Tail of the Dragon - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

Snipershot · 07-05-2017, 05:29 PM

Anyone drive their boxster down this road? Im gonna do it in the next day or two. These roads in this area were made for Boxsters!

Joe

Lew · 07-05-2017, 05:44 PM

All I can say is Good Luck!

dghii · 07-05-2017, 05:50 PM

Not my Boxster but I've driven it in a 99 M Roadster (in 2002) and an 03 Z4 (3.0 manual) in 2004.

It was lots of fun but can be very crowded. There are plenty of other roads in the area that are less crowded and just as fun. I wish I could remember the highway numbers but I can't. Just ask around once you get up there. Lots of nice folks in the area.

BFeller · 07-07-2017, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dghii

Not my Boxster but I've driven it in a 99 M Roadster (in 2002) and an 03 Z4 (3.0 manual) in 2004.

It was lots of fun but can be very crowded. There are plenty of other roads in the area that are less crowded and just as fun. I wish I could remember the highway numbers but I can't. Just ask around once you get up there. Lots of nice folks in the area.

Old 221 in Little Switzerland.

SC-986 · 07-07-2017, 07:36 PM

We were just in Little Switzerland last month with the Blue Ridge Boxster Summit. Many great roads in the area. Rt.226 up to the Switzerland Inn is a lot of fun. Good pavement and not too much traffic.

dbear61 · 07-07-2017, 08:44 PM

Great drive for me two years ago, never saw LE.

More info here: Tail of the Dragon at Deals Gap

I also recommend Diamondback 226 (routes in the site above).
Diamondback 226 ? Motorcycle and Sportcar Touring Routes near Little Switzerland and Blue Ridge Parkway North Carolina Drive from South to North (clockwise) going up the mountain, or you will be white-knuckled 20 mph going down.

NC 80 is a great drive, too. And NC 194 between Vilas and Banner Elk, I had to pull over and get my breath back after driving that.

DBear

Paul · 07-05-2017, 06:22 PM

Several times, was much more fun when the speed limit was 55 (now 35). A must do.

Pdwight · 07-05-2017, 06:32 PM

You will get a ticket at the Dragon

SC-986 · 07-05-2017, 06:47 PM

Don't forget the Cherohala Skyway. Another great road you can use to tie into the "dragon" and make a great loop.

Paul · 07-05-2017, 06:50 PM

+1 a good days adventure.

Lew · 07-05-2017, 07:05 PM

I recall a girl on one of the custom car shows was doing a video driving the Tale of the Dragon in a Boxster.....Finally the man driving let her in the drivers seat and shortly after rounding a sharp curve and speeding away there sat a cop just off the paving edge....She received a piece of unwanted paper for sure. The video might be on Youtube. I suggest looking at some of the video's on Youtube.....It's the other's you have to watch out for....Big Trucks are constantly crashing into other vehicles. Motorcycles are cleaning out ditches also.

Lew · 07-05-2017, 07:12 PM

This is the video I was talking about in my previous posting.

https://youtu.be/oDLJNeTnFAk

Paul · 07-05-2017, 07:12 PM

Don't miss visiting the tree that motorcyclists hang up pieces of their wrecked bikes.

spinedoc · 07-06-2017, 07:10 AM

There's some great driving, albeit a little less famous, along the St. Croix here in Minnesota/Wisconsin. Also, the drive along the north shore of Lake Superior can be fun.

Have never driven the Tail, but will someday.

Mike

sharkbyte · 07-06-2017, 07:45 AM

Agree with what everyone said. I was up there in my 986 meeting dad with his 981 a couple of months ago. Check out Moonshiner's 28 - starts at TOD and heads to SC. Longer and a prettier drive. All the roads up there are enjoyable and the 986 is the perfect car. Definitely don't need much power, it's about balance and agility. It wasn't too busy when I was there but probably early in the season, I've heard it's usually far worse. There are many people who seem to think they should be race car drivers, tailgating and generally driving like idiots. Fortunately, there are also lots of places to pull over and let them by.

And what others have mentioned - lots of cops. Especially on motorcycles which blend in very well.

Have fun!

mipstien · 07-06-2017, 10:36 AM

I go all the time. If you want a locals opinion just go either in the evening's during the week or at night on the weekends. The cops sit up there during the busy time and get people doing 10mph over or more. More often they will pull you over for crossing a line and being just unsafe. Don't speed on the straight roads on the way there on the Tennessee side. The NC side isn't bad for cops going to Robinsville/Cherohala Skyway(which I highly recommend) or to the Fontana dam on what is called the Hellbender.
I was up there this past Sunday and saw one state trooper coming down the mountain but none on top. It was after 5pm on Sunday.
I use to spend a lot of time up there. Just be careful. It requires full attention on the road and surrounding areas, IE pull offs. Let people pass that catch up. You aren't as fast as the locals that have cars and bikes built for just the gap. Above all don't try to keep up with others.
It can be a really fun road and I think everyone should enjoy it at least a few times with the first being slow and just learning the crazy road. There are wrecks up there daily. Some much worse than others.

Let me know if you want a buddy. I really enjoy that drive.

Snipershot · 07-07-2017, 10:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mipstien

I go all the time. If you want a locals opinion just go either in the evening's during the week or at night on the weekends. The cops sit up there during the busy time and get people doing 10mph over or more. More often they will pull you over for crossing a line and being just unsafe. Don't speed on the straight roads on the way there on the Tennessee side. The NC side isn't bad for cops going to Robinsville/Cherohala Skyway(which I highly recommend) or to the Fontana dam on what is called the Hellbender.
I was up there this past Sunday and saw one state trooper coming down the mountain but none on top. It was after 5pm on Sunday.
I use to spend a lot of time up there. Just be careful. It requires full attention on the road and surrounding areas, IE pull offs. Let people pass that catch up. You aren't as fast as the locals that have cars and bikes built for just the gap. Above all don't try to keep up with others.
It can be a really fun road and I think everyone should enjoy it at least a few times with the first being slow and just learning the crazy road. There are wrecks up there daily. Some much worse than others.

Let me know if you want a buddy. I really enjoy that drive.

I wish i saw this message sooner! I took my 2001 Boxster S down the Dragon today and it was fantastic! Saw one cop going down the tail, and one cop on the way back. When i get home, ill get my dashcam video edited and posted on youtube. Thanks for the advice!

Joe

NewArt · 07-06-2017, 03:16 PM

Guess I was lucky. Drove this road on a weekday morning in April with my first ever Porsche, bought in California and was on my way home to Montreal! Sweet howling flat six though the curves. Don't think I saw a car, let alone a cop that day! Sigh.

carguy56 · 07-06-2017, 05:12 PM

They have been doing some road work along the Dragon. Haven't been up there in a while so don't know if they've finished. Beware of the law and the knee draggers. It's a blast. There are a lot of other routes in the area that aren't as busy or patrolled. Try a few others while in the area.

BIGJake111 · 07-07-2017, 04:00 PM

Western Carolina is pure Porsche roads however tail of the dragon is overused.

Lots of good stuff in the area though, id suggest pinnacle mountain road near lake toxaway. I take it about once a year with the girlfriend!