Y2K5SRT
Enthusiast
Another GREAT day here in Nashville - wish you were here! So we started out with the panoramic photo. Well, Your Truly was exhausted from yesterdays post (over four hours of editing, uploading, description, & posting) and he slept in a little longer than planned. I raced over, but couldn't get my car in time for the photo. No worries, as I had front row at VOI6 and it would be hard to top that anyway. The guys at the Opryland Hotel felt bad for me being up so late (and with the final storm ready to start pouring), so they gave me a decent parking spot for the night:
Mind you, there are 500+ other Vipers here. I couldn't catch a bus to get the darn car (I am staying at another hotel) in time for the panoramic picture today. Instead, I took some photos of my own, including this panoramic shot (no tripod, but not terrible) (<FONT COLOR="red">Edit - I am making this a link instead of the VERY wide photo so that this thread is easier to read. Sorry, but I was tired when I posted</FONT c>):
Click here to see Y2KGTS's panorama shot!
Not nearly as impressive as taken from an elevated platform, but I DID stand on the curb right below it.
So, the picture(s) done, it was off to the Road Rally for our group! Oh, but let's get something straight right up front: IT STOPPED RAINING! That's right, dry pavement for all. Right on time, as today was the first "official" day of driving (yesterday's parade was for those that registered early). So did Dodge find a nice place to cruise for us? You tell me:
Oh, this wasn't the half of it. It was over three hours of driving among the rolling hills of the Natchez Trace Parkway. Of course, we had the normal stops for MORE gifts from Dodge. I won't say what they were as not everybody has done the Rally yet, but I will say they were unique to VOI7 and were solid metal. Each stop also afforded us the opportunity to see LOTS of great Vipers and Viper owners!
Now, you may recall that I did this cruise Chuck 98 style. No, not with two Vipers, but solo (ouch!). There were three busloads of folks that came without their Vipers. Nadine (our English friend with the awesome burnout avatar) managed to find a ride with somebody else. However, the only Viper in Northern Ireland happens to belong to a bus-bound gentlemen. His Viper also happens to be a black GTS with silver stripes - a color combination near and dear to my heart. I decided to extend that American hospitality and track him down. Sure enough, I managed to find him and he was more than happy to ride shotgun for the first part of the cruise:
Well, as I learned more about his GTS (Belanger headers, Borla, etc.) and his driving experience, I decided he should enjoy some time behind the wheel on those great roads. So he did! I was waiting for him to stray into the left lane (as they drive in the UK), but it never happened. Indeed, I was so impressed that I have offered to let him drive my car during some of the track events tomorrow. Should be fun!
Anyway, we headed back from the Rally and went through some historic Tennessee towns, such as Leipers Fork. When we showed up at the town gas station (wooden floors, etc.), the locals were overwhelmed. Indeed, the manager (who is the sister-in-law of the first cashier and mother to the other cashier), called from somewhere else to complain that Earl couldn't get in to get his beer and called her at home. I kid you not.
(continued)
You must be registered for see images
Mind you, there are 500+ other Vipers here. I couldn't catch a bus to get the darn car (I am staying at another hotel) in time for the panoramic picture today. Instead, I took some photos of my own, including this panoramic shot (no tripod, but not terrible) (<FONT COLOR="red">Edit - I am making this a link instead of the VERY wide photo so that this thread is easier to read. Sorry, but I was tired when I posted</FONT c>):
Click here to see Y2KGTS's panorama shot!
Not nearly as impressive as taken from an elevated platform, but I DID stand on the curb right below it.
You must be registered for see images
Oh, this wasn't the half of it. It was over three hours of driving among the rolling hills of the Natchez Trace Parkway. Of course, we had the normal stops for MORE gifts from Dodge. I won't say what they were as not everybody has done the Rally yet, but I will say they were unique to VOI7 and were solid metal. Each stop also afforded us the opportunity to see LOTS of great Vipers and Viper owners!
You must be registered for see images
Now, you may recall that I did this cruise Chuck 98 style. No, not with two Vipers, but solo (ouch!). There were three busloads of folks that came without their Vipers. Nadine (our English friend with the awesome burnout avatar) managed to find a ride with somebody else. However, the only Viper in Northern Ireland happens to belong to a bus-bound gentlemen. His Viper also happens to be a black GTS with silver stripes - a color combination near and dear to my heart. I decided to extend that American hospitality and track him down. Sure enough, I managed to find him and he was more than happy to ride shotgun for the first part of the cruise:
You must be registered for see images
Well, as I learned more about his GTS (Belanger headers, Borla, etc.) and his driving experience, I decided he should enjoy some time behind the wheel on those great roads. So he did! I was waiting for him to stray into the left lane (as they drive in the UK), but it never happened. Indeed, I was so impressed that I have offered to let him drive my car during some of the track events tomorrow. Should be fun!
Anyway, we headed back from the Rally and went through some historic Tennessee towns, such as Leipers Fork. When we showed up at the town gas station (wooden floors, etc.), the locals were overwhelmed. Indeed, the manager (who is the sister-in-law of the first cashier and mother to the other cashier), called from somewhere else to complain that Earl couldn't get in to get his beer and called her at home. I kid you not.
You must be registered for see images
(continued)
