GATLINBURN, Tenn. — A fire blazing in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park was started by a motorcycle crash.
National Park Service spokesman Bob Miller said the fire had grown to about 10 acres by Wednesday night and would expand further Thursday while firefighters worked to contain it.
It began when a rider crashed his motorcycle on U.S. 129 in a winding area known as "the Dragon."
Miller said the steep and rocky terrain prevents firefighters from making a direct attack on the fire. They were working to contain it between the highway and the Topoco power line.
Officials said the motorcyclist walked away from the crash.

 

I read about this on Killboy.com a few minutes ago. He's supposed to be heading out to take pictures.

 

http://www.wbir.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=56810

They have some video and pictures.

 

another one slayed by the dragon.. Its good he was ok and no one hurt

Just goes to show The dragon isnt a place to be taken lightly... Hope people understand that before MOTD...

 

If the THP hasn't been around much, they probably will be now.

 

You thought the LEOs were out in force now, this just adds fuel to the fire....Pardon the pun.

Everyone better enjoy this years MOTD, it may very well be the last one.

 

There is a lot more then an 11 mile section of road. Lots of great roads in the area that allow for some scenic views while motoring along at a sane pace. The Dragon is not a track for us to go out and drive at silly speeds. Just because there is focus on that one road doesn't mean we all won't have fun in the area. Besides, the gathering of the MINI owners is the best part, not the road.

 

+10000000000000000
Completely agree. Coming from St. Louis Mo, fun will be had by me! guaranteed

 

I agree 100%, but the LEO problem will carry over to other areas after they have killed the Dragon. The fun spirited driving may be in jeopardy....

I hope I am wrong.

 

I agree .
While the Dragon is a lot of fun to drive on I am there primarily for the gathering of the MINI's and their owners.

 

Come on Mielnicki, where's your positive attitude? A little bit of optimism can go a long way here

Your friend,
Jason

 

I certainly hope I am wrong, but I have seen what elected officials can do! Take a look at our country as a whole.

 

lol - he said optimism not cynicism!

While I, too, agree that MOTD is about more than a road - how do you appeal to the newbs that don't know anyone? The road is certainly a great draw. Continually appealing to new folks is the only way to really perpetuate something. So, if things continue down this path and the road is no longer a viable option to experience, I can easily see MOTD (and the Dragon itself) withering into obscurity - and likely with a dramatic drop off next year.

But everything goes in cycles, so it'll probably come back in 15 or 20 years when people think it is "new" all over again and the young locals who will take over don't have the same mentality as the current powers that be.

I guess that plants me squarely in the middle as a realist. (*blows a kiss to the youthful days of optimism*)

 

it will all be o.k. in the end, but things will look a bit different when we are there in a few spots.

 

I hope not in the prime killboy locations

 

Hey not to be a pyro or anything, but were the missing image files of the fire?

 

I think this means I need to rethink my "MINI's burning up the Dragon" T-shirt idea.

 

so is the fire out now?

 

At least the fire was not caused by a MINI.

 

From the Deal's Gap Weblog

"The great fire of 2008 is burning out. Yesterday, it looked like it was well over 100 acres, but this am, its not much more than a bunch of smoldering piles of leaves. Thanks to all that kept that beast under control. Ive still not heard how the wreck happened, so if you know, please contact me."

I saw a couple of photos yesterday on zeephoto.com. The motorcycle was in a ditch next to an embankment and it appeared that the fire burned up the hill. Wasn't much left of the motorcycle.

Remember, let's be careful out there.

 

I enjoy drivin' & ridin' the dragon as well as the other roads nearby. That's not to say they're the only roads of interest in the state of tennessee.

 

Read about this in my motorcycle forums. This sucks. We don't want accidents like this to happen. We don't want accidents to cause forest fires in our favorite mountain destinations. We don't want to give the government any more reasons to pay closer attention to the Gap or surrounding areas. I'd hate to be the rider that wrecked. Can anyone imagine the hate mail once the name gets out? I love this entire area, but the more popular it becomes, the more attention it attracts. Hopefully the residents in the area are didn't have any major property damage.

 

I really hope everyone takes it easy!!! I am sure the LEOs are going to be out there now for sure....

 

Well I am still going to come down.. It is more about the comraderie then the road.. but the roads are fun down there...

There is always the Snake...