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Started By
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Anyone ever drive the Tail of the Dragon ?
Posted on 6/13/22 at 5:36 pm
Posted on 6/13/22 at 5:36 pm
Any Porsche guys or cycle riders ever make the trip ? Headed there next month. Any tips & other roads in the area would be appreciated.
33
Posted on 6/13/22 at 5:40 pm to tigernnola
Two of my brothers did on their big Harleys and they won’t ever do it again. 
Posted on 6/13/22 at 5:42 pm to tigernnola
I never have been, but have friends that made the pilgrimage. They have been several times. This last trip was hit or miss in that it's so poular it's congested and you really can't row through the gears and get up to speed in more than one gear before letting off for traffic.
This post was edited on 6/13/22 at 5:44 pm
Posted on 6/13/22 at 5:43 pm to tigernnola
quote:
Anyone ever drive the Tail of the Dragon ?
no, but I've spent a lot of time chasing the dragon
Posted on 6/13/22 at 5:45 pm to tigernnola
Yep, drug floor boards on a Softail Classic 318 times in 11 miles 4 years ago. See my handle.
My bud and I went in the late spring before all the vacationers had gotten there. Cops were out in 3 or 4 places to keep the speed down or call the ambulances whichever applied.
My bud and I went in the late spring before all the vacationers had gotten there. Cops were out in 3 or 4 places to keep the speed down or call the ambulances whichever applied.
This post was edited on 6/13/22 at 5:49 pm
Posted on 6/13/22 at 5:46 pm to tigernnola
quote:
Any tips & other roads in the area would be appreciated.
I've been to Minis on the Dragon about 5 times. Hellbender, Cherohala Skyway, The Devil's Triangle, Blue Ridge Parkway. Love all the roads out there.
This post was edited on 6/13/22 at 5:49 pm
Posted on 6/13/22 at 5:48 pm to tigernnola
Unknowingly I did this hauling a camper from Almond, NC to the other side of the Smokies. I'm quite prone to car sickness, but had never experienced it as a driver.
I had to pull over and tap a nauseated nap. I was sweating beads and ill feeling. Never again. I know where that road is now.
I had to pull over and tap a nauseated nap. I was sweating beads and ill feeling. Never again. I know where that road is now.
Posted on 6/13/22 at 5:52 pm to Tiger in Gatorland
quote:
Unknowingly I did this hauling a camper from Almond, NC to the other side of the Smokies. I'm quite prone to car sickness, but had never experienced it as a driver. I had to pull over and tap a nauseated nap. I was sweating beads and ill feeling. Never again. I know where that road is now.
318 curves in 11 miles. A bad idea for campers and especially for truckers.
This post was edited on 6/13/22 at 5:55 pm
Posted on 6/13/22 at 5:54 pm to tigernnola
quote:
Any Porsche guys or cycle riders ever make the trip ? Headed there next month. Any tips & other roads in the area would be appreciated.
I have probably made the run 100 or so times. The best times are before 10 on weekdays. Don't overdrive your talent and make at least one scouting drive before any more spirited attempts. There are some nasty off-camber turns that will catch you out. Stay in your lane and use gearing instead of brakes as often as possible. Watch your review and use the turnouts if there is faster traffic behind you.
There is more traffic than there was 20+ years ago some days it is fun and others it is like a parade.
Posted on 6/13/22 at 5:56 pm to Obtuse1
quote:
There is more traffic than there was 20+ years ago some days it is fun and others it is like a parade.
Usually the parade is followed by the panoramic photoshoot at Fontana Village.
Posted on 6/13/22 at 6:03 pm to Saint Alfonzo
I had no idea what the hell the thread title meant or what this was about until I looked it up.
Yes, I've done that drive many many times. We camp at Elkmont every single year and I've been and done pretty much all there is to see and so within the park on either side of the state line. I had not heard of that stretch being called Tail of the Dragon. I always thought of it simply as a shitty stretch of road to drive.
Hell I-40 between Knoxville and Asheville isn't much better considering it's actually an interstate.
Beautiful area. Shitty driving.
Yes, I've done that drive many many times. We camp at Elkmont every single year and I've been and done pretty much all there is to see and so within the park on either side of the state line. I had not heard of that stretch being called Tail of the Dragon. I always thought of it simply as a shitty stretch of road to drive.
Hell I-40 between Knoxville and Asheville isn't much better considering it's actually an interstate.
Beautiful area. Shitty driving.
Posted on 6/13/22 at 6:04 pm to tigernnola
I live a couple of miles away. Please don't do that. They scrape people off the road every damn weekend when the weather is nice.
Posted on 6/13/22 at 6:24 pm to tigernnola
I've driven it a few times. Nothing like it when the fall colors are in full force.
Posted on 6/13/22 at 6:29 pm to LSUgusto
I did it once in my Tundra. Had no idea what it was. I wouldn't recommend doing it in a Tundra.
A friend of mine went through there in his Porsche. He thought the car was just too powerful for those kinds of turns.
A friend of mine went through there in his Porsche. He thought the car was just too powerful for those kinds of turns.
Posted on 6/13/22 at 6:31 pm to tigernnola
I've done it in a vehicle, but never on a bike. I was supposed to ride it years back, but the trip fell through.
Posted on 6/13/22 at 6:32 pm to tigernnola
Once, and don't plan to again. My kid threw up twice on the way to the restaurant we were going to before a hike. I almost got sick and am not prone to car sickness. My husband thought it was fun as shite.
I swore we were gonna die.
I was terrified of every motor cycle we saw.
For someone who lives right in the area I freaking hate the roads. We drove to Waynesville, NC a few weekends ago (in between Knoxville and Asheville) and then did the Blue Ridge Parkway. That put my anxiety in full on attack mode, but it had nothing in the Tail.
I swore we were gonna die.
I was terrified of every motor cycle we saw.
For someone who lives right in the area I freaking hate the roads. We drove to Waynesville, NC a few weekends ago (in between Knoxville and Asheville) and then did the Blue Ridge Parkway. That put my anxiety in full on attack mode, but it had nothing in the Tail.
Posted on 6/13/22 at 6:32 pm to tigernnola
I have been quite a few times, probably driven it over 100 times.
Go early morning and just after the cops leave in the evenings. It is better during the week but you can get decent runs in on the weekend if you go early or late.
There are tons of other good roads but some of the less traveled ones have gravel or sand on the road. My only close call was losing grip on all 4 wheels hitting a patch of gravel in a curve but I have seen guys go over the edge. They really don't go far, just hit a tree, but dang if it isn't a far fall after that tree!
Please for the love of all things STAY IN YOUR LANE. It never fails someone drives the tail like they have both lanes.
Go early morning and just after the cops leave in the evenings. It is better during the week but you can get decent runs in on the weekend if you go early or late.
There are tons of other good roads but some of the less traveled ones have gravel or sand on the road. My only close call was losing grip on all 4 wheels hitting a patch of gravel in a curve but I have seen guys go over the edge. They really don't go far, just hit a tree, but dang if it isn't a far fall after that tree!
Please for the love of all things STAY IN YOUR LANE. It never fails someone drives the tail like they have both lanes.
Posted on 6/13/22 at 6:34 pm to UKWildcats
quote:
Hell I-40 between Knoxville and Asheville isn't much better considering it's actually an interstate.
I enjoyed that drive
Posted on 6/13/22 at 6:38 pm to rich4pres
We have chosen midweek not-tourist time when we've driven it by car. Even on lower traffic times, we see a driver or three who don't seem to be in control of their two wheelers (and sometimes three wheelers).
I-40 has just reopened through the Smokeys after they rebuilt the latest part of the road on the NC side to collapse and have a really nasty by pass.
Cherohala Skyway just isn't appreciated enough; maybe that's a good thing.
Over in NC the roads going to Lake Lure have scenery like Yosemite with exfoliating granite domes.
I-26 north from Asheville is a more recently built interstate and is simply magnificent.
I-40 has just reopened through the Smokeys after they rebuilt the latest part of the road on the NC side to collapse and have a really nasty by pass.
Cherohala Skyway just isn't appreciated enough; maybe that's a good thing.
Over in NC the roads going to Lake Lure have scenery like Yosemite with exfoliating granite domes.
I-26 north from Asheville is a more recently built interstate and is simply magnificent.
Posted on 6/13/22 at 6:46 pm to HoustonChick86
quote:
That put my anxiety in full on attack mode, but it had nothing in the Tail.
quote:So for you is that a good thing or a bad thing?
HoustonChick86
(Asking for a friend)
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