Month: August 2024

Miata At The Gap is the largest and longest-running gathering of Miata enthusiasts in the USA, and I finally went there. I bought my Miata (or MX-5) back in 2020 and had been contemplating going to MATG for a while. The main challenge was the drive to North Carolina, which is roughly 11-12 hours from Detroit. However, this year, due to family circumstances, I finally realized: I wanted to go and therefore I must go. None of us are getting any younger, so there is no better time than now.

I wasn’t entirely sure what I was doing, and as it turns out – it was just fine! I booked a cabin in Nantahala Village since it had one small but crucial advantage – a pool. The pool was important since I was bringing my kid along, and she loves to swim. Also, I wasn’t sure how she would handle the drive, as she gets motion sickness, but it has been improving over the last few years. Looking back, it was absolutely the right call. I didn’t pack much (MATG officially lasts 3 days), but I packed clothes for 6 days (sometimes it gets very hot and humid, so extra clothes), a liter of water, and toiletries. I read a few things about MATG but didn’t dig deep, partly because I didn’t have enough time and partly because it might just be a bit more fun to discover things as I go along.

Let me tell you, MATG was fun. Most of the fun is derived from the location – the mountains are awesome, and driving a Miata there is just a blast. Even better is driving along with other Miatas. The event is awesome; people are nice, easy-going, and just fun to hang out with. There are all kinds of people, from young to old, kids, gramps, ladies, gentlemen, and everything in between. It’s just lovely! While the majority of people are from North Carolina and nearby states, there are people who make the journey from afar. I saw a few Wisconsin plates. It is a strange feeling, even though you don’t know anyone, but you feel like you belong.

Even though I didn’t get to drive as much as I wanted, I saw enough to say that the roads are fairly dangerous. Guard rails are few and far between, mostly placed in areas with an insufficient number of trees. My guess is that trees act as natural safety barriers, which I presume will prevent you from dropping down to the bottom of the mountain but will NOT prevent you from ruining your car and yourself in case you go off the road. Roads are narrow and don’t have much of a shoulder, so there is no room for error. Still, mountain roads are a blast, and most of them are limited to 70-90 km/h. I drove on the Tail of the Dragon twice, on the way in and on the way out, and the road is violent. The speed limit is 50 km/h, and there are good reasons for it. It is not safe, just like the rest, but it has such wild turns – the closest description is like going on a roller coaster ride but in your own car without any safety equipment. Now, the level of danger is proportional to the speed, so go slow, and it is safe. I like driving and have driven enough in my life that I never get motion sickness or any discomfort. Well, I should probably say I never had discomfort while driving before I met the Tail of the Dragon. Granted, I didn’t shy away from driving as fast as I could safely manage, but even then, I got a slightly uncomfortable feeling, not motion sickness but slightly light-headed. In my mind, the Tail of the Dragon definitely deserves its fame.

Miata at the Gap is an awesome event. It is easy-going, friendly, and comfortable for anyone. The location is just perfect for any car enthusiast and even more so for roadsters. If you ever wondered about going there, just go! Tail of the Dragon has a lot of events besides MATG. I hope to come back and drive more.

A couple of things to know:
• Cell connectivity in the mountains is spotty at best; there is no connectivity at Fontana Village, so don’t count on it. However, there is free wifi in shops, so download maps beforehand or stop by a shop and download there (that’s what I did).
• Fill up a full tank of gas before going into the mountains. There are gas stations, but they are far and few between. Also, they might not have premium gas (if you need it). It is safer to fill up before going.
• Mountain roads are public roads, patrolled by police, so drive according to the rules.
• Stores like Walmart are far (about a 1-hour drive from Fontana Village), so if you want to get groceries, plan ahead. Or just have a fun run through the mountain roads.