Dragon Run?
 

Heading to the Dragon on 8/6 to spend 8/7 thru 8/9 playing in Dragon! Need me some Dragon Therapy! Anyone wishing to join me, feel free! I plan to car camp at Deals Gap or at a pull off in the Dragon. Will continue to “social distance” while Dragon Slaying! Hope to see some MINIs down there.

I will talk it over with the wife and see if she is down for a weekend trip. If you are camping, why dont you run down moonshine 28 to Fontana Dam, and camp by the damn, then you have an 8 mile trip down 28 to the dragon. As of the 4th of July, they had the water turned on down there and there was only one camp site setup.

Looking like we will be down there. No grandkids at my parent’s and daughter will be with her mom that weekend.

I will look for ya! But you know where I’ll be, makin’ Dragon Runs!
 

I’ll be driving thru Cincinnati around 10pm Thursday night!

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nor...2890a9da2.jpeg
Custom made memory foam 6” thick mattress, full 80” length from glove box to boot(but only 24” wide! Lol). Anywhere is an overnight spot! Lol
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nor...030078778.jpeg
Have owned this 2005 MC since new, now 174,000 miles and I still love to drive the heck out of it!

If all goes we should be in Pigeon Forge by 10:30, if not we are leaving 5am Friday. I could use a couple of days of driving.

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nor...e780b63fc.jpeg
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nor...c7fb30b3b.jpeg
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nor...bfd3af372.jpeg
Campground at Fontana dam early March, in July the water wasn’t as high, but still clear as can be.

Dragon Therapy!
 

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nor...eba75850c.jpeg
Thanks 129photos.com for always getting great pics! See you soon!

I’m sure we can can give a couple of good shots, turbo flutter tends to get there attention a bit quicker 😉

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nor...182f69bb8.jpeg
15 years of modding. 15 years of Dragon Runs. Still love drivng this slow Justa Cooper R50! This time next week, baby! (Again, thanks to 129photos.com for catch my rear tire off the ground thru this turn! Lol)

Thank 129 for this one.
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nor...59895010bb.png
I was close to getting it off the ground.

I’ll be bringing my gmrs two way radios so we can chat during runs!

Just picked up some more hand sanitizer, ordered some new mask, neck wrap type, picked up a spare qt of oil, bottle of quick detail, have coolant already down there in Pigeon Forge. I should be just about ready minus her road trip bath.

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nor...19f1775db.jpeg
Leave in less than 24 hours for some Dragon Therapy! Wooo hooo

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nor...514774fb6.jpeg
Makin’ MINI friends on the Dragon!

Jesus you’re fast.
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nor...ec924ed6c.jpeg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nor...c23c9f98d.jpeg
Wife says I got the morning free, see you around 8.

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nor...dc5da4b67.jpeg
Taking a break from making new MINI friends and Dragon Runs! It’s a perfect Sat down on the Dragon, road is very busy with Miatas and Corvettes. Found a spot for my hammock next to a babbling brook. Skyway is planned for later this afternoon.

Sorry I could not make it back down. Wife’s stomach can’t handle it.
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nor...454d3a17c.jpeg
Doesn’t look like she was out chasing Colin all day.
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nor...2df531627.jpeg
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nor...2a867860b.jpeg
Ready for bed.

RaceR50 was freaky fast!
 

So, I headed out to run the Dragon on Friday, Aug 7 thru Sunday, Aug 9! Was joined by “Miatas at the Gap” and a Corvette Rally. The RaceR50 held it’s own during the day and shined bright with my 4 Hella Led driving light bar at night! Heard many drivers of much more powerful cars and many locals(during the evening) commenting on the speed of the MINI! Lol. 15 years and over 10,000 miles on the Dragon with this R50, I hopefully have learned something. Lol. Had an absolute blast and met a lot of nice people(all while maintaining social distancing & wearing masks while inside Deals Gap or Tail of the Dragon.)

It was an absolute blast trying to keep up with you. You sir, know how how drive that mini. Note to self no wife next time, you have the perfect setup for weekends down there. Might be a post for an October 9th trip 😉 more practice definitely needed over here.

It was great to meet you guys! You drove your MINI well! You followed the important tips: drive your ability, stay in your lane & learn your MINI! I could see you getting faster each run! (Please remember that I have 15 years of experience down there and a MINI totally set up to drive the Dragon.)

it definitely shows you have 15 years in her, hell im not even in the 15 month range yet, will only be a year in November. It awesome following someone of your experience, get to see the different lines, and let’s face it chasing a mini is way more fun than chasing vettes.

Dragon Hill Climb Overlook
 

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nor...83c811380.jpeg
Saturday afternoon got busy and slow on the Dragon. So, after doing the Dragon Hill Climb I stopped at the end at the newly rebuilt overlook platform.....perfect spot for my hammock and a nap!

Pano pic
 

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nor...92491ec49.jpeg
270 degree panoramic view! And pics DO NOT DO IT JUSTICE!

Running 25mm rear sway bar full stiff!
 

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nor...da3cc7de3.jpeg

My MINI has a tad bit of oversteer! Can anyone tell? Lol

Thanks
https://129photos.com/