I just wanted to inform anyone who hasn't seen this on Yahoo, or remind you if you have .......

:D Springtime in the Smokies :D

April 20 - 22, 2001

A meet for SVX owners and aficionados, to be held in beautiful East Tennessee. Our meet headquarters is Oak Ridge, TN. From there, we will take drives to scenic locations, as well as have social events.

The headquarters hotel will be the Garden Plaza in Oak Ridge. We have been offered a special rate of $62.00/night, but reservations will have to be made relatively soon. If you are interested, please contact me ASAP, so I can finalize reservations, and get back with information about how to reserve your room.

Tentative Agenda

Friday, April 20, 8:00 pm. Reception and social hour, including the Great KY-TN Whiskey Taste-off. You may get picked to judge which is best - Kentucky Bourbon, or Tennessee Sour Mash.

Saturday, April 21 - Drive to Smokey Mtn National Park, and ascend to the lofty heights of Clingman's Dome. Tour of Cade's Cove, which is the largest collection of 19th century log buildings, still on their original sites. (Time permitting).
Saturday Afternoon - Cookout at Earl Duff Subaru, Harriman, TN. SVX friendly dealer, sponsor of this event.
Saturday Evening - Informal social hour(s).
Sunday - Another scenic drive, probably to historic Rugby.

If you're interested, please e-mail me (moorej@marshall.edu) or use the Private Messenger function on this site to let me know. I have to make final arrangements for rooms within the next week.

Hope to see you there.

Here's the hotel information for the meet.

King size rooms (1 king size bed) at the Garden Plaza Hotel, Oak Ridge, TN. $62.00/night + tax. For reservations, call 1-800 3 GARDEN. To get the above rate, mention the Subaru SVX Meet. Reservations must be secured by no later than three weeks prior to the meet, in order to receive these rates. Some doubles MAY become available at $67.00/night + tax. After the cutoff date, rooms will be released back into inventory. You may be able to get reservations for these rates, subject to availability. You will be able to begin making reservations sometime during the day of April 7, once they have the rates entered into their system.

Hope to see you there.

<<You will be able to begin making reservations sometime during the day of April 7>>

We have to wait that long? :confused:

Oh, stupid me.
 

Please excuse the brain bubble. The reservation information will be in their system today, March 8. I meant to say you could make them AFTER March 7. Sometimes the brain just doesn't know what the fingers are typing. :confused: Did I also put April 7 in the e-mail I sent out? I hope not.

Just to be sure
 

Just to be sure that nobody is misled. If you're planning on the April 20-22 meet, make your hotel reservations now. Call 1-800 3 GARDEN, and say you're with the Subaru SVX Meet.

Out driving the route
 

We went out today to drive the route for the main tour. Drove to the top of the mountains, Newfound Gap. It was really beautiful - the trees were covered with frost, and there was still a little snow in spots. The final 7 miles to Clingman's Dome is still closed, but will open April 1. On April 21, there probably won't be any snow or frost, but the dogwoods should be in bloom. It's going to gorgeous. If you haven't made up you mind, do it now. Drop me a line and let me know you're coming.

Here are other hotels in Oak Ridge, in case you can't get in on the block reservation at the Garden Plaza. All are withing a few blocks of each other. All telephone numbers are in the 865 Area Code. I've posted local numbers, since you can usually do better dealing with them directly, rather than with a centralized reservations office.

Comfort Inn
481-8200

Days Inn
483-5615

Hampton Inn
482-7889

Jameson Inn
483-6809

Oak Ridge Inn & Suites
483-4371

Ridge Inn Plaza
482-9968

Super 8
483-1200

Any other questions? Please let me know.

Can't wait for the Meet! Made my reservations last week.
Would you happen to know the location(s) of a good coin-operated car wash in the area of the Garden Plaza?

Oak Ridge Car Washes
 

Jerry

I'm assuming you're going to take I-64 toward Lexington, cut over to I-75 at Winchester on 627, then I-75 south from there.

Exit at mile 122 (Clinton Oak Ridge exit), proceed into OR. As you enter the city limits, you'll go through a railroad underpass. Trun left at the first traffic signal (Melton Hill Drive, Melton Hill Lake on your left.) Turn right on Emory Valley Road, just past the marina. Stay on Emory Valley until you see a commercial district with a Food Lion grocery store on the left. Turn left at that light, there's a coin op wash in that shopping center. When you come back out, stay on Emory Valley until it make a major intersection. (2nd traffic signal, first one only allows right turn). Turn left, follow that until you get to Illinois (another major intersection) Turn right, and stay on Illinois until you get to the G.P. Or, there is a car wash on the O.R. Turnpike at an Exxon station, but it's not do-it-yourself.

When are you planning on leaving WV? I was planning on coming back from Huntington possibly on Thursday evening, but if you're planning to leave early enough Friday morning, I could hook up with you in Huntington and we could caravan down (assuming you don't drive more than about 5-10 over the limit :) ) I just need to be here in time to get things ready for the Friday evening reception and Great Southern Whiskey Taste-Off.

General Directions to Oak Ridge
 

Coming on I-40 from the East (NC, etc.) - Continue on I-40 through downtown Knoxville. Be careful, especially on the east side of town - traffic is insane at times, and there's consturction going on. Please be alert and use caution. Continue west on I-40 (joined by I-75 in downtown area). Exit at the Pellisippi Parkway (exit 376, if I recall correctly - will check later). Exit is marked Oak Ridge. Continue on P. Pkwy, cross Clinch River. Continue into Oak Ridge. Pellisippi Pkwy becomes Illinois Ave. Gardgen Plaza is on the right after the fourth traffic signal.

On I-40 from the west. (Nashville, W. KY) Exit at Gallaher Road, exit 356. You're now on TN route 58. Stay on this until you reach O.R. After you cross the Clinch River, note the site of the K-25 plant on your left. This was the uranium separation/enrichment facility during WWII. A mile or so later, TN 58 becomes TN 95. Continue on into town until you reach Illinois Ave. (First major intersection) Turn right on Illinois, the Garden Plaza is on your left after the next traffic signal.

On I-75 from the South (GA, etc.). Take Lenoir City exit (Exit 21). Turn left onto US 321, stay on 321 until you intersect I-40. Go under I-40, 321 becomes TN 95. Stay on 95 until it bears right to Oak Ridge. Warning! Curvy Road :) Follow remainder of directions for I-40, from the west, as given above.

On I-75 from the north (E. KY, OH, etc.) Exit I-75 at exit 122, Clinton/Oak Ridge. Stay on route 61 into Clintion, through Clinton into Oak Ridge, 61 becomes Oak Ridge Turnpike as it enters city limits. Stay on Turnpke as it goes through town. Look for Civic Center on the left, followed by park. Turn left at the signal on the west end of the park - Badger Road. Garden Plaza is at the intersection of Badger and Illinois.

If anyone needs any further directions or information, please let me know.

Bill, I guess I'm going to just play it by ear on my travel route plans. There has been some discussion about hooking up with SVXphile & Molar Marauder coming down I-77, but Don is not sure about his schedule at the moment and Earl hasn't been able to commit just yet. Sooo, yes I may be coming through KY! I may do that anyway since we're going to be coming back up to Lexington, VA on the Parkway on Sunday. I will definitely talk to you beforehand.

Travel plans
 

Well, just let me know if you want to take the I-64/75 route. I'll send you an email next week, when I get back to MU, and we can coordinate that way.

Great - I'll be looking for it.
BTW, do you have a count/list of attendees for the meet?

Meet list
 

Jerry

So far, the list of people who have definitely committed to coming:

You and Don, Randy and Huck, another KY owner, John (NC), and Colin Reily (WI). Of course, I will be there, and Tim Duff (blue 96 LSi) is going to join us for as many activities as he can. We may have as many as seven locals, other than myself. There is a list of about five or six maybes in addition to this. So, we may have anywhere from 8 to 20 cars. I'm beginning to need a pretty firm head count, as I need numbers to plan the Friday evening reception, and Tim needs to plan for the cookout. In the next week or so, I'm going to begin counting noses. I know Roni is coming, so I have you down for two. BTW, I hope you were able to make satisfactory housing arrangements.

Also, we're going to have a nice goodie bag for attendees, in the form of Subaru stuff - possibly caps, koozies for your cold frothy beverages, etc.

Do you, or anyone else attending, own a digital camera, and be willing to be the official meet photographer? I want to document this, and get some photos on the net. But I don't have a camera :(

Bill,
My wife will be with me if the grandbaby doesn't show up late, so, I'm down for two. From eight to twenty, huh? That's a pretty wide "maybe." Nonetheless, if it's two or twenty, wherever SVXers get together, it's sure to be fun! Looking forward to it.

<< I know Roni is coming, so I have you down for two. BTW, I hope you were able to make satisfactory housing arrangements.>>

Yes, thank you for reserving the HC room with your block. :)

Most of the maybes are the locals. Wes Brock at ED Subaru, is contacting them, and will let me know when he knows. There are only a couple of the SVX net readers who might show. Larry III and mohrds had expressed interest, but are going to PA instead. Molar Marauder is a maybe, but haven't heard from him yet. Ditto Micah S. in SC, plus one or two others. But hey, if it was just us two, it would be a blast.

....the meet
 

i will be there!! i have gotten approval from the wife to be there. i have to pay for my gc springs and konis but then i will go ahead and make my reservations. i wrote something similiar to this in the south region message so please check that out so you can get me the info. i need. i hope we make some time for us novices to ask some questions. i am having this idle problem and i need some advice. plus a couple of other things...i will save them for the meet.

I-81
 

Bill,
I will be coming down I-81 by way of Johnson City, where I have to pick up my old bud Barry. Got any special directions for me since I'm coming down that way? Thanks...Don

I-81 Directions
 

Don

Continue south on I-81, it will merge into I-75 east of Knoxville. Continue west on I-75 through Knoxville. From there, just follow the directions I posted earlier. Do be careful on I-75 - lots of traffic (read trucks), especially east of downtown Knoxville. The interstate there is in bad need of upgrading.

We are now up to 10 cars that I am sure of, plus possibly as many as 7 locals, not including myself or Tim. It's going to be great! Were you able to get your accomodations arranged satisfactorily?

Well folks, it looks like there will be a slight change of plans. The woman and I won't be able to ride together up to the meet.

Nope, instead, I will be driving my SVX alone and she will also be driving her "new" SVX to the meet. So mark us down for 2 parking spaces when we get there.

It's another black 92 LS-L touring with everything but the spoiler (thats how we will tell them apart). Very well maintained with 100k on it. The tranny shifts smooth as silk. A steal for 5500. Previous owner fell prey to the SUV craze with a montero sport.

What will the neighbors think?
Actually - I have neighbors with matching F*rd Escort sports - Bwah hahahaha

Needless to say, she has been drooling over my SVX for quite a while, (a real PITA to clean up) I have been trying to convince her to get a WRX instead, but we walked into a great deal and now I can no longer use the "my car is cooler than yours" excuse to reserve the one car garage.

You 2-SVX families make me sick! :mad:


(hehe . . . seriously, congratulations! Looking forward to seeing BOTH of them! ;) )

OK, we'll be sure to clear out another parking spot. Look forward to seeing your "carvan" arrive. Are you planning to make it to the Friday evening reception?

We should be racing in about the time the reception starts, maybe earlier if I can duck the boss at work and bail out early.

Hey! we put in our time ;) About 4 years ago we were a 2 - 89 DL wagon family - they were both even the same color (red and rust). She also had an 86 GL hatchback (I liked that one) at one time.
My older brother had an 87 GL sedan, and now drives a 92 legacy wagon. My dad drives a 96 legacy wagon. I gave my younger brother my 89 DL wagon.
But the woman and I have both finally graduated to the king of subies

it brings a tear of joy to my eye to see all of those subarus listed there.
my parents have a legacy wagon, my grandparents a forrester....and my brother went through two GL wagons. although he blew the engine on one and broke the drive train on the other....he had a lot of fun thrashing about in the woods and on the beach--beating the snot out of them until they finally gave in. he put alot of his friends' 4x4 trucks to shame.
now's he jealous of my svx. heh....he'll never get it from me.
toby

I-81
 

Bill,
Are there any special directions for someone coming down I-81 from Johnson City/Kingsport? Thanks..Don

Never mind...
 

Bill,
Sorry about that....I'm still having trouble with this site....I look at posts in one location and reply and they appear here. I'll figure it out someday...Don

Meet List
 

Here's the list of folks coming to the Smokies meet:

KY
aredubjay
huck

TN
1994SubaruSVX
svxter (of course!)
Tim Duff

SC
immortal_suby - 2 cars

WV
svxxx26
SVXPhile

NC
john19688

WI
montypython

Plus, there are at least three other possible cars coming, and I have yet to find out how many of the Knoxville area folks will join us. There may be as many as 7 locals, but I have yet to hear anything definite.

I don't think I've left anyone off the list - if I have, 1. please accept my most humble and abject apologies. 2. Let me know ASAP.

I'm sending you directions to the Friday evening get-together by PM.

SVXTER
 

maybe this is unusual but if possible can you give me a call at work, 877-723-4267, so i can get a cell phone number or something. just in case i get lost i want to be able to get in touch with someone. what time does the reception begin? i may need to leave work early if i plan on making it. where did you say the hotels were listed? just trying to get all of my ducks in a row.

Funny you should ask
 

I just sent you a private message with my home and cell phone numbers in it. If it doesn't show up shortly, let me know, and I'll give you a call tomorrow sometime.

The official headquarters hotel is the Garden Plaza, 1 800 3 GARDEN. Be sure to mention the Subaru SVX Meet, and request a chair accessible room. Hopefully, there are some left in the block reservation. If you can't get what you need from them:

Here are other hotels in Oak Ridge, in case you can't get in on the block reservation at the Garden Plaza. All are within a few blocks of each other. All telephone numbers are in the 865 Area Code. I've posted local numbers, since you can usually do better dealing with them directly, rather than with a centralized reservations office.

Comfort Inn
481-8200

Days Inn
483-5615

Hampton Inn
482-7889

Jameson Inn
483-6809

Oak Ridge Inn & Suites
483-4371

Ridge Inn Plaza
482-9968

Super 8
483-1200

Let me know if the PM doesn't show up, somehow.

A reminder
 

Less than 3 weeks to go. If you're coming, and haven't notified me, please do so ASAP.

Also, a reminder - all times given are for EDT. We're on the very western edge of the Eastern Time Zone, but still in it. Set your clocks accordingly.

See you in 3.

may not be able to make it......
 

bought some koni's and ground controls from dayle at motorsport and fedex lost two of my struts in shipping. dayle is going to refund me the struts and i will keep the springs. but there is no way i am driving all the way to oak ridge on these struts. plus i am waiting on parts from subaru.com. i have to replace my idle air control valve. it is causing the tach to jump all of the place. i am not happy i was really looking forward to meeting everyone. dayle said he was getting more koni's but not for another 4-6 weeks. but i may buy svx_2000's struts. anyway have fun and i will catch you guys next time around.

Aredubjay II?
 

Man, don't give up on the Smokies yet! Maybe SVX_2000's struts will come to the rescue. ;)
BTW, do you have a part # for the IAC? I have been having some idle problems of my own and the IAC is next on my list of parts.

Oh, for cryin' out loud! Don't let a couple of little struts stop you. You gotta be there! You've still got a couple of weeks! C'mon! Be a sport. :D

Part # for IAC
 

Here is the part # that subaruparts.com gave me: 22650AA090, it is $206.63. I am still going to try and make it but it is looking grim.....

<<am still going to try and make it but it is looking grim.....>>

Thanks for the P/N.
Really hope things turn out OK for you - we were looking forward to meeting you!

Re: Part # for IAC
 

HA! I laugh in the face of "grim." HA! You're talking to ME about looking "grim." 24 days in the tranny shop, the day I'm supposed to leave for a meet . . . the guy gives me no real hope of being finished (he says, "we'll do the best we can") HA! I laugh again in the face of "grim." See ya in the Smokies :D

Hoping to see you.
 

Surely hope you can get the struts replaced in time - sure looking forward to seeing you in a couple. Keep us posted on the progress.

I will try to be there.....
 

I set up a way to pay the guy in CA today. I will probably have him ship his Koni's to me this week. That way my IAC, strut mounts, bushings, and struts would all arrive next week. Then hopefully I could have everything installed......I just dont know. Damn Subaru!!

Re: I will try to be there.....
 

No, no, no -- not yet. We still need them 'til we can organize and have a little "chat" with some A/M folks.
:D

9 days and counting
 

Nine days to go before the meet. If you are planning to be there, and haven't let me know, please post here, send me e-mail or drop a line via Private Messenger. I'm going to spend this weekend making final preparations, and need a reasonably accurate head count, so please let me know ASAP. If you can't, or don't, make a decision until the last minute, that's OK, you're still welcome to come. The more advance notice, the better, however. See you all soon.