[MSCW list] MSCW 2025 Scenic Drive #3 - Virginia Country Drive - May 25, 2025

[Timothy Metzinger]

If you've ever bought a used sports car, you may have heard the tale (lie) that the car was only used on weekends for 'a drive in the country'.  There IS something relaxing and fun about meandering through the back roads in rural areas, even if you're not looking to set your personal best time.   This drive will take us west of Warrenton but not all the way to the mountains.   There will be farms to see (and smell) and horses, cattle, and sheep to talk to on the way.  We'll also pass by the Marriott ranch, and enjoy VA55 from Marshall to Haymarket.  And for folks interested, we'll end up at the Big Axe Barn where we can enjoy an (early) beer and throw axes.

The drive will start at the Warrenton Park and Ride lot on US15/29 to the east of Warrenton. Then we'll join US211 into Warrenton and get on Old Waterloo Road to Cliff Mills Road which will take us out into 'the country'.  We'll make our way to Flint Hill and join US522 to take us to Hume Road where we'll pass the Marriott Ranch, and that will bring us back to Crest Hill Road where we'll head north towards Marshall, where we'll pick up VA55 east through the Plains and on towards Haymarket.  The Big Axe Barn is part of The Farm Brewery at Broad Run (https://www.thefarmbreweryatbroadrun.com/) and they offer food and drink as well as axes.   I will see if we can just "walk in" around noon or if we need to make a reservation - it's about $10/person to throw axes.

For folks who'd like to meet for a late-ish breakfast, I'll be at the Northside 29 Restaurant (https://www.northside29.com/) at 8:30 AM so I can leave at 9:30 and be at the Warrenton Park and Ride at 9:40 AM.  The food is great.  No need to sign up for breakfast, everyone is on their own to get there.

As far as axe-throwing goes.. for now we'll assume we can 'walk in' to throw, but I've got a call out to the location, and if we need to reserve a lane I'll create a separate sign-up slot for throwing, and we can work out the money privately.

Logistics:
Assembly - We'll assemble at the Warrenton Park and Ride Lot at 9:40 AM on Sunday, 5/25/2025.
Departure - We'll depart at 10:00 AM.
Time/Distance - Total time will be one hour and forty five minutes.  Total driving distance is under 70 miles, so no need for full tanks on this drive
Fees - No fees for this drive
Food - We'll arrive at The Farm Brewery at 11:45 AM, where there will be food and drink.  Axe throwing opens at noon.
Car limits - The initial limit will be set to 20 cars, but may be expanded later
Weather - If the weather is awful, we'll try again on Saturday, May 31st.
Technology-  I will bring nine extra Midland GMRS radios.  If you want to bring your own GMRS radio, we will be using Channel 30 on Midland Radios, or 462.7000 MHz frequency and CTCSS 17 (118.8 Hz) for the privacy code.  In Glympse, we'll use the !mscw_cruise tag to keep track of each other.

RSVP via signup genius at https://rebrand.ly/mscw2025-SC-03.  Don't use Facebook to indicate you're going.
Visit www.midatlanticscenicdrives.com<http://www.midatlanticscenicdrives.com> for maps and GPS files.

Drive safely and HAVE FUN,
Timothy (Tim) Metzinger
Scenic Drive Coordinator - Mazda Sport Cars of Washington, DC
tim.metzinger at outlook.com
703.963.3015