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All the talk of the fun on the Dragon and the videos... I don't know if we can wait a whole year.
MrsDiff doesn't get paid time off of her job. We could swing a 3 day weekend and not hurt our finances that bad. From Indy to the Dragon is about 7-8 hours. That is about a day in the MINI each way and 24 hours at the Dragon.
Would that be enough time for a curve junky to get a fix? Or is the Dragon a multiple day thing?
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"Paddy" CR/W R56 MCS, White Bonnets, "37" Door Plates, Cold Weather, Convenience, Sport Suspension, DSC, LSD, Xenons, Front and Rear Fogs, White Tails, Factory Alarm
That’s a lot of driving, but well worth the trip if that’s the only way to swing it. I live around 8 hours away and have thought about doing the same thing over a three day weekend.
If you go you’ll want to empty the MINI of the loose things before any fun fast runs.
My suggestion would be a 4-5 hour drive on a thursday eve and after a good night sleep and a nice breakfast a 2 hour run to get there. That allows you and Mrs. Diff to spend almost all day friday and the complete saturday there, plus you can get a couple "good bye" runs in on sunday morning before driving back in little junks to Indiana.
My suggestion would be a 4-5 hour drive on a thursday eve and after a good night sleep and a nice breakfast a 2 hour run to get there. That allows you and Mrs. Diff to spend almost all day friday and the complete saturday there, plus you can get a couple "good bye" runs in on sunday morning before driving back in little junks to Indiana.
......if your reason for going is to "drive" the Dragon rather than be/see a part of all the action with the other cars and motorcycles....... during the week the place is deserted and "clean runs" are common..... on the weekends you will be in some traffic.... but that can be fun... lots of performance cars and bikes to see..... local traffic and people site seeing can slow you down......either way it's an amazing place and tailor made for the Mini
__________________ my grandson Cian, the Mini and me
Mini was sold to a good home in CA. I now have a 2001 M roadster silver/black .... DDM intk, M7 TB, M7 DFIC 2, RMW head/shrick , WMS pm runners/intk mfld/cmber plates, CMP custom header/ Milltek, PSS9s, BBS/T1R, AP bbk, Alta SS, plo coil/ngy, M7 str/ustr/CC , F/R sway bar, Aero Kit, op/bst gauges, JCW 380s, Quaiffe/ Clutchmaster/FW, RMW custom tune 231.7 whp, F&R sway bars and more
I went to the Dragon from South Florida. All the mapping programs said it would be a 16 hr drive. So i planned to Dedicate all of Thursday to the drive and leave at 4am.
We left at 445a and arrived in Robinsville at 4pm, just over 11 hrs (about 80mph cruise control). We had time to unpack the car at the Microtel and get two runs in on the Dragon which were relatively clean!
We then stayed Friday and and most of Saturday. It was more than enough to get the whole MOTD experience.
You should easilly be able to leave Friday morning at 5am, arrive in the middle of the afternoon and get a few runs in. Then you'll have all of Saturday to enjoy everything.
James, I can make Knoxville in 5.5 hours from Indy (solo, with ... er, "personal" and "auto" pit stops). K'ville's less than an hour from the Dragon. If you do a 3-day trip down there, I'd leave early in the morning, and you can be *on* the dragon by 1pm. Don't just drive the Dragon, tho. There are a bunch of other GREAT roads in the area that eclipse the Dragon, in my opinion. I don't know how MrsDiff will feel about riding shotgun (I quite enjoyed it, actually), but you may want to work in some more scenic drives while you're there. Maybe make the Dragon your origin and head out from there?
I definately plan on a Dragon - Cherohala Skyway loop for both MrsDiff and I.
Anyone have any other suggestions?
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"Paddy" CR/W R56 MCS, White Bonnets, "37" Door Plates, Cold Weather, Convenience, Sport Suspension, DSC, LSD, Xenons, Front and Rear Fogs, White Tails, Factory Alarm
If it is just the two of you, how about staying somewhere that MrsDiff will think is romantic like the Blue Boar Inn?
__________________ Disclaimer: No claim is made that the quality of the MINI-related advice offered by Yucca Patrol
is greater than the quality of MINI-related advice offered by other NAM members.
If it is just the two of you, how about staying somewhere that MrsDiff will think is romantic like the Blue Boar Inn?
Got a link?
I was thinking June 9-11 or June 16-18
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"Paddy" CR/W R56 MCS, White Bonnets, "37" Door Plates, Cold Weather, Convenience, Sport Suspension, DSC, LSD, Xenons, Front and Rear Fogs, White Tails, Factory Alarm
__________________ Disclaimer: No claim is made that the quality of the MINI-related advice offered by Yucca Patrol
is greater than the quality of MINI-related advice offered by other NAM members.
I was just looking at the smokey Mountains roads on http://www.tailofthedragon.com/. I had forgotten how close the Dragon is to Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg.
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"Paddy" CR/W R56 MCS, White Bonnets, "37" Door Plates, Cold Weather, Convenience, Sport Suspension, DSC, LSD, Xenons, Front and Rear Fogs, White Tails, Factory Alarm
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"Paddy" CR/W R56 MCS, White Bonnets, "37" Door Plates, Cold Weather, Convenience, Sport Suspension, DSC, LSD, Xenons, Front and Rear Fogs, White Tails, Factory Alarm
If you are interested in dragoneering and Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge a good place to stay is Townsend, TN. It is just 18 miles via the Foothills Parkway to the Tennessee end of the Dragon and about the same via Little River Rd to Gatlinburg (very nice and scenic but sometimes traffic filled).
If you want many many more miles of roads similar to the Dragon in adjoining territory, I recommend staying in Etowah TN which is 12 mi from the Skyway, 5 mi from Hiwassee River gorge, 15 mi from Ocoee river gorge, Greasy Creek (hwy30 to 64 to Copperhill back to........) which somebody needs to count the curves on, very similar to Dragon; 6 miles from Chilhowee Gliderport if you have 2 hours or so to go soaring; can't overstate the # of twisty roads. I think there's enough maps to get the idea and more on the area at tennesseeoverhill website. Don't forget everybody- safety first. Err on the side of caution.
alsothe beamers are staying there this weekend and Katriders (Suzuki bikes- look out) next month, so the new territory is just beginning to be discovered.
We are truly blessed in this area with some of the best back-road driving areas in the country...Just come over to Pigeon Forge, TN and we'll show you around.. Youn's come back now, ya heah.
Just as long as I don't have to go onto Rt 66. Talk about touristy. Couldn't wait to get off of it. We'll be at the Dragon in 2007. Hope we can join youse on your roads.
my grandson Cian, the Mini and me
Winston03 - 2003 MCS, Upgraded Seats & Sound System. 
