A Wet and Exciting Classic Porsche Drive to Hot Springs, NC

Porsche 911 on the Road to The Rattler

The weather wasn’t favorable for the October drive, but those who drove had a fun time. The largest group ever at 19 Classic Porsche 356, 914, 912 and 911’s originally registered but due to a steady rain at the meet-up time we were reduced to 12 air-cooled Porsches.

Some of the older Porsches have water issues with floorboards and targa tops so it is not surprising that the numbers were reduced at start time.

We had a couple of new drivers including Robert in his 993 Cab and Don who was trying out the Commander’s 911 Carrera G-Body and 914 2.0 as he considers joining the air-cooled Porsche ranks. I hear though that a Porsche 993 is also on the shopping list.

Air-Cooled Porsches of Air Brigade huddled together in the wet lot.

The day started with a meet-up at Starbuck’s at the Leicester Ingles. After our initial coffee klatch prior to the drive we headed off into Madison County to enjoy the rolling hills and dales in contrast to the normal twists and turns of the mountain drives.

The Porsche 964 and the Porsche 993 of the Rob's waiting to turn. | Image David Linton

Traffic proved a challenge during this first leg as the line kept being separated causing re-groups to keep the 12 Porsches in line and on the route. The drive was nevertheless a pleasure as we rolled glided over the hills of Madison County.

Charle and Jenet in their Porsche 911T as we re-group the line

An hour into the drive we arrived in Marshall for a coffee break at Zuma Coffee and to pick up the conversations we left behind at the Starbucks.

Air Brigade Porsches on Main Street Marshall

The second leg provided the Air Brigade with a real driver’s route as we traveled over the bridge out of Marshall onto the twists and start of elevation gains as we cut cross-country towards Leicester and the famous twists of The Rattler. New driver Rob noticed the classic Buick on the roadside used in the promotional email.

In Leicester we connected onto NC-63 that provides a wonderful drive through the Leicester Valley before climbing the tight switchbacks up and over the Blue Ridge foothills.

Janice vS provided a wonderful video as they traveled these roads before ending on a happy driver. Watch the video and wait for it.

Screen-grab from Janice's Video of the drive

The wet leaves provided a challenge as everyone second-guessed the traction as their Porsches powered through the climbing corners. Rob felt he held an advantage with his 964 C4 Carrera, but everyone did pretty good keeping the speed and traction up to make for a fun drive.

In Trust, NC we connected with The Rattler for a 14.5 mile run into Hot Springs, North Carolina. That section of The Rattler encompasses 75 twists and turns that had the added beauty of the leaves flying in the air as Porsches swooshed over the colorful fallen piles of fall color on the road.

Smoky Mountain Diner Special Parking for Porsches

The Smoky Mountain Diner had parking arranged for us with two tables that sat 16 of us for a quick delicious meal as we re-counted the fun of the spirited cornering on the wet leaves in the Blue Ridge foothills.

This is the final drive of 2019 for the Asheville Chapter of Air Brigade.

Final Drive of 2019 for Classic Porsches in the Blue Ridge Moutains

One drive remains on the calendar starting in Dillard, Georgia on November 9 if any our Asheville members want to join members from Georgia for the Tschüss Rallye, a farewell to 2019 drive that will be driving the Scenic Waterfall Byway in the Southern Blue Ridges. For information and registration, click on the Air Brigade web site: https://www.airbrigade.com/porsche-driving-rallye

I’ll see you on the road!

1989 Porsche Carrera Anniversary Edition leading the line