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This is just over an hour away from my house. I first rode this road on a bike 45 years ago, at age 17. Long before it became famous — or infamous, because now it is often deadly…. I’ve since driven it many times in a variety of vehicles – even towing a fishing boat.
Over 300 curves in an 11 mile stretch of road, with no sideroads or entering traffic…35 MPH posted speed limit, heavily enforced – especially on weekends – when it draws bikers and sportscar owners from all across the country.I want to try this one with the TDr, at least once, which would be in 2nd gear most of the time… Free-breathing, cool-running is essential.It is actually a very beautiful drive as you weave around the mountainside above 3 lakes and the connecting river…Best avoided on weekends, though…EDIT: On second thought, make that 47 years ago at age 15. I got my motorcycle license at age 14…KentT 2014-02-21 11:21:05 Early FF TDr on 69 VW pan
Slowly coming back from the ashes...Here in NC there are so many semi-straight roads with no elevation (esp in the coast) that it can be rather boring driving around the state. Not so much in the western part of the state. But there is a lot more traffic than around my home town.
I grew up in the Catskill Mountains of NY where roads similar to the Tail are common. So common, that they get Rodney’s “no respect”. My home town was surrounded by roads not terribly different but with 55mph speed limits and a cop every few months, but he is probably in his sports car having fun, not patrolling. NYC’s Pepacton reservoir is long and beautiful with fast stretches and others with hairpins and twisty turns. The fastest I ever made the “loop” was in my 911S “racing” my brother in his XKE. This is such a great drive that it’s even fun in a slow car driven to its limit. The roads there are why I have always had sports cars. The only truly scary moment I had was the first drive since I put radial ply tires on my TF-1500 and hit some loose gravel on a tight turn.…I almost went into the reservior and then might have eventually come out somebody’s faucet 130 miles away in Manhattan.If you guys are interested, I’d be glad to coordinate such a get together, since I’m local. Perhaps in conjunction with Circle Yer Wagens show or something. Those are 5-6 miles away, twice a year:
Or, there’s several “Rod Runs” or antique car shows or similar things going on each summer in Pigeon Forge… I’m not sure how/where to try finding a “master schedule of events” – perhaps the Chamber of Commerce….Keep in mind though, that driving the Dragon on summer weekends can be dangerous due to the heavy use now… seems there’s at least one wreck/crash there every weekend.KentT2014-02-21 11:45:34
Early FF TDr on 69 VW pan
Slowly coming back from the ashes...The Speedster guys did it a bunch of times too. Not last year, I think, but most years in September. One guy brought a Lafer one year, supposedly.
I hear you on the weekend prohibition.
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