Places in ATL...
 

As a rotorhead that has 3 rx7s parked in his garage, I'm happy to say that I recently acquired a brand new RX8! However, I wish to write this post to fellow 8 owners in the Atlanta area... I am originally from Alabama, where not much happens and roads are always open and parking lots are huge and empty. These settings are where I first learned to drive and allowed me to really, really get to know the capabilities of the car (as always, stressing saftey as my first priority). So my question is, where in Atlanta can I learn about the capabilities of the 8? I don't even know where to cruise (traffic everywhere) when I just feel like driving--it really sucks.

Thanks
FS

Well... if by "learn about the capabilities" you mean "drive like a badass on the street", then I can't help you there.

The best thing about driving in Atlanta is that there is just a lot of variety and really cool streets to drive. My favourite little in-town drive (weekend, no traffic) is to do a round-trip from Roswell Road --> West Wieuca --> Powers Ferry --> Dupree Drive --> Powers Ferry --> Mt Paran and return. Or Roswell Road --> Wieuca --> Peachtree Dunwoody --> Glenridge Connector --> Roswell Road.

For northern suburbs, do I-75 --> I-575 --> Ball Ground --> Crabapple --> Roswell... or continue up 575 to Ellijay, and do Ellijay --> Dahlonegah the back way, then Highway 9 back to Alpharetta.

God, I'm fucking homesick....

Of course, there's always Deals Gap....

"Drive like a badass on the street," what's this mean? I'm not a ricer kid and I hate that shit! :) I just meant seeing what it feels like when it's about to break traction, etc, etc. I feel much safer driving a car with limits that I know of. Will you be at any of the meets at The Varsity? I look foward to meeting fellow 8 owners.

FS

HI Chewy, You may have seen already that Mazda's are meeting at Deals Gap for a weekend on April 8th. Then there is the Rotary Revolution ... big rotary meet and caravan trip to Indianapolis. I will talk to you about them at the Varsity next Thursday night.

Holly

Well, in the sticky threads at the top of the SE forum there are two track days and Deals Gap mentioned.

Won't be at the Varsity unless I get back to Atlanta. Anyone hiring an IT Director/CIO?

Hehe, dunno of any companies hiring. I'm only almost out of college... :)

FS

come play at the track with us........

https://www.rx8club.com/se-rx-8-forum-30/nasa-hpde-road-atlanta-march-19-20-a-48845/

It's an awesome track and a great group of folks that run it and drive it.....

Yeah, that's good, but after Blairsville do Blue Ridge --> Ellijay --> Dahlonegah then back down 400 if you want a longer loop.

Hwy 129 is awesome. I make the trek to T.W.O. on my Buell...

I'm on 129/19 every Saturday(Dick's Creek to 180 Lake Winfield Scott), then over to 248(Duke's Creek) then back home to Alpharetta.

This has gone on since I got my white 8 on the 18th of Dec. I have never seen another 8 on this trip.

Anyone want to have some fun with your 8...PM me let's get some 8 together

I'd love to get a few 8s together and cruise. Wanna PM me and we can set something up?

FS

Hmmmm....I'm getting interested. Would be fun to take the 8 up to North Ga.

I'm in for Sunday morning. I am going to try to sneak away tomorrow also, I hate waiting for the weekend to play crazy eight's.

BTW what color are your 8's. 6sp or auto.
Me, Pearl, 6sp....bone stock.

Let's pick a place to meet

I have a nordic green 6sp, stock. It has all the stuff I'd ever want anyway: rotary engine w/ a 6sp manual.

I'd like to take a "sick day". Too many other drivers on the weekend.

Indeed!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I went up today, there was more traffic that Sat. mornings. I'm usually have breakfast b4 they stop selling 10-10:15 then off to Rt. 60 Suches-Rt 180 Lake winfield Scott-Vogle then to 129/19 to Rt 348-Duke's Creek and back home via Alt75 to 115.

The traffic was up! Let's pick a good day to have an RX-8 day. I think I'm off to Pensacola this weekend, let's try nexk weekend...or a sick day next week1

Being that I live 20 mins from Dahlonega it's always cool for me.

Id love to meet with you guys just to say “howdy” before you rush off to the twisties Sunday morning. Breakfast sounds good. I can't do the mountain trip unless I drive like granny. Must break mine in properly. May bring my wife up, she's a littlie iffy right now but I will go even if she doesn't. If I come by myself I will continue on up the mountains at AARP blue hair speeds with a big grin on my face. I'm not that far from Dahlonega either (Flowery Branch area). Let me know if this is for sure and a definite meeting place.

I've never been that far north up GA400 (not past the outlet stores), so I had no idea the twisties were good up there. I won't be able to make it this weekend, but maybe in another weekend or two, if you guys make another group trip, I might be able to make it... if you don't mind that an auto 8 has to trail way behind you manual trannies! :)

Hey, Nabil--I checked in to Mazcare a few weeks ago for an oil change and Charlie mistook me for you after he saw a ti gray 8 w/ UGA tag in the garage. Must meet my car's double some time!

Glad you are better Nabil. Sorry to here you were so ill. We will see ya in two weeks at RA.

I will be heading up to Dahlonega in the morning. If anyone shows up... guess I will see ya there. If you see a Silver 8 with a Hall County tag and a stupid looking dude with a grin plastered on, please stop and chat for a few moments. I will head up there and stop at some local eatery and have breakfast before heading up the mountains. I will be breaking my car in so no heavy driving for me on this trip.

Yeeeee-Haaaaa!
 

OK, who said you can't have a blast with an 8 driving under 4000 RPM. I took off at 7:00 AM and headed up to have Breakfast at Dahlonega and proceeded up the mountains to Suches, Brasstown Bald, Vogel, Unicoi and Dukes Creek. I had a blast. Traffic was not a problem, RPM's were not really an issue and the weather was gorgeous. Sunroof back, windows down, radio and cell phone off, 42 degrees and just me and my baby bonding. It was an 8-hour trip just taking my time and enjoying the ride. Some places were a little tuff keeping the revs down. About 4 or 5 times I could not keep her below 5K because of the steep grade. I used my breaks a little more than I normally would. Damn fine trip. I look forward to doing it sometime with you guys. I kept looking for another 8 but never saw one. (DSC was on at all times! :D)

Good read Nabil, I think you pushed it just a little harder than I did! :D

I never saw one cop today. Later in the afternoon, on the way back I saw hundreds of crotch rockets. They own that stretch. One really dangerous thing I noticed was the bicyclers, those guys are playing with a stacked deck. They pop up way to abruptly.

Hope you are feeling better!

I definitely have to do that run sometime! Wish I could have made it this weekend. Wonder where everybody else was? Great pics, Don! Feel better, Nabil!

I'll let you know next time I going up.