Wheels Through Time Drive out 2017

Drive Out to Wheels of Time – May 13, 2017

We met early one dark and almost stormy Saturday morning in Alcoa, planning to cross the Smokies and head to Maggie Valley to see the Wheels Through Time Museum. Almost twenty Porsches showed, a lot of the “usual suspects”, some members who had been absent for a while, and one new couple (Welcome Aboard!). After the safety and logistics briefing, we were off for a obscure and twisty route to Sugarlands Visitor Center on 441. The fog and rain made for interesting scenery.

After meeting up with some “stragglers” at Wears Valley, our leader took us through windy and hilly back road into the National Park, along some very scenic streams and rocky roadcuts. After a “refresher” at Sugarlands, time to cross the Smokies. It was very wet and foggy on the north side, but cleared on the south side as soon as we peaked the mountain chain. Second refresher at Oconaluftee Visitor Center then onto the Blue Ridge Parkway, which we owned.

We toured the Blue Ridge Parkway for about twenty minutes, and it was rife with fun roads and turkeys. Lots of gobblers. We then exited the parkway and made it to Wheels Through Time for our pic-a-nic lunch… and the rain. We ate, some in our cars, then caught the “Wall of Death” Motordrome Show before we toured the museum. If you ever get the chance, catch the “Wall of Death”.

The Museum was a wonderful exhibition of American motorcycles since their inception as glorified bicycles with motors attached, focusing mostly on old racing bikes. Quite the collection. Every now and then, they randomly fire one up. There also were some very cool cars: V12 Lincolns, huuuuuge Cadillac convertibles, and a few things we never heard of.

Once the tour was over, we all split off and made our way homeward on our own. It was a very nice trip, well planned, and with a nice mix of vistas and attractions and roads. Thanks to Bob Baugh for setting this up. Nice trip.