2006 Tail of The Dragon

ColumbusIS · May 29th, 2006, 05:17 PM

Hey all,

Every year myself and several others head over to the Tennesee/North Carolina border to drive a stretch of US129 called "The Tail of The Dragon" With all due respect to Clarkson and his rant about "No American who designed that chassis has no clue that a road like this even exists" , He hasn't driven the Dragon. 318 turns in an 11 mile span. Switchbacks and esses so tight you can see who's behind you in your side mirrors images/smilies/smile.gif

Pre-Trip prep:

My Car:

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y287/ColumbusIS/Dragon%202006/100_2040II.jpg

My buddys Boosted IS:

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y287/ColumbusIS/Dragon%202006/100_2042.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y287/ColumbusIS/Dragon%202006/100_2043.jpg

On the road:

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y287/ColumbusIS/Dragon%202006/DSC_5952.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y287/ColumbusIS/Dragon%202006/100_2048.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y287/ColumbusIS/Dragon%202006/DSC_5957.jpg

On the Dragon:

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y287/ColumbusIS/Dragon%202006/DSC_6007.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y287/ColumbusIS/Dragon%202006/DSC_6001.jpg

Tree of Shame at Deals Gap Cycle Shop/Motel:

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y287/ColumbusIS/Dragon%202006/DSC_5989.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y287/ColumbusIS/Dragon%202006/DSC_5988.jpg

Fontana Dam:

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y287/ColumbusIS/Dragon%202006/DSC_6074.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y287/ColumbusIS/Dragon%202006/DSC_6072.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y287/ColumbusIS/Dragon%202006/DSC_6071.jpg

Scenic Backdrop:

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y287/ColumbusIS/Dragon%202006/DSC_6058.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y287/ColumbusIS/Dragon%202006/DSC_6056.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y287/ColumbusIS/Dragon%202006/DSC_6067II.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y287/ColumbusIS/Dragon%202006/DSC_6079.jpg

At the hotel/lodge:

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y287/ColumbusIS/Dragon%202006/100_2061.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y287/ColumbusIS/Dragon%202006/100_2051II.jpg

All in all a fun trip and one I would suggest you make if you like challenging roads. Hopefully I'll have some video soon as well. For more info visit www.tailofthedragon.com and www.dealsgap.com.

No Boss · May 29th, 2006, 05:24 PM

I've heard so much about the Dragon, A lot of Mini guys love it.

Fantastic pics, lovely car, and Welcome aboard!

jayhawk · May 29th, 2006, 05:25 PM

I hate you. images/smilies/tongue.gif

This early fall I am hoping to out there and also drive on the Blue Ridge trail.

Also, if you want a REAL challenge, go to Arizona and drive US 191 outside of Alpine, AKA "The Devils Highway".

No Boss · May 29th, 2006, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jayhawk

I hate you. images/smilies/tongue.gif

This early fall I am hoping to out there and also drive on the Blue Ridge trail.

Imagine taking one of those Exige S's like the one in your sig up there???

images/smilies/eek.gif

bartboy9891 · May 29th, 2006, 08:06 PM

many cops around?

GraemeH · May 29th, 2006, 08:42 PM

That works out at a turn every 50 meters average. That's not really that spectacular. It's a lot but i couldn't drive in one direction for more than 10 minutes here without finding a road with that sort of corner-age, and some pretty ball-wrenching vertical action, too.

Labcoatguy · May 29th, 2006, 09:11 PM

A professional photographer whose specialty is the dragon sets up shop at killboy.com, where you can see highlights of the meets and runs held there. I drove it for the first time in my MR2, maintaining a minimum speed of 30; there were a few cops coming from the opposite direction, but so long as one doesn't do something obviously stupid (drifting, crossing the center line), they are fine with you; I doubt their radar would work well on the twisties anyway. Highlights of my Dragon outing (11/29/05 or so) included an RX-8 coming the opposite direction on my very first corner (damn, it howls like a beast at WOT) and watching an Evo come down the mountain with its brakes on fire.

And GraemeH, this road does have a LOT of vertical action, what with it crossing a continental divide, so it probably compares pretty well with what you have on the other side of the pond. These aren't ordinary turns either, usually at least 90 degrees and blind around a mountainside, or a hairpin switchback. It would be interesting to compare maps of UK/European twisties vs. the Dragon and its American bretheren, though; are there any legendary European driving roads with online maps, like the Dragon?

GraemeH · May 29th, 2006, 10:49 PM

Are there any in-car videos of people driving it? I haven't seen it and it's hard to get an idea of the challenge from still shots images/smilies/smile.gif

ishigakisensei · May 29th, 2006, 10:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by No Boss

I've heard so much about the Dragon, A lot of Mini guys love it.

It is a sport bike lovers paradise. Middle & East Tennessee are so ful of corkscrew roads, it's amazing. Clarkson has no idea these places exist because these roads are not race tracks and they don't get a lot (any?) international coverage. In fact, all of Tennessee is a motor enthusiast's heaven - very little emissions laws and lax enforcement of registration laws (more than 3 GTRs are state registered though not fully US legal...no one cares though).

http://www.tailofthedragon.com/ at Deals Gap. I've always wanted to see an Isle of Man TT style race there....but I know it'll never happen.

http://www.dealsgap.com/

http://www.lexusdragon.com/

http://www.dealsgapforum.com/

-----

Tail of the Dragon videos:

http://video.google.com/videosearch?...+of+the+Dragon

Peter3hg · May 29th, 2006, 10:57 PM

You call that a road. A proper twisty road should only be single track. Within a 10 minute drive from my house you are in the Peak District with amazing roads.

jetsetter · May 29th, 2006, 10:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by peter3hg2

You call that a road. A proper twisty road should only be single track. Within a 10 minute drive from my house you are in the Peak District with amazing roads.

Says who?

BlaRo · May 30th, 2006, 12:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by peter3hg2

You call that a road. A proper twisty road should only be single track. Within a 10 minute drive from my house you are in the Peak District with amazing roads.

All littered with speed cameras undoubtedly. Oh wait, I'm an ignorant American. images/smilies/wink.gif

ColumbusIS · May 30th, 2006, 01:07 AM

I'm sure there are great driving roads almost everywhere in the world. My post was not to insinuate that this was the best or most challenging drivers road ever. If you have links to other roads of interest please post up. I'd be interested in seeing links to this "Peak District" and "The Devil's Highway". If this becomes a "my road is better/tougher/more twisty/ than your road" bash fest, I'll just ask Viper to delete the thread.

Hey No Boss .. thanks for the welcome and the props. images/smilies/thumbsup.gif

No Boss · May 30th, 2006, 01:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlaRo

Quote:

Originally Posted by peter3hg2

You call that a road. A proper twisty road should only be single track. Within a 10 minute drive from my house you are in the Peak District with amazing roads.

All littered with speed cameras undoubtedly. Oh wait, I'm an ignorant American. images/smilies/wink.gif

Ugh... God Damnit Blaro. images/smilies/mad.gif

Actually, that was pretty funny. images/smilies/lol.gif

You know I got your back.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ColumbusIS

Hey No Boss .. thanks for the welcome and the props. images/smilies/thumbsup.gif

"

No problem. How do you like your car? Is it an Auto or one of those rare 5-spd's? I was looking at picking on up a long time ago but I just couldn't get passed the fact how underpowered it was (in comparison to other cars in it's price range.) But, I still think it is a great looking Lexus inside and out.

Viper007Bond · May 30th, 2006, 01:57 AM

Nice. 8)

GraemeH · May 30th, 2006, 01:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ColumbusIS

I'm sure there are great driving roads almost everywhere in the world. My post was not to insinuate that this was the best or most challenging drivers road ever. If you have links to other roads of interest please post up. I'd be interested in seeing links to this "Peak District" and "The Devil's Highway". If this becomes a "my road is better/tougher/more twisty/ than your road" bash fest, I'll just ask Viper to delete the thread.

Hey No Boss .. thanks for the welcome and the props. images/smilies/thumbsup.gif

My road can beat up your road!

Nah really though, that's not what my post meant. Are there any videos about onboard cars driving this? I'll try to grab some video of some of the roads we tune our suspension on around here whenever we're next out, as long as you don't get motion sick =)

thedguy · May 30th, 2006, 02:12 AM

With all the hype around that road, I know I'll be disappointed when I get the chance to drive it.

From what I hear, the road has no place for cops to hide, making it a great place to fuck around when the out of towners aren't running around.

Many places in the states have some wonderful roads (outside LA has some EXCELLENT places to drive) and yet this country produces some of the worst handling cars. I just don't get it.

BlaRo · May 30th, 2006, 02:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thedguy

Many places in the states have some wonderful roads (outside LA has some EXCELLENT places to drive) and yet this country produces some of the worst handling cars. I just don't get it.

LA Crest Highway 2, I presume? I went on that (in a rental Focus, but bear with me), and it was amazing. Good roads in America are few and far between, though, and even that road was filled with commuters and the occasional work van (though I did see two red Dodge Viper coupes, a few EVOs, and a ton of bikes including one that got pulled over images/smilies/lol.gif

).

And No Boss, we're a tag team duo!

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/f9/Team_Angle.jpg

ColumbusIS · May 30th, 2006, 02:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by No Boss

No problem. How do you like your car? Is it an Auto or one of those rare 5-spd's? I was looking at picking on up a long time ago but I just couldn't get passed the fact how underpowered it was (in comparison to other cars in it's price range.) But, I still think it is a great looking Lexus inside and out.

Mine's a 5 spd. I love the car. It takes to modification so well. Plus it shares the same basic 2JZ engine setup as the legendary 2JZ-GTE motor in the twin turbo supra. So it takes to boost fairly well. Here are the mods I've done so far :

B&M short throw shifter
Pro Lex Performance intake and filter
Pro Lex Performance Front Strut Tower Brace
Hotchkis Spring and Sways
At Italia Alp 18x8 with Goodyear DS3 F1's 245/35 rear 225/40 up front
Goodridge Stainless Brakelines
ATE Super Blue fluid
Hawk HPS pads
SP Enginering Slotted and cross-drilled rotors.

Boost might be in the future, but you need at least $10K USD to start playing that game so it might be a while.

Quote:

Originally Posted by GraemeH

Nah really though, that's not what my post meant. Are there any videos about onboard cars driving

May 29th, 2006, 05:17 PM	#1
ColumbusIS Joined: Feb 17th, 2006 Last Online: December 5th, 2008 Location: CBus, Ohio, USA Posts: 120 Car: '03 Lexus IS300 SportDesign, Not Stock :) Rep Power: 0	2006 Tail of The Dragon Hey all, Every year myself and several others head over to the Tennesee/North Carolina border to drive a stretch of US129 called "The Tail of The Dragon" With all due respect to Clarkson and his rant about "No American who designed that chassis has no clue that a road like this even exists" , He hasn't driven the Dragon. 318 turns in an 11 mile span. Switchbacks and esses so tight you can see who's behind you in your side mirrors Pre-Trip prep: My Car: My buddys Boosted IS: On the road: On the Dragon: Tree of Shame at Deals Gap Cycle Shop/Motel: Fontana Dam: Scenic Backdrop: At the hotel/lodge: All in all a fun trip and one I would suggest you make if you like challenging roads. Hopefully I'll have some video soon as well. For more info visit www.tailofthedragon.com and www.dealsgap.com.

May 29th, 2006, 05:24 PM	#2
No Boss Neener, neener, I banned your title! Joined: Oct 8th, 2005 Last Online: Yesterday Location: 'mericuh, someday the UK. Age: 23 Posts: 6,704 Car: 2005 Volvo S60 R Rep Power: 74	I've heard so much about the Dragon, A lot of Mini guys love it. Fantastic pics, lovely car, and Welcome aboard! __________________

May 29th, 2006, 05:25 PM	#3
jayhawk Cigar Smoking Man Joined: Dec 11th, 2005 Last Online: 02:04 AM Location: A-Town, Illinois. Age: 33 Posts: 5,121 Car: MY07 G11 WRX-TR WRB. Rep Power: 92	I hate you. This early fall I am hoping to out there and also drive on the Blue Ridge trail. Also, if you want a REAL challenge, go to Arizona and drive US 191 outside of Alpine, AKA "The Devils Highway". __________________ It is nice to have friends like you on this forum. dawn patrol on hungry hate...the mouse police never sleeps.

May 29th, 2006, 08:06 PM	#5
bartboy9891 I'm not Moe Joined: Dec 1st, 2004 Last Online: 04:23 PM Location: University of Michigan Age: 19 Posts: 7,784 Car: 1996 Grand Am SE sedan, and dad's 2006 S60 2.5T Rep Power: 43	many cops around? __________________

May 29th, 2006, 08:42 PM	#6
GraemeH Joined: Apr 19th, 2005 Last Online: 12:17 PM Location: Scotland, UK Posts: 1,898 Car: Toyota Corolla. Rawrr. LFS Status: Rep Power: 22	That works out at a turn every 50 meters average. That's not really that spectacular. It's a lot but i couldn't drive in one direction for more than 10 minutes here without finding a road with that sort of corner-age, and some pretty ball-wrenching vertical action, too. __________________

May 29th, 2006, 09:11 PM	#7
Labcoatguy Joined: Mar 27th, 2005 Last Online: 12:44 PM Location: Boston, MA Age: 25 Posts: 2,694 Car: None; later rather than sooner Rep Power: 82	A professional photographer whose specialty is the dragon sets up shop at killboy.com, where you can see highlights of the meets and runs held there. I drove it for the first time in my MR2, maintaining a minimum speed of 30; there were a few cops coming from the opposite direction, but so long as one doesn't do something obviously stupid (drifting, crossing the center line), they are fine with you; I doubt their radar would work well on the twisties anyway. Highlights of my Dragon outing (11/29/05 or so) included an RX-8 coming the opposite direction on my very first corner (damn, it howls like a beast at WOT) and watching an Evo come down the mountain with its brakes on fire. And GraemeH, this road does have a LOT of vertical action, what with it crossing a continental divide, so it probably compares pretty well with what you have on the other side of the pond. These aren't ordinary turns either, usually at least 90 degrees and blind around a mountainside, or a hairpin switchback. It would be interesting to compare maps of UK/European twisties vs. the Dragon and its American bretheren, though; are there any legendary European driving roads with online maps, like the Dragon?

May 29th, 2006, 10:49 PM	#8
GraemeH Joined: Apr 19th, 2005 Last Online: 12:17 PM Location: Scotland, UK Posts: 1,898 Car: Toyota Corolla. Rawrr. LFS Status: Rep Power: 22	Are there any in-car videos of people driving it? I haven't seen it and it's hard to get an idea of the challenge from still shots __________________

May 29th, 2006, 10:57 PM	#10
Peter3hg Joined: May 3rd, 2006 Last Online: 09:42 PM Location: Breast Hill Castle, Angleland Age: 19 Posts: 3,837 Car: 2006 Yamaha Fazer LFS Status: Rep Power: 32	You call that a road. A proper twisty road should only be single track. Within a 10 minute drive from my house you are in the Peak District with amazing roads. __________________

May 30th, 2006, 01:57 AM	#15
Viper007Bond Lazy Head Dude Joined: Sep 21st, 2003 Last Online: Yesterday Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 21,086 Car: Dodge Viper (I wish!) Rep Power: 237	Nice. 8) __________________ Fight back against the evil Quiky by +1'ing this post! There is no replacement for displacement. - Wolfgang Bernhard, Chief Operating Officer, Chrysler Group talking about the Dodge Viper SRT-10 ... I ask Herb Helbig, vehicle synthesis manager for SRT and a member of the original Team Viper development group since day one, if they'd ever thought of adding traction control. "It comes with two," he says, pointing at my feet. "Learn to use them." Got it. - Motor Trend on the 2006 Dodge Viper Coupe, November 2005

May 30th, 2006, 02:12 AM	#17
thedguy ^ will bore you to death Joined: Jun 18th, 2004 Last Online: 06:16 AM Location: Under the Counter at McD's Posts: 5,901 Car: 1990 Mazda MX-5 Rep Power: 75	With all the hype around that road, I know I'll be disappointed when I get the chance to drive it. From what I hear, the road has no place for cops to hide, making it a great place to fuck around when the out of towners aren't running around. Many places in the states have some wonderful roads (outside LA has some EXCELLENT places to drive) and yet this country produces some of the worst handling cars. I just don't get it. __________________