Author Topic: Tail of the Dragon (Read 554 times)

crowMAW · « **on:** October 14, 2006, 01:22:42 AM »

Had a great trip to Tennessee to run the Tail of the Dragon. For those that don't know about this road...well...it is probably the best road east of the Mississippi. 318 turns in 11 miles. Mostly populated by bikers of all kinds, it is also a great sports car destination. In fact the whole area is covered with fantastic twisty mountain back roads.

Here is a vid I took of a fairly slow run...it was a bit wet after a major storm. More bad weather later that day kept speeds low.

Dragon Run

DiabloTX · « **Reply #1 on:** October 14, 2006, 01:24:55 AM »

Now THAT looks like fun!

Wish I was closer to it.

AWMac · « **Reply #2 on:** October 14, 2006, 01:29:20 AM »

Thought this thread was about my pissed off Asian Wifes asssss....

Mac

Nilsen · « **Reply #3 on:** October 14, 2006, 01:58:20 AM »

Me thinks you need a eurobox or ricer to get down there. No way an american car can make those turns.

Debonair · « **Reply #4 on:** October 14, 2006, 02:08:25 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by AWMac
Thought this thread was about my pissed off Asian Wifes asssss....

Mac

^^^^^^^^
Comedy Gold

J_A_B · « **Reply #5 on:** October 14, 2006, 04:45:20 AM »

"Me thinks you need a eurobox or ricer to get down there. No way an american car can make those turns."

Come on Nilsen, don't you like sailing? Anyone who likes the sea would feel right at home driving my Buick on roads like that, given the way it rolls from side to side.

On the other hand, my wifey gets seasick. While I'm having a blast careening the old barge around sharp curves at improbable speeds, she's clinging to the armrest gradually turning green.

J_A_B

icemaw · « **Reply #6 on:** October 14, 2006, 10:15:00 AM »

hey crow how ya been? havent seen you in a long time.

Maverick · « **Reply #7 on:** October 14, 2006, 11:09:24 AM »

If you are going to drive Hwy 129 do it during the week and not during peak vacation time. It seems like every ricky racer wannabe with bikes and cars wants to drive it. Many do so rather badly and with total disregard for the lane markings. It is not unusual to find some car or bike on the wrong side of the road in the middle of a blind curve and quite a few of those curves are blind ones.

The best time to run it is during the week when the weekenders are at work. Back in the early 80's before it was named the dragon and popularized it was a very fun ride. Now itr's just too crowded with skilless dweebs and rather heavily patroled by the Police due to the high number of collisions and unplanned off the road exits.

The Chillicooth (sp?) parkway has very nice sweepers and is far far less crowded.

Ball · « **Reply #8 on:** October 14, 2006, 11:29:14 AM »

now to piss people off, go 20 all the way down it in an RV.

TPIguy · « **Reply #9 on:** October 14, 2006, 01:50:44 PM »

Your speedo is in KPH right? If not you were hauling some pretty good bellybutton through there. Either way nice driving!

And like Mav said the cherohala skyway(165) is a really nice drive too. As well as 68 and both are far less crowded.

check out http://www.killboy.com for lots of deals gap goodness.

Gh0stFT · « **Reply #10 on:** October 14, 2006, 02:13:50 PM »

Cool! Nürburgring Nordschleife for Yanks! lol

cept the oncoming traffic aargh!

crowMAW · « **Reply #11 on:** October 14, 2006, 04:40:22 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by TPIguy
Your speedo is in KPH right? If not you were hauling some pretty good bellybutton through there. Either way nice driving!

LOL...MPH!!

Yeah...spent 4 days exploring the area and took the scenic route to get up there. Went with a group and we hit Cherohala, Hellbender 28 both north and south of 74, Wayah Rd (1310). On the way to the Dragon, came from the east, so hit 276 before getting on the Blue Ridge (I wish I'd had my camera going when I went through the tunnels...sounded like an F1 car coming to the marina at Monte Carlo

).

Cherohala is beautiful...but too fast for my taste...I have to be doing deep triple digits in some places before it is as much fun as the Dragon. And the only thing keeping you from dropping off a 100ft cliff in some corners is a puny rock wall...makes me nervous.

crowMAW · « **Reply #12 on:** October 14, 2006, 04:41:51 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by icemaw
hey crow how ya been? havent seen you in a long time.

hey Ice...been working a political campagn for the last 8 months. We lost the primary so I'm hoping to be back in the unfreindly skies of AH soon.

CavemanJ · « **Reply #13 on:** October 15, 2006, 12:37:31 AM »

There's a pretty good elevation change over the course of that 11miles IIRC.

Heater · « **Reply #14 on:** October 15, 2006, 08:51:40 AM »

Much more fun on a Bike