2008 Tail of Dragon trip
 

Just in case you don't frequent the Porsche Lounge section (I tend to read only the General Discussion and Performance Talk) the details for this years' Tail of the Dragon trip is in the following thread:

http://986forum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=15159

If you have any questions do a quick search on the forum or even through Google to see what we are talking about. We had an absolute blast last year and it was a great opportunity not only to drive our cars as they were designed but also to meet other members of the forum. As of this post we have myself (and the Mrs.), NickCats (and I assume his Mrs.), Randall Neighbour, and derb. It sounds like Chills will be joining us and I anticipate bmussati will also join. Please feel free to invite whomever you would like as last year we had one of Randall's friends in his crazy psycho hopped up Toyota MR2 (no ugly a$$ wing). :D

Don't wait to book your hotel room (most of us are staying at the Two Wheel Inn) as depending on the weekend, the rooms go fast. The hotel (I guess its actually a motel) is very affordable ($60-$70/night) and the owners are extremely nice. Last year I put approximately 2000 miles on my car with about 500-600 of it during the two days we were down there. If you want to bring your significant other please consider bringing some dramamine (sp?) as the continuous back and forth curves can take its toll.

:cheers:

Dates of the trip are September 13 and 14 in Robbinsville, NC. (just so everyone doesn't have to read through that whole thread.

Let's work hard to double the attendance at this year's event!

Get the word out on other boxster forums and boards as well. The more the merrier!

How many rooms are available at the Two Wheel Inn ? Are the dates SOLID ? I would like to attend but dont want to show up and find out I'm there alone LOL..

you guys can count me in as well, I love roadtrips and it'll be fun to meet the rest of you guys...ill probably bring the fiancée as well, shes a huge car enthusiast too.

There were 16 rooms at the time I called yesterday. Dates are solid now, hence the new official thread started by the Deputy Mayor, Sammy Moons over My Hammy.

-TOD Mayor McCheese

I'll call the Inn today and book Friday and Saturday night.

Being a cheap-o I'd like to split the room with another 986er, doesn't have to be from Chicago.

Sammy, I'm planning on convoying down there with the rest of the Chi-town crew.

Chills,

I think we are heading down Friday and coming back Monday.

You may want to book Sunday night if you want to caravan back with us.

Nick

Right now my plan is to head back on Sunday solo. That could change and I might stick around another day depending on how much fun you guys are to hang around. lol :cheers:

I too will have to leave after lunch on Sunday. It's an 18 hour drive and I can't miss too much work the week before a big conference I'm attending in NW Chicago (South Barrington).

Randall,

I work in Hoffman Estates, which is right next to South Barrington ( I would bet money your conference is at Willow Creek, which is right next to my office ).

Looks like I might be seeing a lot of you in September ;)

Any chance you can break away from your conference while you are in town ?

Nick

Nick, I was planning on it. I need a good slice of pizza. Let's make that happen.

Randall,

You got it !

http://www.loumalnatis.com/index.html

Nick

Slurp! :dance:

Deputy Mayor... hmmm... I kind of like the sound of that. Maybe I'll go into politics??? ;)

Chills, the extra dough is definitely worth it! Most of the cost last year was in gas since the local restaurants are pretty inexpensive (I think the most we paid for two of us was $25-$30 for dinner).

gmboxster and xxxalexxx, it will be great to meet you and I doubt you'll be disappointed. :D

Mmmm... Chicago pizza... Let me know where and what time and we'll meet up.
:cheers:

Hey, I am new to the site as you can see. Long before I bought my Boxster last year, I have been wanting to take a trip to drive the TOD. TOD looks like a blast. I am new to the Chicago area also and have not found any interesting drives around here (no real twisties).

How was your trip last year? Any concerns? I know I am not a F1 driver material but I am competent and can drive my Boxster to at least 9/10th without killing myself or endangering others. However, on Youtube, there are idiots crossing over the double yellow on blind corners and 18 wheelers taking up most of the road. Any hasseling from the local cops?

Sorry, too many questions. I am not trying to start a new thread. If I can arrange my schedule, you might see me there.... carvaning with the Chicago crew sounds fun.

Welcome to the board, hjkim. :cheers:



Sammy, I don't want to commit totally to staying until Monday, but I'll go ahead and reserve my room for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. I guess if I'm going to drive all the way out there I'll want to spend as much time on roads with corners as I can before I come back up to the land of the straight/narrow. ;)

Any females want to share a room please PM

Last years trip was awesome! It's like autocrossing for 11 miles and then you drive the Cherahola Skyway which is like a high speed autocross with an awesome view. The only concern is you have to drive safe and smart. This is not where you want to slide your tires and end up somewhere you're not suppose to be. It is definitely riskier than driving your daily commute but we didn't have any trouble last year. I don't remember seeing any cops but that isn't a gurantee. If I have as much fun as I did last year I'm not going to lose sleep in the event I get a speeding ticket (granted you don't spend much time at high speeds (I think the fastest I might have registered was 75 at one point and then it was quick on the brakes). As Tom from last year said before we started into the Dragon stay in your lane and be respectful and smart. We did this and didn't have any trouble. Even with a kajillion Minis last year we were hardly ever held up and even when we were I still enjoyed myself! :D

Well, that is a relief. I am very glad that I found this site. It has so much helpful information for the new Boxster owner.

I just need to convince my partners that this trip to TOD is vital to my health and well being. I really do not care about any law enforcement presence as long as we can eek out some private time and have a good run. Looking forward to TOD!!
:cheers:

Well if anybody is up for another TOD trip, we (a few friends) put together a big shindig on the first weekend of Nov. We are planning year 3 right now. Last year we had about 30 cars show up and we had a blast. The event is open to all, as long as you can drive like a human. Our little group gets "congrads" every year for our behavor.
If anybody here looks at Pelicans OT forum we make our announcements there. If Ya'll would like when it gets around to time for deatail I would love to share with this group. We only had 2 Boxsters last year, we could use some more.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6625194319279002437
This is an in car cam of one of our runs, the wife was driving. (It's her car)
The roads all around the area are awsome and the best part is the lack of cell phone coverage.

Thanks for the information but I need a few weeks after the TOD to let the adrenalin down slowly. A trip in November means I would come home to winterizing the car. :(

Have a great time!

:cheers:

i think i may join u guys as well...looks good as of now :cheers:

Sweet! Make sure you get a room booked. Might consider seeing if Chills is still looking to split a room (unless you have someone joining you for the trip)?

BTW-The first autocross is April 20th so put it on your calendar. I can't wait to see how your car handles with the work you've done. :D

Sammy,

Autocross? I would be very interested in finding out when, where and how to. It is nice to know that there are so many enthusiasts in Chicago. I have looked on the PCA website with no postings for April 20th. If you could forward me the info... I would be very much interested.

Djomlas.... I checked out your car on your website... nice! :cheers:

Good to be here.

Just did some autocross at Sebring down in FL that was an awesome time, hopefully i can do some autoxs here in chicago too :) i thought the first one was in august though?

For you Chicago people that aren't already on my autocross distribution list and want to be, please PM me your email address. I'll be happy to elaborate as to where, when, what, why, who, etc. We have a crew ranging from 2 to 7 people that typically will go to autocrosses (3 Boxsters, 1 M3, 1 shifter kart, 1 VW bug, and 1 240SX on steroids). Last year we even had a Viper grace us with its presence for one event.

:cheers:

Sammy

Sammy and my buddy in the Viper :

http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r...ats/img044.jpg

http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r...ats/img043.jpg

Nick

OK, let's get this thread back on topic!

Tom Heard, owner of the infamous MR2 Spyder with the engine swap and carputer, a man who desires to spank any Boxster or Boxster S on the Dragon this year, said he's planning to make the journey with the Pcar boys again.

However, he wanted me to upload a photo of what the hillbilly cops are using to control speed on the Dragon these days. They got the idea from Saddam Hussein's published memoirs ... a man who never wanted anyone driving faster than he could drive:

http://www.iwantaporsche.net/radargun.jpg

Just kidding, of course. The cops aren't that bad on the Dragon and from what I'm learning, are targeting crotch rockets doing 80 around curves, not Boxsters doing 40 mph with drivers whose eyes are the size of saucers.

So this trip to North Carolina is for Sept 6-7 ?

I should be able to make it. My other car club usually does a couple days track event at Pocono around this time to wind up the summer.

I'd love to go too. I'll have to see about the dates.

2000SoCalBoxsterS,
The date we settled on is the weekend of September 13.
Hope you still can make it.

Boxsters love the mountains of NC! My parents have a house in Bryson City, (about 40 minutes east of the Dragon), so When you guys go, I will come out..


One sugestion for the trip:

http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u256/skip_168/nc.jpg

28 between Franklin & Bryson city is better than the dragon.. the speed limit is 55!!

I was scrubbin' tires in the boxster & never made it over 45!

there is one danger, my 15 year old daughter was in the car & she got motion sickness!! Yikes!

right in the middle of these switch backs she put her head out the window & barfed!! she then sat in her seat & didn't say a word..

I said to her, "what was that?"

"I was barfing.."

I said "really? why didn't you say slow down or something?"

she said, "cause it was fun... and I didn't get any inside the car.."

"good girl.. now lets go wash the car..", I replied...

Skip, you are a gentleman and a scholar for pointing out that new road on which to drive while we're in the area in September... Can't wait to meet you and drive with you!

Thanks so much for the new road. I don't think I have played on it before.

That road looks great! Skip, how far away from the Dragon is it?

Its about 40 minutes away from the dragon.. east... 28 is a nice drive through the whole region.. just watch your speed when you hit the 4 lane sections.. the state collects quite a few "donations" on those sections...

I just got back from the Dragon - I was in Knoxville visiting friends and did 2 separate days up there.

It's been over 20 years since I drove that road. I grew up in Knoxville and we used to go to Fontana or camp at Calderwood (just below the cool old damn near the Tapoco Lodge). Amazingly, the speed limit used to be 55 on the Dragon - virtually impossible to speed. The road used to have very little traffic. We even towed a boat up the Dragon.

Thursday was packed - hundreds of bikes and a Nissan Z club must have been there.

Several cops - patrols are up. I was stuck behind a line of bikes on the way up (South). On the way back out (North) I had several open areas where slower cars pulled over (thanks!). Also, I had to pull over to let a crotch rocket go by. He was flying!

On my drive back home (Alabama) I went back up on Sunday morning about 10am. Much lighter traffic. Only saw one cop and he was driving North (I was heading South). What a blast! Rarely got out of 2nd gear.

I also had my first trip on the Cherohala Skyway. This is a must drive if you go. I saw no cops on the trip. Great views. The temperature and weather changes as you get to the top (about 5400 ft.) so be prepared.

There are 2 groups (129photos and Zeefoto) that take pictures of you as you go through some turns on the Dragon. You can then buy the pics off their website. I took a few as well and I'll post them here in a few days.

I am positively making this trip.

Turbo Boxster rides will be sold to reduce the out of pocket for gas, hotel, and beer.

Gary,

I'll definitely take you up on that offer !

Nick

PS - For anyone that is going, let's be careful out there. The Dragon will bite you if you let it :

http://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/showthread.php?t=138309

The dragon bit that cooper in the butt, hehe. Glad to hear that everyone was OK.