Topic: The Tail of the Dragon

[mrthompson]

http://www.thestar.com/Travel/article/188751

http://www.tailofthedragon.com/

I would prefer to drive this road in something other than a minivan.   

[Giant Dwarf]

http://www.thestar.com/Travel/article/188751

http://www.tailofthedragon.com/

I would prefer to drive this road in something other than a minivan.   

 A Minivan wouldn't be my first pick either, but hey, we've at least got to give credit to the guy for making the effort.  He is an enthusiast (one of the 'missing' ones from HondaSalesguy's thread about the 6 spd Accord perhaps?)

[daft]

Oh man...jonesing to go back.
Been the last few summers for the Miata week-end.
It is by far the best road in North America. Totally worth the trip. I'll see if I can find some of my pics.

[quadzilla]

http://www.autoblog.com/2007/08/24/tennessee-cracking-down-on-tail-of-the-dragon/

...and so the 11-mile stretch known as the Tail of the Dragon has been saturated with Tennessee Highway Patrol officers writing tickets at a hand-cramping rate. The situation has gotten so bad, US 129 is now being called Tennessee's newest toll road. The Tail of the Dragon website is keeping a running list of tickets that have been issued and why, and the reasons are rather ridiculous. Cars and motorcycles are being ticketed for literally just touching the double yellow line that indicates no passing allowed. Tickets for going 5 mph above the posted 30 mph limit are also supposedly common. And then there are reports of blatant harrassment, with THP officers caught tailgating drivers for miles and threatening arrest for minor violations.

I've always wondered how long this would take to happen 

[No H2O]

Hwy. 129 has more than 300 curves in its 18 kilometres and is known as the Tail of the Dragon.

Or as they advertize it, "318 curves in 11 miles". It sounds better than it actually is. Don't expect to find 318 full curves (either 90° of hairpins). They counted each steering input change from the last, a curve, which is what I thought when I read that claim. There are numerous videos one can download from the web. One long video that I had, drove the entire length of the Dragon.

The Tail of the Dragon website is keeping a running list of tickets that have been issued and why, and the reasons are rather ridiculous. Cars and motorcycles are being ticketed for literally just touching the double yellow line that indicates no passing allowed. Tickets for going 5 mph above the posted 30 mph limit are also supposedly common.

They're complaining? Hardly a surprise that this has happened when it is used as a race course by the minority who as always, screw it up for the majority.

A lot of motorcyclists and I'm sure four-wheeled enthusiasts are staying away from that stretch due to oncoming vehicles drifting into their lane, just to name one of the hazards.

Personally, I'd sooner take to the mountains in the Alps where the roads are far more challenging, the views certainly better (above the tree line) and where there is no enforcement of any kind. You drive with the head on your shoulders as compared to the head between your legs, or you pay the price.

[No H2O]

http://www.tailofthedragon.com

Having seen some of those "crossing on the yellow line" pics on that link, I don't know what the big deal is if you have a clear enough view.

In the mountains of Northern Italy thats common practice for any vehicle. When you come across someone and you're in their lane, you just adjust your line accordingly. Big deal! If you didn't, you'd be going throught tires and brake pads in six months instead of nine.

Furthermore, and I would assume rules of the road are the same in North America as they should be, crossing a double yellow line isn't illegal.

[safristi]

there are some "hidden" beauty roads all ovr within 60K of there.....no NOTERIETY..means all to yerself alone.... ..I ain't squealing....... let us say.Millie and I had FUN...just wish I had ,had my Transalp along...on second thoughts..i'd still be there..living in a sweet cabin with ma dog named BLUE and a still inna woods..with Domino Pizza in 30 minutes...... ...cor I coulda been a CONTENDER VITELLS Travel Writer.............

[dr_spock]

Crossing a double yellow line is illegal in most places except Ontario. 

[safristi]

..crossing a DRAGON's Tail....is just once upon a time..............

[barrie1]

Since when is crossing a double yellow line legal in Ont as I have never seen it allowed anywhere unless the vehicle has no choice because of the size of it which then is somewhat understandable. I suspect most OPP in Ont or even the City Police would allow for something like that as it can't be helped. Common sence has to be used to give a ticket as the judge would probably throw it out otherwise.

[The Mighty Duck]

There was an article about the same road in our paper not long ago.  The writer drove it in a Boxster, as I recall, and didn't think much of it.    But he also said it would be an awesome road on a bike, which is very popular.  Me - I think it would be a blast in an S2000 or a Lotus. 

www.tailofthedragon.com/dragon_trucks.html is quite hilarious, and begs the question: why don't they just ban vehicles over a certain length from the road?  BC certainly has roads closed to vehicles over a certain weight, and from the sound of it, some of those big trucks get stuck and damage the roadway getting out.

[No H2O]

The writer drove it in a Boxster, as I recall, and didn't think much of it.    But he also said it would be an awesome road on a bike, which is very popular.

I downloaded a full length on-bike video of the Dragon. OK, so it isn't the the same as being there, but from what I saw, I wasn't all that impressed either. Its too wooded and doesn't offer that many views.

I guess it all depends what you're comparing it to and what you're used to.

[safristi]

It's the "PRIUS" of the SMOKIES....imho..............all the Hollywood set...wanna ride there..............maybe 0.005% of the roads available in the fab area.......

[turbodiesel]

I dare say: drifters... rejoice! No need go to Akina or whatever hill that is famous for drifting in Japan...

[The Fuzz]

As much as I hate to see enforcement like this, I also think that the website's owner seems to think he is God's Gift to the World and can do no wrong. It's almost like he thinks he owns the road and can do what he pleases on it.

Let's face it...Any road that gets that much publicity for being fun to drive is going to attract a lot of, uh, enthusiastic drivers. Along with those drivers, you get Ma and Pa complaining about them. You get accidents. You get near misses. That leads to crackdowns. And whether Mr. I-Own-The-Dragon's-Tail likes it or not, going 40mph in a 30mph is against the law. Just because we don't like it, doesn't make it ok to break it. 

[daft]

The writer drove it in a Boxster, as I recall, and didn't think much of it.    But he also said it would be an awesome road on a bike, which is very popular.

I downloaded a full length on-bike video of the Dragon. OK, so it isn't the the same as being there, but from what I saw, I wasn't all that impressed either. Its too wooded and doesn't offer that many views.

I guess it all depends what you're comparing it to and what you're used to.

I cannot fathom any "enthusiast" who would not be impressed by the Dragon...
I've driven some of the best roads in the Alps. As good as those roads were, Deal's Gap is different, and in many ways much more of a technical challenge.
You have to drive it to believe it I guess. Those videos show nothing of the intricacies involved in driving at a "sporting" speed. Off-camber turns, on-camber turns, compressions right before a switch-back, etc...

And the biggest problem on the Gap are the camper vans and trucks that cannot make the turns, and even worse are the "cruisers/Harleys/Goldwings"  motorcycles that can't make the turns without going into the other lanes or dragging their pegs at anything over 40km/h...

[ovr50]

Tail of the Dragon is on my list of things to do. Preferably in the early Spring or late Fall to avoid some of the congestion.

[No H2O]

I've driven some of the best roads in the Alps. As good as those roads were, Deal's Gap is different, and in many ways much more of a technical challenge.

So have I for the last thirteen years. What roads specifically did you not find as technically challenging? The scenery certainly cannot be beat.

[DockMan]

That would be alot of fun. I can't really see being able to enjoy it with the blind corners and possibilities of a large truck looming, eating both lanes.

[daft]

I've driven some of the best roads in the Alps. As good as those roads were, Deal's Gap is different, and in many ways much more of a technical challenge.

So have I for the last thirteen years. What roads specifically did you not find as technically challenging? The scenery certainly cannot be beat.

Obviously the scenery cannot be beat.
The last time I drove the Alps I did some of the roads around Grenoble like Col du Rousset and some of the roads outside La Mure. They are challenging for sure, but I found the Gap more so partially because how tight it is and the fact that the entire loop is turn after turn. Non-stop. No straight 500m stretches to the next switchback.
It's more of an AutoX course than a race course.

I am sure there are a crapload of crazy roads in other parts of the Alps. Just my opinion.