Anyone enjoy the Tail of the Dragon?
 

European Magazine on this months issue has the test ride of the new 2007 Boxster featured. They drove the car in the Tail of the Dragon in Tennessee. In conclusion they loved the car and the performance just keeping going up. The Dragon illustrates the differences between 997rear engined and 987 midengine. Has anyone from the Group gone there for the joy ride? 14 miles of turns 318 is what they mentioned on the article. I drove my car in Bear Mountain with the P-Club near West Point it is what these cars are made for. Hard driving, upshifting, downshifting and while having "grey poupon" ;)

I went to school at West Point and remember the roads well, unfortunately it was in a Honda Accord. I really want to take my Box out there for my 10th, but driving it from El Paso does not seem appealing. That is the most beautiful part of the country, in my opinion.

Hi,

I made 6 runs on the Dragon, but in my Esprit, not the Boxster. It is a great road so long as you plan the trip to stay away from the Harley, Miata, Healey, etc. drive events.

My other favorite drive is the Coast Road on Maui from Kihei , around the NW tip of the island and down to Hana. I did that in a Ferrari 355 Spider and a Miata. The Miata was actually more nimble and fun, but the 355 got waay more looks...

Happy Motoring!... Jim'99

Did the tail last year on the bike.

What a great road ! Now I need to take a trip down there in the Box...

Definitely add it to your list of things to do in your lifetime.

Nick

I am planning a road trip there from Houston next year. We should all meet up there!

May 5-6 are the days I plan to be there and be driving it. Who wants to meet me there?

I think we need to get a caravan going from Chicago !

Me, racer_troy, sammy, bmussatti, chills, and bigislandboxster...

How cool would it be to see 3 black, a white, green, and a red boxster all cruising down I-65 together ?

Nick

I've been lucky enough to make three runs of the dragon in my Boxster, what a blast!!!

If this road doesn't put a smile on your face, sell your Porsche!!!!!

Yes I shifted at or near redline and over steered around many corners (just the way Porsche intended!!)

I think a white Boxster should join in.....when are we going?

Add a seal gray from St. Louis. We really should make plans. I drove the road to Hana as well in Maui, what a blast. The scenery was spectacular.

Go Cardinals !!!

Paul / St Louis,

You guys set something up, and I'll be there...

Nick

I believe we can officially say "Game ON!" :dance:

I will work on a time and place for us to meet upon arrival and work on lodging options as well.

This is gonna be fun. We'll all be worn out from a long drive to get there, but it will be worth it!

BTW-In the latest Panorama, I guy reviewed the 2007 Boxster S. This guy as a self described "911" guy and dutifully full of himself (are all these guys in Pamorama like this or what?).

Anyway, in his reserved way, he essentially said that the New Box S was quicker and better handled than the famous 911 (ie the standard bearer).

Go figure?

Sign me up! :)

Having just moved to Nashville, I'd have to consider it too!

Did 3 runs in my TT Roadster last year during TT-East while we were down in Chattanooga; it is well worth the trip from wherever you are, and there are few roads int he US that can come even close to matching the experience.

i'm down; cinqo de mayo is my b-day. can't think of a better way to spend the day.

Just did it 3 weeks ago for the first time and I am certainly going again! Recommend Blue Waters Mountain Lodge (bed and breakfast) for accomodations; was very nice, good food and people, ask for the lake view!!

Great idea! I would have interest!!

We stayed here last time, it's near the beginning of the tail. It's a little rustic and rundown, but overall a good experience.

http://www.fontanavillage.com/

http://fontanavillage.com/fontanavillage_accommodations.html

BTW you don't want to go near the tail on the weekends, too much traffic and police.

I ran it on a Monday and Tuesday in August, almost had the road to myself.

Winter on the Dragon's Tail
 

It was clear and cold today (Mon 12/4/06) -- a perfect winter day for the Dragon's Tail. I drove it twice - S to Deals Gap, stopped to shoot the bull there and then back N to Vonore. Absolutely wonderful road for a Boxster. Both the TN and NC side have been recently repaved so the surface is in great condition. There was a Miata in front of me heading S but he pulled over and let me by which is typical, especially from the locals. :) On the way back N I got behind an 18 wheeler who wouldn't let me by. He was literally all over the road. A hazard to somebody heading the other direction in some of the curves. :( It was especially irritating since I had pushed it only a little heading S to check out the road condition. I was really planning on going like Hell on the way back. C'est la vie!

As the crow flies I live just 10 miles from this wonderful road so I get to drive almost routinely. So if any of y'all decide to do the Dragon's Tail let me know and I'll join you. :cheers:

I hit the Dragon in the 928 on the way to Sharks In The Mountains last June. Awsome drive. One day I'll do it in the Boxster.....maybe when we have Box In The Mountains.

id be down for this too, whenever it happens. may 7th is my bday tho :)

I actually think I'll be able to make this!! To the Chicago caravan: when do you think you'll be heading out, and how long will you be staying? :dance:

I was planning on road tripping in the spring up to the DC area to visit a friend, and figured I'd try to swing by the 'Dragon and run it a few times. My plans were going to be early to mid april... but if there will be a group thing in early May, I'll slide my plans back a little!

I'm thinking we head out Friday morning and come back Monday. I thought about coming back Sunday, but that's a lot of driving for what would be a one day visit. I'd rather get down there and enjoy a couple days of relaxing, driving, BS'ing, tossing back a few, etc.

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Will that be 5/4 or 5/11?

That would be 5/4... :)

I'll play, too, if there's room for another one...

This is a free for all and I'm sure I speak for everyone here in saying the more the merrier. :)

I believe RandallNeighbour is going to generate the master plan in terms of when and where we're going to meet up. Right now it looks like it is scheduled for the weekend of May 5-6. I will be rolling down with either my GF or a friend and will be staying at whatever hotel is set up by the group.

Hi,

I agree. The last time my wife and I did it was in late Nov. of '01. Coming right on the heels of 9/11, Maui was absolutely derserted. No lines for Restaurants or attractions, vendors were selling everything at 50% off or better.

We rented a brand new '01 Miata for the 10 days, unlimited mileage for $17/day. The car had 60 mi. on it when we picked it up and 1,893 mi. on the Odo when we turned it in - that's 180+ mi./day. We spent maybe 5 min. on a beach the whole time, but were thoroughly tanned from the waist up... ;)

We had 2 drives to Hana (out of several) where we only passed two other cars the entire stretch! So, I was really able to throw the Mazda around, doubt I'll ever be able to do that ever again.

Also, the road to the summit of Haleakala Crater (Kahului - Route 37 to 377 to 378) is a great set of roads, but they were iced over at about 8000 ft., so I had to reign it in a little to avoid sliding off the mountain. Too many Bike tours on 378 though.

Happy Motoring!... Jim'99

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Looks like I'll be joining you all. I am concerned about traffic once we get there and such. It sounds like a haven for sports cars on the east coast.

Cool! We could consider leaving Thursday and come back Sunday in hopes that we could get an awesome day of driving the TOD on Friday before the weekend starts and still drive the TOD on Saturday with the rest of the crowd that would be coming in just for the weekend (or the locals)?

From what my experienced buddy tells me, it's busy 7 days a week, and weekends are the heaviest... however, bikers and sports car nuts that are out of town like to drink a lot after dark and thus need to sleep in.

So, I will be planning a very early meeting on Saturday and Sunday morning so we can have a couple of runs at speed. Then, when it starts to get thick, we can stop for brunch. After all, we're a civilized bunch of Pcar owners!

As far as lodging is concerned, I need to let you know that hotel and motel rooms around the TOD are really booked this particular weekend. I would like to recommend that anyone going should go to this web page and start hunting for lodging arrangments as soon as you read this...

http://www.tailofthedragon.com/accomodations.html

I called a couple of places and they are too booked already to reserve a block of rooms. So, it's every man for himself I guess. Dang, we should have planned this early last year for this May. I just didn't know what my work-travel schedule would be until a few weeks ago.

I will post the meeting place soon. My buddy knows of good parking lots or places where we can gather. It will be at the crack of dawn if that's ok with you all.

Would it be any lighter for longer on a Friday? I'll be burning a couple days vacation so whether I take a Friday/Monday or Thursday/Friday off it makes no difference to me. :)

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Where do you recommend staying for us vacactioners. Something ideal to drive all the major roads there, including the skysomethingorother. A b&b is OK, but anyplace with cable and breakfast works for me!!

Jeff, the pickins are gonna be slim as far as lodging is concerned. Get on it now with the link I just posted above.

I'm up for leaving Friday, returning Monday, but Thursday - Sunday would work for me as well...

Here a suggestion for lodging, but I leave the details up to Randall :

http://www.dealsgap.com/motel.htm

Nick

I just signed up for probably one of the only hotel/motels with rooms just now, and they have 9 rooms available on the nights of the 3rd and the 4th, so call NOW:

http://www.twowheelinn.com/

The two wheel inn at Robbinsville. 59.99 a night, 69.99 a night double occupancy, and you also get a free bike garage (not a selling point for me, but hey, I thought I'd toss it in there in case any of you plan to ride your bike down instead of your boxster!)

Ok, called Deal's Gap and they are booked !

Randall, thanks, called Two Wheel Inn, reserved a room for the 4th, 5th, and 6th.

8 rooms left ! Book now if you are interested in going...

Also, when I talked to Deal's Gap, there are two rallys that weekend, Triumph Motorcycles and Two-Stroke ( ? ) Motorcycles.

Should be a blast ! Can't wait :D

Nick