My pics posted at http://s53.photobucket.com/albums/g43/landerso/TotD%202009/
Nice job Lane.
Jim---I vote your last post as THE post of 2009. As always insightful, creatively delivered and completely devastating.
Keep 'em coming my brutha.
Keep 'em coming my brutha.
Being on the road as much as I am, should someone pull a stunt that endangers another driver, I make a cell phone call the State Police and claim a possible DUI driver ....Shortly down the road there they are having a detailed discussion with the good officer ~
WOW a perfect solution I intend to add that one to my arsenal
Believe me I tried to call the THP or any LEO for that matter, but alas no cellular service on the dragon. I finally was able to call from the front desk of the Fontana Village resort where we stopped for lunch an hour later.
I forwarded a copy of your letter and a note from me to AMA requesting a response and suggesting that they print it in the letters section of the American Motorcyclist magazine. So far, no reply. I may have to follow up with a telephone call.
Thanks to all the photographers. We who could not make it salute your efforts, and results, considering the weather.
Lane: Great camera work, MGM. You even made the rain look good. Somebody has got a great wax job.
And speaking of the weather, today is probably the best weather day of 2009 here in DC/B-more. Bright sun, clear air at around 75. Just too much. What it says also is that you cannot plan the weather, exactly, this tim eof year. There is talk of moving the Pumpkin Run and/or TotD (or its substitute) up the calendar some weeks, and make it earlier, and so maybe get warmer. Well OK, maybe can do. But each of these is supposed to be a Fall Excursion, w/ leaves turning, etc. Go earlier, and you don't get the leaves. Some week ends in Oct are going to be brilliant, and some maybe not so much. It's a crap shoot. You know, it can be warmer by a lot, and still be raining . . . I'm just sayin'
And speaking of the weather, today is probably the best weather day of 2009 here in DC/B-more. Bright sun, clear air at around 75. Just too much. What it says also is that you cannot plan the weather, exactly, this tim eof year. There is talk of moving the Pumpkin Run and/or TotD (or its substitute) up the calendar some weeks, and make it earlier, and so maybe get warmer. Well OK, maybe can do. But each of these is supposed to be a Fall Excursion, w/ leaves turning, etc. Go earlier, and you don't get the leaves. Some week ends in Oct are going to be brilliant, and some maybe not so much. It's a crap shoot. You know, it can be warmer by a lot, and still be raining . . . I'm just sayin'
Sorry to hear you guys had such an experience.
Perhaps it's not as busy during the week?
30mph...is that average for the whole distance?
The next time any of you are out in Centeral California, we have our own "Dragon". It's on the way to Yosemite on Hwy 49.
Perhaps it's not as busy during the week?
30mph...is that average for the whole distance?
The next time any of you are out in Centeral California, we have our own "Dragon". It's on the way to Yosemite on Hwy 49.
Terry, you have to come to the Smokies next fall and see the Dragon for yourself. Changing radius and camber in the curves on an 11 mile run top posted speed is 30MPH post speed as low as 15MPH. I've run your Yosemitie Dragon, totally different experience. I also understand that Aaron took Lane and Tom an a few roads in N.C. near Lake Lure that put US 129 to shame for a technical driving experience. Come see us You'll be glad you did....
Richard
Richard
Terry - cool video! I felt like I was speeding along in my office chair.
..."I've done that (Yosemite) road..."
...uhhh, you guys haven't tried to keep up with Terry or Eddie on a narrow twisty...
...I'm just saying...
..."I've done that (Yosemite) road..."
...uhhh, you guys haven't tried to keep up with Terry or Eddie on a narrow twisty...
...I'm just saying...
Well hell Jim, you can only do so much when you are driving with only one hand.....I'm just saying.....
Great video. Looks like a UFO is following along and tracking our biker friend. Appears about 20 seconds into the video. We are not alone!!!
Richard,
I'd love to make the trip one of these days. I'm always looking for good roads.
Speaking of; I'm blessed to live in an area where I am surrounded by beautiful rural roads with little traffic.
The only price is that I'm a good 1/2 hour away from everything.
Small price to pay.
I'd love to make the trip one of these days. I'm always looking for good roads.
Speaking of; I'm blessed to live in an area where I am surrounded by beautiful rural roads with little traffic.
The only price is that I'm a good 1/2 hour away from everything.
Small price to pay.
Terry,
Half an hour from anything I know the feeling we are about 15 min. from any store but probably 2 hours from "anything"
Plan a trip let me know will be glad to show you some of our roads. Mississippi delta roads arn't much fun but the beginning of The Natchez trace is only about 65 miles from my house. Follow it to Nashville and cut south to Tom and Hoss's neck of the woods cool trip.
Richard
Half an hour from anything I know the feeling we are about 15 min. from any store but probably 2 hours from "anything"
Plan a trip let me know will be glad to show you some of our roads. Mississippi delta roads arn't much fun but the beginning of The Natchez trace is only about 65 miles from my house. Follow it to Nashville and cut south to Tom and Hoss's neck of the woods cool trip.
Richard
Well guys, it looks like Hoss and Lane posted the best pictures of our Dragon Run. My shots are almost identical except for the on the road shots, mine came out fuzzy, guess my sweet Jan was holding on for dear life as we swung around the corners, hehehehehe. I do have to admit I found the Dragon fun and entertaining and actually we drove it again alone on the way back to Florida. Anyone out there ever drove up Mt Washington in New Hampshire? Now that's a drive that left me white-knuckled and fear of heights for months.
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hi nolan ,i am jelous,you must have had a great time on the dragonrun while i was in fort lauderdale and got my first trophy at a carshow,looking forward seeing you soon on southbeach. all the best herbert hofer.
Congrats on the Trophy, and we had a hoot on the Dragon save for the one incident.
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Pam and I just got down yesterday from our annual hike up Mount LeConte to the lodge up top (in Great Smoky Mountains Nat'l Park). The weather was incredibly beautiful for both hikes, and the sunrise yesterday morning was breathtaking from Myrtle Point at ~6600 feet. The mountains looked like islands in the clouds. Wonderful! Too bad we didn't have the same weather a few weeks ago. The Fall colors were beautiful at the lower altitudes, but the leaves had dropped once we were over ~5000 feet. Now THIS is why we want to live in the mountains.
Biker incident: my email to Dragon folks:
Tom Raymond wrote:
> Gentlemen,
>
> I am writing to recount to you an incident that occurred this past
> Saturday morning, 10/17/08 on Tennessee US 129, approximately two
> miles north of the Deals Gap store & gas station. These are the road
> conditions at that time:
>
> Time 10:30 AM
> Road wet, double yellow line
> Weather light rain
> Visibility limited
> Posted Speed 30 mph
>
> Our group of 7 cars was proceeding south on US 129 at the posted
> speed, when a group of bikers came upon us with high beam lights on.
> After a few moments, one of the bikers (described below) crossed the
> double yellow line and sped past our entire group. As soon as he came
> in front of the lead car, he immediately stopped in the middle of our
> lane and blocked our movement. We could have rear ended him, as well
> as each other. Once he had all of us stopped, the rest of his group of
> riders (7-9 bikes) crossed the double yellow line, and sped past all
> of our cars, and in doing so forced an oncoming pickup truck off the
> road. As soon as his group had passed, he took off to rejoin them.
>
> When we reached the Deals Gap store, I identified him and asked if he
> was the one who had indeed blocked our movement so his friends could
> pass. He said yes, and said that we (the cars) were going too slow.
> When we recounted that what he did was illegal, and very dangerous for
> himself and his fellow bikers, he said that he was "fine with it". He
> continued to be indigent, and was not apologetic at all.
>
> The description of this biker is as follows:
>
> NC motorcycle license tag *--* (REMOVED BY ADMIN)
> White male, mid to late 40's
> approximately 190 lbs, 5'10", medium grey hair, trim build
> black suit with grey protective patches, red helmet
>
> I did not photograph him, but Killboy & others may have
> his picture.
>
> I have reported this incident to the THP, and I am following up with
> Lt Quenton Valentine of the Knoxville office of the THP. What this man
> did was illegal, unsafe and obnoxious. As a result of this incident,
> our group, Speedsters Owners Club, has chosen not to return to the
> dragon again. We are also reporting this incident to the AMA, and
> other rider organizations.
> I urge all of you involved within the "dragon community" to ID this
> individual, and see that he is reprimanded for his actions.
>
> For everything I have stated today in this email, I have ten witnesses
> who will testify as to what I have described.
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
Response from the Dragon folks:
You are right that this is inexcusable. Sorry to hear of such incidents,
but there are rude and dangerous people doing such things just about
everywhere we go. Too bad there wasn't a LEO at the store to hear your
report.
The riders should have stopped at a pull-off and waited or else turned
around and gone the other way if they thought you were going too slow.
Sorry that there is not much we can do about these type of incidents.
They are rare and we normally only get one or two complaints a year for
riders endangering others.
Hopefully you will reconsider and return in spite of the idiots you
encountered this year. There is a good chance that these riders were
stopped by LEOs at some point and got what they deserved.
Ron and Nancy
TotD
Tom Raymond wrote:
> Gentlemen,
>
> I am writing to recount to you an incident that occurred this past
> Saturday morning, 10/17/08 on Tennessee US 129, approximately two
> miles north of the Deals Gap store & gas station. These are the road
> conditions at that time:
>
> Time 10:30 AM
> Road wet, double yellow line
> Weather light rain
> Visibility limited
> Posted Speed 30 mph
>
> Our group of 7 cars was proceeding south on US 129 at the posted
> speed, when a group of bikers came upon us with high beam lights on.
> After a few moments, one of the bikers (described below) crossed the
> double yellow line and sped past our entire group. As soon as he came
> in front of the lead car, he immediately stopped in the middle of our
> lane and blocked our movement. We could have rear ended him, as well
> as each other. Once he had all of us stopped, the rest of his group of
> riders (7-9 bikes) crossed the double yellow line, and sped past all
> of our cars, and in doing so forced an oncoming pickup truck off the
> road. As soon as his group had passed, he took off to rejoin them.
>
> When we reached the Deals Gap store, I identified him and asked if he
> was the one who had indeed blocked our movement so his friends could
> pass. He said yes, and said that we (the cars) were going too slow.
> When we recounted that what he did was illegal, and very dangerous for
> himself and his fellow bikers, he said that he was "fine with it". He
> continued to be indigent, and was not apologetic at all.
>
> The description of this biker is as follows:
>
> NC motorcycle license tag *--* (REMOVED BY ADMIN)
> White male, mid to late 40's
> approximately 190 lbs, 5'10", medium grey hair, trim build
> black suit with grey protective patches, red helmet
>
> I did not photograph him, but Killboy & others may have
> his picture.
>
> I have reported this incident to the THP, and I am following up with
> Lt Quenton Valentine of the Knoxville office of the THP. What this man
> did was illegal, unsafe and obnoxious. As a result of this incident,
> our group, Speedsters Owners Club, has chosen not to return to the
> dragon again. We are also reporting this incident to the AMA, and
> other rider organizations.
> I urge all of you involved within the "dragon community" to ID this
> individual, and see that he is reprimanded for his actions.
>
> For everything I have stated today in this email, I have ten witnesses
> who will testify as to what I have described.
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
Response from the Dragon folks:
You are right that this is inexcusable. Sorry to hear of such incidents,
but there are rude and dangerous people doing such things just about
everywhere we go. Too bad there wasn't a LEO at the store to hear your
report.
The riders should have stopped at a pull-off and waited or else turned
around and gone the other way if they thought you were going too slow.
Sorry that there is not much we can do about these type of incidents.
They are rare and we normally only get one or two complaints a year for
riders endangering others.
Hopefully you will reconsider and return in spite of the idiots you
encountered this year. There is a good chance that these riders were
stopped by LEOs at some point and got what they deserved.
Ron and Nancy
TotD
Please keep me in mind for 2010. I can't make it to Carlisle this year because we're having a baby on 6-18 and it's a little to close to the delivery date for comfort.
However, October should be great. I would be nice to head south from Detroit and meet some of you.
However, October should be great. I would be nice to head south from Detroit and meet some of you.