This essentially makes it off limits.

http://www.tailofthedragon.com/dragon_SHUTDOWN.html

 

Don't know if I'd really worry about it unless it becomes regular practice. There are many areas that are rarely patrolled on a regular basis. Then, someone gets a law enforcement grant, they load up the area for a weekend, everyone gets a bunch of overtime, the politicians get some face time saying they're making the world a safer place, then everything goes back to normal.

We'll just have to keep an eye on the prize for a while, before I start to scream that the sky is falling.

 

Andy will make Barney put his bullet back in his pocket soon...

 

More info here:

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d.php?t=109833

and here (also more colorful language here):

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=255056

Every internet sports car / sport bike forum is ablaze with threads about the over zealous policing of the Dragon. I believe I'll stay away from there until things quiet down.

Even rumors (unsubstantiated) about 'speed bumps' being installed on the
TN side (very doubtful).

 

It would seem that TN finest have some problems or their own!

Think your wife or daughter would be safe if stopped alone?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QA33zFHeXAs

At the end of the video it says that "this is the third time cops raped women on videotape during traffic stops in Lebanon Tennessee..."

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - Barbie Cummings doesn't see what the fuss is about. Tennessee Highway Patrol suspended one of its troopers with pay this month while it investigates the Knoxville-based **** star's online claims that the trooper had oral sex with her during a traffic stop in Middle Tennessee. Cummings, who gives her age as 21, lives in Knoxville and visits Los Angeles about once a month to star in adult movies and on Web sites. She keeps a blog that details her work and sex life, complete with photos and video clips. That blog drew the THP's attention - and led to the suspension of Trooper James Randy Moss, who's worked for the agency since 1997 - after a May 7 entry described a traffic stop near Lebanon that took a surprise turn. A visit to a secluded spot followed, she said, with photos and video shot by the trooper. Cummings met with THP investigators a little more than a week ago and said she turned over the photos and video. Over 46,000 downloads

 

We passed her twice on I-40 on the way home from MOTD! We joked about her ugly pepto pink Accord on our radios.

 

Was she "stopped" at the time?

 

Nope...she was moving quite quickly. She did seem to be going a little slower when we passed her the second time heading the other direction...

ick...

 

Here are my pics taken by Killboy at MOTD 2007 of track-toy (5 pics) followed by 2 pics of lazy-assed, dangerous driving by Tennessee State cops. I got these last 2 pics off the TOD site. The driving style sure is ugly! Worthy of a ticket don't you think?

http://www.chandler-motorsports.com/album13

 

Any ideawhen this is going to lighten up? I may have the oppurtunity to head over there in the coming weeks but am gong to pass by vurtue ofit would be more stressful than enjoyment.

 

I don't know. During MOTD '07, I never saw anyone in a MINI cross the line like their troopers did and I'm real pleased that no MINI was photographed doing what these cops did.

Anyone who goes to the Dragon should have copies of these line-crossing cops in case you are pulled over.

 

I was on the Dragon a few weeks ago. If you can go during the week and start from the NC side to see if there is a trooper/sheriff on patrol. Then if all is clear, make the run back towards deals gap... If not continue on around to the skyway and enjoy that bit of road..

 

So...

With all of this going on...how does everyone still feel about MOTD '08? I really don't want to get a ticket for "just being there".

Any thoughts? :impatient

 

Hopefully it'll be down to normal by the time I get there in Nov.

 

I took a trip to the Dragon (from CT) in the last week of September. I only had one day to drive it (a Monday) and saw exactly one cruiser on the Dragon, and none on the Cherohala skyway or surrounding roads. This was my first visit to the Dragon, and I can certainly see where a big group of MINIs (like MOTD) could certainly be a cop magnet. Anyway, I had a complete ball, and it was totally worth the 16 hour drive to get there!

 

I don't see any real problems insofar as MOTD '08 goes. The nice thing about next year's extravaganza is that it begins midweek, and THAT'S the time to go Dragonslaying. Weekends are really busy, though, and the cops are usually out in force. As long as you stay inside the yellow line and watch your speed it shouldn't be a biggie.

 

THP ran out of money for the grand experiment. Can they do it again? Certainly, on any given day. But I opine their show of force has expired. Audi TT were there in force last w/e without any problems.

 

Thanks for the info! Let's get ready for MOTD '08!

 

yeah they wrapped it up a while ago, and you're best bet for lower enforcement levels is always during the week, esp. Mondays acccording to the locals. I have a photo that puts the shame of what happened during those few months into prespective, I'll have to post it soon.

 

I think it accurately refelects what happened and the general displeaure with how things were handled, as well as the shame of people defacing a road so beautiful, proving that they should've been there in the first palce. I think in a lot of ways it was a lose lsoe what with bad press and howthings turned out.

 

http://www.state.tn.us/safety/newsre...09DealsGap.htm

 

That sucks, that looks like a sweet road.

 

well we were there for Mini Slay the Sleeping Dragon, and I don't think I saw one cop anywhere...

 

Maybe so, but the 2007 grant money is mostly likely long gone. See this thread for recent developments.