I heard last year was a blast, but before I commit to making the drive from CT, I'd love some more info. I tried to look around the site but didn't have any success.

Any info appreciated!

Thanks!

 

Try this link

www.tailofthedragon.com

 

Cool. Thanks.

 

The Dragon is one heck of a drive. Its only 11 or 12 miles, but its a blast.

And then, the Saturday drive that Mack lines up is just wonderful. Not the hairpin turns, but nice turns at 80+ mph And thats the slow group!

 

So the cops don't even bother patrolling? I don't get it, if it's a road legendary for turns and balls-to-the-wall driving, why aren't the redneck police out there ticketing the heck out of the place?

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by cybercfp
[B]So the cops don't even bother patrolling?

 

Rarely do the cops actually patrol "The Dragon" itself. They patrol the roads surrounding it. There's not much use in running patrol on the actual road because A.) people go too fast for the cops to keep up. B.) there's very few places to pull over and actually setup radar C.) There's no place to turn around if they "pass you" in the other lane. Now on that long ride Mack will setup, there's danger in it. Anything outside the gap is patrolled quite heavily. Mainly 129 on the TN side just before the gap starts, and 129 on the NC side just after the dam on your way to Robinsville. Then the Cherahola is notorious for cops. The Foothills parkway is ok, but on a good note, if you get a ticket there by the ranger it's federal. They don't go on your drivers record and the fine is next to nothing. (I got one for 79 in a 45...the fine was 75 bux and it never got reported to the DMV. The park ranger told me it wouldn't. The only federal tickets that get reported to your state DMV are DUI's.)

 

From what I understand, passing on double yellow lines is something they look for. If you are on the dragon and a slow car in front won't pull off to let you by. Pull off yourself, rest a few minutes and then carry on.

The dangerous thing about the dragon is all the blind turns. They are very tight, and you never know what is going to be on the other side. 18 wheel trucks go through there from time to time and that is INSANE. I met one right after a blind turn on my first ever dragon run.

Have fun!!

 

Last year I was on my way thru the Dragon towards Robbinsville..First time on the Dragon with the Miata..and on the 3rd turn I come across this HUGE tractor trailer taking up two sides of the road..He was coming from the opposite direction and was literally across both sides and then some! I started backing up to give him room but he didn't even have the courtesy to wait a few minutes and let me get out of his way..He kept coming, was in the WRONG lane..and almost ran me off the road! I backed up as fast as I could and finally he went over to the other side. Where were the cops when you needed them?

I can't believe they don't ban those tractor trailers..They shouldn't be on that road. I've seen signs barring trucks from roads far less twisty than that one.

I agree..the speed limit isn't the problem..It's staying over the yellow line. It's scary as hell to look up and see a pick up truck bearing down on you and he's in your lane! There's no real shoulder...

No place to pass either..no real straights. I do as PhilZer suggests and just pull over and take it easy..and allow some space to build up between the slower car and me. It gets pretty aggravating though when you keep coming up on the bumper of the same car. You can't get around the locals because some of them won't move over and let you pass out of spite..although many were cool and would. When I see someone riding my bumper I move over. I could hear the sport bikes coming so I was usually over before they even came around the turns..

 

I to met an 18 wheeler on my first pass. This was about 3 miles after a hard stop for a bear.

This is what the entire road is like, except in summer, you don't have the sight distance that you have in the winter. Thanks to Phil for the picture.