[MSCW list] MSCW 2026 Scenic Drive #7 - Skyline by Starlight - August 12th, 2026

[Timothy Metzinger]

Every Summer we try to do a trip along the Skyline drive AFTER dark, so we can see the stars from the top of the ridgeline.  We also try and have a good meal to start (and to kill time while we wait for darkness) and then head up to the Skyline Drive on US211 as the sun is setting.
This year I'm going to take us to a place we went on an earlier drive - the Dark Horse Tavern, as the food is great and they have outdoor seating.  It should be a great place to spend a Wednesday evening, with only 30 minutes to go to get to the Skyline Drive.  We'll arrive at the entrance to the Skyline Drive right around 9:00 PM which should be the end of evening twilight and should give us some darkness.   I'll lead the drive with headlights on, but those who follow can have just parking lights on if they wish.  The driving time to the Front Royal exit of the Skyline Drivei is just about an hour, but we'll likely stop a few times at overlooks to spend more time looking at the skies instead of the road.  Once we get to the exit (at US340 in Front Royal), I'll collect any radios and everyone will be on their own to get home.
Logistics:
Assembly - Meet at the Bull Run Battlefield parking lot on US29 at 5:15PM AM On Wednesday, August 12th.  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 east of the Battlefield near the US29/I-66 intersection.
Departure - We'll leave the lot at 5:45 PM.
Time/Distance - About forty miles to the tavern, figure an hour and ten minutes to get there, and after our meal we'll leave around 8:30 PM and get to the Skyline Drive at 9 PM.  By the time we get to the northern exit of the drive, it will be between 10-11PM and we'll have driven at least 90 miles.
Food - The Dark Horse Tavern (https://darkhorseflinthill.com) is a great Irish place, with a wide range of beer, great food, and (importantly!) desserts including creme brulee.
Car limits – this drive is limited to a total of 20 cars.  We will be driving at night, and while speeds are limited on the Skyline Drive, we have to worry about critters.
Rain Date - If weather is bad, we will try again on August 25th.
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/mscw2026-sc-07. Don't use Facebook to indicate you're going.
Visit 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