Eighteen intrepid PCA members ranging in age from their teens to their 70s gathered with passengers in Gordonsville, Virginia on April 12 to explore the twisty and challenging back roads of Orange and Madison Counties in wildly changing weather conditions.
In addition to an assortment of Porsches ranging from 944s to Boxsters, Caymans and 911 air and water-cooled variants, a Saab Viggen, John Cooper Works Mini, a vintage MGB-GT, Mazda Miata and Hyundai Genesis answered the call and lined up in groups headed by Ausflugmeisters Dan Graff and Bates McLain. (Interesting fact: “Viggen” means Thunderbolt in Swedish and Saab used the name for cars and jet fighters.) Among the participants were Bill Blodgett, Lynne Taylor, Gregory Griffith, Hal and Cyndi Fredrickson, Gary Hunter, Englebert and Claudia Muelhaupt, Michael Murphy, John and Michelle Oden, Steve Upman, David and Mickie Ogburn, Julie McLain, Colin McLain, Jonathan Fields, and Meredith Richardson.
After instructions the two groups lined up and were escorted through the problematic Route 15 and 33 traffic circle by an obliging town patrolman. We then headed north on one of my favorite roads, Route 231, from Gordonsville to Somerset, across the Rapidian River into Madison County and through Uno and beyond.
(Interesting fact: back in the 1940s, a Richmond editorial writer proposed locating the United Nations Organization (UNO) in Uno, Virginia. The diplomats thought otherwise.)
(Other interesting fact: older residents insist Uno got its name because a local bootlegger sold his wares out of a springhouse and when wives asked their husbands where they were headed after dinner they shrugged and replied, “Uno.”)
Between Somerset and Jacks Shop, Bates and Dan led their flocks along Tatum’s School Road, Locust Grove Church Road, Good Hope Church Road, and Carpenter’s Mill Road and Lillards Ford Road. The 20, 15 and 10 miles per hour road signs we encountered give you some idea of the radius of the curves along this route. Then it was off over Spring Branch Road and Leon Road past the remnants of James City and Leon, before pulling onto busy Route 29. (Interesting fact: James City was founded by the family of outlaws Jesse and Frank James.)
The tour’s rest break was at Prince Michel Vineyard, offering the opportunity to taste a vintage or two, purchase wine, and hit the restrooms.
(Interesting fact: The Prince Michel winery was founded by a decorated hero of the World War II French Resistance.)
After the break, Bates and Dan led the revived and refreshed sojourners over the Hebron Valley Road to Haywood, Banco and Syria climbing into the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains on Thunder Road with its challenging elevation changes and switchbacks. A heavy downpour and mist added to the challenges we faced in that stretch. Heading south into the town of Madison, we then veered southwesterly along Ruth Road and Thrift Road, back into the Blue Ridge foothills and more rain and challenging curves. With the rain and dark skies, these mountain roads take on the mood of a Wagnerian opera. I fully expected to round a bend and see Siegfried or Brunnhilde pop out from behind a rock.
(Interesting fact: Madison County was settled by German ironworkers who arrived on these shores as indentured servants. Freed from their contractual obligations, they headed west and stopped when they found the place that reminded them most of their homeland.)
By this time I knew I was ready to turn off Shelby Road onto U.S, 29 and into the welcoming parking lot of the Bavarian Chef, which has been operated by the Thalwitz family since 1974. Upstairs, we retold tales of the road, talked cars, sipped German beer and wine, and dove into platters of wiener schnitzel, sauerbraten, Jaeger schnitzel, sausages and constantly replenished bowls of spatzle, dumplings, potato salad, glazed carrots, red cabbage, zucchini and creamed corn. A hearty few even added rich desserts.
