Rotary road trip
An automotive adventure to The Tail of the Dragon
By Jenn Harrie
I HAVE A CONFESSION to make. I am a rotorhead. That is, I am an enthusiast of rotary-powered vehicles — namely the Mazda RX cars.
This quirky little engine bewitches me, with its three moving parts, and smooth whirring growl. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the rotary engine, here is a crash course.
Wankel rotary engine
The rotary engine was designed and patented by Felix Wankel in 1929. It first appeared in the NSU Spider in 1964, followed by the Mazda Cosmo in 1967. Since then, Mazda has used the rotary engine extensively in their iconic RX cars, and even a rotary engine pick-up truck. A few motorcycle manufacturers also produced rotary powered motorcycles in the 1970s, including Suzuki with their RE-5 model.
The rotary engine has no pistons. Instead, it has chambers that contain triangular ‘rotors’ that rotate around a shaft in a circular motion. Combustion takes place between hollows in the sides of the rotors and the wall of the chamber, or ‘housing.’ Most rotaries on the road have two rotors, and a displacement of either 1.2L or 1.3L. Some less common performance versions have three rotors, and a displacement of 2.0L or the ultra rare racing engine with four rotors and 2.6L in displacement. Two rotor models range, in stock output, between 100 hp and 276 hp (depending on the displacement and turbo and non-turbo models), and up to a maximum output of more than 900hp for the four rotor model in unrestricted race trim. The rotary engine has an uncanny ability to produce big power for its small size. However, make no mistake, they’re not by any means fuel efficient.
These engines have been very successful in the racing world, with Mazda celebrating the 20th anniversary of their win at the 1991 24 hours of Le Mans in a four rotor car. They are still the only Japanese manufacturer to ever win this race. In many parts of the world, rotary engine cars are still regularly raced, including the newest addition to the rotary family, the Mazda RX8.
The rotary engine has spawned an entire culture of enthusiasts. Since it is unlike anything else on the market, those who own the cars tend to seek out other owners with common interests. I would classify myself, and my partner, David Earle, in this category. We even started a local enthusiast group to meet semi-regularly, and work on our vehicles. We also race a 1986 Mazda RX7 at Atlantic Motorsport Park in Shubenacadie.
Road trip
Last year, we made the pilgrimage to the Deals Gap Rotary Rally in western North Carolina, eastern North America’s largest Wankel rotary event, just David and I. Everyone thought we were crazy for driving over 2700 km each way to spend a weekend in rotary bliss and drive some of the most amazing roads in North America. They must have thought we were even crazier this year, when we showed up with two more friends.
You have to admit — road trips with friends are an awful lot of fun. This year we left Halifax on a Tuesday morning with Steve Watson of Lower Sackville, and John Kelly of Bedford. Steve has been a rotary enthusiast for over 20 years, and was driving his first-generation 1984 Mazda RX7 GSL-SE (the first 1.3L fuel injected version of the RX7 to hit the market). John was driving his highly modified third generation 1993 Mazda RX7, converted from twin-turbo to a larger single-turbo. His car has a special place in our hearts because that engine and turbo set up were assembled and installed through the hard work of our little group. We were driving David’s 2004 Mazda RX8 that he has owned since new.
On the trip down we stopped over in Freeport, Maine and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
In Harrisburg, we met up with enthusiast Dave Maudlin, driving his second-generation, naturally-aspirated 1988 RX7. He joined us on our voyage. The next stop was Stephens City, Virginia, to pick up Pete Morel of Elkton, Maryland and Mike Miller of Rockville, Maryland. Pete has a second-generation 1989 ‘Turbo II’ model RX7 that is near to stock, and in excellent condition. In fact, last year, Pete won ‘Best Second Generation’ at the Deals Gap Rotary Rally. Mike was driving his 1993 Mazda RX7 Twin Turbo, repainted to a great matte silver colour. After this last stop, we officially had a convoy.
I must mention, during the time we were in Pennsylvania, we endured non-stop thunderstorms. This was the case in most of the eastern U.S., accompanied by tornados in some places in the southeast, which is something we’d never encountered. As it turned out, a tornado had gone directly across the interstate highway we were following, destroying two large truck stops, and flinging more than 400 transport trailers across the road. The debris from this disaster caused miles of traffic. Lucky for us, we found out when we stopped for lunch in Roanoke, Virginia, before we had reached it. Needless to say, a detour was in order.
We arrived at our cabin just outside of Bryson City, North Carolina on Thursday night. John left to pick up his fiancé, Donzella Jenereaux at the airport in Knoxville, Tennessee, where she had arrived from Halifax. We rested up for the busy weekend ahead.
The Tail of the Dragon
On Friday, we headed for Deals Gap, a 40-minute drive from our cabin. Even on the way, you get the feeling that these roads are unlike anywhere else. It feels like you’re constantly turning as you twist around the sides of mountains and up and down the steep grades (sometimes up to 12 per cent).
By Deals Gap, of course, I mean ‘The Tail of the Dragon’ on Highway US129, the driving enthusiast’s Mecca that is one of North America’s great roads. Located on the border of North Carolina and Tennessee, in the heart of the Great Smoky Mountains, this road is like asphalt spaghetti draped around the side of a mountain. The drop-offs are terrifying and the views are breathtaking. In a single 11-mile (18 kilometres) stretch, there are 318 curves, anything between flowing S-turns to tight hairpins, all with pavement that is nearly billiard table smooth.
Each year, The Tail of the Dragon attracts many thousands of visitors from across North America, who come to drive this amazing stretch of road on two wheels or four. Cars and motorcycles constantly stream in and out of the parking lot of the Deals Gap Motorcycle Resort at the mouth of The Dragon. You know when you arrive you’re not in Kansas anymore.
On the same weekend we were there, there was also another event called ‘Minis on the Dragon,’ with more than 400 Mini Coopers. Nearly every weekend, these types of events are the norm.
Deals Gap Rotary Rally
Of course, as I mentioned, our trip from Halifax had another purpose: the Deals Gap Rotary Rally. This event, now in its 7th year, is surpassed in size only by Mazda’s official event ‘Sevenstock’ at their headquarters in California. However, the dynamic at this event is much different from Sevenstock. This even is about the enthusiasts, and a love for driving.
The Deals Gap Rotary Rally has grown exponentially, from 60 participants in its first year, to 244 participants this year (with more than 150 cars registered). The selection of vehicles is unbelievable, including rotary-powered motorcycles (some of them quite rare), rotary engine pick-up trucks (REPU), high powered sports cars, and even some non-rotary vehicles that have had their power plants swapped, such as a first generation Toyota Celica and a Nissan Silvia.
Phil Sohn of Birmingham, Alabama is one of the organizers, and has been instrumental in making the Deals Gap Rotary Rally a success since 2005. "I consider this event to be the true enthusiast event," Phil tells me. "Not only does this event take place in an area where the nearest airport is at least two hours away, there is nothing to do besides hanging out with fellow ‘Rotorheads.’ Having people drive over 1,000+ miles to attend and telling me it was all worth it makes me want to organize the next one."
Phil can certainly count us in that category. We liked it so much, we came back with friends.
Friday
On Friday, a large group of participants took a drive through the other roads in the area, including the Cherahola Skyway (along the ridge of the mountains), and the Hellbender 28 (Highway 28, leading to The Dragon).
Our group elected to go first to Nantahala Village Resort, the main site of the event, for a meet and greet. Here we met Scott Romano and his wife Krista, a couple from Ohio who were attending the event for the first time. Scott has a 1983 RX7 with the 1.2L carbureted version of the rotary engine. He has owned more than 40 rotary-powered cars.
We also ran into Chris Cardinale of Chesterland, Ohio, who we met last year. Chris has an impressive RX8 that is designed for car shows with an extensive lighting and stereo setup. While he was unable to bring his car this year due to mechanical difficulties, he still attended the event in his Subaru WRX STi.
We led the way to The Dragon to get in a few runs before heading over to the Fontana Dam, a hydroelectric dam facility located on Highway 28, for a car show and photo shoot. We got to meet many fellow rotary enthusiasts and compare notes on the cars.
We continued the evening at our cabin with dinner for our new friends, and the arrival of Mike Olshansky of Kennesaw, Georgia, an RX8 owner we met last year, who was staying with us for the weekend.
Saturday
On Saturday morning, there was a huge car show at the Nantahala Village Resort. Some of the best examples of rotary powered vehicles in North America were there, and it was hard to decide what to look at first. Defined Autoworks, a shop in Groveport, Ohio, had brought down two of their rotary vehicles to show off, both built to full race spec. They told us a harrowing tale of bringing the large car transporter through The Dragon in the dead of night on Thursday, its perils unbeknownst to them, a feat that took more than five hours with two spotters leading the way. All the locals they had talked to assured them that no larger vehicle had ever done this.
After the car show, we had some free time. David and I went to Asheville, North Carolina, while Steve, John and Donzella went zip-lining through the mountains.
At the awards ceremony on Saturday night, many prizes were raffled off, and awards were given for the best cars at the show. Steve took home a third place finish in the ‘First Generation RX7’ category, with a travel-sized trophy.
Sunday
Aside from the Deals Gap Rotary Rally, another major event was taking place on the same weekend at Road Atlanta, the world-class road-racing track in Braselton, Georgia, two hours south of Bryson City. The Mitty is a historic motorsport weekend, featuring races with famous historic race cars and motorcycles, allowing fans to get up close to their favourite racing machines.
This year, the featured marquee for the event was Mazda, meaning that many famous rotary-powered race cars would be in attendance, along with the rotary royalty who designed, built and drove them. In addition, Mazda was trying to break a world record for the number of cars of a single brand in a parade lap of the track at one time.
Of course, we couldn’t miss that.
A convoy of 20 cars left Nantahala Village at 6:30 a.m. to drive to Road Atlanta, and make it in time for the 10 a.m. parade lap. We made it in plenty of time. We got to drive three laps of the track, with a wide selection of Mazdas, including everything from Miatas to MPVs. While we didn’t break the record, 186 Mazdas on track at the same time made for an impressive sight.
The rest of the day, we shopped for memorabilia, enjoyed some historic races (even hearing a four-rotor car at full throttle), and got up close to some of the most iconic Mazda race cars from the last forty years. Jim Downing, one of the most famous Mazda racers and engineers, and the inventor of the HANS head and neck restraint, was also in attendance with his fellow engineers and builders.
Being racing geeks, this was a huge thrill.
Going home
We left from our cabin on Monday morning, sad to be leaving but glad to be heading home. We arrived back in Halifax on Wednesday evening.
The cars all worked wonderfully for the whole trip, given the range in their ages and level of modification. The only casualties where Steve’s reverse lights (which were coming on in fifth gear), and John replaced his worn out tires on the first day.
This was truly the ultimate motoring vacation, and worth every bit of the six days of driving to get there and back. Now only one question remains: how long until Deals Gap Rotary Rally 2012?
Jenn Harrie is a racing and rotary geek and has been an enthusiast of anything with an engine for the last 20 years. ( jharrie@herald.ca)
Chronicle Herald in Halifax, NS - Coverage of The Dragon DGRR 2011
... I just couldn't leave a fellow rotorhead behind.... that and my e-fan bit us in the ass Thursday morning... sorry guys.... next winter I'm going to store the FC @ Daves 
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