Black Mountain Perks took a twist in September with the addition of a drive post-coffee from Black Mountain to the Burntshirt Vineyards Tasting Room & Bistro in Chimney Rock via NC-9.
NC-9 is a NC Scenic Byway known as the Black Mountain Rag. This byway takes its name from an old fiddle tune called “The Black Mountain Rag”. A “rag” is a piece of music with multiple twists and turns; an apt description for this byway.
The promise of a drive down the “Rag” with a glass of wine at the end brought 20 Porsches out on a beautiful day with a total of 31 drivers and co-drivers. The day started with coffee and pastries on the patio of the Monte Vista Hotel in Black Mountain.
Many familiar Appalachian Region faces were on the patio with organizers Richard and Barbara Little, as well as several out-of-Region guests from Carolinas Region and Sun Coast Region.
The word is spreading wide and far about Appalachian Region events.
After the hour of coffee and talking, it was hard to get the group moving as everyone was enjoying themselves so much on a perfect morning. The road was calling as was the reservation at Burntshirt for lunch.
Staging of the two drive groups was at the Hampton Inn in Black Mountain. Richard and Barbara Little led group one with WG McKinnon as their Sweep. Group two was led by Jim Moore with Yohan Sookdeo.
The drive down the Black Mountain Rag NC Scenic Byway was at tour pace and provided passengers and drivers alike with a scenic drive while enjoying the twists and turns of NC-9. The turn onto US-74a at Bat Cave took us into Chimney Rock winding along the rocky Broad River.
Arrival at the Burntshirt Vineyards Tasting Room & Bistro in Chimney Rock presented a glorious view of Chimney Rock and Hickory Nut Falls. The group quickly took over the covered patio to enjoy the view while we enjoyed lunch and a taste of Burntshirt Vineyards’ wines.
As the day ended, Porsches left in different directions towards Asheville, Charlotte, Greenville and Hendersonville, but with one thought in common: what a great day of driving and enjoying Porsche friends.
Thank you Richard and Barbara for planning this one, WG and Yohan for driving Sweep.
Jim Moore – Appalachian Region President