Fall Run on the Dragon TN/NC

John Hallstrand and I are organzing a fall attack on the Tail of the Dragon for Saturday, October 13. The Tail of the Dragon is infamous, having 318 turns over only 11 miles. Much detail can be learned at www.tailofthedragon.com.

Please state your interest for this fun day. As it is a non home weekend for University of Tennessee football, there should be ample places to stay in the Knoxville, TN / Robbinsville, NC, Great Smoky Mountains area.

As soon as we get feedback on how many can attend, we will establish a meeting place, lunch options, and side tours, like the Wheels Through Time museum in Maggie Valley, NC.

We hope you can make it.

Tom Raymond

Shoot, I hope that is not the same weekend that I am in a wedding in DC... otherwise I am all in.

Put me down. So far I have no conflict, and I'll do my best to keep it that way.

I know that Gordon Nichols was planning something there for his buddies in Beaufort about the same time. Gordon, what about getting together with these guys for the same date?

Shoot - I'm committed that weekend. oh well maybe next year.

I wish I could join you guys, that is one great ride! Should be gorgeous that time of year. Used to take the motorcycle (I would have used "bike", but I'm afraid that Angela may think that she had a compadre for the pedaling kind) out there every so often. Take pictures, lots of pictures and then post. Have a great time!

Doesn't sound like too much fun with all those po-lice. After reading about the "tail" on the website I'm glad I'm 1,000 miles away. Tee hee.

The police have cracked down a little, which they do every year when some bikers go over the edge, so to speak. I don't think of a ride on the dragon's tail as my own personal LeMans, just a hell of a lot of fun on a famous and well documented stretch of road.

I am totally up for it and am glad Tom made the effort to get the ball rolling. I try to ride the dragon at least once a year and this year, if this one comes off, will make it three times. Woo Hoo!
Hoss

I'm in.

Will this run start at the Murphy/Fontana end or the other???

Sounds like fun. I drive it about twice a year, spring and fall.

Time and conditions permiting, I'm in...

Leon C.

I'd like to make it if SAS delivers... Maybe Steve O or Hoss can light a fire. Or should I ask them to light a candle for me. Oh ya, damn near forgot...



Light this Vince!

Details haven't really been worked out yet Leon. It would probably depend on where most of the folks are coming from and I know that you can't please anyone. Personally, I like to start in Maryville, drive to 129, do the Dragon and find a place for lunch; Tapoco Lodge in Robbinsville, NC is a nice place to stop. After this, on to the Cherohala Skyway that ends up in Tellico Plains. This is a georgeous drive and hopefully colorful (sometimes peak color comes a little later than mid-October).

Right now, I think Tom was just looking for interested drivers.
Hoss

The last time I ran the dragon's tail, some idiot in a 45 ft. semi.
was in front of two of us and had wheels in both ditches for most of the trip..He got lucky in that a biker ran interference for him...

Even with this, we met another semi going in the opposite direction...
Let's just say it was three hours of bad news......The trailer we were following emerged with two flats and at least one bent rim.

While this is not normal, Tenn. and N.C. need to restrict access to any vehicle that cannot possibly maintain it's self in it's own lane.

Leon C.

Tentatively, I'm in.....just wondering how much bike and car traffic there will be over that weekend. If it's near peak foliage color time, it might be bumper-to-bumper crawl, rather than a brisk (relatively, that is...) 45-ish mph.

I'll contact Tom off-forum and work out some details and then see how many of the Beaufort club I can scare up. They were generally excited about the prospect last Spring when I brought it up, but we'll see how many actually want to show up.

I'm also looking at some sort of ride up the coast from Daytona to Savannah around the Rennsport Reunion (Nov 1 - 4).

Stay tuned...

gn

If I still have my car at that point, and if I can afford the wife bribe, I am in. Look forward to more details. Thanks.

James

Thanx to all for your interest in this ride. As we have several who may come from a few hundred miles away, I will confer with John & Gordon off list to create a precise itnerary for all.

Once in a while, some trucking company dispatcher (who never had a mother) will send a truck over Route 129 TN/NC. The biggest problem for the dragon are the crotch rockets that spin it up to 80 mph when the cops are not looking. Weekends are busy, but this area includes many wonderful rides in the Great Smoky Mountain Nat'l Park area, like the foothilss parkway, the Blue Ridge Parkway, I-26 over Sam's Gap, etc.

Our itinerary will include a gathering place for late Friday PM, for dinner & spending the night, plus our plans for the Saturday ride, lunch, etc. I will also suggest and research motels for Saturday night.

websites of interest are:
www.tailofthedragon.com
www.killboy.com

Tom

We are a Go !!
We will atack the dragon and the Cherahola Skyway on Saturday, October 13. Hotel rooms have been reserved for Friday 10/12.
Exact details to be published here by middle of next week.
Get a new digital camera, tune up your Speedie, this is going to be fun !!

Tom

Tom....
I hate to be one, but my speedie is a Spyder...

If no one is insulted, I'm still in...

Leon C.

Absolutely not - insulted, that is. Given how racy Spyders look, we can use you as bait for the Highway Patrol ;-)

Hot damn.. I have been wanting to see one of the Spyders up close.. maybe I can get one of them magnifying rear view mirrors...zing.

But first I have gotta get my clutch replaced.

James

Nice shot James.....

Hope the clutch is a quick fix........Looking forward to meeting all.

Leon C.

Fall Run on the Dragon: Here are the details !!!

Friday, October 12: I have six (6) N/S rooms reserved at the Talley-Ho Inn, Townsend, TN. I urge you to call 800-448-2465 ASAP. Ask for Glinna or Mike. Tell them you are with the "Speedster Group". They will take your credit card info, and transfer the room into your name. Rate is $105 plus tax. Cancelation policy is 48 hours for full refund. I urge you to do this ASAP, as these rooms will fill up fast, and I do not know how many additional rooms they have. Look at www.talleyhoinn.com for directions. Basically, you can reach Townsend via I 40, Exit 66 25 miles east of Knoxville,(this is the Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge exit), turning right onto 321 in Sevierville. You can also reach Townsend via Maryville, TN

Schedule:

Friday 5-7 PM gather at the hotel
Friday 8 PM dinner at nearby restaurant
Saturday 7 - 8 AM breakfast
Saturday 9:30 AM gather at Texaco Station, intersection of 321 & 129 in Maryville

John Hallstrand will be our ride master. John has created a great route that will include the Tail of the Dragon and the Cherohala Skyway. Lunch has been arranged at the Tapoco Lodge. Total Run distance is approx 170 180 miles ending up in Tellico Plains, TN where you can start your way home, return to Townsend or follow your individual plans. There may be a 10-20 degree temperature drop at the skyway is above 5000 ft.

Please do this: if you are going make hotel reservations ASAP, then email me off list at: tom@freshairphoto.com with your name, passenger, and cell phone numbers.

Finally, not to offend anyone.......if it looks like a Porsche, if it occasionally leaks oil like a Porsche, if it sounds like a Porsche, please come join us. We would perfer however that you leave the Dodge Minivan at home. Look forward to seeing you in October.

Tom Raymond
tom@freshairphoto.com
423-612-2700 (mobile)

uh excuse my speed typing......

my email is tom@freshairphoto.com

Ok, this site will not print the "at symbol...........

Thats for you own good.. there are internet bots out there that will scan the whole site for the @ symbol and you are not on a spam list.

James

Done! I'll be there.

Me too...all registered for Friday and Saturday night

Figured we're already up there, might as well make a weekend of it and do some more sight-seeing.

gn

Count on that 20 degree temp drop....Bring gloves and suitable jackets. It's a nice drive with some good winding grades.....I'm geared for flat land running, so I'll be in third a lot, making noise.

Leon C.

That temperature drop in the higher elevations of the Cherohala is for real. When I did it with the Allard Club October last, I made it with my short-sleeved shirt, but the heater was on full blast. Chilly but manageable. I hope we have as nice a day as we did for that run, just a little shower near the end from Townsend back to my village.
Hoss

Senor Johnny Two Bolts wrote: "I made it with my short-sleeved shirt, but the heater was on full blast"

Oh, sure.....I can do that too! Turn my heater up FULL BLAST!

Then I'll get out and look under the rear to see......"GASP!!" NO HEATER BOXES!!!!!!!

Let's see....HEAT 101:heavy socks, hiking boots....check! That takes care of my feet.

Long Johns....Check! That's for my legs.

20 degree F Leather Bomber Jacket.....Check! That's for the rest of me,

"Thinsulate" Leather Gloves.....Check! For my arthritic hands, and;

Classic, Canadian Tocque.....Check!! ("Roots", of course) for those "Montreal Express" winds

"Heater on full blast" my left lug nut...........

Oh, Yeah!! as VINCE would say:

"HEAT THIS!!"

Try a pocket full of JONEE hand warmers.....Works for me with all the other clothing, etc.

Leon C.

Okay, Gordon. I'll see you your lack of heat and your bomber jacket and raise you a dare -- don't lift a single finger toward those top bow latches the whole time, rain or shine ...
lol

OK, tell you what........I'll just stay in my short-sleeved Hawaiian shirt, no long johns or Bomber jacket, but I get to put the top up and windows in. I've driven all over the Low Country like that in 35 - 45 degree weather and it's been just fine, wearing just a very light wind-breaker.

Now, I know that the Hoopty is "Top Challenged", but I'll let you wear my Genuine Boeing Bomber Jacket when we get up above the Squirrel line..... ;>)

BTW, all.....just got Pearl's brand-spankin-new rocker arms in, side-shimmed and all, and just finished an oil change, just to be safe.

Getting too late at 10:44pm to fire her up (with retirement comes patience, too) but I'll make a Dunkin Donuts run with her tomorrow morning and see how she sounds. If she's AOK, then I think I'll pull the hex bar linkage and do the upgrade to that, too, while I'm in an upgrading mood......

gn

When you're done upgrading, take spin to C'Burg ...I'll leave a To Do list on my speedy hood, bring along a large lite w/ sugar and Dunkin Donuts too :)

Got the cold weather gear covered, Bro.

All Right Guys, it may be cool at the top, but it ain't gonna be snowing. I appreciate the interest we have had so far, as it looks like we have 4-6 cars at this point. Please do email me off list w/ cell phone numbers, and passenger names after you have registered with the Talley-Ho Inn. Two weeks out, I will contact everyone by phone, so we can make reservations for meals.

I'm off to work Corvettes at Carlisle tomorrow.

Tom

God willing, and the creek don't rise, I'm in. Will be looking at the details and deciding how to manage. Looks like it might be fun to arange tally-ho pts along the northern approach for those coming from/though/near DC. Mini caravans before the real one.

Holy Radar Gun, Batman, WTF is going on down there in TN? I must say that I would have very little desire to run 600+ mi (one way!) in order to be followed through the woods at 20 mph by an overzealous Trooper, who's going to give me a ticket, just about no matter what I do or don't do, or does not like the temper in my windshield. I do not see the fun in that. I think the Management here, needs to have a Plan B, in case the imagined idyl through these famous twists and turns happens to be overrun either with semis, LEOs, &/or a gazillion other leaf peepers. That whole area is no doubt enchanting, so having an alternate route might be a good idea.

Huh? Hoss runs that a few times a year -- and not slowly.
Clarification?

Cory all...Do a group trailer purchase, you'all know I have few here.