Finally Brought the FRS to The Tail of the Dragon!

[Bristecom]

Originally Posted by cgrey

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:

That sucks...

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

[cgrey]

Originally Posted by Bristecom

That sucks...

But holy smokes, I didn't even know that was possible on a Goldwing. And the guy is braking mid-corner! 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:

this guy once did 106 runs on deals gap in 24 hours
fastest run about 11 minutes

interview with him:

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

[whataboutbob]

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

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by Bristecom

That sucks...

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

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.

[mkaresh]

Originally Posted by daiheadjai

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

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.

[mkaresh]

Originally Posted by 4U-GSE

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 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.)

[Rampage]

Originally Posted by Bristecom

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...

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.

[mkaresh]

Originally Posted by Rampage

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.

[naikaidriver]

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

[mkaresh]

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

[naikaidriver]

Originally Posted by Rampage

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.

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

[Rampage]

Originally Posted by mkaresh

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.

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.

[Rampage]

Originally Posted by naikaidriver

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

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

[naikaidriver]

Originally Posted by mkaresh

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

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

Scott