Dragon Run August 13th

[MichaelH]

I will be meeting a few people in Knoxville to head up there. We should be at the gas station at about 10am. If anyone wants to meet up with us let me know.

[netcsk]

I'm sorry to hear about the tragedy Ely, I wish you and your family the best.

I'll still be heading up and will meet whoever is at the Ootewalh (or whatever) exit @ 7:30 -- meeting at Bi-Lo?. So watch out for my delphin grey eta.

[rs4pro3]

Thanks again Everybody, I'll be there in spirit :D My grandfather is doing better, so that is good.

[netcsk]

that's great to hear Ely! I'll talk to you later. By the way, you left your umbrella at my house, so I'll give that back sometime :).

[rs4pro3]

Ya I realized that the next day. I'll get it from you sometime. I'm hoping my grandfather will be well enough we can head home sunday sometime. And if he gets stable enough I think they will try to transport him to Baptist hospital so he is closer to my Uncle(Seveirville) and us.

[bmwm3n528]

Sounds like the Dragon had a farely morbid day today. Today's motorcycle death makes for #3, and that's just recently.

[MichaelH]

Sounds like the Dragon had a farely morbid day today. Today's motorcycle death makes for #3, and that's just recently.

We were about 5 minutes behind the guy and we drove by right after he crashed. He was laying on the ground and his bike was in a ditch. We weren't sure how he was until we came back by on the way back up and he was in the same spot with a white sheet over his body........ Pretty shitty day. Add to that the fact that Chris' wheel FELL OFF on our trip back home and the torrential rain on the Skyway. I don't think there are many more Dragon drives in my near future. Being 5 feet from a guy that just died that we had just seen 5 minutes earlier will turn you off to a place really fast.

[325i Vert]

Wow...Sounds like you guys had a pretty bad day. Sorry for not showing up guys! We were planning on it but we had rain here so we decided not to go. I wish I could have called you all and told you...Sorry to hear you guys had a rough day. Maybe you guys should come down for a fall drive and we can have a nice cookout or get together or something fun.

Josh K

[netcsk]

yeah, wasn't the best day... It rained almost all the way back to chattanooga too. I made it home alright with a little vibration from the hub centering ring being gone. It looks like I'll have to call Tirerack Monday and see if I can get them to get me some rings before I head to Knoxville Thursday, since it doesn't look like my spare Kosei has one.

A thing to note, Torque wrenches aren't great for wheels :). It makes sense, as the threads/bolts wear, they wont get as tight with the same torque (torque reading goes into the threads). Therefore, all of my tightening of wheel bolts now is done by feel, and everytime before I drive the dragon :D.

Somehow, a wheel falling off the car at 15-20mph didn't harm the quarter panel, the body, or anything but the shield around the rotor (which was easily bent back). I had a little paint from the lines in the road and left a nice little scar of 10ft in the road from slicing it. I'm spent for the day...

[kylebes1]

Other than the dead people and suicidal rims I think the day was cool.

At least Chris' wheel came off AFTER we ran teh Dragon.

Being my first time driving any car hard I had a load of fun.

It took me quite a while to get home though. I was in the car a total of 11 hours!! WEHEW

rained like a mofo on teh way back, and Semi's on I-75 just don't look in their mirrors as they change lanes. I was more affraid on the interstate than on 129!

Nice to meet new people, in person that is, and exprience the skills you guys possess.

I cannot wait to do it again. Wont be in te 5er though, I tihk I ruined my front tires. :)

[MichaelH]

Glad you had fun kyle, we will do it again. I think there is a drive planned with the BMWCCA next month. I'll post when I find out for sure.

[kylebes1]

Glad you had fun kyle, we will do it again. I think there is a drive planned with the BMWCCA next month. I'll post when I find out for sure.

Thanks man.

[netcsk]

I ran Kyle all over trying to get to the interstate :). How are things going with the family Ely?

[rs4pro3]

Glad you didn't get hurt Chris! Was this on the side were you were having trouble keeping the lugs tight? I wathced you torque the rears down tight when we swapped the rear end bushings(did the car handle better :D ).

The family is so, so. My grandfather had a hard night last night, he had to get more blood(7 pints after the accident, and a pint of platelets last night), He has heart problems so there was a bunch of plavix in his system and he almost bled to death Thursday afternoon. Today he slept almost all day, Yesterday the family told him about his wife, and son in law(that was a hard desician to make).
My uncle, 2 aunts, neice, and my self went to go see the cars, accident seen, and possilby my step-grandmother in the Morg.
The cars were crushed beyond belief, the subaro they were driving held up very good, but basically the Passenger front tire was where the Passenger seat should be(were My grandfather's stepson was sitting-father of the children in the back seat). The airbag is the only thing that saved my grandfather, and we couldn't believe the 2 kids didn't have more injuries.
We then stopped by the accident scene and the Morg, but we had been told wrong and she and her son are actauly at the same hospital as my grandfather. But while we were walking out a Trooper pulled up and we stopped to ask him if he knew who to talk to, and He is actualy leading the investigation. Right now he said they are looking at a Vehiclur Homiside charge against the other driver who hit them(she is actualy still alive despite what we had heard). He said it will be a long time till that happens but it was good to hear. My grandfather had been have some driving troubles in the past so we were all worried.
The sheriff then pulled up shortly and he had actualy talked to my grandfather after the accident, and my Grandfather told him that the other car was in his lane and it wasn't his fault. My grandfather is a Doctor and used to be the county corroner in NY. So he knew even in his state what he needed to do.

I believe he is going to live, but the recovery is what will be the worst as he may never walk again, and won't be independent.

I appreciate all you guys carring, and I'm glad no one from the BMW group got hurt. I wished I could of been there but will be there on the 18th.

[bmwm3n528]

Ely, like I said...that's got to be a rough situation for your grandfather.

Sorry for the no show guys, was on I40 and called Todd and he spilled the negative news, and didn't see any need to come, for obvious reasons.

We'll meet sometime, sounds like Michael's got a super nice M3. :twisted: