Drove the Tail of the Dragon - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

NotYetLegend · 07-12-2014, 11:58 PM

OK so long story short; amazing road ruined by Harley Davidson. But onto something interesting:

So I had just driven "the tail" (lame) and pulled over at an obvious stop on the NC side. I'm standing there taking a picture of this dragon made of auto parts and I notice some 5th Gen Camaro bits in there!

How many can you spot?

rebelyell22 · 07-13-2014, 12:00 AM

2. Muffler and manifold+cats

gpskinzhut · 07-13-2014, 12:53 AM

I'm down there fairly often (though it's been a month and a half or so). Have to hit the road either really early or late this time of year or you'll have to deal with commuters, tourists, and bikers. It's a public road with a focus on bikers at either end (Harley Davidson on the TN side and the bike Motel on the NC side). In the offseason it's awesome, nobody on the road and the leaves are gone and you see clearly just how far you have to fall. LOL.

Thankfully didn't lose any parts to add to the tree when I scrubbed a guardrail down there a few months ago.

Love me some Dragon though.

TommyTheCat · 07-13-2014, 04:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rebelyell22

2. Muffler and manifold+cats

this was all i could find too, though some other parts may be there and unrecognizable

thkfast · 07-13-2014, 04:28 AM

We still visit "The Dragon" yearly, but the 30 mph speed limit, baggers clogging everything up and add in the THP Nazis - US129 has lost a lot of it's original charm and luster.

Shady Valley, TN "The Snake" offers the same challenging twisties and is way more enthusiast friendly!

PalmerGA · 07-13-2014, 08:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NotYetLegend

amazing road ruined by Harley Davidson.

Why do you say this???

DaveC · 07-13-2014, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PalmerGA

Why do you say this???

Cause every new harley rider at some point wants to travel there to demonstrate their inadequate riding skills, and get picture at the sign with a doorag and vest... I ride a harley and know exactly the type, and don't like getting stuck behind them either...

TurboNarwhal · 07-13-2014, 11:14 AM

I was down there several months ago, and had a really positive experience, with the exception of the idiot with the flatbed hauling a car up there going below the speedlimit and refusing to pull to the side.

But everyone else if you came up on them they would generally pull off to the side when a chance arose to let you pass. Honestly everyone there for sport seemed quite courteous. It was a lot better than driving on the interstate surrounded by a bunch of non-drivers texting while going 65 in the fast lane.

NotYetLegend · 07-13-2014, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PalmerGA

Why do you say this???

Half of the drive I was stuck behind two outrageously hideous Harleys with two pairs of the fattest people I have ever seen on each of them. They were hitting 18mph on the straight parts, less in the curves, and throwing their hands up at every turn that has the dudes taking pictures ( as in, "look how carazy I am! Flying down this road even though I'm over the hill and a huge fatass..."). It was disgusting frankley. They wouldn't pull over, they honestly though that THEY were going as fast as anyone would dare drive the road. Sucked.

Its Harley's fault for all this " lifestyle marketing" horseshit that they sell. People just want to "look" like a Harley rider or something... they have no interest in actually gaining cycle riding proficiency. Just find the gnarliest road they can, drive from one side to the other over and over buying stickers and t shirts, turn in early and tell their friends how bad as a their "lifestyle" is. The whole thing is gross to me.

Remove the Harley bar, the sticker shop and the bike motel and you would have one hell of a road.

NotYetLegend · 07-13-2014, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaveC

Cause every new harley rider at some point wants to travel there to demonstrate their inadequate riding skills, and get picture at the sign with a doorag and vest... I ride a harley and know exactly the type, and don't like getting stuck behind them either...

Yes exactly. I'm not saying all Harley Davidson are bad or that all of the people that ride them are either. I love bikes, they are cooler than cars IMO. But there is a certain "type" of Harley rider that the brand is capitalizing on in a very annoying way.

PalmerGA · 07-13-2014, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NotYetLegend

Half of the drive I was stuck behind two outrageously hideous Harleys with two pairs of the fattest people I have ever seen on each of them. They were hitting 18mph on the straight parts, less in the curves, and throwing their hands up at every turn that has the dudes taking pictures ( as in, "look how carazy I am! Flying down this road even though I'm over the hill and a huge fatass..."). It was disgusting frankley. They wouldn't pull over, they honestly though that THEY were going as fast as anyone would dare drive the road. Sucked.

Its Harley's fault for all this " lifestyle marketing" horseshit that they sell. People just want to "look" like a Harley rider or something... they have no interest in actually gaining cycle riding proficiency. Just find the gnarliest road they can, drive from one side to the other over and over buying stickers and t shirts, turn in early and tell their friends how bad as a their "lifestyle" is. The whole thing is gross to me.

Remove the Harley bar, the sticker shop and the bike motel and you would have one hell of a road.

Okay, so you think there should be a ban on fat, older, Harley people... and that would make your road more enjoyable to you? To hell with what they enjoy - I see.

BlueStreakHouTX · 07-13-2014, 12:15 PM

Grin, IMO this is the ONLY thing the factory muffler is good for.... well, maybe a bass boat anchor...

mrvenicess · 07-13-2014, 12:47 PM

I drove it last week on my way back home to Florida from Toronto and had an absolute blast! I had no issues with Harleys and when I stopped at the look out I chatted with a group of Harley riders who were all very nice. They loved my ZL1, said they could hear me coming! A couple of them even took pictures of my car! I wouldn't get bent out of shape with guys going slow, let them enjoy the road too and at their pace! I'm sure the Ducati and sport bike riders gripe about the slow ads Camaro drivers too! Without the biker tourists in the area,and I saw way more bikes than cars, I bet the road wouldn't be maintained the way it is.

TLSTWIN · 07-13-2014, 01:15 PM

We used to have a rally down there every year, stay for a week & ride all the surrounding roads.

the dragon is a fun novelty trip/road.

There are lots of people there for the 1st time & don't know the road etiquette.

The type of people you encounter is dependent on the time of day & the day of the week.

07-12-2014, 11:58 PM	#1
NotYetLegend Drives: 2012 1SS/RS Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Memphis, TN Posts: 344	Drove the Tail of the Dragon OK so long story short; amazing road ruined by Harley Davidson. But onto something interesting: So I had just driven "the tail" (lame) and pulled over at an obvious stop on the NC side. I'm standing there taking a picture of this dragon made of auto parts and I notice some 5th Gen Camaro bits in there! How many can you spot? __________________ "Driving is the only thing I love about f1." (Kimi Raikkonen)

07-13-2014, 12:00 AM	#2
rebelyell22 Drives: 2011 SIM 2SS/RS LS3 Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Tupelo, MS Posts: 5,902	2. Muffler and manifold+cats __________________ 2011 2SS/RS built 8/24/10

07-13-2014, 12:53 AM	#3
gpskinzhut Drives: 2017 ZL1 A10 Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Knoxville, TN Posts: 1,957 View My Garage	I'm down there fairly often (though it's been a month and a half or so). Have to hit the road either really early or late this time of year or you'll have to deal with commuters, tourists, and bikers. It's a public road with a focus on bikers at either end (Harley Davidson on the TN side and the bike Motel on the NC side). In the offseason it's awesome, nobody on the road and the leaves are gone and you see clearly just how far you have to fall. LOL. Thankfully didn't lose any parts to add to the tree when I scrubbed a guardrail down there a few months ago. Love me some Dragon though. __________________ 2017 ZL1 A10 2017 2SS M6: (SOLD) \|\| 2014 2LT Convertible: (SOLD) \|\| 2010 2LT M6 Supercharged:(SOLD) \|\| 1987 IROC-Z 5.0 M5: (SOLD)

07-13-2014, 04:28 AM	#5
thkfast Drives: '14 Red 2SS/RS/LS3 Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Cedar Rapids, IA Posts: 692	We still visit "The Dragon" yearly, but the 30 mph speed limit, baggers clogging everything up and add in the THP Nazis - US129 has lost a lot of it's original charm and luster. Shady Valley, TN "The Snake" offers the same challenging twisties and is way more enthusiast friendly! __________________ 2014 Red Hot 2SS/RS/M6/NPP/Shifter/Nav/Roof/SilverRallyStripes/Airaid intake/GM StrutTowerBrace/50%-35%tint

07-13-2014, 11:14 AM	#8
TurboNarwhal Drives: 2010 Camaro 2SS/RS Twin Turbo Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Elizabethtown, KY Posts: 240	I was down there several months ago, and had a really positive experience, with the exception of the idiot with the flatbed hauling a car up there going below the speedlimit and refusing to pull to the side. But everyone else if you came up on them they would generally pull off to the side when a chance arose to let you pass. Honestly everyone there for sport seemed quite courteous. It was a lot better than driving on the interstate surrounded by a bunch of non-drivers texting while going 65 in the fast lane. __________________

07-13-2014, 12:15 PM	#12
BlueStreakHouTX Drives: 2012 Camaro 2SS RS IOM Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Spring Texas Posts: 230 View My Garage	Grin, IMO this is the ONLY thing the factory muffler is good for.... well, maybe a bass boat anchor...

07-13-2014, 12:47 PM	#13
mrvenicess Drives: 2013 CRT ZL1 auto Join Date: May 2010 Location: Venice Fl Posts: 1,443 View My Garage	I drove it last week on my way back home to Florida from Toronto and had an absolute blast! I had no issues with Harleys and when I stopped at the look out I chatted with a group of Harley riders who were all very nice. They loved my ZL1, said they could hear me coming! A couple of them even took pictures of my car! I wouldn't get bent out of shape with guys going slow, let them enjoy the road too and at their pace! I'm sure the Ducati and sport bike riders gripe about the slow ads Camaro drivers too! Without the biker tourists in the area,and I saw way more bikes than cars, I bet the road wouldn't be maintained the way it is.

07-13-2014, 01:15 PM	#14
TLSTWIN Romans10:9-13 Drives: /\yes, this is me/\ Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Vermilion, Ohio Posts: 4,435	We used to have a rally down there every year, stay for a week & ride all the surrounding roads. the dragon is a fun novelty trip/road. There are lots of people there for the 1st time & don't know the road etiquette. The type of people you encounter is dependent on the time of day & the day of the week. __________________