4/18 - Dragon Roadblocks
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 30,642
Likes: 0
From: Dinosaur Victrola, Listnin' to Buck Owens...
4/18 - Dragon Roadblocks
If anyone is headed to The Dragon this weekend, be aware that THP has been running roadblocks on US129 and Rt. 72 this week and it is thought that they will continue them during the weekend.
Overall LEO presence, while not yet at the ridiculous numbers we saw last summer, is rising. Weekends see both Blount County and THP patrolling with 5 or 6 vehicles. As always along the river/lake just north of The Dragon is where you'll see them the most, but throughout the day they are making runs over the mountain.
Unconfirmed hearsay has some THP Troopers claiming that this year they plan on "shutting down The Dragon" with an overwhelming presence. I've heard this from more than one person, but y'alls know how well bullsh*t flies in the mountains, so take that as you wish.
The hot tips are; Go on a weekday, play it cool along the river (I'm talking either right at or under the posted limit) and make note of the pull offs available to LEOs on The Dragon itself for future reference. There aren't that many, and they are all on the northbound side of the road.
.
Overall LEO presence, while not yet at the ridiculous numbers we saw last summer, is rising. Weekends see both Blount County and THP patrolling with 5 or 6 vehicles. As always along the river/lake just north of The Dragon is where you'll see them the most, but throughout the day they are making runs over the mountain.
Unconfirmed hearsay has some THP Troopers claiming that this year they plan on "shutting down The Dragon" with an overwhelming presence. I've heard this from more than one person, but y'alls know how well bullsh*t flies in the mountains, so take that as you wish.
The hot tips are; Go on a weekday, play it cool along the river (I'm talking either right at or under the posted limit) and make note of the pull offs available to LEOs on The Dragon itself for future reference. There aren't that many, and they are all on the northbound side of the road.
.
Moderator Emeritus
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 46,133
Likes: 111
From: Maryville Tn
CI 5 thru 12 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '09 thru '23
NCM Sinkhole Donor
I'd take the THP "shutting down the dragon" statement with a grain of salt. If they're as short staffed as we are (Blount Co. S.O.), It's not going to happen (unless they plan on getting a lot of help from other regions). Enjoy and stay safe! 
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 14,711
Likes: 0
CI 7, 9, 10 & 11 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10
I believe in the Beer Fairy
Morning Apex -
Yea, I heard they would be back this year as well as the "store" was for sale. Do you know any reason that the store is trying to get out of there? Did the "saturation" last year kill things?
Yea, I heard they would be back this year as well as the "store" was for sale. Do you know any reason that the store is trying to get out of there? Did the "saturation" last year kill things?
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 11,672
Likes: 20
From: Lake Wylie SC
I guess you know that if it's fun and exciting, some government agency will either shut it down or tax it. Our rights to have fun are gradually disappearing. Crime must be down if the THP has nothing else to do.
Pro
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 533
Likes: 0
From: Mtns of north Georgia - Hey Kids, I'm spending your inheritance!
Oh well, just my $.02
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,093
Likes: 33
From: Morristown TN
I find it more fun to travel through there in the middle of the week and at night.
The traffic is no where as bad and most the Trucks, motorcycles, and Florida lincoln town-cars are gone by 10 or 11PM.
The main problems are the sport bikers promoting it as a racetrack and the guys that take pictures up there and sell them.
They bring way to much publicity.
There is one Photographer in particular that has a bad attitude toward cops. I have saw him post on other websites that he would like to see the cops crash and die.
It is a nice place to drive and it is even fun if you drive the limit.
The traffic is no where as bad and most the Trucks, motorcycles, and Florida lincoln town-cars are gone by 10 or 11PM.
The main problems are the sport bikers promoting it as a racetrack and the guys that take pictures up there and sell them.
They bring way to much publicity.
There is one Photographer in particular that has a bad attitude toward cops. I have saw him post on other websites that he would like to see the cops crash and die.
It is a nice place to drive and it is even fun if you drive the limit.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 17,901
Likes: 18
From: Elko, Nevada
What crimes do you think the THP handles...? 
Maybe speeding and reckless driving? Plenty of that up there.
Being passed by the sportbikes, seeing bikes, cars, crossing the double line all day long.
In a concentrated area, there's probably more 'crime' on the TN side of the Dragon than in other stretches of THP patrolled highways and byways.
Maybe speeding and reckless driving? Plenty of that up there.
Being passed by the sportbikes, seeing bikes, cars, crossing the double line all day long.
In a concentrated area, there's probably more 'crime' on the TN side of the Dragon than in other stretches of THP patrolled highways and byways.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 30,642
Likes: 0
From: Dinosaur Victrola, Listnin' to Buck Owens...
But new businesses are moving in as well. There's the new Punkin Center store and Punkin Center Cafe at the US129/Rt. 72 Junction, and a gas station/general store going in between the junction and Foothills Parkway. So, nobody is walking away as a result of the increase in enforcement.
The crackdown last year didn't really stop anyone from coming down to play, it just cost them more than they expected, and it's a bit early yet this year to tell if the numbers are down at all, but I doubt it.
Just today we had a group of Celicas do a fly-by, followed soon after by a dozen or so Ducati snobs and some obvious morons in S2000s going waaaaay too fast... So, they're still coming.
.
Last edited by ApexOversteer; Apr 19, 2008 at 06:50 PM.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained
Joe Kucinski
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette
Verdad Gallardo
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 30,642
Likes: 0
From: Dinosaur Victrola, Listnin' to Buck Owens...
.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 30,642
Likes: 0
From: Dinosaur Victrola, Listnin' to Buck Owens...
The Cherahola Skyway is far and away a better road to ride/drive than The Dragon......I have my own secret road, and I ain't telling nobody.
Pro
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 533
Likes: 0
From: Mtns of north Georgia - Hey Kids, I'm spending your inheritance!
Racer
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 334
Likes: 0
From: You think your hauling gass then you Then you Look in your Mirror and Oops there I am
If anyone is headed to The Dragon this weekend, be aware that THP has been running roadblocks on US129 and Rt. 72 this week and it is thought that they will continue them during the weekend.
Overall LEO presence, while not yet at the ridiculous numbers we saw last summer, is rising. Weekends see both Blount County and THP patrolling with 5 or 6 vehicles. As always along the river/lake just north of The Dragon is where you'll see them the most, but throughout the day they are making runs over the mountain.
Unconfirmed hearsay has some THP Troopers claiming that this year they plan on "shutting down The Dragon" with an overwhelming presence. I've heard this from more than one person, but y'alls know how well bullsh*t flies in the mountains, so take that as you wish.
The hot tips are; Go on a weekday, play it cool along the river (I'm talking either right at or under the posted limit) and make note of the pull offs available to LEOs on The Dragon itself for future reference. There aren't that many, and they are all on the northbound side of the road.
.
Overall LEO presence, while not yet at the ridiculous numbers we saw last summer, is rising. Weekends see both Blount County and THP patrolling with 5 or 6 vehicles. As always along the river/lake just north of The Dragon is where you'll see them the most, but throughout the day they are making runs over the mountain.
Unconfirmed hearsay has some THP Troopers claiming that this year they plan on "shutting down The Dragon" with an overwhelming presence. I've heard this from more than one person, but y'alls know how well bullsh*t flies in the mountains, so take that as you wish.
The hot tips are; Go on a weekday, play it cool along the river (I'm talking either right at or under the posted limit) and make note of the pull offs available to LEOs on The Dragon itself for future reference. There aren't that many, and they are all on the northbound side of the road.
.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 20,148
Likes: 0
From: WJ I & 2 - BJ 1, 2 & 3 Owl's Nest Insanity Central
St. Jude Contributor
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Cruise-In V Veteran
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Cruise-In VII Veteran
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 1,959
Likes: 0
From: Tellico Plains, Tn "Wolf" Official Corvette Guard Dog
Cruise-In II Veteran
Cruise-In III Veteran
Hwy 28 past Fontana Dam ain't bad ether