Hampton Roads Club Mini

hello my name is chris, i just bought my 2003 mini ( I say my but really its my fiancee's i just paid for it) with the apparently infamous cvt transmission and 108k miles last month. it of course was neglected and found sitting with transmission problems, after diagnostics the nuetral safety switch was bad, it is in my garage awaiting parts that are on order from autohauz. I know nothing of bmw or mini and have only dealt with mercedes and chevy in the past. but im learning fast that maintenence and repairs are both costly and difficult. which has tempted me to name the mini PIMA, as in pain in my ass, but i truly love the car and waiting for its proper name to present itself to me. hopefully the car will be healthy and roadbound by saturday, i cant wait to enjoy the mini without EP active and the 40mph limit. although even 40mph is fun in this car. hehe. id love to meet the rest of the local mini community sometime really soon. just one question, what is this Dragon i keep hearing about? realized i posted this in wrong thread so i remade the post here

The Dragon is a road, Hwy 129 along the TN/NC boarder.  So named for its 213 curves in 11 miles.  The Dragon is sometimes how we also refer to "Minis on the Dragon (MOTD)" an annual National Mini event held around the first weekend in May.  The event may be mentioned as "Are you going to the Dragon this year?" 

The event is 3-4 days long and gathers upwards of 800 Minis in one place at one time.  Plus organized drives, vendors, parades, bingo, drinking games, and disorganized general fun.  Many members of HRMINI have attended MOTD numerous times, a couple from the very first one 8 years ago.  If you can take the time off and you enjoy taking your car on curvy mountainous terrain that can (only if you want it to) challenge both your car and your personal limit, then you will enjoy the trip to The Dragon.  MOTD involve many more roads than just that one.  The entire area is a driver's delight and you can have a wonderful time never even entering The Dragon. 

As my rear license plate frame states.