Tail of the Dragon
 

I live near the Tail of the Dragon and was wondering if anyone else that's purchasing an FR-S or BRZ is planning on coming to the Dragon or any of the surrounding roads? :burnrubber:

I've always thought about making a trip to do that. Maybe once I get my BRZ it will be the right time.

I'm not very close to the Dragon, but I've gone there in my Miata. It would be a hard choice between the two cars to decide which one to take.

If we get an FRS, we'll definitely visit Deal's Gap at some point. And the beautiful roads surroudning it.

It's a road. In the United States. I'm sure it's worth traveling to...

The Dragon and surrounding roads are fantastic, beautiful, and challenging. Worth an endeavor, always.

Surrounding roads yes, I'm sure at some point on the way to a track event somewhere. I avoid deals gap simply because of the massive number of complete idiots who happen to drive on that road.

Dave, I'll get down there at some point, I'm sure. Maybe we can coordinate.

The surrounding roads are great. I would say the Dragon is like the big ride at the amusement park you wait two hours to ride. It's fun for the short time you're on it but you can ride all the other rides all day.

That may not be a good analogy but I've hit it up a few times on my K6 GSXR750 and had a blast but I had more fun on Blue Ridge pkwy and all the other roads in the surrounding area plus there isn't as much heat patrolling the other roads.
In short the Dragon is the destination but everything else is the journey.

The proportion of idiots isn't any different than normal daily driving. The difference is more of said idiots feel entitled to impress themselves and their friends. The only counterpoint is, they're perhaps less distracted because there's virtually no cell phone coverage.

I'll be making the trip.

Sounds good :thumbup:

That may be true. All I can say is that back in the mid to even late 90s it was a fun road to drive, with very little concern for people driving beyond their ability and even less concern for idiots crossing the double yellows. For the last 7 years every time I've been I've had said idiots crossing the double yellows (in cars and bikes), I've had to put two off to avoid them a couple of times, and I've seen people go off the road twice during that time. Those 7 years only include 4 trips to deals gap, so the ratio there is pretty damn bad.

On the flip side, the roads around it are MORE fun IMO and I've yet to see anyone drive off them, but do see the occasional fool crossing the double yellows around corners still, it's just greatly reduced.

I will definitely be heading up that way, probably sooner rather than later. I'm only 3 hours away in N. GA, and lots of back roads between here and there.

And the number of cops waiting at speed traps. Not worth it.

Dave - I agree with you, I was just putting it in perspective. That said, The Dragon itself has become a speeding ticket trap in the past handful of years. Personally, I don't even go on the Dragon anymore; the surrounding area is more fun, less militant, and more interesting than the 11 mile auto-cross that is the Dragon.

Idk about dragons tail, but I'm drinker going to gunma to beat the whole prefecture. Starting with my akina! Lol

This is the Youtube generation. Everyone's out to show off how awesome they are up until the moment they run out of talent. I wouldn't go near that pissing competition. Track any day. That said, I'm sure it's a great road.

Tail of the Dragon is a big speed trap these days. Tennessee State Troopers killed it. Plenty of good roads off of US 129 to run if you research and explore.

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Video from Discovery Channel.

I'll be making my yearly trip there in April with the S2000, but this may be the last year for the S2000. Will probably want to bring my wife and daughter next year in the FR-S/BRZ.

I actually prefer the hellbender, faster speeds and far far less police presence.

The tree of shame is funny. Im down for a Frs/BRZ car meet late summer

Couldn't the same be said for track days? :popcorn:

Dave makes a good point. I should qualify my "I'll go there" comment with "if I'm passing through the area, and there's nobody around."

Last few times I've been there, it was a lovely drive. Other than getting stuck behind a motorcyclist who was clearly uncomfortable with his heavy cruiser-bike on the winding road, I had no trouble enjoying a safe, scenic, peppy pace. Killboy is gonna get serious web traffic when he shoots an FRS going over the edge, though...

I'm actually curious to see if 2 average sized passengers can fit into the passenger side comfortably. I think the seat behind me is going to be pretty much a write-off except for maybe a really small child.

You mean where you're allowed to go as fast as you want and a spin is a common occurance? If your tires are squealing on public roads, you're either braking for a deer or being a jackass.

I've been to the Dragon three or four times, always on a Tuesday or a Thursday. I can't imagine what it's like on a weekend and I hope I never do.

If you haven't been, go. Yeah it's overhyped but if you catch it on a low traffic day it is EPIC.

Besides, you get your picture taken driving your car. Can't do that at many other places.

http://www.claffie.com/photos/120117-04.jpg

Can you further this? You mean if you have someone wanting to stand by the side of a curve to take a pic of you?

Agreed, I much prefer Hellbender 28. I might see you at WTD this year.

There are four or five outfits that just stand on the side of the road shooting pictures of everything that drives by. They probably don't do it at this time of year but once weather turns warmer and traffic pics up they'll be out there.l

killboy.com <=== puts up his favorites weekly in highlights, which is where I found that pic of our Miatas

moonshinephoto.com
us129photos.com
129slayer.com
zeefoto.com

You go to their sites a few days after your visit and you can check out the pics they shot and buy the ones you like.l I bought this shot from our very first visit and had it printed up as a 24x36 poster for my office:

http://claffie.com/photos/090603/ima..._us129_012.jpg

I'll be there. :)

I look forward to seeing someone put an FRS in the hill climb held over by the Dragon.

Dragon = awesome. Done it 5 times in my Integra and will continue to make the trip from Houston to Robbinsville, NC for it. The surrounding roads are just as brilliant. The cop, traffic, and bad driver comments are justified; just gotta go at the right time.

Yep. And it's good for level-headed motoring enthusiasts to keep going so it's not totally over-run by idiots.

If we avoided roads because of bad drivers, we wouldn't have any roads left to drive!