That could work, you could be the official decoy.
Only thing we need now is some sort of STP Krispy Kreme additive to make your exhaust smell just like fresh baked Krispy Kreme doughnuts.

 

mmmmmm....... donuts

 

EastTNriders.com has no update in the last several months. I opine that the Sheriff can appear anywhere and anytime. We can run, but we can't hide. I say support the locals, and stay on the Dragon. Go on the offense.

Quattro de Mayo is basing out of Highlands. We're running up Friday 2 May. We'll see you. Wave at the Audi and VW crowd. IF you come to Highalnds, come to Mitchell's Lodge and Cabins, going south of the west end of the main drag, and join us for our after-party!

Registration at MotorSportReg and info on Quattro de Mayo 2008!

 

conversely, I hope you guys will come to Fontana to say howdy...there'll be something happening up there all the time.
Drive safe.

 

OK, OK, NOT in defense of the TN HP. I'm currently stationed on the USS GREENEVILLE, the only Ship in the Navy's history to be named for "small town America". It's named for Greeneville, TN, about 2.5 hours North of the Dragon on the other side of the Great Smokey Mtns. We are planning on stopping by on our way back from the Dragon.

My point is this. One of the town Managers came up to Maine recently to visit us in overhaul. We got to talking about the Tail of the Dragon. He had no idea what it was or where it was. I explained some of the history, and he had NO IDEA that a popular Motorcycle/Auto Mecca ran through his state, or so close to his home.

So I agree with the general thought. The TN HP is trying to 'get theirs' without going through the pains of planning, budget and building up the area on the other end of the Tail. Will it backfire? Probably. But this is a good time for all those economics whizzes to take a healthy look at investing into the other end of the Tail... so to speak...

I've never known a better deterrent to overactive police enforcement than the economic backlash of angry business men.

 

Isn't there a radio channel reserved for Dragon running? Just curious...

 

FWIW-
11 Miles are in TN (yes, Tabcat Brdge is @ MM 11). Another 8 or so go from the COT to Fugitive Bridge IIRC, into NC. Used for filming of Two Lane Blacktop in the 60s.

Did Sebring last weekend: got to see 119 (recorded on my GPS) during a "parade" lap!

 

I'm pretty sure it's 7:21

 

What time does the THP head out to patrol? I was wondering if i can get out on the dragon at the crack of dawn and hit it before they come in.

 

I'm pretty sure they're a 24/7/365 operation...

 

 

Serious error in judgement by THAT Mini driver. I lectured my Audis last year: crossing the yellow line earns you a time out.

 

I drove the Dragon at 6:30am a few years ago. The road is probably going to be a bit damp at that hour (ground seepage and condensation) and there is a high probability of fog. It was a beautiful run with the sun rising, but please be sure to take it a bit more gently than you normally would... and it's probably a very bad idea to have a passenger along who might be prone to motion sickness... the twisties + slick roads + reduced forward visibility (visual isolation from horizon) from the fog is a recipie for the Technicolor Yawn (as my old University dorm mates used to call it).

That said, I would think that earlier runs would have a reduced chance of LEO encounters. The Dragon is at the far eastern end of the state... one might logically expect that any large-scale STATE PATROL effort would come from one of the larger cities an hour or so away. That doesn't mean that you won't be spotted by a local LEO if you do something crazy on his route to/from work.

 

Has the dealer tag too. Yeesh.

 

Well I married a gal from TOPTON NC just the other side of Robbinsville and I did the DRAGON before it was popular. I also ran it as a short cut from K_Town to Hotlanta, in big rig but in those days only had 38 or 40' trailer. My 73 GTO with 400 CUI, 2-4BLs and 4 it the floor was a tank but did a good job. The problem started when the CROTCH ROCKET (KWNB) crowd started, thats ( Kids with No Brains) they think that nothing will happen to them and they have full race gear with metal pads etc, but they get killed every year there. Of course when you have sports cars and they wreck its usually not fatal but it doesn't help either, last year we had a convertible flip, a vetran, also a hard top crashed his and ended up in hospital for several days, a total loss mini and it was just because people don't have the sense to drive within their means. If your not a road racer, just have fun and do your own thing, and by all means just because some a-hole behind you is driving aggressively don't be imtimidated and speed up for him, just pull over at the nearest place and let him go. I will be there from Sunday to Sunday but I won't be on the DRAGON after Wednesday because thats when the cops come out for the weekend meets. Just everyone use some common sense or this will be a thing of the past!!!! P.S. there are alot better roads to run around there, you just have to find them. They may not be 11 miles long, but there just as good. Hope everyone has a safe and great time this year, if you get ticketed just remember it is not because you weren't WARNED! LUKE, Pres Mini Motoring Club of the Carolinas

 

Blount County local LEO also got involved in last year's fiascos. "Check 6" is a good motto.

 

In SC the highway patrol must live in the county they patrol, or with in a certain distance of HQ. They just radio in when the head out at the start of the day. I would imagine its the same for TN. So the TNHP will be out there fairly quickly in the mornings, so I doubt going early will help.

 

Here is the most interesting part of the TN Motor Vehicle code.

I was looking for allowable overage limits for speed. For instance in PA, on State Police can use Radar, and they can not write you a ticket unless you exceed the limit by 6 mph when mesured by Radar, 11 mph by VASCAR.

It appears as though they can give you a ticket in TN for as little as 1mph over, which sucks with the MINI speedometer.

Anyway on to the best part of the code:

55-8-166. Driving on mountain highways. —


The driver of a motor vehicle traveling on mountain highways shall hold such motor vehicle under control and as near the right-hand edge of the highway as reasonably possible and, upon approaching any curve where the view is obstructed within a distance of two hundred feet (200¢) along the highway, shall give audible warning with the horn of such motor vehicle.


[Acts 1955, ch. 329, § 66; T.C.A., § 59-867.]

 

Need to rig a doughnut launcher to shoot doughnuts out the sunroof at them ...

 

I'm just rigging my horn to blow the whole dam time - malicious compliance
Bring earplugs and, for the night driving, sunglasses
This is getting ridiculous

 

Perhaps a little 007 action... I was thinking of rigging a contraption that will leave a very slick layer of doughnut glaze behind my MINI should they try and chase me.
But after testing this with the local PD, I found that it tends to attract them versus repel them.

 

There's alot of Krispy Kreme stores closing out west, maybe you could buy one of their machines!

 

A diversion might be effective. Anyone care to set up a Table West of the Tabcat bridge?