"Tail of the "Dragon" : MG Engine Swaps Forum : MG Experience Forums : The MG Experience

Re: "Tail of the "Dragon" #21
danmas Dan Masters Alcoa, Tennessee, USA 1974 MG MGB GT "Powered By Ford"	Posted: January 26, 2012 12:12PM Registered: 8 years ago Posts: 1,198

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!)

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/26/2012 02:09PM by danmas.

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Re: "Tail of the "Dragon" #22
ToMGB-GT Tom George Somewhere, out there, USA	Posted: January 26, 2012 01:47PM Registered: 1 year ago Posts: 60

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.

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Re: "Tail of the "Dragon" #23
NCtim Tim S North Carolina, USA 1973 MG MGB	Posted: January 26, 2012 05:22PM Registered: 1 year ago Posts: 39

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.

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

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Re: "Tail of the "Dragon" #24
Motorcar Garage Pete Motorcar Garage Moorestown, NJ, USA 1964 MG 1100 1974 MG MGB GT V8 1975 MG MGB 1995 Land Rover Defender 90 2010 Volvo C30	Posted: January 30, 2012 07:39PM Registered: 7 years ago Posts: 620

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.

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Re: "Tail of the "Dragon" #25
ex-tyke Graham Creswick Chatham, Ontario, Canada 1976 MG MGB	Posted: February 01, 2012 08:24AM Registered: 5 years ago Posts: 780

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.

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Re: "Tail of the "Dragon" #26
mowog1 Rick Ingram Saint Joseph, Illinois, USA	Posted: February 01, 2012 10:46AM Registered: 8 years ago Posts: 20,398

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.

1968 MGC - 1969 MGC - 1972 MGB - 1974&1/2 MGB/GT V8 conversion - 1978 MGB

mowog1@aol.com

How to advertise on this website

Pieces Of Eight: Struts For Your MG Pieces of Eight! has provided gas-charged strut kits for the MGB bonnet, MGB and MGC bootlid, and MGB/GT or MGC/GT hatch since 1996. Contact Rick at: mowog1@aol.com

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Re: "Tail of the "Dragon" #27
TeamEvil / / Gone, /, Kiribati	Posted: February 04, 2012 05:06PM Registered: 1 year ago Posts: 1,443

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

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Re: "Tail of the "Dragon" #28
danmas Dan Masters Alcoa, Tennessee, USA 1974 MG MGB GT "Powered By Ford"	Posted: February 04, 2012 05:17PM Registered: 8 years ago Posts: 1,198

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.

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Re: "Tail of the "Dragon" #29
gow589 G W Evansville, Indiana, USA	Posted: February 04, 2012 05:23PM Registered: 9 years ago Posts: 6,993

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.

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Re: "Tail of the "Dragon" #30
mowog1 Rick Ingram Saint Joseph, Illinois, USA	Posted: February 04, 2012 05:24PM Registered: 8 years ago Posts: 20,398

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.

<grin>

1968 MGC - 1969 MGC - 1972 MGB - 1974&1/2 MGB/GT V8 conversion - 1978 MGB

mowog1@aol.com

How to advertise on this website

Pieces Of Eight: Struts For Your MG Pieces of Eight! has provided gas-charged strut kits for the MGB bonnet, MGB and MGC bootlid, and MGB/GT or MGC/GT hatch since 1996. Contact Rick at: mowog1@aol.com

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Re: "Tail of the "Dragon" #31
Jim Blackwood * BlownMGB-V8 Gunpowder Rd., USA	Posted: February 04, 2012 09:29PM Registered: 6 years ago Posts: 2,246

Nah, just find a different road.

Jim

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