Tail Of The Dragon
- Thread starter Ralphy
- Start date
denpo
Carburated Nihilist
Nice vid.
That strangely reminds me myself this evening, doing Boulder to Grover in Utah at 70/80 mph. That was happens when you spent your youth deep in the Alps.
The poor Rav4 was begging for mercy :huh:
That strangely reminds me myself this evening, doing Boulder to Grover in Utah at 70/80 mph. That was happens when you spent your youth deep in the Alps.
The poor Rav4 was begging for mercy :huh:
mrvette
Phantom of the Opera
About 5 years ago, Linda wanted to take a Fall Foliage tour, since being a Florida gal, we just don't get the seasonal changes and variety of tree growth, most all oak and pine down here on the sand bar....so we drove up to Ashville NC, stayed overnight, and were heading up the western side of the mountains to the Blue Ridge parkway, trying to head north along the mountain tops toward Virginia to pick up the Skyline drive.....
Well due to some confusion at the BR Pkwy sign we miss the turn and headed down east side of the mountain, it turned out to be one of them like in the video up top, I had to downshift the Escort, and was riding the brakes so hard it wasn't funny, smell the burning, and finally hit a gravel turn off spot, so we could actually stop and let the brakes cool down, turn around and head uphill again, that damn road was a death trap trip if I ever seen one.....would have been fun going uphill in the vette though....
So we saw all the fall colors, including one passing roadside shot of a maple in full RED bloom, red as the banners here, huge tree too, great vista views of the valley and farms....fun seeing old friends up in DC too....
on the way back on I95 just south of Savannah Ga. we missed getting killed by me just happening to glance in the mirror to spot a stupid white pickup with a sashaying concrete mixer trailer totally out of control, we in left lane doing an indicated 80 mph, and this guy is overtaking us and that thing hit us we be into the median strip full of trees and dead as fish, so the only thing I knew to do was FLOOR the little '99 Escort for all it was worth, Linda turned around upon my reaction, saw what was coming and went total terror mode, never seen her or anyone so scared.....so we managed to keep up until the trailer hitch broke, and the thing went tumbling and coming apart on the freeway behind us, soon as that happened all the traffic behind us went nutz all over the road trying to avoid the engine, wheels, axles, cage, and mixing tub and frame, it came totally apart.....
Crazy thing is not 3 days later, the engine on the Escort blew coming off the freeway, so new engine time...go figger...
:clobbered::bomb:
Well due to some confusion at the BR Pkwy sign we miss the turn and headed down east side of the mountain, it turned out to be one of them like in the video up top, I had to downshift the Escort, and was riding the brakes so hard it wasn't funny, smell the burning, and finally hit a gravel turn off spot, so we could actually stop and let the brakes cool down, turn around and head uphill again, that damn road was a death trap trip if I ever seen one.....would have been fun going uphill in the vette though....
So we saw all the fall colors, including one passing roadside shot of a maple in full RED bloom, red as the banners here, huge tree too, great vista views of the valley and farms....fun seeing old friends up in DC too....
on the way back on I95 just south of Savannah Ga. we missed getting killed by me just happening to glance in the mirror to spot a stupid white pickup with a sashaying concrete mixer trailer totally out of control, we in left lane doing an indicated 80 mph, and this guy is overtaking us and that thing hit us we be into the median strip full of trees and dead as fish, so the only thing I knew to do was FLOOR the little '99 Escort for all it was worth, Linda turned around upon my reaction, saw what was coming and went total terror mode, never seen her or anyone so scared.....so we managed to keep up until the trailer hitch broke, and the thing went tumbling and coming apart on the freeway behind us, soon as that happened all the traffic behind us went nutz all over the road trying to avoid the engine, wheels, axles, cage, and mixing tub and frame, it came totally apart.....
Crazy thing is not 3 days later, the engine on the Escort blew coming off the freeway, so new engine time...go figger...
:clobbered::bomb:
DeeVeeEight
Fast Pedalphile
I drove the Tail of the Dragon back in 2006 and plan on going back some day. If I remember right there are something like 311 turns (hairpins and switch backs for the most part) on the run. :mime: It took me almost 2 hours to do and it was like a roller coaster ride at your favorite amusement park. When I completed the course I considered doing it again because it was so much fun but I was exhausted from the effort.
If anyone is ever in the area, I highly recommend that you indulge yourself. It is a memorable drive.
If anyone is ever in the area, I highly recommend that you indulge yourself. It is a memorable drive.
Beagle 1
Well-known member
It is a fun road, but it is totally hyped up. We have plenty of roads in our local mountains that are just as bad. The problem is that all the hype attracts a lot of dare devil bike riders, and when they lose it, there is a good chance of major injury. I'd be willing to bet that if you compared the number of fatalities with the number of drivers/riders, it isn't nearly as dangerous as many people think.
I drove it in 08. We just picked up out new c6 at the museum and were headed back to Ca. I was actually a little disapointed. Now, don't get me wrong, the scenery was spectacular in October and the road was fun, but not scary if you didn't go crazy.The coolest part was when some fool on a super bike passed us on a corner. We were going 40/50mph and he must have been going 80. Had the bike over so far that his knee was almost dragging. Never did see him again, so I guess he made it.
I drove it in 08. We just picked up out new c6 at the museum and were headed back to Ca. I was actually a little disapointed. Now, don't get me wrong, the scenery was spectacular in October and the road was fun, but not scary if you didn't go crazy.The coolest part was when some fool on a super bike passed us on a corner. We were going 40/50mph and he must have been going 80. Had the bike over so far that his knee was almost dragging. Never did see him again, so I guess he made it.
mrvette
Phantom of the Opera
Best thing I remember about going out that way through Tenn. was looking off the side of the freeway, and there is a sign on the top of a large Barn.....
BUCKSNORT , Tenn.......
about left the road......:nuts::bump:
BUCKSNORT , Tenn.......
about left the road......:nuts::bump:
DeeVeeEight
Fast Pedalphile
OK Gene, I am sure that you have heard of Blue Bell, Pa.? It's close to Blue Ball pa., which is close to Bird in Hand Pa. and Intercourse, Pa. :surrender:
mrvette
Phantom of the Opera
:clap::clap::bump:
There IS a town named intercourse but damn if I know the state it's in....
:nuts:
JeffP1167
Well-known member
mrvette
Phantom of the Opera
NOT doubting it one bit, but that specific sign, I don't recall, but so they changed it....I remember a brown sign, not very notable, except for me almost leaving road with laughing so hard.....
:clap::clap::bump:
