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Tail of the Dragon

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Mickey Richaud

Mickey Richaud

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Just learned that the Discovery Channel is doing a program on the Dragon tonight at 9:00 EST.
 
Now that's

must+see+tv+detail.jpg
 
Thanks for the tip Mickey. We're planning an old fashioned road trip vacation this fall (minimal to no interstate miles) and thought "The Tail" should be part of it.
 
Mickey Richaud said:
Just learned that the Discovery Channel is doing a program on the Dragon tonight at 9:00 EST.
Click to expand...

This is why I hate TV. Nothing is special anymore. Everything is common knowledge. Watch the accident rate there skyrocket.
 
The accident rate is already pretty high. It'll just get higher.

There are other roads in the area that are as good or better, they just don't have the "aura" of TTOTD.
 
Hmmm - With these reviews am not getting a very good picture here. Maybe I'll just stick to Route 6 up here and forget about it. Had also thought about touring the BMW plant - is it too a bust?
 
Jay -

The Dragon is a great drive. Problem is that there are too many people on it who are only seeking thrills, and put everyone else in harm's way.

Best bet is middle of the week when it's not quite as crowded. Even then, there are trucks who also use the highway. Not a place to try out the new supercharger or suspension tweaks!

The best part of the area is the surrounding terrain. Lots of great scenery to take in. The Smoky Mountains Parkway is just one attraction:

https://thegreatsmokeymountainsparkway.com/

Come on down!
 
Mickey Richaud said:
Jay -

The Dragon is a great drive. Problem is that there are too many people on it who are only seeking thrills, and put everyone else in harm's way.

Best bet is middle of the week when it's not quite as crowded. Even then, there are trucks who also use the highway. Not a place to try out the new supercharger or suspension tweaks!

The best part of the area is the surrounding terrain. Lots of great scenery to take in. The Smoky Mountains Parkway is just one attraction:

https://thegreatsmokeymountainsparkway.com/

Come on down!
Click to expand...

Oh - and click on the "Back Roads" tab on that website for more!
 
Ok - I will bite. What is the DC program?


m
 
3798j said:
Hmmm - With these reviews am not getting a very good picture here. Maybe I'll just stick to Route 6 up here and forget about it. Had also thought about touring the BMW plant - is it too a bust?
Click to expand...

Come on down. It's worth it even if just to say you drove it. I'm waiting for my Spitfire to get a little more reliable and I'm going to drive it. Just try to do it when its off-peak.

I haven't made the BMW tour, but heard its worth it. I was offered a job there many eayrsa go and wanted to take the tour first. But wouldn't let me and at that time the tours were booked up for months.
 
Drove the dragon and have the T-shirt to prove it... I was not very impressed. In my opinion better driving roads are in the South Carolina upstate and western North Carolina mountains. Did like the tree of shame with all of the mangled motorcycle bits attached... Several photos of my TR6 were on Killroy.com for a time. I understand now several others have joined taking photos of drivers on the dragon. Selling Dragon photos of you driving must be a big money-maker... I was content simply viewing the photos on-line however.

The BMW tour is great but you have to be with a group and scheduled with BMW. If you are not in a group the Zentrum has a 3D movie available that is excellent. Last year at EuroFest you could tour the BMW plant on Friday morning for a small donation to the Red Cross. Drive your LBC to the Greenville / Spartanburg area the 3rd week of October. Usually between 400 - 500 European autos on display.
 
Hopefully they wont ever do one on the angeles crest highway as enough people get choppered off the mountain every weekend.

Found at newcombs
 

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big6 said:
Drove the dragon and have the T-shirt to prove it... I was not very impressed. In my opinion better driving roads are in the South Carolina upstate and western North Carolina mountains. .
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For those of us who live in the "Land of the One-Square Mile Grid Plan:, we appreciate the opportunity to actually turn the steering wheel more than one time per mile.

I've driven the Dragon several times since my virgin trek on it during BritishV8 2003 in townsend, TN

I agree, there are equally fun/challenging roads located throughout the Smokies, and other parts of North America.....but for us Flatlanders, the Dragon gives us a chance to "stretch the suspension" on our cars in a way we don't usually get to do.
 

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rick_ingram said:
big6 said:
Drove the dragon and have the T-shirt to prove it... I was not very impressed. In my opinion better driving roads are in the South Carolina upstate and western North Carolina mountains. .
Click to expand...

For those of us who live in the "Land of the One-Square Mile Grid Plan:, we appreciate the opportunity to actually turn the steering wheel more than one time per mile.
Click to expand...

But when your in the land of the square grid your tires last much much longer. When I had my 73 in the plains the tires looked new after 15k miles. The exact same wheel and tire combo on my 75 are about spent after 9k miles and less than a year.
 
Stewart said:
But when your in the land of the square grid your tires last much much longer. When I had my 73 in the plains the tires looked new after 15k miles. The exact same wheel and tire combo on my 75 are about spent after 9k miles and less than a year.
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Budget that expense in as a cost of having fun.
 
Stewart said:
Hopefully they wont ever do one on the angeles crest highway as enough people get choppered off the mountain every weekend.

Found at newcombs
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ITs that or getting shot at, by ex husbands.
 
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