This is the first year we will have the "Darkness on the Dragon" run, an alternative to the traditional "Midnight on the Dragon" for those who want to experience the Dragon at night without staying up so late. And I have the honor of being your host.

If you haven't done this before, no worries! For everyone except the person who runs out front it's mostly just follow the leader and follow the lights. If you have driving lights, great! If you don't, that's fine too. We'll all run with our brights on (unless you have driving lights) and you can adjust your mirrors (turn them in) to avoid the brightness. At the end we'll do the traditional "raising of the bonnets." And for those who still want to do the midnight run (like me) there will be plenty of time for that too.

If there is enough interest I will organize a group buy for some magnetic blinkly lights we can use on our run. These little lights are a great way to decorate your MINI for the event and light up the night! They're about $.70 each, come with batteries and have strong magnets. We have been using them for Sunshine MINIs appearances in night parades for the last two years and they're great.

They come in white, red, green, blue, blue and yellow, red and green. If you're interested in getting some post in this thread and I'll organize a group buy then bring them to Fontana to distribute. They come in packs of 10 and you can cover a lot of MINI with 10-20 because they are really bright.

Looking forward to seeing you all.

 

I'm there, dude. And will be back at Midnight.

 

May I suggest flashingblinkylights.com. They have a good selection and the cheapest replacement batteries I have found.

 

Woohoo! Blimey and MINIBee ride again!

 

I'll take a pack of red and a pack of white!

 

Just a reminder.. Last year a few folks were stopped coming back from Midnight on the Dragon for using more than 2 driving lights, and if I remember correctly, I believe some were ticketed

 

It was the NC cops messing with people about the lights. According to the NC police, you can only run one pair of auxillary lights at a time - that included factory fogs.

I got a strange look when I drove by with about 50 blinky lights on but I just kept driving before he had a chance to say anything!

 

I believe someone at MOTD last year was hassled for the blinkies. Probably OK to run them in the Mini conga line that will be "Midnight" and "Darkness", but also best not to run them when alone...

Good luck!

 

The TVA Police (in North Carolina) were after anyone running excess lights. If you put them on at Deals Gap (NC/TN border) you may not have a problem as long as you take them off before heading back into NC and going by Fontana Dam.

 

Yeah, they were waiting right by the little bridge near the road that goes to the bottom of the dam. I think Mishka's right...if we put them on at Deal's Gap and take them off at Deal's Gap we probably won't have a problem.

 

TVA Police are Federal, they have jurisdiction anywhere there is TVA property, which is everywhere down there.

 

That's true, but they were sitting at the dam waiting on the MINIs to go by and then stopping them (or following them into Fontana Village) and not cruising up at Deals Gap. That's why I said "you may not have a problem".

On a different, but similar subject, has anyone heard if the Tennessee law enforcement folks are still doing heavy enforcement on the Dragon?

 

I can't find any information regarding increased patrols, they may start up again now that the weather is starting to get better.

However, "TDOT is preparing to make some upgrades to the Dragon. Plans that we have seen call for paving many of the pull-offs, improving the berms where most accidents occur, and installing some additional warning signs. There are no plans to install speed bumps."

form TailofTheDragon.com

 

Let's hope that's not scheduled for the last week of April...

 

I would be very interested in the lights for this drive!!!

 

I'd like a pack of white lights for the drive, please.

 

i'm in for the ride and the lights

 

Dr Evil and I will be there. He would love to wear some red lights. He told me so.

 

don't you mean "la-sers"

 

Why yes.... that IS what I meant.

 

OK, I will get the light information and start making a list soon.

And I'll check to see if they have any sharks with "frickin' lasers" on them.

 

bwwaaaaaaaaaaaaahahahaha !!

 

OK, here is the list compiled from the thread. I'm still waiting for pricing information but plan on about $10 for each pack of ten lights and we'll split up the shipping.

JCWCOMP62 - 10 red, 10 white
mbl26 - need quantity and color
x uh oh x - 10 white
oxtox - 20 green
CR&PW&JB - 10 red
davavd - 10 blue
computerdoc - 10 red, 10 green
quemas - 10 red, 10 yellow

 

10 is good for me, my friend.

 

10 it is! 38 days to go!