^ yea that is the main problem. well also ur basically wasting a whole day in driving there and back . i want to tear up the dragon for three days this year instead or two

 

not too many other people (if any) are going to fly up, rent a car and meet you at Fontana. Anyone going solo probably already has lodging worked out.

I would jump on the main dragon threads and start plugging heavy for a roomie there. you are going to need to find somebody going up solo that does not already have a room or someone riding bitch (for lack of a better term) that does not have a room.

Good luck...like I said, not too many other eople are going to be in the same boat as you as far as plans go....

IMHO it sounds very convoluted for you to go to the dragon as far as travel is concerned. Are you locked into attending?

the prospect of doing it in a rental is 1. a waste of time (to me) and 2. possibly dangerous since your car will most likely be bone stock and one you have little or no experience in driving the dragon in.

People very experienced in their S's take it down the side of the mountain every year...now imagine you in a stock 350 or any other car trying to figure it all out while up there = dangerous to me

Just my .02 if I could not drive my car up there...I would sit it out...

sounds expensive and a hassle, the way you are describing the trip....

 

i understand your concern. however, i did the dragon last year and it was a blast. not as scary as some put it out to be. but definitely dangerous if u are not careful. the only thing that concerns me about a rental is if it up to snuff, maintainence wise. like brakes, fluids, tires, etc. but def guna get rental insurance.
u can enjoy ur vacation a little more with an hour and a half flight and a 3 hour drive or sit in a car for 12 hours driving up there from tampa. plus if my car takes a crap on the way up or way back i am screwed and have to take it to a local shop to have it fixed and waste vacation time. but i see ur point too.
thanks

 

FWIW, years ago I did a race weekend at IRP in Indy (SCCA Club Ford) and flew up from Fort Lauderdale.

We used the rental cars to do track inspections and to learn the line etc. You can't appreciate the brakes on the S (or a Club Ford) until you drive a DD non performance car hard on a track stc.

At the end of 3 days we had cooked the brakes on one of the rental cars and had to use the hand brake and really pump the up the brakes to get it to stop. Finally got it back to the rental car drop and told them it had major brake failure

The pads were gone and the rotor were groved and squeling like crazy LMAO when I think about it now but very dangerous.

 

^ i agree very dangerous. i am a fairly cautious driver on the dragon. i still go fast but u have to compensate for the lack of performance that rental cars offer. im up there to have a good time tho so not really guna push it around the corners.

BTT any one looking for a roomate?????? lol

 

What's the point of going to the Dragon if your going to be limiting yourself on how you drive it because your compensating for the lack of performance that the rental cars offers?

I agree with the others that driving the dragon with a car that you are unfamiliar with could possibly be very dangerous.


.02

 

Hey Chris.....sincerely hope you can live with my comments on this situation.

The Dragon is without doubt, the greatest driving experience that you street-legally can enjoy; regardless of the vehicle. The fact that you own a S2K is only icing to the cake. Add to that the joy of driving up with a cluster of fellow S2K'ers is just pure foreplay as we "cruise", "fellowship" and "trash-talk" the entire weekend together.

If you recognize this, then all the power to you, no matter what the vehicle. It has always been about the people, not the car.

But, traveling the roads with a rental vehicle is a not only a matter of your personal safety, but.....ours as well. For the record, I am not comfortable with you trying to push the snot out of a vehicle that is not yours personally. It may show a lack of maturity or respect for what you may think are your driving skills. When you bring your car up here, you at the very least know all of the nuance's of the vehicle, even if it is not up to personal standards. When you rent, you get what the last $10.95 an hour wanna-be-techician gave you to deal with.

Just be careful and do not take any personal offense if others do not hit the streets with you. Just be safe to drive another day.

 

thanks for the words of concern guys but safety is mostly on the driver and how the driver handles the car. i know that most rentals are crap. i agree that it will be a new car to me and i have no intentions of overduing it. just guna have fun with it.

Back to topic por favor. I am still in need of a roommate.
PM me if you are interested.

 

i just took a rented maxima all the way up to asheville, nc and back! it did a wonderful job and was surprisingly fun and competent in the mountain twisties. however, even with it's hp advantage over my old modified tsx (which i took to the dragon 3 times) the nissan couldn't hold a candle to it because the suspension is too soft.

rent a sports car and enjoy

 

I've done the rental thing around more than a few twisties (don't ever buy a used rental ). It's not that big a deal. On the road we shouldn't be driving more than about 7 or 8/10's in any car. Race tracks or autocrosses are where we can find out what 10/10's is like.

As for the roomate request, I may be interested. How many people does the cabin sleep? I'm asking because I'm hoping to come with a +1.