I had the opportunity to have a long discussion with the people at the Fontana Gas. Their prices are high, because of the surcharge the supplier places on each load to their location. Suicide jockies will only run single axle gas trucks there with reduced loads because of - get this - the twisty roads! So, they pay more, we pay more and it's all because they won't straighten out those roads.

Anyway, they pretty much have a monopoly, and take advantage of it -

IT'S HOW THEY MAKE A LIVING!

Also, I know I wouldn't want to navigate those roads with 40 bushel of gas on an 18 wheeler, particularly with some of the line crossing that I would have to do to make a turn, all the while hoping that some jerk on a bike/car wasn't minding his own side of the road. For my part - availability of gas at any price that close to Dragon is nice. No complaints from me.

 

Gremlin X - $0.28/ gallon - I must be even older

 

^ You are way

 

Well said.


Kinda puts it in perspective.

 

So then what is so different about getting gas to Deal's Gap?

 

We all have to appreciate the 'heritage' of The Tail of The Dragon. Thirty years ago...129 was simply a road to get folks from one place to another. People didn't SPORT on roads per se. Disposable income didn't fashionably enter middle-America to the point folks were clogging by-ways with sports cars. Cripes...just look in this thread. Us "old" folks represent those that were driving Dodge Shadows...and AMC Gremlins . BUT...folks with 'a little' disposable income started buying toys they COULD afford with their middle-income paycheck...motorcycles. And soon enough...way back then...folks started sharing this piece of road with other motorcycle enthusiasts. Remember...this kind of information was pre-WWW (Internet). So this was 'a diamond in the rough'...a mecca for the soul that wants to have fun on a limited income. You get the [historical] idea ...

So Deal's Gap 'bloomed' from those first motorcycle enthusiasts. And it catered to them 100%...because it was the bikers that were making Deal's Gap a decent living. While cars are enjoying it more and more...and more...and more ...Deal's Gap always respects the bikers first and foremost. Its not that they shun car enthusiasts. Rather its just that you can cater to a BUNCH of motorcycles' 2-5 gallon fuel tanks before filling 80 12-gallon fuel tanks. Plus, as owners of larger rolling fuel tanks, we should be obliged to drive further to fuel up...because we *do* end up with a schload more fuel to last that much longer.

Anyway, that's my rationale (somewhere in there ). Its just about respecting the heritage as well as the literal limitations of how much fuel a bike can 'stow' vs. a car.

- Dave

 

I laughed, I cried.

 

Gas was 3.44 but it just went up 20 cents in Robbinsville.

-Jim

 

bout that here in Ky

 

The vehicle you take it in!

No 18 wheeler makes that trip - single axel 33,000 GVW trucks. High operating cost vs low load cap. Fuel weighs about 6 lb per gallon.
Small fuel loads plus high operating cost = higher fuel cost.

Plus there is the law of supply and demand. The road that we love to drive is the reason for high demand and low availablity.

I would be very suprized to see high test lower than $4.00/gallon. You pay to play!