sloopdawg

I'm planning a trip to a place called tail of the dragon. It's in the mountains with all curvy roads. I have the selective drive and was wondering should I select the sport or just leave it in touring mode (where I always leave it). Does it make a difference?

73Corvette

Sounds like a good place for the Competitive Mode

sloopdawg

Thanks, can't hurt to try it out

sloopdawg

Couldn't get it to embed

JR-01

First drive it in Touring mode and then try it in Competitive mode and see which is best. You know you can run it more than once.........

sloopdawg

LOL... Didn't think of that, your right (only 11 miles)

Rico7142

Should be fun

DRAFT1

Have fun and drive safe. Been on the dragon many times on a variety of motorcycles but never in the Corvette. As the old saying goes "don't write a check that you can't cash". You can get yourself in trouble real quick in some of those curves. Unfortunately I have seen some nasty crashes involving cars and bikes going wide and boom. Once I came around a turn and see a rider hanging on to the base of a tree and no motorcycle to be found! That being said, drive your own drive and respect the dragon.

sloopdawg

True Dat

Jeff T.

That was my first thought as well.

Enjoy!!

Vetteman Jack

Great way to get to know, and feel, the settings.

raff

Make sure you do not cross the center yellow line --
but also be aware that oncoming traffic might cross it.

http://tailofthedragon.com/tail-of-t.../how-to-drive/

Have fun --- and smile for the phtographers

sloopdawg

Thanks raff
that was a good read, a lot of good advice in there

Clairvoyantwolf

When you say "tour" mode and "sport" mode that is referring to the selective ride control system on cars equipped with the F55 suspension. Several posters mentioned "competition" mode, but that refers to the active handling stability control system which is standard on all Vettes from 2001 on. In short they are two different systems.

Put very simply "tour" mode on F55 emphasizes "body control" or said otherwise, it seeks to keep the body level regardless of road disturbances. "Sport" mode on the other hand emphasizes "wheel control," which means that it seeks to keep each tire optimally positioned as the road changes. In practice this means the car will transition faster and will respond to all inputs (gas, brake, steering) quicker in sport mode than tour mode.

I've driven The Dragon (in fact my avatar is myself on The Dragon) and my car has F55. The Dragon is a very smooth road with a lot of quick transitions. It is rare where you need to get out of second gear even when driving very hard (manual transmission). The car will "feel" better in sport mode. Here is an easy way to think of it. In a fast sweeping corner on a road that is completely smooth there will be no difference between the two modes. On a bumpy road tour mode "might" be faster as it allows the suspension to absorb bumps better. However on a smooth road with multiple turns and especially on a slalom, which The Dragon can feel like at times, the virtues of sport mode begin to shine.

Ducati Guy

be careful. even if you drive it like Jackie Stewart that does not stop someone from driving it like an idiot. Bikes go wide on turns there all the time.

Shakeydeal

In 2012 I rode the Dragon with some friends. We were all on Harleys and had a blast. I will say that this is a very technical drive and can be challenging at times. If you want to drive it with any appreciable speed, keep your eyes on the road. Be safe and have fun.

There is another road in the area called "The Rattlesnake" which is almost as curvy. Drive that one too if you can.

Shakey

Tuco

Lotta great rides in that area, have fun, be careful....it's still not a track.

runner140*

I remember some years ago, took a trip from L.A. to Oregon on the Pacific Coast Highway. Those mountain roads with those tight turns were quite an invitation to have a Vette.

P.S. Take a ton of pic's.

NMYDNA

Don't know why you guys are talking speed on this road. Has a speed limit of 15-20 MPH and very heavy patrolled. And most of all, "It's not safe!"

Phanni

Come on over in October (during Corvette Expo)when we do the dragon as a group. Last year we had over 400 at one time (Corvettes). Corvetteexpo. com