Today over my lunch break and ran the Dragon for the first time. It was a little wet, but still just as fun as I imagined it would be. I bought my 2008 MCS just over a month ago and decided I would get to know the handling of my car before I pushed the limits. I feel so lucky to live/work so close to such an awesome strip of highway. Anyone else live/work out this way that would like to slay the dragon with me over a "long" lunch break? It took about two hours from Maryvile to get to the NC line and back.

 

You are lucky to live so close...what a great way to get out and relieve some workday stress. Enjoy it man...catch up with you at MOTD.

 

I convinced myself today that I definitely need to get a beefier rear sway bar. I'd also like to replace my stock 16" wheels with some 17s. Now I have to figure out how to convince my wife that I "need" them. I can't figure out why, but she doesn't see, "so I can go faster around corners," as a viable reason to spend a grand on wheels and a sway bar. I guess I'll just need to time it with her next big Pottery Barn purchase so she feels guilty.

 

Before going great guns with mods & Dragon running you might consider getting some track time & instruction. Auto x & HPDE are a great way to learn your cars & your limits in a safe environment.

Congrats on the new MINI, enjoy!

 

I've got some new wheels and tires due in for installation Saturday. I'm SO ready to get rid of the runflats. I was going to wait until next April and get them just in time for the dragon but I decided to go ahead and bite the bullet. Great plan...maybe she'll splurge soon.

 

Crashton. thanks for the advice. Where does one find an establishment that offers such training? Local community college's maybe? Do you have any web links you can share? I did a Skip Barber weekend class back in '89, but that was in BMW M3's and well, it was 1989. It was a lot of fun. Mini specific training would be best, but I guess I could settle for anywhere that lets me drive my own car during the course.

 

First place I'd check is with the local BMWCCA chapter for HPDE/schools. Also check out the local region of SCCA for Auto x's.

 

I'm always up for a Dragon run, especially with another Mini. LMK

 

Bullet,

Check out the Performance Driving forum and maybe the Track and Tune Events forum over at the Tar Heel MINIs web site. Focused on events in the SC/NC/VA areas mostly, but I think if you surf around some of the posts you'll get some pointers to some different sources for HPDE and/or Auto-X organizations.

HTH!

 

Gee...I wish I could run the Dragon on MY lunch break
That's pretty awesome. Been there twice, but someday I will make it down there with the MINI.

 

How about on your next lunch break mount a camera on a tripod and have a buddy hold it on the floor in the passenger seat and take a movie of the drive. Make sure your windshield is clean before filming! Then upload it to wherever and post a link here. You can also have some appropriate music on your sound system while taping! Personally, I would rather hear the engine but be creative! Maybe NAM will have a category where members can post links to videos of their favorite drives!

 

One thing that helped me on the Dragon was my sat-nav as a co-driver. I had it set up to show me the next few curves, something like a 200yd view. I was able to drive the road, and many others, as if I'd done it many times before.

 

Welcome to the World Of Wives Lack Of Understanding, for some reason they just don't fathom why going though corners faster is worth any real money. They also don't understand stripes, gauges, exhaust systems, aero kits, etc. It's a real pity!

 

mbu, I'll definitely try the camera suggestion. There's a coworker of mine that is begging to ride along the next time I go. I like the engine sounds too so that will be the only background noise other than my co-pilot screaming/laughing.

 

Before I make a big purchase I make sure to hit the wife with some "Distraction bling" you know a gold bracelet or necklace works wonders when I need a new part for my MINI.

 

Posted by Bensmini Yup, and in addition to that, mine suffers with motion sickness. She was recently overheard to say, "Why would anyone pay extra for fancy wheels?" If you see me on the Dragon, I'll be solo.

 

Man that is sad. My long suffering wife wouldn't dream of having me go have fun by myself without her. She has always been my best friend so maybe that made it easier for us. Could you get her involved in your hobby? That may help.

My wife has always been interested in racing & rallying. She became my navigator/co-driver on rallies & she was my pit crew when I raced. Although she grew tired of that & got her own racing license. Then the problem became whose weekend was it to race the car.

We no longer race or rally as old age is catching up with us. We still like taking a brisk drive in the country & having fun with our MINI group of friends.

I know you guys love your wives. IMHO it is best to find a common ground & enjoy things together. Having a competition with she spends he spends will not end well.

Just a very lucky old guys ramblings & worth what you paid for it.

 

I've been going to the dragon twice a year for 4-5 days per visit for the last 8 years (before the last 2) About 9-10 of us would meet from different parts of the country and ride our sportbikes. We've been arrested, wrecked, lost and chased.

The last time I took my car through the dragon, I had to pull over so my wife could puke without getting it in my car.

The dragon is cool but cherohola skyway is much more fun to me. With 120 mph sweepers and at 5000 ft elevation, it's a real cool ride.

Mark

 

BullitBlaster, I sympathize with the "need" issue, "bling" rarely works but butters the toast before paying the bill. If you try the "honey these new tires are much less expensive than the stock tires" that opens the door. And "the new wheels hold the less expensive tires", may help. Don't try the "the new tires and wheels will make you look even hotter riding in the MINI", that type of patronizing only warns them that there is an impending cost association that could be otherwise spent on her or the house. Good luck! Oh and Susi I would never try deceiving you, Honey you look hot in your MINI even if the expensive run flats look little on those factory, standard wheels.

 

Crashton, good advice for all couples. I was being humorous more than anything. Of all the things we do have in common (soccer, shooting, american football, etc..) this just isn't on her list right now. We have two young children so it's just not very practical right now. She and the kids love the Mini. When the kids get older we'll definitely start motoring together. Don't worry, no trouble in loveland here.

 

I'm so glad.

Sorry I missed that your post was humorus. I love the communication we have in this age, but at times it is hard for me to grasp the true meaning of the words typed. A voice tells one so much more than a writen word ever could.

Enjoy your family & MINI my friend.

 

It took a while to wear her down, but I ordered my new wheels last night from Tire Rack. Now that I think about it maybe it was the new iPad I got her???? Either way I was able to get some 17" Enkei Racing RPF1 wheels. I also was able to score a 22mm rear sway bar from Mini Madness. Wheels should be here on 12/23 while the sway bar will be a few weeks after that. Either way I'll be ready once the snow melts on the Dragon and the Cherahala Skyway.

 

BulletBlaster, I always up for a run on the Dragon. I live a few miles from there. I have had my Mini for about two weeks now.

 

I live in Farragut and work in Maryville. I'll probably head up there as soon as the snow goes away. I was just up there last Saturday and did the Dragon and Cherohala Skwy loop. It was awesome. Hardly any traffic and ZERO police. I'll drop you a line the next time I pln to head up there. Have you joined the Smokey Mountain Mini Club yet? You should come join us at the next meeting to meet a few of the members. I don't think we're having a meeting this month due to Christmas, but I'll send you a private message when I get the details.

 

15-year Gap vet here. It was more fun when the speed limit was 55 and nobody knew it existed, but it's still fun. You'll never hear me call it The Dragon, though. I hate that name.

I live in West Knoxville. I haven't been able to get up there for months. In fact, my yellow Miata never made it up there (a fact I'm disappointed by, but I hope the person who buys it from Mini of Knoxville gets it up there, since it still has the coilovers and RX8 Sport sways on it). I've been too busy with the tiki bar renovation for the past 7 months. About another month and we'll be "done." Wooohoooo!!! I already talked to Joe at RSpeed about a 22mm sway, and I'm going to see what he can do me on a suspension and installation as well. I can't stand having a stock suspension on my cars.