[chillindrdude]

Wifey gave me the green light for a solo "mancation" for a few days in july.

Gonna do the NASA HPDE @ VIR weekend, then a few days riding mountain bikes with friends near/around Asheville/Pisgah, then a day excursion to drive the legendary Tail of the Dragon and surround roads.


https://goo.gl/maps/BcVOG

Please critique my route. Driving, lodging, and restaurant suggestions welcome and appreciated.

[Meeni]

Take the 28 between Setcoah and the Tail. The 73 and 441 are very pretty roads but the pace is leisury.

Do not under any circumstances go on the tail or the 441 during a week end. The first one is filled with poor drivers that want to kill you (and are likely to actually succeed), the second is filled with soccer moms and minivans that stop every 2 miles to watch yet another deer sight; yuo can't pass, it's basically a giant traffic jam in the forest.

Make multiple runs of the actual tail, it is a hard to master road, you won't enjoy it as it should the first time. The better times are in the morning when its empty. Do not drive like a madman, it is a dangerous road, for real. There are a couple of off-camber turns where understeer gets you right off a cliff! Stay on your lane, and watch out for corner cutters. Come with a full tank, there is no gas stations between Talahassee and Setcoah. LEO are very often present at the overlook and at the Chillowee lake. Do not get distracted by the photographers, a lot of people crash because of target fixation on the photographers or trying to do stupid shit to look good on the picture.


Cheerokee and the Harras casino are nothing special, if you are not like a passionate gambler, just forgo it and camp in the national park with a tent or something.


BTW, the Blue Ridge Parkway is also very nice and scenic (also leisurish). It would add significant time to your travel, but if you can pack it in yuo won't be disapointed.


Enjoy

[chillindrdude]

hey, thanks for the suggestions!!!

After reviewing my route, I will be taking that rt 28 (via Fontana Dam) to get to the tail.

Although I think I will only have time only for one run. It will be a long driving day to get back home in DC. I read that the speed limit is ONLY 30mph...and LEO setup up traps in the straight sections. So I probably won't linger much over 10mph above the limit. I'm actually considering getting a radar detector just for this trip (and either selling or returning it at the end). In my home state, detectors are illegal.

I am staying in Asheville the evening before, so probably get a head start on the tail by getting on the road by 6 or 630.

I'm going to Cherokee not necessarily for the casinos. I used Harrah's just as a notable waypoint. But it brings me back toward Asheville (and the general direction) for the cruise back home.

Keep these suggestions coming!

Any good NC-style BBQ spots???

Originally Posted by Meeni

Take the 28 between Setcoah and the Tail. The 73 and 441 are very pretty roads but the pace is leisury.

Make multiple runs of the actual tail, it is a hard to master road, you won't enjoy it as it should the first time. The better times are in the morning when its empty. Do not drive like a madman, it is a dangerous road, for real. There are a couple of off-camber turns where understeer gets you right off a cliff! Stay on your lane, and watch out for corner cutters. Come with a full tank, there is no gas stations between Talahassee and Setcoah. LEO are very often present at the overlook and at the Chillowee lake. Do not get distracted by the photographers, a lot of people crash because of target fixation on the photographers or trying to do stupid shit to look good on the picture.


Cheerokee and the Harras casino are nothing special, if you are not like a passionate gambler, just forgo it and camp in the national park with a tent or something.


BTW, the Blue Ridge Parkway is also very nice and scenic (also leisurish). It would add significant time to your travel, but if you can pack it in yuo won't be disapointed.


Enjoy

[happos2]

Ashville has some good breweries! Check those out, Biltmore if you have time.

Just be careful on the Tail, great road though. I use to live in Knoxville and head up there often. Been a long time since I have been back and I believe it has become much more crowded and police patrol it now... But, fun still can be had so definitely enjoy it. Watch out for those motorcycles who like to keep their wheels right on the yellow line but forget that they lean an their head is in your lane!

You will have a good time!

[Sniz]

100% visit the Biltmore and take some of the tours, love that place.

Here is a link to a great trip I took down there a few years ago with BMWCCA

http://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/sh...-of-the-Dragon!

My M3 made it on the cover of their magazine with this shot from the Tail



My M3 was an absolute HOOT on those roads. Truthfully, there are other better roads than the Tail due to the traffic. I was up on the rear bumper of any car I met out there.....3,100lb car with 600hp/600tq, square 255 PSS, and a properly sorted suspension makes for lots of smiles per mile.

[chillindrdude]

Originally Posted by Sniz

My M3 was an absolute HOOT on those roads. Truthfully, there are other better roads than the Tail due to the traffic. I was up on the rear bumper of any car I met out there.....3,100lb car with 600hp/600tq, square 255 PSS, and a properly sorted suspension makes for lots of smiles per mile.

holy shit, your E36 put down those numbers?!?! you do an LS swap or something???

i hope to have some pics to post afterwards as well. (car intact of course)

[Sniz]

Originally Posted by chillindrdude

holy shit, your E36 put down those numbers?!?! you do an LS swap or something???

i hope to have some pics to post afterwards as well. (car intact of course)

it should be around that at the crank, not the wheels......yet

Turbo with methanol on a stock bottom end s52. S52 LOVES some boost with very minor work. Fully built 1000whp is in reach

[W///]

Originally Posted by Sniz

100% visit the Biltmore and take some of the tours, love that place.

Here is a link to a great trip I took down there a few years ago with BMWCCA

http://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/sh...-of-the-Dragon!

My M3 made it on the cover of their magazine with this shot from the Tail



My M3 was an absolute HOOT on those roads. Truthfully, there are other better roads than the Tail due to the traffic. I was up on the rear bumper of any car I met out there.....3,100lb car with 600hp/600tq, square 255 PSS, and a properly sorted suspension makes for lots of smiles per mile.

After all these years, I still never get tired of that picture. Your E36 is definitely an inspiration for me.

[Sniz]

Originally Posted by W///

After all these years, I still never get tired of that picture. Your E36 is definitely an inspiration for me.

lol

thanks! Love the technoviolet as well


One more from the Biltmore as inspiration for the OP to visit while he is in the area.