Tail of the Dragon - Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community

g e · 03-20-2016, 08:10 AM

Thursday I ran the Tail of the Dragon in my 2013 BRZ.

What a drive! And what a car!

Really pretty scenery although I didn't "see" much of it because the road requires 110% concentration. There are some steep drop offs on the outer curves and plenty of rock in other places.

It's posted 30 mph and even that is optimistic in some places even for a BRZ. I drove over Blood Mountain in Georgia on the way up and that was a good warm up. A sobering sight was 5 fresh crosses by the road in a hairpin curve. Be safe - it's not worth risking life or limb for a little more adrenaline rush.

I ran it three times -318 turns in 11 miles. Left the nannies on and had an exuberant but sane time. Met some great folks too.

x1UP · 03-20-2016, 08:44 AM

Did you take a video? I'd love to see a video from your perspective, as i'm thinking about doing that run soon.

I've seen a couple of videos and they look just amazing.

Flo · 03-20-2016, 10:56 AM

I've ran this on my motorcycle but never a car. Amazing road.

g e · 03-20-2016, 03:32 PM

I wedged my iPhone between passenger seat and headrest and surprised that it worked. Have only viewed a few seconds and will try and to post the tastier bits later.

g e · 03-20-2016, 03:33 PM

There are several other runs in the area. They will have to wait too next time

Gunman · 03-20-2016, 07:22 PM

4x real speed
[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBlt0gkryo8"]Quick Dragon Run - YouTube[/ame]

Real time

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ad8ZPST8GL4"]DragonRun 1 - YouTube[/ame]

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOA_3Yy8J_E"]DragonRun 2 - YouTube[/ame]

ShadowReaper · 03-20-2016, 07:31 PM

Where is this again?

Gunman · 03-20-2016, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShadowReaper

Where is this again?

https://www.google.com/maps/place/De...4220a04ec467e6

rookie · 03-20-2016, 11:11 PM

Nice. I've driven through this NC-TN area several times but haven't had the chance to do this yet. Will definitely make it a to-do if I make it down there with my BRZ.

thomasmryan · 03-21-2016, 11:44 AM

It was frosty last night and a gauntlet of wood. I passed a silver twin on the calderwood side about 1AM heading toward Monroe county.

g e · 03-21-2016, 08:51 PM

Killjoy.com has a couple photographers on the Tail. No affiliation.

If you check their site for March 17 I am the guy in the silver BRZ, page 5-7 I think. Only looked on smart phone but will check it on big monitor. Might order a couple shots!

I wouldn't care to drive this at night. Missing some of those turns would be terminally punishing. Lots of Subaru products in eastern TN over to Ashville, mostly outbacks and foresters. I returned from MD today via I-81 and I-26. That is some fine scenery. No doubt I'll be back.

g e · 03-21-2016, 09:05 PM

A couple more thoughts:

The BRZ is a fine long distance driver. Thursday I was in the seat for 15 hours (1 exuberantly spent on Tail of the Dragon and yes I got a tshirt) and today 11 hours. I was beat At the end of the day and my back felt a little stiff and sore where one of the bolsters interacted with my left love handle. Sorry if too much info there...

I fully engagewith this car. I love working the gears , the wheel and she gives great pedal play! It isn't twitchy at interstate speeds, kinda surprising considering how responsive the car is to wheel inputs.

Most prior cars, long distance trips meant lots of music played. This is my 2nd multistate BRZ trip and I doubt I played 10 cd's in all. I prefer to listen and play the car.

The friend I visited has a Focus ST (RS on order) and it and the BRZ are studies in contrasts.

g e · 03-21-2016, 09:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gunman

https://www.google.com/maps/place/De...4220a04ec467e6

Unless you live in the neighborhood there is no fast way to get there.

But it is so gosh dang pretty up there you really don't want to rush it.

Really.

rookie · 03-26-2016, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by g e

Killjoy.com has a couple photographers on the Tail. No affiliation.

Should be killboy.com

03-20-2016, 08:10 AM	#1
g e Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Drives: 2013 BRZ Location: Somewhere in The States Posts: 408 Thanks: 338 Thanked 277 Times in 163 Posts Mentioned: 1 Post(s) Tagged: 1 Thread(s)	Tail of the Dragon Thursday I ran the Tail of the Dragon in my 2013 BRZ. What a drive! And what a car! Really pretty scenery although I didn't "see" much of it because the road requires 110% concentration. There are some steep drop offs on the outer curves and plenty of rock in other places. It's posted 30 mph and even that is optimistic in some places even for a BRZ. I drove over Blood Mountain in Georgia on the way up and that was a good warm up. A sobering sight was 5 fresh crosses by the road in a hairpin curve. Be safe - it's not worth risking life or limb for a little more adrenaline rush. I ran it three times -318 turns in 11 miles. Left the nannies on and had an exuberant but sane time. Met some great folks too.

03-20-2016, 08:44 AM	#2
x1UP One & Done (AOZORA) Join Date: Jun 2014 Drives: '15 Series.Blue BRZ (WRB) Location: New York City Posts: 932 Thanks: 340 Thanked 217 Times in 160 Posts Mentioned: 4 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Did you take a video? I'd love to see a video from your perspective, as i'm thinking about doing that run soon. I've seen a couple of videos and they look just amazing. __________________ "I have the need....the need for speed! - Maverick (Top Gun)

03-20-2016, 07:31 PM	#7
ShadowReaper Indulgent Tormenter Join Date: Dec 2015 Drives: 15' LTD Subaru BRZ DGM Location: FL Posts: 495 Thanks: 334 Thanked 129 Times in 88 Posts Mentioned: 4 Post(s) Tagged: 2 Thread(s)	Where is this again? __________________ Instagram: Gabe.it.the.ole.college.try

03-21-2016, 11:44 AM	#10
thomasmryan Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Drives: hyper blue Location: east tn Posts: 406 Thanks: 169 Thanked 264 Times in 158 Posts Mentioned: 2 Post(s) Tagged: 2 Thread(s)	It was frosty last night and a gauntlet of wood. I passed a silver twin on the calderwood side about 1AM heading toward Monroe county. Attached Images

03-21-2016, 09:05 PM	#12
g e Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Drives: 2013 BRZ Location: Somewhere in The States Posts: 408 Thanks: 338 Thanked 277 Times in 163 Posts Mentioned: 1 Post(s) Tagged: 1 Thread(s)	A couple more thoughts: The BRZ is a fine long distance driver. Thursday I was in the seat for 15 hours (1 exuberantly spent on Tail of the Dragon and yes I got a tshirt) and today 11 hours. I was beat At the end of the day and my back felt a little stiff and sore where one of the bolsters interacted with my left love handle. Sorry if too much info there... I fully engagewith this car. I love working the gears , the wheel and she gives great pedal play! It isn't twitchy at interstate speeds, kinda surprising considering how responsive the car is to wheel inputs. Most prior cars, long distance trips meant lots of music played. This is my 2nd multistate BRZ trip and I doubt I played 10 cd's in all. I prefer to listen and play the car. The friend I visited has a Focus ST (RS on order) and it and the BRZ are studies in contrasts. Last edited by g e; 03-21-2016 at 09:15 PM.

03-20-2016, 10:56 AM	#3
Flo Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Drives: BRZ? Location: St. Louis Posts: 38 Thanks: 1 Thanked 10 Times in 6 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	I've ran this on my motorcycle but never a car. Amazing road.

03-20-2016, 03:32 PM	#4
g e Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Drives: 2013 BRZ Location: Somewhere in The States Posts: 408 Thanks: 338 Thanked 277 Times in 163 Posts Mentioned: 1 Post(s) Tagged: 1 Thread(s)	I wedged my iPhone between passenger seat and headrest and surprised that it worked. Have only viewed a few seconds and will try and to post the tastier bits later.

03-20-2016, 03:33 PM	#5
g e Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Drives: 2013 BRZ Location: Somewhere in The States Posts: 408 Thanks: 338 Thanked 277 Times in 163 Posts Mentioned: 1 Post(s) Tagged: 1 Thread(s)	There are several other runs in the area. They will have to wait too next time

03-20-2016, 11:11 PM	#9
rookie Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Drives: 1991 Formula Red NSX Location: Wisconsin Posts: 483 Thanks: 271 Thanked 430 Times in 209 Posts Mentioned: 4 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Nice. I've driven through this NC-TN area several times but haven't had the chance to do this yet. Will definitely make it a to-do if I make it down there with my BRZ.

03-21-2016, 08:51 PM	#11
g e Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Drives: 2013 BRZ Location: Somewhere in The States Posts: 408 Thanks: 338 Thanked 277 Times in 163 Posts Mentioned: 1 Post(s) Tagged: 1 Thread(s)	Killjoy.com has a couple photographers on the Tail. No affiliation. If you check their site for March 17 I am the guy in the silver BRZ, page 5-7 I think. Only looked on smart phone but will check it on big monitor. Might order a couple shots! I wouldn't care to drive this at night. Missing some of those turns would be terminally punishing. Lots of Subaru products in eastern TN over to Ashville, mostly outbacks and foresters. I returned from MD today via I-81 and I-26. That is some fine scenery. No doubt I'll be back.

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