Now that sums it up. Well written Rudy. I could bot have said it any better. Like I said, I do know of one vendor who will get an invite, who does great work, supports our MINI community better than anyone in our area. I will announce it in the next day or so, but again, I want as little as possible interfering with the focus of the weekend. Plus, that's one thing I like about MOTD, the ability to see all the vendors at one place and time. I think it's better suited for that kinda thing.....
jason

 

How about a caravan from the triad from the Clemmons exit at KFC around 10am on Friday

 

Lets coordinate this with the caravan/convoy from RDU Raleigh. Blimey should be chiming in soon. If we leave RDU around 0830 (ish), then we can meetup at the KFC in Clemmons (Triad), then as we grow, head down to Western NC.

I suggest taking some back roads and elminating using I40.. just an idea.

 

*Ding*

Chiming in.


Yep, RTP convoy hooking up with Triad convoy will be the plan. Though we MAY stick to the interstate - just 'cause its a HELLISHLY long drive from Raleigh to Fontana already (to be in the same state)... and the faster we get there, the more REAL twisties we get to drive Friday afternoon...

 

I agree with BC. Lets get to the twistys!

 

Agreed... I guess from that point of view, its about making up fast time to the mountains for "real" bred twisties, and not wasting precious time teasing ourselves with wannabe roads with slight wiggles and (cough) dare I say bends...

 

Check the main page of this thread for an update. It's underlined! Cool news!
jason

 

Can't wait till Nov. The ride up, rides there, and ride back, will be a blast!!!

 

Agreed!
jason

 

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

 

Yeah - there's been a lot of high-profile enforcement there lately. I'm not real worried about it. Why?

1) The state government and the LEOs typically have the attention span of a gnat. Someone somewhere will create another "crisis" soon enough, and off they will go. Probably before November.

2) Whenever I go up with a group, we all take our 2-way radios and take turns "scouting" for such foolishness. Easy to beat if you're paying attention and have friends.

3) Even if I'm wrong about point #1 - there are DOZENS of GREAT roads to ride up there. I know some "locals" from the area that never bother with the Dragon, cause there are roads they consider BETTER with way less traffic and virtually no LEO presence. And, happily, I know some of these roads...

But if they show up for the midnight run, I'll be P.O.'d.

 

That's funny! I'll be pissed, too! There's always the Cherahola, and others like it that are fun, as well. And I agree, November is along way away. Besides, bees tend to hibernate in the fall, don't they?
jason

 

The Cherohala's nice - though I'm thinking of "Thunder Road" and some other mad crazy twistiness... off the beaten path... and the Hellbender (28) from Stecoah to Deal's Gap is worth going up for, even if the Dragon weren't there...

 

By the way, if the LEOs are still out in force in November - we'll do a couple of 15mph "parade laps" just to irritate them.

 

 

Heel yeah dude, sign me up for that one, insubordination rules

 

There would be no way I would ever go 15 mph on the dragon...

Haha well maybe if one was behind me

 

Dude, ESPECIALLY if there's one behind you. See how THEY like creeping down the road

 

I hope so.. I've been going there for years, and I'm not ready to throw in the towel just yet. This is a copy of a post from a friend in a similar thread in New Triumph Bonneville Forum. He livs in Maryville, TN - just on the TN side of the Dragon. Note the last sentence...
_____________________________

>" I live 23 miles from the beginning of the Dragon (TN side). We've lived here four years, and every year there seems to be a flurry of bad crashes on the Dragon, followed by a couple weeks of increased LEO activity. This year, however, seems different. There were four fatalities in an eight day period about a month ago. Motorcycle accidents on the Dragon usually make the front page of the Maryville Daily Times newspaper, and the local citizenry seems to be getting upset.

The non-biking public believes that out-of-towners come to the Dragon, crash, can't pay their evacuation and medical bills, and the local community supposedly is stuck with paying the bills. I don't know how true this is, but that is the local perception.

There was a long letter to the editor in the Daily Times today by a local citizen saying he was afraid to drive on the Dragon, and that everyone he knows is also afraid, all because of the crazy, reckless bikers. He mentioned that there are many natural beauties on the other (NC) side of the Dragon (such as Fontana and the Joyce Kilmer Forest), but that people will not go there from here.

Yep, things seem to be changing, and I believe this time the changes will be long-term. The county did get additional funds to patrol the Dragon, and I don't see this ending for a long time.

The bottom line is that if you come to the Dragon, be very, very cautious. Don't be discouraged, however, because there are lots of other terrific roads around here. "<

 

'Tis sad, but there's plenty of spirited driving around there, and there's always midnight. I think we should take them some donuts.
jason

 

Check the main page of this thread for an update. It's underlined! Cool news!
jason

 

1) Glad to hear Dan's going and being generous as usual and for those who don't know (yet) dat guy can drive!

2) Ain't skeered of the PoPo, just behave yourself--and keep the V1 on. ;-)

3) Other vendors can come drive with us, right? I'd think they're enthusiasts and that's what this is about. It won't turn commercial 'cause we won't let it. I don't think it's like we'll have a vendor area or vendor tents, and if a vendor wants to edify me about their product, MINI dynamics and the like over an adult beverage, said vendor, not me, I don't imbibe any more, that's cool.

4) I think we have three major caravans at this point, SC folks, Charlotte folks and Parts East/RDU folks. Will (at least) the NC contingent converge at some point on the way in? My geography is lacking, I usually just follow the guy in front of me. ;-)

5) <insert Giddy with excitement type sentence here>

 

1. I, for one, am stoked he is coming, and sharing his knowledge! I am also glad he can enjoy it this time.
2. I am not scared either. We all have radios and radar detectors. We'll have to look out for one another moreso.
3. As far as vendors go, I have stated what I want this weekend to be about. As long as that's respected, the more the merrier. We won't have a vendor area, and don't want there to be tents. If they want to show up and be a part, it's all good. I don't want to take anything away from MOTD.
4. I am obviously with the Charlotte caravan, but I think we should meet in the middle, like Statesville or Hickory maybe?
5. I freakin can't wait!!!
jason

 

Funny you mention that... by the look at some of the photos', it looks like they do lots of hibernation and donut eating... I mean if the shoe fits.....

Tis is a sad bit of news indeed... why is TN trying so hard to protect us from ourselves. I'll definitly be doing some of those 15 to 10 mph parade laps just to push the "kill them with kindness" act.

Of course with the use of good friends, radios, and some luck, we may be able to avoid them... not too worried at this point. Plus, there must be some other great twisties you all can share... We all could use that inner knowledge we all seek...

Still... no matter what happens... we are all going to have a blast... the popo can go fofo themselves for all I care...

 

Anyone see the killboy video with something like 14 LEOs? That's gonna be tough to avoid.