A little more than a week from now (on the 8th), I'll be driving the Dragon. I'll be visiting family in Knoxville, so I figured while I was there I should go check it out. Some friends from Atlanta are meeting me there to drive it with me (one has a Subaru WRX, the other has a new 3-series). We havn't figured out where we're meeting yet, but most likely I'll end up having to drive the Dragon once by myself to meet my friends.

I've never done it before, so... any advice? We picked a weekday hoping it wouldn't be too busy. I know there are a lot of other good roads up that way, esp. going back into Knoxville. I'm familiar with the roads in the park (441, 321) but not the surrounding ones. Also, any good places to stop along the way for food, etc.

I've been told it's like a giant autocross course. I've done a few of those, so I'd like to think I've got a handle on what I'm doing. But then again autocrosses don't have the downhill slope of a mountain on the side of the turns.

 

ADVICE: Just enjoy the ride!

 

Tie down or remove any loose articles in your car! Get ready for a huge grin factor!

 

be alert and be careful. If it's raining, I'd think twice about driving it, 'specially since it's your 1st time. Give your brakes plenty of time to cool down after each run...believe me, this isn't a road you want your brakes to fade on! Stay in second or third gear (speed limit is 35, and I advise you to stick to that). Have fun, but be safe....this road takes no prisoners.
Sweetwater BBQ in Robbinsville is great if you like BBQ.

 

Lane Crossing Kills

 

AMEN!

 

The first time, take it easy!! Run it at a slow pace so you can experience just how wild and intense it is. After that, adjust the speed to your skill and what you're comfortable with (remember, it's *not* a race!), while keeping in mind that the speed limit is 35 MPH. If you decide to go faster, that's your call, but remember that 'the law' could be around any corner!

Oh yeah, have fun!!


-Paul!

 

1.) Respect the road and your car, do not drive past your limits especially if you have the car loaded. It is a long ways down.
2.) Since it is fall and cooling down, the road may be wet / slick / covered with leaves in spots, be alert.
3.) Watch out for bears and other animals. I almost caught a bear in Aug and one MINI did in May.
4.) Have a great time. It is one heck of a ride!

 

A few tips:

ALWAYS stay in your lane. If you can't take the turns without crossing the center line, then slow down. There is nothing to prove and someone will always be faster than you. There are a surprising number of people watching you in this remote location and you don't want to be the guy that is humiliated and shamed when his photo gets posted on killboy's website like this:



Space the cars out. Don't drive in a tight pack. If the car in front of you makes a mistake, you want to be able to give him plenty of room to correct and get on his way. I generally let the car in front of me get about 1.5 turns ahead so I can see him on the straights but I have my turns all to myself.

Driving the dragon fast is all about smoothness and keeping up with the rhythm of the turns. You can drive aggressively and make it feel like you are going faster, but you don't gain anything except to overheat your brakes and burn excess rubber off of your tires.

Have fun. Take time to stop and watch others and enjoy the scenery.

 

Watch for motorcyclists!! There are a bunch of good riders that take on the Dragon, but there are a bunch of noobs that do too. Most of the noobs I have seen dont think twice about crossing lanes.

 

Is there any place for the law to run radar? I've always heard that the local cops have basically given up trying to stop speeders.

 

Stay in your lane and stay away from the double yellow line because the superbike riders seem to live on it as they come at you or pass.

As suggested before, take a few runs slowly to get a feel for the Dragon, and watch out for any leaves on the roadway, as they are VERY slippery.

 

They'll do it on the flat section along the reservior between Tabcat Bridge and Hwy 72 (right before you get to the dragon if you are coming from the Tennessee side). If you have a detector, you may pick up a series of 3 or 4 false signals that I believe have something to do with the dams in the area along that open flat section. Mostly, be cautious as you approach any of the boat ramps or camping pull-off's

Also, be very careful within a few miles of Robbinsville on 129. I know a couple people who got speeding tickets there last fall.

Law enforcement seems to avoid Hwy 28, but I have seen patrol cars near the bridge/dam in the past.

 

The local cops as well as other watchers are around, but especially when someone wrecks. Then, they are everywhere and stay around all the area roads for quite awhile, which can ruin everyone's weekend.

 

There are a number of places they can and do shoot radar on the Dragon. They give tickets out all the time. One biker just a couple months back got one coming and going on one run.

 

I will be driving it on the 8th also! Although in my Pontiac G5 rental car! Whooopie! I will be sure to wave you on by me as I will be really slow.

We are moving to Asheville in a couple of months, and then I will get to run it in the MINI.

 

Stay in your lane, don't cross the line EVER, and down-shift a lot! Don't wear out your brakes. Many of us stop at the Overlook, pop the bonnet and let the engine rest a bit, then do the same thing at Deal's Gap/Crossroads of Time, at the Deal's Gap gas station/mini mart/grill.

There's a great homey diner called The Homeplace at the intersection of 129 and 72. The food is okay at the grill at Deal's Gap. The Grill at Fontana Village has some good sandwiches. Take 28 left to Fontana, and pull into the Village at the Texaco station/Pit Stop (overpriced fuel there, though), to find the Grill at the Adventure Center.

Fuel is more reasonable along 28 at the CITGO or in Robbinsville at the other stations. There's good food at Sweetwater BBQ in Robbinsville on the 143 near the center of town, next to Ingles supermarket.

Have fun! Roll your windows down to get the best photos taken on the Dragon by Killboy...the other photographers are just not as good.

 

The Sweetwater rocks!

 

The BEST thing on the menu at Sweetwater is the smoked ribeye. You may want to call the day ahead and ask to make sure that Will smokes some for you that day.

Easily the tastiest steak I have EVER had!

 

I am in to memorizing the turns and things so kinda geekishly I would learn this map b4 I went. lol

 

Its just a road. With lots of turns. Drive safe.

 

I never had better barbeque than at the M-7 tent in May, prepared by the chef at the new Fontana Inn. I honestly thought I had died and had gone to Heaven....

 

Thanks for all the suggestions guys!!! Keep em coming

If we take pics, or if Killboy gets any of us, i'll be sure to post them.

 

Good idea, but this map doesn't come close to giving you any idea of the actual number of turns, elevation changes, sharpness of turns, etc.

It is a good reference, but probably not worth memorizing.

As an example, look at the pointer showing the location of the "Gravity Cavity". No map in the world can prepare you for this incredible series of turns and elevation changes, and it is different depending on the direction you are travelling.

 

Drive it like you stole it !!!!!


No.. really, just listen to all the good advice above and enjoy
Don't drive out of you comfort zone is my one piece of advice.