With attempts to get my LE ready for the event unsuccessful, I began the hour and a half drive to Vonore late Thursday afternoon - in a Honda Oh, well. I was pretty sure I could catch a ride from someone with an empty passenger seat.

As I pulled into the hotel parking lot, my eyes feasted at the sight of over two dozen 914s of all colors and configurations. It was a wonderful picture. I parked the Honda at the far end and went inside to get my room key. After that was settled, I returned outside to meet other teeners and to check out all the beautiful 914s. We all eventually moved inside for food and drink. Many people were still chatting well past midnight.

Friday morning greeted me with a beautiful sunrise over the mountains - a view I could see out my room window. I joined other teeners downstairs for breakfast and then we all prepared for the upcoming day of taking on the Dragon. I asked Don "hotshoe914" about riding with him and he asked me, "Do you want to ride or drive?" Of course, my answer was "drive". He handed me the key. Not sure how many runs I made - 3 or 4 - but each time was more fun than the last. Part of the experience for me was the visual of seeing other 914s in front of me going around the curves. Hmm, guess you could call that "live" 914 porn.
Friday evenings meal was held at a local pizza place followed by plenty of chatting back at the hotel.

Saturday morning was similar to Friday with a beautiful sunrise over the mountains. When I saw Don, he informed me he would be riding with me (in his car) because he was the designated "clean up" car - last one in line to help in case anyone broke down or got lost. I decided to find a seat in a car that would be running with a pack of other 914s. I was lucky enough to hitch a ride with George in his 916. All I can say is, that ride was amazing. My first (and only) ride ever in a 6 powered 914 was in a 916. I have video of portions of our drive posted elsewhere on this forum and on youTube. We took the Cherohala Skyway to Robinsville, drove to Fontana for lunch and then returned to the motel via the Dragon.
The evening's banquet served up good food and great door prizes. Items ranging from miscellaneous small parts to brake calipers, t-shirts to a gearbox rebuild were generously donated by participating vendors.

Goodbyes were said Sunday morning and I made my way home. Even though I have lived less than two hours from the Dragon for the past 20+ years, I have never driven it. Actually never even heard of it up until a few years ago. Now, I am hooked and really eager to get my LE roadworthy.

It was HELL I tell ya, pure hell!!!........Oh wait, that was my first marriage, not MUSR. So, you want my MUSR story eh? Well, I arrived, started drinking, then I left. Something like that anyway. I never did drive the Dragon while I was there as I gave away both of the cars I brought to other people so that they could enjoy. I hitched a ride with Scotty B on Friday and I drove the skyway Saturday. Friday night I got drunk. Saturday night I got drunk, hell, I think I got drunk Thursday night too but not really sure.



I HAD A BLAST!! Thanks to all who made the event so awesome!

Great weekend, On saturday I was part of the " 3 hour tour" in other words we got lost and had a blast.. No traffic, no people and little roads..

It was a great event and had great people in it..... I think I talked to much...I was just that thrilled!!! Sign me up next year and I hope to actually have a 914 in runnibg shape!

We had a good time. This was my wife's first time with a bunch of 914s. Since we drove one to my wedding on 914 she was thrilled to go to this event. She got to see all the great cars and meet some great people. For me it was good to see so many of the people I met in Huntsville at the RCR a couple of years ago. There were some really nice cars and some great driving roads. Too bad those minivans and bike guys were all but moving roadblocks.

Looking forward to next year, hopefully bringing at least one 914 of our own.

Click to view attachment

What a weekend! 2100 miles in a 914 in 4 days. 900 miles each way from home.
I had time to visit my brother in Limestone, TN on the way down and see his farm.
I stayed in an unheated, unlit cabin on their property Thursday night and woke up to a light frost on the ground just before dawn Friday morning.
It was colder in Tennesee than it had been when I left Connecticut.

My car ran almost perfectly the entire time. The oil never got above 190F the entire trip. Even climbing the Cherahola Skyway it didn't go over 180. I would have preferred a little more temp but the stock oil cooler is simply more than enough for a 1.7L. Even with my special thermostatic valve that almost completely blocks airflow to the cooler the oil just didn't get any hotter.
My horizontal cooling system functioned flawlessly.
Head temps were just what I expected, although I need to do a little (Delorto) carb work to improve them some more.
I think there are one or two progression circuits that aren't working right, as two cylinders varied at part throttle but were just right at idle and WOT. The main circuit needs to be enriched slightly. I bought some BP 93 octane in Virginia that made the engine knock badly under full load, but it got much better again when I filled up at a Turkey Hill store in PA.

This was the best Ramble I've attended so far. I couldn't ask for more (except maybe for a few slowpokes to move out of the way, lol).
Great people. Well organized event. Nice hotel, and at a great price I might add.
Excellent driving routes with exciting twisties and beautiful scenery. The professional photos and the videos are super bonuses too!
Had lunch in a small group with Dr. 914 on Saturday in Fontana, then led the bunch back through the Tail with the 916 trying hard to keep up where the road was clear of slow traffic.
I had a lot of fun creating a tech quiz (with Ed's help of course) that humbled the experts.
I think I'll have to start a thread about that to discuss some of the questions/answers and who got what wrong.

Big thanks to the organizers: Don, Clay, Ken, all the others who pitched in to make this truly special.

I spent the whole time there herding cats......

But we had a blast! The roads were great. I want to come back and actually drive the dragon with a working clutch!



I guess now I have to change my avatar.

I could sum up my trip with smilies, We had a great time and cant wait to get together with you all again.... maybee without the jello shots next time. A special thanks to all who made us newbies feel so welcome.


We trailered in from mobile, al 8hrs then

till we were late for the first run. Then it was to then to ..oh no were lost..

sunday we missed the blind ax but the drive home was good we went to ATL to visit mr George to get proper seats (and bolt the passenger seat down.. Amy rode the dragon all weekend with a driver side seat just sitting in the passenger side and a good seatbelt) He took great care of us and even took the time to take our car for a spin around town to give me pointers on where to emprove her, a short list

Rick and Terrie (75 silver 914 stock) had a blast. We went to Huntsville for just a day to look at cars as mine was still in body shop. This was our first event with car and needlesss to say not our last. Great location and time of year. Great job by Clay, Shoe, ken and all the others for making it quite the weekend. I learned so much I must now save pennies for more 914 parts. If anyone is in North central Alabama - give a shout. 256-741-9710

See you on the next one

Rick I am up in Huntsville, so if you need anything let me know. There are a couple of us up here.

I certainly enjoyed my first ever outing in all 914 company, and the trip was an adventure from start to finish. I had not previously made an overnight trip in "Dad's Mistress"(my all original '73) and thank the organizers for a job well done. Even the meal on Saturday night was excellent!

Everything was first class, Great food on Saturday night. Hotel was excellent choice for a large group.
My wife has already said that she wants to drive her own car to the next one. Guess its time to get back to work on it.
Clay and all the guys did a great job on everything.

Thanks for all the hard work.

Bob

Thanks to Clay and all his helpers for a most enjoyable weekend. My wife has MS and can't walk , We waited till the last minute to see how she felt , She had a great time so I did as well. Three hours in a 914 is an adventure for her , look forward to next year. Thanks again. AL & Linda

Will the avatar give us a hint about next years MUSR?

Dana and I had a great time. Enjoyed seeing country we hadn't seen before and with other teeners made it better. The tow was long, but worth it as we could pack as much as needed. But getting 9 mpg in the truck wasn't the greatest, the comfort was. I enjoyed seeing the 916 and it was one of the highlights of the weekend. One of the other highlights was at a pull off spot admiring the scenery when a Panamera pulls up. I had never seen one in "person", only in pics. Cool. So it looks like next year it's Eureka Springs, Ar. Hope to see everyone and more there....

Click to view attachment

One of the high points of my time at the MUSR11 was pulling up to a scenic overlook to get some distance between us and the cruiser bikes slowing us down when a Noble pulls up to check out Donald's Bumble Bee. The driver was impressed with the mid-engined 914 and I enjoyed checking out as well as learning about the Noble. I was told that only 200 Nobles were imported into the US.


Click to view attachment

Make sure you send me this pic of my car is fancy company.