"Tail of the "Dragon"

Re: "Tail of the "Dragon"

Jim Blackwood — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 21:29:14 -0600

Nah, just find a different road.

Jim

Re: "Tail of the "Dragon"

mowog1 — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 17:24:14 -0600

In reply to # 1976067 by danmas

There are plans under way to build an interstate link through this area, and one of the options would go right through the dragon. It may not last much longer.

Sounds like it is time for an "Occupy the Dragon" movement.

Re: "Tail of the "Dragon"

gow589 — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 17:23:27 -0600

It is. Last time I went down you see about 4-6 cops every time you go down. It's a tourist type thing more then anything. The cabin on the edge looks more like a ski resort hang out.

Re: "Tail of the "Dragon"

danmas — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 17:17:04 -0600

In reply to # 1976062 by TeamEvil Why isn't this road heavily patrolled by the police?

It is. Very heavily. I have no personal knowledge, but it would seem that the local authoritys would have to walk a tight rope, maintaining a balance between revenue generated by tickets, revenue generated by tourism, and a duty to public safety.

In reply to # 1976062 by TeamEvil Just wondering, seems too famous to last as it is for much longer.

There are plans under way to build an interstate link through this area, and one of the options would go right through the dragon. It may not last much longer.

Re: "Tail of the "Dragon"

TeamEvil — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 17:06:54 -0600

Why isn't this road heavily patrolled by the police? Seems like a real money maker for the local community and in insurance companies who hit you with a sur-charge for speeding tickets.

We only have a single road near here that offers even a hundredth of what the that one seems to and there are patrolmen everywhere along it; from all towns that it passes through.

Just wondering, seems too famous to last as it is for much longer.

TC

Re: "Tail of the "Dragon"

mowog1 — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 10:46:46 -0600

In reply to # 1972889 by ex-tyke There are a few entrepreneurial photographers that will take your action photo and allow a purchase from their website.
http://www.killboy.com/
http://www.dragonslayerphotos.com/
http://www.moonshinephoto.com/
http://www.zeefoto.com/
http://us129photos.com/
....here's mine taken at last years British V8 show.

Yup....and here's one of mine from last year's British V8 meet.

Re: "Tail of the "Dragon"

ex-tyke — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 08:24:48 -0600

There are a few entrepreneurial photographers that will take your action photo and allow a purchase from their website.
http://www.killboy.com/
http://www.dragonslayerphotos.com/
http://www.moonshinephoto.com/
http://www.zeefoto.com/
http://us129photos.com/
....here's mine taken at last years British V8 show.

Re: "Tail of the "Dragon"

Motorcar Garage — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 19:39:53 -0600

In reply to # 1966849 by NOHOME I pity the locals who have to put up with the schenanigans.

The whole thing seems to overpublicized for my taste; If I were a cop I would just stake a spot and slaughter them as they come!

There are muchh better roads that just don't get mentioned.

Peter,
I'm with you on this one. The one and only time I drove the Tail of the Dragon back during the All MG Meet in Gatlinburg, I was surprised it was so famous. Quite honestly, the roads leading to the Dragon were way more fun, scenic, challenging and enjoyable. To each his own of course, but I think it's way over rated.

Re: "Tail of the "Dragon"

NCtim — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 17:22:23 -0600

The noise from the crotch rockets IS irritating! It's such a well known motorcyclist road now. From where I live near Hickory Nut Gap, Sunday sounds like a race course anymore, and the 3/4 mile straight at the end doesn't help.

Tim

Re: "Tail of the "Dragon"

ToMGB-GT — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 13:47:33 -0600

Since the drive will be on a Thursday, a week day, traffic will be much less than what is usually there on weekends. Mid-week, Tues - Thurs, is the best times to go.

Re: "Tail of the "Dragon"

danmas — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 12:12:22 -0600

The Dragon is a dangerous road, but the dangers were exaggerated "for dramatic effect" on that show. If you treat the road as a fun, interesting drive, you should have no problems; if you treat it as a race course to be conquered, you could run into trouble. Not necessarily because of you, but because of the idiotic neophyte wannabes coming the other way.

One of the things that make that road so much fun is the total lack of locals. There are no residences on that stretch, so no driveways or intersecting roads. That, plus the fact that there are so many curves, and the curves are so tight and so close together, makes it a real ball to drive.

As Rick pointed out, it makes a big difference when you get there. I've been on it when I didn't see one other car, but at the time set for the Dillard run, I would think, you can expect a lot of traffic.

Hint: if you're going in a caravan, don't be first! And don't tailgate. But do go.

Recommendation: after you've done the round trip over the Dragon, make a stop at the Wildwood Grill in Fontana Village for lunch. Perhaps visit Fontana Dam.

(corrected for spelling - spelling is not my strong suit!)

Re: "Tail of the "Dragon"

Jim Blackwood — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 07:22:22 -0600

Dragon + trucks = ridiculously stupid. A DOT that can't or won't do anything to prevent it = criminally negligent. If nobody has them in court over it, that's a Miracle. But,... miracles do happen.

Any drive on this type of road is best done away from the crowds. I've done several "Hot Laps" and the extreme bikers were polite enough to wave me around. Most of them are only willing to lean so far, and we don't have that problem. Of course, a blind curve can ruin your entire summer or more, so leave enough room to stop, just in case.

Jim
(We and our affiliates do not endorse any sort of illegal activity including but not limited to blah, blah, blah, etc, etc. Amen)

Re: "Tail of the "Dragon"

NOHOME — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 07:09:36 -0600

I pity the locals who have to put up with the schenanigans.

The whole thing seems to overpublicized for my taste; If I were a cop I would just stake a spot and slaughter them as they come!

There are muchh better roads that just don't get mentioned.

Re: "Tail of the "Dragon"

kstevusa — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 06:57:04 -0600

It will get your attention when you approach a blind curve (slowly I may add) and see a "BIG CHROME GRILL" with "KENWORTH" ::o Saw 2 large truckS just last year on it.

Re: "Tail of the "Dragon"

mowog1 — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 01:30:21 -0600

Hitting the Dragon early in the morning in the middle of the week is the best time to experience this road.

Of the numerous times that I've driven it, I ave NEVER experienced a tractor/trailer on the road.

Just be aware of your surroundings.

Re: "Tail of the "Dragon"

favedave — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 01:00:43 -0600

Because Dillard has a tour of this road scheduled I watched this segment of Hell Roads with great interest, twice. Now I'm very-very afraid.

The Tail of the Dragon is not a bad road. In fact it looks like just the kind of road I love to exercise my cars on. More than 300 turns in eleven miles and what appears to be well maintained asphalt. Yahoo! I'm sure when the traffic was light it was an absolute blast, even in a Honda Accord, Tim. But what I saw is crawling with A-hole motorcyclists and Big A-hole Peterbuilt drivers taking up both sides of the road in an effort to see how many lives and how much sheet metal they can ruin. The fact that 18-wheel tractor trailers are allowed on that stretch of 129 is incredibly stupid. The special showed a number of places (usually around blind turns) where the trucks where incapable of staying on their side of the road. Seventeen dead in 10 years is not a good omen, and of course that's just the number of motorists and bikers who have died. The number of injuries on video and still photos in the brief segment indicates that accidents occur habitually perhaps even daily.

Now I've driven only once in that region of the country going from Charleston, SC to Chattanooga, TN in 2000. I was trying to avoid the Interstates to Memphis. And I do recall being on roads every bit as twisty as the Tail of the Dragon, but far less congested. So for the organizers of Dillard 2012 I would suggest finding some nice alternatives to the Dragon, where the fate of our drivers and their cars will not be in the hands of gaggles of 17 year olds on 1100 cc GP Bikes doing wheelies at 70 miles an hour into a blind corner with Big rig drivers going the other direction hauling oversized loads at 50 mph using every inch of road way to make time over 'the short cut.' The program indicated that truck traffic has increased radically because the drivers' GPS are showing this road as a short cut. Truck drivers do talk however, and maybe for some part of the fun is watching the little guys take to the ditches and trees.

I'm not saying don't drive it. But don't expect it to be as much fun as you might think.

Re: "Tail of the "Dragon"

v8mgb — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 21:08:58 -0600

Hell Roads showing again at 11:00 eastern time. DVR is set.

It's also fun to just watch all the cars and motorcycled take on the Dragon.

Re: "Tail of the "Dragon"

mowog1 — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 21:05:51 -0600

Missed it....but I'm sure it will be re-broadcast! Thanks, Dan!

Re: "Tail of the "Dragon"

mowog1 — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 20:45:36 -0600

In reply to # 1966311 by NCtim British Iron never handled well enough to make a spirited stab at it, but if want to keep your arms in shape, this is the run for you.

Au contraire, mon frere!

I'll put Carl Floyd, Hap Waldrop, or James Wolfe in an MGB on this road anytime....bet they can out-perform most drivers out there!

(:D

Re: "Tail of the "Dragon"

NCtim — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 20:22:14 -0600

Oh yes, Carl,

Running slightly modified TR6 and Big Healey. Didn't have the HP to drift around corners consistently. This was before it was "discovered" and public roads. Oncoming traffic, watching for the stray cop, etc., . . . 1983 I think the last I drove it in anger. The 78 hatchback Accord was a hoot, though.

:)-D
Tim

Re: "Tail of the "Dragon"

V8MGBV8 — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 18:29:33 -0600

In reply to # 1966311 by NCtim British Iron never handled well enough to make a spirited stab at it

Yours? The British V8'ers have absolutely slayed that Dragon on several occasions!

Re: "Tail of the "Dragon"

danmas — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 15:58:41 -0600

In reply to # 1966232 by favedave Is that on "Hell Roads?"

Yes. The local newpaper was not clear if the Dragon will be only a part of the program, or for the whole hour.

Re: "Tail of the "Dragon"

NCtim — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 15:33:26 -0600

Prepare to lose a lot of rubber. Fastest I ever ran it was in an old Honda Accord (passed a Corvette!). British Iron never handled well enough to make a spirited stab at it, but if want to keep your arms in shape, this is the run for you. Between the shifter and steering wheel you're constantly in motion. Not to mention your toe on the throttle and heel on the brake and the other foot hovering over the clutch peddle. It's my idea of a total body workout. :)Not far from where I live.

Cheers!
Tim

Re: "Tail of the "Dragon"

gow589 — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 15:05:32 -0600

On our drive through there, not too far away is the setting where they filmed Wild Hogs.

Re: "Tail of the "Dragon"

favedave — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 14:11:26 -0600

Is that on "Hell Roads?"

Re: "Tail of the "Dragon"

gow589 — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 14:03:23 -0600

I made a run with our Pantera group last year. It seems to be a groupie type thing. The motorcycle house at the edge of the run seemed remarkably similar to a ski resort type of setting. Some of the other roads to and from were a lot of fun.

Re: "Tail of the "Dragon"

britcars — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 11:47:24 -0600

:( Not being shown on the Canadian version of the Discovery Channel. :( American Chopper: Junior vs Senior is on.......which is absolute CRAP! Can't stand to watch it. Darn!

Re: "Tail of the "Dragon"

kstevusa — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 11:05:11 -0600

I thought so! Maybe Mr. Guzman and Mr. Jacobsen can determine the viewing time in their zone also:)-D

Re: "Tail of the "Dragon"

danmas — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 10:46:25 -0600

What, everyone doesn't live where I do?

My bad, yes, that's EST.

Sorry 'bout that.

Re: "Tail of the "Dragon"

kstevusa — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 10:42:35 -0600

Dan, is that 9:00 PM Eastern Zone,:S :)

"Tail of the "Dragon"

danmas — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 10:19:53 -0600

The Discovery channel will air a special on the "Tail of the Dragon" tonight at 9:00. Check your local listing for your area. Should be interesting. I've been there a few times! The first time was in 1969 in a school bus. The last time was last year in this. This was better!