Have you driven the Tail of the Dragon???
10-21-2017, 12:22 PM
#3
Safety Car
Great experience, but way too crowded Friday, Saturdays and Sundays. We lucked out on our drive (on a Tuesday morning), for once we passed the very first viewpoint lookout, not one vehicle in front of us the entire rest of it...
What fun, though I think we left a little of our tires and brake pads there..
What fun, though I think we left a little of our tires and brake pads there..
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vdavenp802 (10-22-2017)
10-21-2017, 12:40 PM
#5
Yes, it can be fun, but on most days you'd choose to be there, it's more often than not just another traffic jam. Like most tourist attractions, it's become far too well-known among car and motorcycle enthusiasts.
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JALLEN4 (02-05-2018)
10-21-2017, 01:56 PM
#11
Yes. I liked the old motel, Crossroads of Time? and the Tree of Shame best.
10-21-2017, 03:47 PM
#13
I have driven it in my Z06 and in other cars. I have always done so early in the morning on the way to a hike. The positive from that is there are very few other vehicles on the road but you do have to watch for damp spots on the highway.
Last year I took the Foothills Parkway out of Townsend TN to get to The Tail and I was briefly stuck on the parkway after being surrounded by a pack of dogs. The finally moved out of the way to let me pass and they seemed friendly enough; unfortunately it was in an area with no cell coverage so I couldn't alert law enforcement since the dogs had obviously gotten loose and I would hate to see the dogs hurt or have them cause an accident.
Last year I took the Foothills Parkway out of Townsend TN to get to The Tail and I was briefly stuck on the parkway after being surrounded by a pack of dogs. The finally moved out of the way to let me pass and they seemed friendly enough; unfortunately it was in an area with no cell coverage so I couldn't alert law enforcement since the dogs had obviously gotten loose and I would hate to see the dogs hurt or have them cause an accident.
10-21-2017, 03:56 PM
#14
Race Director
Yes, just got back from a fall drive and did this. Getting a clean run on the Dragon is a challenge due to traffic. The die hards usually lodge nearby so they can run it a handful of times and squeeze in a clean run.
The problem is mostly Harley cruiser types and to a lesser extent, some looky-loo cars. You have to be prepared to pass on the double yellow and **** people off in doing so, because most don't have the sense to let you by. The sport bikes and sports cars get it, the rest not so much...
It is not that dangerous a road for cars, more so for bikes and they do have a dozen or so fatalities in the area each year, along with guys dumping their bikes almost daily. The locals are getting fed up with this, as it ties up emergency assets in this remote area. Speed limit is "30", so if a cop sees you, you'll get a ticket. Yes, they write a lot of tickets up there.
Edit: I do not condone or recommend passing on this road unless the vehicle in front of you is going very slowly, you have a powerful car that can pass quickly, and you have clear line of sight for the distance required to pass and slow down before the next curve. And of course, it is illegal to do so.
The problem is mostly Harley cruiser types and to a lesser extent, some looky-loo cars. You have to be prepared to pass on the double yellow and **** people off in doing so, because most don't have the sense to let you by. The sport bikes and sports cars get it, the rest not so much...
It is not that dangerous a road for cars, more so for bikes and they do have a dozen or so fatalities in the area each year, along with guys dumping their bikes almost daily. The locals are getting fed up with this, as it ties up emergency assets in this remote area. Speed limit is "30", so if a cop sees you, you'll get a ticket. Yes, they write a lot of tickets up there.
Edit: I do not condone or recommend passing on this road unless the vehicle in front of you is going very slowly, you have a powerful car that can pass quickly, and you have clear line of sight for the distance required to pass and slow down before the next curve. And of course, it is illegal to do so.
Last edited by TTRotary; 10-21-2017 at 04:20 PM.
10-21-2017, 04:16 PM
#15
Instructor
Actually just returned from driving the dragon this week - weekday was fun and no crowds or many other cars, most none sports cars did move over when possible for me. Wouldn't want to be there on a weekend day from what I hear. Hard to believe that road was 55MPH until 2005
10-21-2017, 06:03 PM
#17
Race Director
It's a beautiful road. Best to do it during the week. Weekends and holidays are polluted with motorcycles not knowing what the center line in the road is for.
10-21-2017, 06:37 PM
#18
Team Owner
Member Since: Mar 2012
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St. Jude Donor '12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17
Nope. No desire to either. Way too many twisty mountain roads near here and none nearly as crowded as the Tail.
10-21-2017, 09:40 PM
#20
Melting Slicks
Member Since: Aug 2004
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CI 6-7 & 9 Veteran
We have been there in our C6 roadster and then we went in our C7 coupe. It is fun as long as you are there during the weekdays. Weekends are too crowded.