Gauging interest for a Tail of the Dragon run.

[Menacing_Gc8]

I know this has been gauged before. However I am working on a run this summer. I am thinking late July for the run as sort of a End of summer type of thing. I need to first know how many would be interested seriously, or think they could come up with the money for it so I can check prices for perhaps a group rate on a place to stay. This would only be a weekend thing starting on Thursday or Friday and we would return home on Sunday. Your cars would need to be in great condition as this is a 12 hour drive there , and back plus the mileage on the dragon. If you cant bring your car, you may ride with someone else. I will inform of more details once I find out the interest level, and a few prices to give an idea of how much one should expect to pay. Anyone with prior Dragon experience is welcome to help plan and encouraged to help with locations, maps and basically be the group leader (s). please email or PM me about that. Anyone else who is only interested please vote and state if you honestly think you could do this financially and physically.

[Got Insulin?]

**** yes.

[R_Rambo]

hell yes, cant say 100% because of work though

[Menacing_Gc8]

thats what the maybe is for.

[R_Rambo]

woops didnt realize there was a poll. ok voted

[djb5118]

I looked into this when I was doing my road trip through the midwest and south during spring break. From what I could find, the road is completely covered with cops and tourists now, so much so that it's not even enjoyable. You may want to check out the website to see what's going on before you book a trip.

Just my 2cents

[Menacing_Gc8]

ALready have and Fully intend on adding us to their calendar. I dont plan on having us do anything that would tarnish our reputation or possibly prevent future trips like this. Basically Douchebaggery and stupidity will result in you being forbidden to attend events like this in the future.

I am looking into renting out a cabin or house (which is far cheaper than a hotel in terms of what each person would be paying. ) And I think i may have this cost down to $300 Per person for the weekend. you would keep all money except the weekend fee for staying in the place. The remainder would be for your own needs pretty much. The places I am looking at would give the group Privacy and allows for ample parking. Any input is welcome.

[cyron]

Originally Posted by djb5118

I looked into this when I was doing my road trip through the midwest and south during spring break. From what I could find, the road is completely covered with cops and tourists now, so much so that it's not even enjoyable. You may want to check out the website to see what's going on before you book a trip.

Just my 2cents

It really depends on what you want out of it...
The dragon itself is not a play ground. You'll hurt someone or your car if you think it is. Stay away from it on the weekends unless you just want to check out bikes & cars. The Cherohala Skyway is where it's at... 40 miles of sweepers... You can really get some speed going (atleast on a bike), it's a national forest, so there are only pull offs, and a couple roads.
Since tourists don't show up till the weekend it's pretty clear during the week. Rt72 would seem like the perfect place to go wfo, but I've heard cops patrol it pretty heavily (I've personally never seen one)
The foothills parkway is a nice leasure ride...
Townsend is a good area to stay in, it gets you close to the Dragon, and Pigeon Forge is close by, so plenty of night life.

The group I go with stays at Tree Tops http://www.thetreetops.com/ right before the Cherohala Skyway and minutes from the Dragon. It books up fast since right after the Car & Motorcycle season ends the birdwatching / photography season starts. It's a great place to stay if you want to hang with friends, grill, and have beer. Not much night life around.

It's a fun trip, if you haven't been I urge you to go.

[CHAOS]

no way in hell id go with the tst crowd.

[2drStunner]

I would love to go! My vote is yes!

[poisonivory]

i'm gonna be the nerdy member and say....if you guys/gals do this, please be careful!!!! I know a number of people/groups that also try to do this annually. Everyone wants to run the dragon, and loving twisty roads and/or thinking you are a skilled driver are all well and good. However, I have known a number of people who have gotten in over their head so to speak, and gone of the road into ditches and what not. Luckily no one was ever seriously hurt (but some vehicles were..lol), but if you think you are just going to blaze through the dragon, it could cost you. Have fun but be VERY safe.

that is all.

[012.5RS]

id like to go, but im with cyron and chaos. the dragons tail is NO JOKE. They have sooo many fatal crashes there. And with some of the people we have on here(not the majority) i wouldnt want to take myself, my car or my gf. I'd love to go for a cruise, but would be afraid it would turn into a rally.

[newtread4once]

then just resist speeding up when joe bagodonuts comes up in oncoming traffic trying to race you know. ive been interested in checking this out for a long while but id need like 3 months to be sure i got good tires enough for gas and a place to stay. im putting yes for the trip aslong as no one tries to side swipe me like the sunday boulavard meet. heck lowered s13<ford exploder who do you think wouldve won for turning left when im not trying to go left. that f**%nut

[Evolved]

I've done this before and stayed in a cabin. It was only $30 a man I believe, we had around 10 people with us. The roads around the dragon are more fun than the dragon it's self.

[Menacing_Gc8]

I can see the concern here on the speeding. Which is why I am NOT allowing speeding. it is far too dangerous and with the majority of us being new to it , I wouldn't want to see anyone hurt. I figured the plan would be the dragon and some other roads one day ( since the dragon itself is only 11 miles long ) and the next day would be different roads. All would be driven at speedlimit. this is not and in no way will be a race. It will simply be a cruise and an opportunity for some breath taking views, fun, and perhaps even a great photo opp for the photography guys.

Evolved, I was looking into the cabin thing. It offers ample parking and privacy ( so being loud as larger groups tend to do ) wouldnt be an issue. and its more cost effective than hotel/hotel rooms. I could use some experienced help with the planning aspect of this if you are interested maybe you could help?

[Evolved]

Originally Posted by Menacing_Gc8

I can see the concern here on the speeding. Which is why I am NOT allowing speeding. it is far too dangerous and with the majority of us being new to it , I wouldn't want to see anyone hurt. I figured the plan would be the dragon and some other roads one day ( since the dragon itself is only 11 miles long ) and the next day would be different roads. All would be driven at speedlimit. this is not and in no way will be a race. It will simply be a cruise and an opportunity for some breath taking views, fun, and perhaps even a great photo opp for the photography guys.

Evolved, I was looking into the cabin thing. It offers ample parking and privacy ( so being loud as larger groups tend to do ) wouldnt be an issue. and its more cost effective than hotel/hotel rooms. I could use some experienced help with the planning aspect of this if you are interested maybe you could help?

I didn't have anything to do with the planning but I'll contact the person that did and get the name of the cabin we stayed in.

[Menacing_Gc8]

ok thanks!

[captainhook]

Oddly enough, I mentioned the dragon to a coworker over lunch and he road it just 2 weeks ago on his sportbike. He tried to ride it on Saturday, but the traffic was apparently so insane it wasn't any fun at all. He told me to go during the week or not waste the gas at all. :/

[terrorcel]

Hell no. Way too many cops there now. And if theres no "douchebaggery" what the hell is the point of traveling all that way to just cruise the speedlimit? Theres no joy in twisties if you're going 25.

[DPancoast]

I said maybe. The MR2 guys do this annually. I'd love to go but it really depends
On the cost in the end, but I should be ok because I'll
Be working more hours by then.