0utlier

My route to SITM leads me right past tail of the dragon (abbreviated to TOTD here on out / http://www.tailofthedragon.com). I know some guys met up last year to do TOTD and was wondering who was planning on doing it this year, and when.

I am going to SITM with my brother who is on the dark side (911) and he is dying to do the TOTD. I was about to make reservations at Banner Elk Best Western for Thursday, Friday, Saturday. This would mean doing TOTD Thursday afternoon and then afterward driving the 4 hours (according to mapquest) to Banner Elk from TOTD. Is this what you other TOTD runners are going to do? If at all possible, it would be nice for the TOTD guys to try and meet up there.

I'm just trying to get a feel for what's going on with TOTD, and if Thursday is the day you plan on doing TOTD.

AO

We met up in Alcoa, TN last year on Thursday night and then drove the Dragon on Friday. We ended up with about 10-12 cars IIRC and while it was a lot of fun, I think smaller groups would be better off as different people have different driving abilities and there only one or two places where that many cars can pull over.

It took us about 6 hours to get to Banner Elk after the Dragon but that was because we got caught in a torrential downpour that made it tough going. I think 4 hours is about right.

I'm not sure Iamb going to do the Dragon this year. If I do, I think I'll try to arrange to do it with a smaller group (3-5 cars max) or possible stage the the starts if with a larger group.

I did make a reservation for Thursday night at Banner Elk should I decide to skip the Dragon, but chances are I'll probably cancel Thursday night and hit the Dragon again.

FYI... many people die on the dragon every year (mostly motorcyclists). Some of the turns are almost tighter than than turning radius of the car. And 11 miles of twisties begins to lose it's fun after about 8 miles - well that's when the nausea started for me.

928drvr86.5

I'm planning on doing this. As for the fatalities, the Tail of the Dragon website claims it is mostly myth, and the dragon actually only claims 2 lives a year on avg. I suspect there are far more accidents just shy of fatal though. Anyway, i am not looking to get crazy, just want to say i've been on it. I would be content to just half-assed cruise it.

AO

Last year, 2 cyclists died the weekend prior to us running it. There are many blind curves and if you're dumb enough to cross the centerline, you could easily die.

928drvr86.5

I Don't wanna die in a automobile, i wanna lie in an open field.

John Krawczyk

I'm there. 928 one day for sure. Ducati on another if I endup taking the whole week off and bring down the Father in Law and his motorhome.

Scott M.

Conditioning my boy, conditioning. Or do you need me to show you how to drive that GT of yours?

Jim M.

I did it last year and enjoyed it. It wasn't anything that brought on nausea (good conditioning I guess). Would like to do it again with the same plan as last year. Meet in Alcoa, TN on friday morning and hit the road. I'll be with the Texas possee, so we'll need a consenus of the group, but I'm betting most will be up for it.

Jim Mayzurk
93 GTS 5-wpd

AO

One thing I think we should do differently is to stagger the starts, say one car every 2 minutes. That should hopefully prevent the bunching up that occurred last year.

Ispeed

Is totd further south than SITM????

John Krawczyk

Yes it is. A couple hours south-west

928drvr86.5

Huh? It's North-West of SITM, Knoxville area.

John Krawczyk

Take a look. Im pretty sure this is a southerly direction out of Banner Elk. Then It heads west.

Banner Elk to Deals Gap/Fontana

AO

Does it really matter? You start pretty much due-west of Banner Elk, and end up SW. It's worth it for sure!

928drvr86.5

I stand corrected, I thought the knoxville area was more North.