Finally Brought the FRS to The Tail of the Dragon!
 

Well after turning over 1500 miles on the odometer, my wife and I brought the FRS to the Dragon for the weekend!

What a blast this car was to drive on this marvelous stretch of road! We made sure to get there really early to minimize the traffic and we were rewarded with 3 full runs and only having to slow down a few times.

(for you law enforcement types, I NEVER exceded 30mph! <wink>)

We couldn't have asked for a better day to run highway 129 and the surrounding roads no could have taken a better car in my humble opinion.

I tried it with different settings on the stability and traction control and with it completely off for one of the runs which after a few heart-attacks from my wife I switched it back to sport mode so she would stop white-knuckling the arm-rest handle and relax a little. In all, she was a good sport and let me concentrate on negotiating the turns while experimenting with the car.

One thing I can definitely say about the FRS is that I will never again complain about the lack of power when driving this car the way it was built to be driven. The chassis sorts out bumps and elevation changes with ease and the stock rubber lets you know very early when the car is approaching its limits. The power-level on the car certainly keeps you out of trouble if you decide to get too agressive and when the rear does step out, its much more forgiving (if you're paying attention and don't overreact) than my old MR-2 turbo or BMW 325ci. Its light, responsive and not to mention elicited a LOT of looks out there!

In all I just love the car more than ever and the whole trip was a complete blast! Here are a few pics that I purchased from killboy. After reviewing all of the pics from the various photographers that were camped out there, I liked his the best. I have one more from 129Slayer that shows the inside-front wheel almost lifting off the ground in one corner but and when I can download it, I will post it as well.

Scott

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i2...ps2d054702.jpg
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i2...psa8a5de96.jpg

2nd pic is just........ Sorry but no words cant describe

Great pics. This paragraph is very similar to reviews I've written about the Mazda RX-8. Both cars are best once over 30, and on a good mountain road you're rarely under 30.

I'm going to have an FR-S for a week in mid-October (I do some reviewing), to meet up with my father in his RX-8 for some mountain driving. Very much looking forward to finding out how the two cars compare.

I already know which one gets better gas mileage...

By the way, did you have a portable nav system? I've only been the Dragon once, and got there after dark. Having a nav to know which turns were coming up made it much easier. That and I did my best to stay w/i 10 mph of the posted limit (35, quite disappointed to see that).

I thought the tail had no legal speed limit?

Did the tail few weeks back, awesome!! Was with an s2000, and an wrx sti. Had no problem keeping up. Broke a few laws I'm sure. Best traveling with others. I've had 2 rx-8s but never thought about abusing the way I do in the mountains. Always straight away speeding before. Wish I'd known about the fun to be had driving on mountain roads.

In case you're being serious (not seeing any emoticons), I've heard that the speed limit isn't enforced, though a failure to stay on one's side of the double yellow is. But "35 mph" is posted. It's been a long while since my record has contained a speeding ticket, I wasn't willing to entirely trust what I've read on the 'net, and 40-45 through the curves (with the occasional brief lapse) was quick enough to enjoy them.

You mean you're not supposed to speed up through the curves then slow down for the straights?

Yeah, I guess that's what I meant... it's not enforced. My friend said the cops just sit on the side of the road but never pull anyone over for speed. I still want to go one day...

Without lots of curves, an RX-8 is pointless. You should have taken them to the mountains! Good to hear you're not making the same mistake a third time.

<looks at first pic> "mmmmm.... slip angle" :w00t:

Awesome! That stretch is so much fun. There is also a stretch further south by Suches georgia that exits by vogel state park that is a fun run, but much shorter than the tail. I went through the blue ridge area last week and had a blast...
:coolpics:

Hey it's cool to see you here, Mike!
Can't wait to see your review!

Mr. Karesh, big fan of your writing at TTAC and the great work you do with TrueDelta. Hope you enjoy your time with the FR-S and I look forward to your thoughts on the car. (Will you do a review over at TTAC on the car?) I'll also register my FR-S over at TrueDelta! BTW my comment name at TTAC is RGS920. Welcome to the FT-86 community.

Thanks for the compliments on the pics! There were 4 or 5 professional photographers camped out on different corners snapping up pictures of cars and bikes as they drove by. Kind of expensive, but as you can see, worth it.

To clarify, the posted speed limit at the Dragon is 30mph. Now I will tell you that while that may not seem like much (because it isn't for this car), most of the corners are blind >100 degree corners and most have very abrupt elevation shifts. Maintaining a smooth line while not dropping below 30mph on many of these corners requires a delicate touch and well-timed steering inputs to fend off understeer.

I will not publicly disclose just how fast I got up between the corners but I will say that the FRS responds much better when you take the time to get the car settled just after entering it and then give it the beans. Just be aware that after the 3rd run, my brakes were feeling a bit cooked so I would echo what others have said and upgrade the pads if you want to really push the car.

As far as the police presence goes, I saw 4 brand new BMW sport touring Tennessee State Patrol bikes parked out front of the Deals Gap store. Seems those are what they are using to patrol the Dragon. I didn't hear anyone complaining in the usual manner about the police arbitrarily handing out tickets so I will assume that they were there for public safety instead of harrassment.

The speed limit is routinely enforced.


http://tailofthedragon.com/news_law.html


Some days they won't hand out a ticket. Some days they'll shut the road down with focused enforcement, unmarked vehicles, and video taping infractions. It depends on how many idiots crash and arouse public ire in a given time period.


bonus material:

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nrMQ3QwyPo"]deals gap on a goldwing/gl1800 by yellow wolf dragons tail - YouTube[/ame]

That sucks...

But holy smokes, I didn't even know that was possible on a Goldwing. And the guy is braking mid-corner! :eyebulge: How is he not going down?

Trail braking. He is very, very, very good. Also, he's ridden the dragon thousands of times, if not tens of thousands.

Here's the description for the vid:
interview with him:

http://ymlmedia.com/media/video/YBL060718.mp4

Very nice photos. Amazing video of the bikes. I'd heard stories about dragging around corners, now i've heard what it sounds like.

:burnrubber:

Goldwings, particularly the current gen, are much more capable than folks give them credit for. They have a low seat height, low CG and are wicked fast when not burdened down with a week's worth of camping equipment.

I personally am much more comfortable on a 'Wing doing this stuff than I would be a sports bike. Sports bikes are just too twitchy for me.

I would have had a review a while ago, but delayed my week with the car until mid-October for my annual drive. What would be the point of reviewing it on the straight, flat roads of SE Michigan?

I'm VERY jealous of those of you who live near the mountains.

And the Dragon is posted 30? That's even worse than the 35 I remembered. I will say one thing for the few drivers I encountered there after dark--they pull onto the shoulder to let you pass at the earliest opportunity. Very courteous.

Thanks for the welcome! I'll have reviews on TTAC and TrueDelta.

Back in the day I tried to get a good friend to buy an AE86 soon after it was introduced. I drove the car, my first with a DOHC engine, and it was a real eye-opener. I STILL vividly recall that test drive. I also tagged along during his test drive. He never took the engine over 3,500 rpm, and couldn't see what I liked about the car...

So let's just say my willingness to work with, even preference for, engines that must be revved goes way back. As does my awareness that most people would prefer to spend life under 3,500 rpm.

After reading the OP I'm really looking forward to my week with the FR-S. I won't be repeating one of his obvious mistakes: my wife won't be in the passenger seat! (She can't even handle how I drive cars in suburban Detroit. When I had a GS 400 I used to look forward to snow.)

They will happily give out speeding tickets. My brother is a retired Army Warrant Officer and a Harley nut and he has at least one Dragon speeding ticket that I know of. If they did not at least have target enforcement then there would be a lot more deaths on that road each year.


@OP. You have experienced what this car was made for and therefore "get" it. So many FT86 club members are all about the straight line speed and lack of power. They do not get what cars like the FR-S, BRZ and MR-S (my car) are all about. It saddens me to read all the complaints about "only 200hp". I regularly run the roads of southeastern Ohio which have speed limits of 45-55 mph and are a challenge for most drivers at 35 mph. There is literally nothing like it! I have not yet taken the drive south to the Dragon because there are so many similar roads much closer to me that I can partake in that only requires a partial day commitment. Maybe soon though as the wife and I are planning to move south.

Good to hear I wasn't a total wus for keeping somewhat close to the posted limit!

You're one of those people I'm jealous of. In SE Ohio I've driven 26, 800, 536, and 555. Looking at the map, I don't think I've ever driven 255. If you've driven both, do you prefer it or 536? Any others to suggest that run NW/SE?

I do like that these roads are full of good curves and few cars, and the posted limit is generally 55.

I have a few more pics to share since you have all enjoyed the two I linked. To conserve space I shrank down the original high-res images but you still may be able to make out the look of sheer terror on my wife's face. Each time I passed the camera, the car was settled into 2nd and I was at full throttle.

My wife asked me at one point, "are you just showing off for the cameras?", to which I simply replied, "well.... yes!". In all fairness she's a good sport and she sometimes rides with me when I autocross every month so its not my driving she's worrying about. This is a public highway after all.

Scott

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i2...27763small.jpg
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i2...27823small.jpg
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i2...27822small.jpg

Maybe it's the lower res, but I've seen terror on passengers' faces, and it usually doesn't look that calm.

Thanks for the compliment. I had zero illusions about this car when I purchased it and bought for the same reasons Tada-san lists as to why they (Toyota and Subaru) built it in the first place. Quite simply, this is one of the best-handling, most well balanced, fun to drive, and good-looking cars I have ever owned. I lived in Japan for 5 1/2 years and I know the kind of driving they like to do. They couldn't care less about drag racing and find the whole sport pretty comical. Now every motorsport has their fans and I'm not trying to insult anyone but this car was designed for mountain running and will decimate most cars (regardless of price) on the Dragon or similar highway. And I will vehemently argue this point after experiencing how well that chassis sorts out off-camber corners, bumps, pitch and elevation changes on mountain roads even with those pathetic tires!

Everyone has their own expectations on what a car should or shouldn't be to them and there's nothing wrong with that. Perhaps if some simply examined closer their own TRUE desires with what a car should be to THEM, then maybe there would be a few less dissapointed FRS/BRZ owners out there.

Scott

Let me know when you want to do 255. I have not done it either. I usually pick routes that dump me off near to I77 for my trek back north after the run. Therefore, I have experienced 555, 26 and 800 a few times but not 255. I would probably just run it in both directions. My next trip (hopefully in a couple weeks) will be to run 78 west of I77 or maybe all the way from Moundsville and then catch 83 and 313 back to my brother's retirement dream home. I would also like to organize a drive with some of the NEOH FR-S and BRZ owners. We have been talking at the Cleveland Cars and Coffee and there is some interest there. If I can get enough of them together then maybe I can convince my brother to host an afternoon cookout at his place after the run.

I also spent some time in Japan. It was in my military days back in the 70s and most was actually in Okinawa but maybe that is where I developed my love of small bore, excellent handling cars. I went over there loving Camaros and Mustang and came back a fan of Fairladys.

Steve

There are different ways girls react to fear. Some shriek, cry or curse at the top of their lungs. My wife (thankfully) freezes solid. :w00t:

Scott

Great photos!

So jealous! Ever since I've learned about the Tail of the Dragon I've wanted to go. Was planning on going this year, but that may wait until next year!

+1 on this!

There are a lot of decent (but short) routes around my house where I get to enjoy running "9.5 mph over" the posted speed limits where others run significantly under it because of the curves.

My problem is when I get in our "family" vehicle (2004 Suburban ZL1) and forget I'm not in the FR-S in those curves! I drifted the Suburban around a tight turn last night that I took at FR-S speeds. Don't think I'll do that again! :bonk:

You don't have to go to Japan to be a fan of fair ladies....

Ba-dum-bump.

Seriously, I wish Toronto area roads were more interesting - the closest to a decent drive I've had so far is taking the service roads to Niagara-on-the-Lake, and some decent roads in Elora...