http://youtube.com/watch?v=XvA1XIBm4...related&search=

 

 

Yeah thats what I said. I wonder if thats a valid argument if you recieve a ticket from the HP on the dragon. Since it is a national park. And the state government has no control of that right?

 

I am very glad you found that and posted the video. For people new to the dragon, it is worth it to look at some of the other videos..Of course most of them are bikes, but you can get the gist of the dragon.
And with some of them, you can see just how easily it is for people to crash on that road.
My experience is that we are small enough to allow any bikes to pass us within the lane. The majority of the problem exists with 1)crossing the yellow line, and 2) pushing yourself beyond your skills. BE CAREFUL! It is NOT a road where you can really sight see, you NEED to pay attention!
Watching the videos is making me itch to get back out there! How many days left?

 

IIRC, the Dragon is not actually in the park, it is the south western most boundry, but is not actually federal park land. It is a US highway and state road 115.

 

The video is a great warning to show everyone how it can be bad when you encounter a truck on the dragon but the narration was a bit "conspiracy theorist" for me

 

If you want an even bigger laugh go to www.dealsgapdragon.com and read some of the info there.

It's a conspiracy I tell ya ! LOL

 

http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...e+Dragon&hl=en

 

http://youtube.com/watch?v=whVXD3ex9DA

 

The part about the naming of I140 after Sen. Carl Koella is absolutely true. That bastard (well he is also dead but I give him no respect) made a left turn in front of Terry Barnards motorcycle, killing Barnard and after getting out of his car and seeing what he did, hopped back in and drove off.

There are transcripts of his hearing, I'm not sure if it even went to trial, on the internet. Witnesses at the scene identified him yet I believe it was over 4 hours before the local cops got around to his house to test him for intoxicants and arrest him. He ended up with 30 hours community service and getting the highway on which he killed a man named for himself. Truth, justice and the american way.

It's been a while since I read them but the transcipts read like the script for My Cousin Vinnie.

 

I cant even believe that!

 

That is the Dragon, and that is a semi...I didn't listen or watch the whole thing cuz pictures are worth a thousand words.
Now, imagine that semi loaded with tons of cut timber...logging is big near there.
When veterans say the Dragon can be dangerous, they aren't kidding.

 

I had something very much like this happen right in front of my last year, not on the acutal dragon but a curve just before.

The biker could not make the left, went in the grass and flipped about three times. We stopped to help and he was either knocked silly or an a**hole, because he would not even talk to us. He just keep trying start his bike (not sure why most of it was not attached). After asking if he needed any help about ten times and him not responding we left.

Never under estimate the stupidity of someone who buys a bike but does not really learn how to ride.

 

I was there aswell for this incident and really thought the guy was a jerk. But who knows, maybe I'd be a jerk too if I was looking at my rolled Cooper S.

A couple weeks later I was at the Dragon in my MCoupe and came upon a bad, bad crotch rocket accident. That shut down the Dragon for almost 1.5 hours. The only good thing after that was is that I got to go first back towards TN and had a complete clean run.


Herbert

 

Just for information, there are several different jurisdictional types involving federal lands. The majority allow both federal officers (ie Rangers) and local (ie state police, county officers) to share jurisdiction within the federal lands. In these areas, both law enforcement types can issue tickets and make arrests. There are very few national parks and national forests where only federal officers have jurisdiction. Additionally, the roads through federal lands may not be considered part of the federal property.

 

I take offense to an ignorant statement. I was an 'average' Harley rider and never had a wreck and was never issued a speeding ticket on my bike. Wish I could say the same thing for driving my Mini.
Stupid people are everywhere. I've seen this video before and if we were in the car would of stopped to offer help. Maybe being a rider we have a different prespective than the average 'cage' driver.

Drive/ride safe.

 

You are correct, what you drive does not make you smart or stupid. However, I had many bikes and would never consider myself average. Not that I think I have any special talent, but most Harley riders just pay money and get on the bike. There is much more to it than that. I see every day some %#&% who has a Harley get in trafic and risk his life and mine becasue he can't ride it well.

Agreed, "Drive/ride safe.

 

Well, let's face it... riding in an unsafe manner is really just Darwin in action. Cycle vs. Anyhting At All = a world of hurt for the rider. I rode in Chicago for 5+ years, every time of the year and a "they're out to kill me I tell ya!" attitude spared me from any number of nasty situations. That said, I can't understand people that ride and act like jagoffs... The entire poinf ot riding is to be free of the constraints of a car and to meet like-minded people. Maybe we're not good enough for conversation because we have 4 tires on the ground instead of two...

 

Well as long as it is not me you are calling ignorant... That was the name of the video on youtube.com. However I will say that 75% of the harley riders I have seen are very inexperienced. Please don't take offense. It may have just been my experience with bikers.

 

No offense taken. Having ridden with Harley riders for many years, believe me, I've seen more than enough 'knuckleheads' on Harley. Those that are loud and obnoxious and give the majority of all bikers a bad rap. I was embarrased to ride the same marque. Riding the Harley was kind of like driving a Mini, but in a smaller way. Riding the Harley you belong to the brotherhood (for better/worse) and they have a very sense of community.
I was telling our dealer rep that Mini should follow the HOG (Harley Owners Group) lead in what they do for their riders. Organize drives every summer to different parts of the country, have Mini-rally's through-out the country, etc. They even have state rallies that are very much fun, having been to 3-4.

Sorry I rambled on.

 

Hahahah you guys are SO funny! Do you even know what conspiracy means?

Lets say a few (of the hundreds) of MOTD crew are talking about going for an early morning run (before other folks get up). Technically these people are conspiritors, and any discussion about their covert run - what did or did not occur must therefore logically be conspiracy theory.

Thought so!

I just love how folks abuse language, and cast aspersions at persons or concepts which they do not realate to.

If you've got an issue don't just spout off. Make your case, otherwise the dismissive words/tone is just more exhaust out the 'ol tail pipe.... Ad hominem attack, no logic, fact or reason.

Seems to me that what was shown/ said is pretty useful... (petty image of judge aside). You might want to visit that link & read up.

OK... I'll go take my chill pill now. Just like the thousanth time I've read/heard someone use that ignorant phrase this week.:impatient

 

A short piece of some of my video from last year. One bad truck, one bad motorcycle, and three bad MINI's. Folks with 'Lane Discipline' problems are to be found behind the wheels and handlebars of all types of vehicles I'm afraid.

Someone may point out that the MINI's shown were at the start of the Parade, with a long view ahead of the road and knew it was clear. That is true. But in my humble opinion one should still respect the yellow line. You shouldn't run the red light just cause it's clear and you shouldn't cross the yellow even if that's clear.

Some folks love to debate this point but...
Why go the the Dragon for twisty roads and short cut / straight line turns!

Y'all be safe out there, it may be my butt in the oncoming traffic!

MOTD 2006 'Transgressions'

Three motorcycles led the truck through, you can see one rider putting his arm out to warn me. Motorcyclists will often run interference when a truck blunders into the Dragon to try and prevent a accident.

 

Uhhh derrrrr naw I be so stupidz that I doesn't knaw what conspiarecy means but I do be every so grateful for you'ums setting me strate. Hey but seriously thanks for directing your condescending tone & a$$hat comments towards me Man for someone who just started an ignore list a month ago it sure is growing quickly

 

Perhaps you should look it up.

According to Webster:

conspiracy - 1. a conspiring 2. an unlawful plot

conspire - 1. to plan together secretly, as to commit a crime

The underlying tone of secretly planning an illegal or unaccepted act is pretty clear.

 

keep it safe. thats the plan.