[MSCW list] MSCW 2025 Scenic Drive #6 - Fort Valley Road

[Timothy Metzinger]

This is our annual "drive fast" get-together.  We will leave the Walmart (Exit 6 on I-66 West) at 8:30 AM and head South on US340, then West on SR55 to Fort Valley Road, which is 14 miles of two lane zoned at 55 with occasional 45 mph spots.

As far as speed goes... This is not a race, and we'll want to keep the speed reasonable - maybe a little over the limit, but nobody should be going 70+ in the 55 sections.  The road is twisty and has elevation changes and is plenty of fun.  But this is not a drive where folks want to be held back, either.  So, to be courteous, if you're going to cruise gently, get in the back of the group. Be kind to those faster than you, if someone behind you signals they want to pass you by flashing their high beams, pull over when you can (signal the pullover!) and wave them by.

The route is simple. You stay on Fort Valley Road. It will turn into Camp Roosevelt road and eventually you'll slow down to make it over the ridge. Even if you miss the point where the road turns, the "alternate" way ALSO ends up on Camp Roosevelt road. So you really have to work hard to get lost. After we come down the ridge, we'll make a right onto Egypt Bend Road and that will take us to US211.

Just like last year, we will make the left onto Fort Valley Road from VA55, and then pull into the Master's Touch Ministries parking lot on the right side of the road, just so we can all venture down Fort Valley as a group.   When we're all together there, we'll want the last car to pull out onto Fort Valley first, put your flashers on, and essentially block traffic until all the other cars have gone.   Then of course, it's back to choosing your own speed, and being cooperative with your fellow drivers.

We'll ALL wait at Cooter's (on the corner of Egypt Bend Road and US211) for the last car, and a chance for some pictures.  Afterwards, people can (if they wish) follow me West on US211 to New Market for a lunch at The Southern Kitchen (https://southernkitchenva.com/)   Great fried chicken and pie there. From there, I'll probably head back East on US211, and may cruise north on the Skyline Drive.  But essentially, once we reach Cooters, everyone is free to follow their own schedule.

I'll send everyone who registers a more complete briefing pack via email.

Logistics:
Assembly - Meet at the Front Royal WalMart parking lot off I-66 West (exit 6) at 8:30 AM On August 2nd.  Be sure to have enough gas for the drive (give yourself 120 miles to make the drive and find a gas station.  Bathrooms and Fuel are available in the shopping center.
Departure - We'll leave the WalMart at 9:00 AM
Time/Distance - About forty miles to Cooters, figure an hour and fifteen minutes to get there, and then if you're going to the restaurant, add another ten miles and fifteen minutes.  We should get to the restaurant around 11:15, before the lunch rush.  New Market is convenient to I-81 as well.
Food - Anyone wishing to join me at the Southern Kitchen, please sign up for that slot as well.  I can give them a heads up so they're expecting us.
Car limits - this drive is limited to a total of 20 cars.  If you're not comfortable driving the back roads at speed, there's no shame in giving this drive a pass.
Rain Date - If weather is bad, we will try again on August 23rd.
Technology - I will bring 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.  I'll have GPS for the subgroup leaders, and there may be an extra as well.

RSVP via signup genius at https://rebrand.ly/mscw2025-sc-06. 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
Current drive list - https://www.midatlanticscenicdrives.com/mscwdrives.html
Guide to our group drives - https://midatlanticscenicdrives.com/downloads/MSCW_Group_Drive_Guide.pdf
tim.metzinger at outlook.com<mailto:tim.metzinger at outlook.com>
703.963.3015