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1) NC to TN direction
2) 28* so far from ideal
3) Non-runflat Michelin Pilot Supersports performed very well, wouldn't recommend running the Dragon sub-40* with runflats or SC2's.
4) You can stop watching at 7:00 as a few drivers don't know Dragon etiquette.
5) Video makes it look way more tame than it is.....traction control light gives a good indication of where the car is getting "squirely".
6) 35mph corners have never been more terrifying. LOL
Ran it last fall in the mini cooper in 12 minutes, a personal best. I took the stingray on it and it was definitely too much power in the sharper curves. I have not had the Z06 on it yet. I just reviewed the video of our night run and it was 10 minutes, not 12! Here is a link to it if anyone is interested. I realize this is a corvette forum, not a mini one, but I love a lot of different sports cars! For the Dragon, the mini is my favorite.
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
2019 C1 of Year Winner (performance mods)
2017 Corvette of the Year Finalist
2016 C2 of Year
2015 C3 of Year Finalist
Funny you posted this. I drove the Dragon yesterday with my wife. We are driving back to Mass from Florida. Staying in Tellico Plains, Tenn. We'll also drove the Cherohala Skyway. 5th time on them for me.
Unfortunately, don't have the Z06 or the Viper here. There was snow on the Skyway over 4,000 feet.
Great roads and area
Run it late at night and stay in the lines, it's easy in the mini, but not in the vette. We run a group thru at moderate speed and then follow that with the speedsters, it keeps the critters at bay.
Funny you posted this. I drove the Dragon yesterday with my wife. We are driving back to Mass from Florida. Staying in Tellico Plains, Tenn. We'll also drove the Cherohala Skyway. 5th time on them for me.
Unfortunately, don't have the Z06 or the Viper here. There was snow on the Skyway over 4,000 feet.
Great roads and area
You got that right! We run backroads most of the way there and then back. There are some great backroads in Eastern and even in Central Kentucky. Coal trucks are almost non-existant anymore and that has really opened things up in the Eastern part of the state. But, the Tail is the best, Moonshiner 28, and the section of 421, aka the snake, into West Virginia are great runs as well. We will take the Z up sometime this year most likely, but honestly the mini is the best fit for the Tail.
Nov 1 2017, my first full day owning the Z06. Less then 500 miles so I'm playing nice. The car in front of me is a bmw m5 dinan, we met after playing on bootlegger on the way to the dragon, ending up spending the whole day together on the dragon and the skyway. Part way down the dragon he blows the charge pipe off, fortunately some duct tape and all was good. Was an awesome day.
Last edited by cheapthrills; 02-05-2018 at 10:44 AM.
Lace discipline leaves a little to be desired but, you only cross to the left where you have line of sight, so as long as your eyes aren't driving the nose of the car and pointed at the theoretical apex, then it's...."ok"....
Nice run though...definitely hittin some G's there even though vid slows everything down.
I'm going to run The Gauntlet later in the week when it's 60's I think.
I love these guys that drive like complete *** clowns on public roads and post videos of it on the internet. This video should be useful in your civil case when you kill that rider after crossing the double yellow for 27th time.
Awesome video! And I agree, the video does seem to make the laps at the Dragon seem slow...at least you had the PDR data displaying to show you were really getting it.
When I took my 71' to the Dragon 2 years ago, I felt like I was pushing pretty hard (for what it is anyway) and when I watched the gopro vid, it looked like I was CREEPING through it. Hell my wife got sick and i had to pull over I was using all of my lane...LOL
I can tell by your vid, you are hauling ***...knowing how mine felt at my speed I went through at.
I am going to Deals Gap and hitting the Tail in mid June this year in my C7Z.... I'll have the PDR rolling for sure.
Absolutely should only drive within your conditions, skill level and equipment. Lane crossing only when you have a clear sight line and always look 3 turns ahead. Those that don't understand the Dragon because they've never been don't realize how the roads layout and that you can see far ahead. It keeps you from 'finding' cars around blind corners. Can't solve for the idiots in the other lane that don't drive that way or idiot posts from posters who don't understand like bd377103.
I'm more fearful of the vintage car owner with drum brakes than I am my own Z06.
A heads up for trip planning. The MOTD (Minis on the Tail of the Dragon) is May 11 thru the 15th. Last year there were 601 minis registered for the event and there was as many not registered. The Dragonphiles show up a couple of days early to get less crowded roads. The entire area is awash with minis, some out for a flower expedition and others with Bs to the wall the entire time. Usually, there are some Mazdas and Subarus that show up as well. It is based at Fontana Lodge, but every room in the area is probably already booked.
The op made a nice video but I’m sure glad there were no motorcycles meeting him!
Saw 1 motorcycle all day. 28 degrees pretty much weeds them out. It was 14* when I left the hotel. As long as they stay in their lane we should be good. Like I said, for those that haven't been its hard to explain. 30-35mph corners are not what I'd call taking-your-life in your hands speeds. Although for some on here that probably is way past their limit. But absolutely agree if a motorcycle decides that 28* is the perfect day for the dragon on his sport bike and wants to fully apex his corners, well he may have to eat my splitter.
Absolutely should only drive within your conditions, skill level and equipment. Lane crossing only when you have a clear sight line and always look 3 turns ahead. Those that don't understand the Dragon because they've never been don't realize how the roads layout and that you can see far ahead. It keeps you from 'finding' cars around blind corners. Can't solve for the idiots in the other lane that don't drive that way or idiot posts from posters who don't understand like bd377103.
I'm more fearful of the vintage car owner with drum brakes than I am my own Z06.
Yeah I was SUPER careful my first pass.... I made 4 laps through the Tail and was pretty confident other then my brakes were DONE.... I went on a Thursday so the traffic wasn't bad yet. Did have to dodge some Harleys and Goldwings with their sidebags in my lane as they hugged the double yellow....
Being careful and observant is an understatement out there.
Sorry guys....made my videos private. Sent links to my non-snowflake friends. Added a certain someone to my ignore list as well. Life's too short. Shame that some who've never been to the Dragon and obviously don't feel comfortable driving a car have to chime in with threatening language. I suggest cheap thrills pull his down as well given that it shows the BMW's license plate. Now go out enjoy another "who has the best wax for black cars" thread. Take care.
02-04-2018, 08:54 AM
Dragon II - 2.3.18
