragon and then head up the Foothills Parkway with a few stops for photos as weather permits.  About 1-1.5 hours in, we will stop for gas, food and a bathroom break at a Shell / IGA Grocery store that has a good hot breakfast area (good sausage biscuits) and a small-ish but complete grocery store.
We will then enter the Smoky Mountain Park and drive Little River Road south.  We would normally drive through ‘the gap’ to emerge on the south side of the park in Cherokee, but the hurricane changed our plans this year.  We will instead explore the new segment of the Foothills Parkway as we head back to Fontana the way we came, giving you one more pass at the Tail of the Dragon.  I haven’t done this new route yet,

But I’m expecting us to get back to Fontana by 10-11am.

Your Schedule (give or take a little)