Evans Ward wrote:
Like Buddy, I’d like a good recap here on this thread of the history and how it started. 2007 was my first year attending.
I can't provide dates but here is the jest of it....
Back many years ago Tom Loftis started a message board dedicated to Kawasaki Triple interest. At the time there was very little internet activity and very scarce information about Triples available. As time passed that board evolved into Kawasakitriplesworldwide, still maintained by Tom with the help of Jeff Gootblatt.
Tom lived in Knoxville, TN and became familiar with Deals Gap and the Dragon from his close proximity to it. He suggested that it might be a good place for those who regularly posted on the message board to meet face to face at Deals Gap and enjoy the area as it was a good venue for motorcycle enthusiasts. There were a few who decided to meet and a good time was had by all those who attended.
From that first meet the word spread on the message board and each year more and more people decided to join in to a point where the entire facility at Deals Gap Resort was booked exclusively for members that chose to attend. Prior to exclusive booking there were some resort visitors that complained about all the two-stroke smoke and noise.... exclusive booking took care of that problem.
I can't provide details of those who were the first to attend or the dates involved. When it first started there were not many places to find food and beverage and the traffic wasn't near what it is today. There was no restaurant at the resort as it was only a gift shop and gas pumps.
Maybe Jeff, or someone else, can provide more detail.