Road Trip to Tail of Dragon Area?
04-07-2019, 11:34 AM
#21
Racer
Thread Starter
When, *****, Capt Sam
August could be good. Some participants might like to catch the Detroit Dream cruise on the way home.
Nice to hear from you ***** - hope you and Sylvia can make it!
Capt Sam - we have been to Charleston and across the river about 8 times - great marine park - loved the carrier and destroyer!
Nice to hear from you ***** - hope you and Sylvia can make it!
Capt Sam - we have been to Charleston and across the river about 8 times - great marine park - loved the carrier and destroyer!
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capt. sam (04-08-2019)
04-14-2019, 02:16 PM
#24
Debbie and I are interested. A good time we find going to the US is over our Civic Holiday weekend as the US does not have if off. Those who have to take vacation may save a day.
Brian Burchatzki
Brian Burchatzki
05-03-2019, 09:13 PM
#28
Drifting
I would suggest that it not be done on a weekend. We did it on a Monday morning around 0830 after a large storm went through the night before. Initially ,I was disappointed until I figured out that we had the place to ourselves -literally. Saw 4 vehicles going the opposite way , the locals on their way to work. The following weekend, 600 Mimis converged on the site. I was the only car/Vette on the Dragon.
As the season gets warmer & the tourists decide to drive the route, the State Troopers are in the trees. Do not put a tire over the yellow line if you are running in a large group, loud exhausts be careful, don't light up the rears .Takes about 22 minutes one way.Turn around & do it again.The morning we did the run was May 2nd or 3rd on our way back from Florida. I have a stack of maps I bought on Amazon of the area , very high quality, in colour of all the local twisties (37 or so) in the area .Some routes are much longer than the Dragon but just as challenging.Blue Ridge Mountains, you won't be setting any speed records.
Personally, I would recommend post Labor Day weekend , even early October as it's still quote warm down that way. Either way, do it in the early part or middle of the week. The car /bike clubs start showing up on Thursdays.
I'd be willing to loan out the maps on the condition they be returned in the same condition that you receive them.
As the season gets warmer & the tourists decide to drive the route, the State Troopers are in the trees. Do not put a tire over the yellow line if you are running in a large group, loud exhausts be careful, don't light up the rears .Takes about 22 minutes one way.Turn around & do it again.The morning we did the run was May 2nd or 3rd on our way back from Florida. I have a stack of maps I bought on Amazon of the area , very high quality, in colour of all the local twisties (37 or so) in the area .Some routes are much longer than the Dragon but just as challenging.Blue Ridge Mountains, you won't be setting any speed records.
Personally, I would recommend post Labor Day weekend , even early October as it's still quote warm down that way. Either way, do it in the early part or middle of the week. The car /bike clubs start showing up on Thursdays.
I'd be willing to loan out the maps on the condition they be returned in the same condition that you receive them.
Last edited by Airwilf; 05-03-2019 at 09:14 PM.
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dlynch (05-04-2019)
05-04-2019, 09:56 PM
#29
Burning Brakes
I would suggest that it not be done on a weekend. We did it on a Monday morning around 0830 after a large storm went through the night before. Initially ,I was disappointed until I figured out that we had the place to ourselves -literally. Saw 4 vehicles going the opposite way , the locals on their way to work. The following weekend, 600 Mimis converged on the site. I was the only car/Vette on the Dragon.
As the season gets warmer & the tourists decide to drive the route, the State Troopers are in the trees. Do not put a tire over the yellow line if you are running in a large group, loud exhausts be careful, don't light up the rears .Takes about 22 minutes one way.Turn around & do it again.The morning we did the run was May 2nd or 3rd on our way back from Florida. I have a stack of maps I bought on Amazon of the area , very high quality, in colour of all the local twisties (37 or so) in the area .Some routes are much longer than the Dragon but just as challenging.Blue Ridge Mountains, you won't be setting any speed records.
Personally, I would recommend post Labor Day weekend , even early October as it's still quote warm down that way. Either way, do it in the early part or middle of the week. The car /bike clubs start showing up on Thursdays.
I'd be willing to loan out the maps on the condition they be returned in the same condition that you receive them.
As the season gets warmer & the tourists decide to drive the route, the State Troopers are in the trees. Do not put a tire over the yellow line if you are running in a large group, loud exhausts be careful, don't light up the rears .Takes about 22 minutes one way.Turn around & do it again.The morning we did the run was May 2nd or 3rd on our way back from Florida. I have a stack of maps I bought on Amazon of the area , very high quality, in colour of all the local twisties (37 or so) in the area .Some routes are much longer than the Dragon but just as challenging.Blue Ridge Mountains, you won't be setting any speed records.
Personally, I would recommend post Labor Day weekend , even early October as it's still quote warm down that way. Either way, do it in the early part or middle of the week. The car /bike clubs start showing up on Thursdays.
I'd be willing to loan out the maps on the condition they be returned in the same condition that you receive them.
Consider getting Mad Maps -- motorcycle maps. It'll help you see other routes. www.madmaps.com
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dlynch (05-29-2019)
06-01-2019, 11:10 PM
#32
Race Director
I just got back from a 53-day road trip that included 4 days at the Dragon.
To be honest, unless it's perfect weather and you are a knee-dragger, the 130-mile outter rim that also includes the 11 miles of the Dragon was a much better route and more scenic.
To be honest, unless it's perfect weather and you are a knee-dragger, the 130-mile outter rim that also includes the 11 miles of the Dragon was a much better route and more scenic.
Last edited by WICKEDFRC; 06-01-2019 at 11:18 PM.
06-02-2019, 11:57 AM
#33
Instructor
To those who have not done the tail of the dragon - you will see no scenery. It's eyes straight ahead for every curve that seems to pop up every 30-ft. One no sooner is on the gas but on the clutch (if manual) and constantly on the brakes. You'll put some wear on them. God forbid someone is right behind you. You'll be lucky to even grab a fast look in the rear view mirror. Pray everyone stays in their lane otherwise it Hello Mr. Wrecker.
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dlynch (06-04-2019)
06-04-2019, 01:23 PM
#34
Burning Brakes
To those who have not done the tail of the dragon - you will see no scenery. It's eyes straight ahead for every curve that seems to pop up every 30-ft. One no sooner is on the gas but on the clutch (if manual) and constantly on the brakes. You'll put some wear on them. God forbid someone is right behind you. You'll be lucky to even grab a fast look in the rear view mirror. Pray everyone stays in their lane otherwise it Hello Mr. Wrecker.
The maps are somewhat weather proof. They are intended as a guide for bikers. You can fold them up and put them in a tank bag as a reference. So they are a handy size.
I'm glad that we went.
There are a number of videos on youtube of drives on the Dragon. Some are not nice....some crashes there.