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#1
12-21-2003, 06:51 PM
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Driving the Dragon
Jean and I will be in Gatlinburg on Tuesday to celebrate our anniversary. Depending upon the weather, I want to continue south and circle around the Great Smokey Mountains by using Rt 129, the famous "Tail of the Dragon".
I know some of you drove it this summer, but have any of you done it in the winter? Other than watching for ice and landslides, does anyone have any tips to offer? Thanks....Merry Christmas everyone! Don
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Cats: Clio, Inky, Sheba, Sparky, Rocky, Cali, Scooter 3 cars: 02 SVT Focus, 2012 Versa...2015 Fiat 500 currently SVX-less 1 wife ("She, who must be obeyed..") "One advantage of being disorderly is that one is constantly making exciting discoveries" 
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#2
12-21-2003, 06:54 PM
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Latest I've driven it is october - only had to look for leaves on the road but they're probably gone by now. Porter might have run it in the winter.
Be careful and have fun! Should be a little clearer roads in december without tourists and bikers out there.
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Matt Locker Link 2015 BRZ Limited 6MT 92 Ebony LS-L ECUtune Stage2av1, Z32 MAF, 370cc injectors, TomsSVX intake, BontragerWorks 22mm RSB #003, HID Hi and Lo beams, OT endlink and bushing mods, PWR Aluminum radiator, Harvey's QC shift kit, 2.5" flowmaster 80 exhaust, 17" Michelin Pilot Sport A/S, Poly sway bar bushings, Slotted Bradi rotors, AFBeefcake powdercoated calipers, 97 grill, and a huge set of air horns. 300,000 miles and counting 92 Ebony LS-L. ecutune stage1v4, motorsport 1pc pulley. Garage Queen - sold to Dad in upstate NY 155,000 miles 19 Subaru Ascent Premium - -Hers !. 89 DL 4x4 little red wagon - a.k.a. The immortal suby. 275k R.I.P.
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#3
12-21-2003, 07:08 PM
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Thanks! The weather forecast is calling for rain....it will probably be real foggy too. We will just have to make a judgement call the morning of the 24th. Even if I can't drive it aggressively, it would be fun to at least get one pass under my belt and then try again in the Spring...
Don
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Cats: Clio, Inky, Sheba, Sparky, Rocky, Cali, Scooter 3 cars: 02 SVT Focus, 2012 Versa...2015 Fiat 500 currently SVX-less 1 wife ("She, who must be obeyed..") "One advantage of being disorderly is that one is constantly making exciting discoveries"
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#4
12-21-2003, 07:46 PM
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Just do it, Don.
Which car 'ya driving? Ron (been there, done that). PS - Happy anniversary.
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Good s**t happened.  69 was worth the wait.'92 stock semi-pristine ebony - 160K '96 Grand Caravan - 240K '01 Miata SE - 79K '07 Chrysler Pacifica - 60k - future money pit.
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#5
12-21-2003, 07:54 PM
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The only thing that I have to say is don't promise your wife that she shouldn't worry until you squeal your tiresif you have a certain SVX and BMW Bike fan from North Carolina on your tail.
 Have a blast and happy anniverary!
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British vehicles are my last ditch attempt to keep the nasty Italian thoughts in my mind at bay. So far its working.
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#6
12-21-2003, 08:05 PM
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Not much choice...
There hasn't been any economic miracle on this end Ron, so the SVX will be down for some time. The SVT will be the weapon of choice for this run.
Have safe holidays and we will see you in the new year! All the best, Don and Jean 
__________________
Cats: Clio, Inky, Sheba, Sparky, Rocky, Cali, Scooter 3 cars: 02 SVT Focus, 2012 Versa...2015 Fiat 500 currently SVX-less 1 wife ("She, who must be obeyed..") "One advantage of being disorderly is that one is constantly making exciting discoveries"
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#7
12-21-2003, 08:18 PM
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Benebob,
I know that there are very few places to move over and let someone go by on the Dragon, so we will just have to hope we don't get run over by some hot bikes or someone who got a Ferrari for an early Christmas present. Thanks and Merry Christmas! Don
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Cats: Clio, Inky, Sheba, Sparky, Rocky, Cali, Scooter 3 cars: 02 SVT Focus, 2012 Versa...2015 Fiat 500 currently SVX-less 1 wife ("She, who must be obeyed..") "One advantage of being disorderly is that one is constantly making exciting discoveries"
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#8
12-26-2003, 09:36 PM
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Dragon Report
Back home safely after our Anniversary/Christmas trip. Arrived in Gatlinburg at noon on the 23rd and checked the Weather Channel in the hotel room. Since it looked like rain on Christmas Eve, Jean and I decided to do our "driving" that afternoon. We took Rt 73 to Townsend and got on the Foothills Parkway (awesome views) and took it to the begining of the Dragon on Rt129. We had a printout of the route and the names of the curves and milage and it matched our odometer reading perfectly. What an amazing piece of road! I have seen similar hairpins over the years....but not 11 miles of them! Wow....I never got above 3rd gear the whole time. The SVT Focus handled great....and a big tip of the hat to my new Continental Extreme Contact tires. The road was mostly dry with some damp spots. No traffic at all....one motorcycle going in the opposite direction....until near the end and we came up behind a truck with a horse trailer. I just pulled off and waited about 5 minutes and resumed my "experience" and didn't catch up with the trailer until Deals Gap a few miles later, so he didn't spoil the rest of the fun. I got some pictures that I will try to post tomorrow. We continued on by Fontana Dam, Bryson City, Cherokee, and then back to Gatlinburg by way of Newfound Gap. Near the top it was fun to see tourists from Florida pulled over letting their kids build snowmen in the foot or two of snow on the mountain....an experience they don't get at home! The whole loop took about 3 hours and was almost exactly 100 miles. We had a great night out that evening for our 29th, then to Johnson City the next day to spend Christmas with Mom and brother. An enjoyable time was had by all.....with just one problem. It was too late to ask Santa for a Jackson supercharger for the Focus. It would sure help when powering out of those curves on the Dragon!
Don
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Cats: Clio, Inky, Sheba, Sparky, Rocky, Cali, Scooter 3 cars: 02 SVT Focus, 2012 Versa...2015 Fiat 500 currently SVX-less 1 wife ("She, who must be obeyed..") "One advantage of being disorderly is that one is constantly making exciting discoveries" Last edited by SVXphile; 12-26-2003 at 09:38 PM.
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#9
12-27-2003, 08:50 AM
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Sounds like a damn good time Don.
Gotta get to the Dragon.
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92 SVX #772 140k 6speed, ECU Tune stage II, Koni/Ground control, 3,270lbs. 91 Legacy Turbo 5spd. FMIC, crappy stock turbo, ACT clutch. 78 BRAT (New toy) (Soon to be EJ22T powered) 90 240 SX. RB25 powered!! DRIFT!!!111!!! (GF's car) To many cars to spend time on teh web!
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#10
12-27-2003, 01:52 PM
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Subafreak,
Yes you do! Imagine the tightest hairpin you've ever driven...and then imagine 11 miles of the same.  Still pictures don't do it justice; a video might! However....we were very lucky that there was no traffic. It can be a completely different experience if it is full of motorcycles and trucks on YOUR side of the road! Check out the pictures on this site: www.tailofthedragon.com Happy New Year! Don
__________________
Cats: Clio, Inky, Sheba, Sparky, Rocky, Cali, Scooter 3 cars: 02 SVT Focus, 2012 Versa...2015 Fiat 500 currently SVX-less 1 wife ("She, who must be obeyed..") "One advantage of being disorderly is that one is constantly making exciting discoveries"
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#12
12-27-2003, 03:35 PM
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Yes it was Todd, and here are some pictures. Click on "Christmas Trip"
http://www.subaru-svx.net/photos/user.php?SVXphile|13975 The picture at the top of this page gives you SOME idea... http://www.tailofthedragon.com/dragon.html I would recommend that as soon as the snow melts in the Spring....late enough to avoid really bad weather but early enough to avoid the motorcycles fresh from their winter hibernation...that anyone within driving distance give the Dragon a try. I am going to scout out a relatively unknown road in upper East Tennessee this winter, that locals say offers some competition for the Dragon. I'll get back to everyone with the details... Don
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Cats: Clio, Inky, Sheba, Sparky, Rocky, Cali, Scooter 3 cars: 02 SVT Focus, 2012 Versa...2015 Fiat 500 currently SVX-less 1 wife ("She, who must be obeyed..") "One advantage of being disorderly is that one is constantly making exciting discoveries" Last edited by SVXphile; 12-27-2003 at 03:45 PM.
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#13
12-27-2003, 09:41 PM
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Hopefully I'm going to get a chance to run it this spring, if everything goes as planned. I've been lusting over this road for nearly a year now. Once my MR2 is finally finished I'm gonna make my pilgrimmage.
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2008 Mazdaspeed3 GT 1985 Toyota MR2 (10 yr project) Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that. -George Carlin
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#14
12-28-2003, 06:38 AM
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Hey Don,
Looks and sounds like you had a good time on your trip. That pic of the Focus, in the Deals Gap parking lot looks weird....as every time I've been there, there is like 200 motorcycles there crammed in every little spot, some days you can't even stop there due to the limited parking space.Glad you had a good time.
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Huck Subaru Ambassador 92 SVX LS-Tour Magnaflow Exhaust, 5-Spd-AWD 88 XT6 AWD 5-Speed "Bride of FrankenWedge" 15 Impreza Premium Sedan 15 Crosstrek XV 5-Speed My 5-Speed "How-To" Write-up 1976 Pontiac Firebird Formula Current Count of Subaru's Owned.... "70"
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#15
12-28-2003, 05:18 PM
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Quote:
Drooooool!
__________________
92 SVX #772 140k 6speed, ECU Tune stage II, Koni/Ground control, 3,270lbs. 91 Legacy Turbo 5spd. FMIC, crappy stock turbo, ACT clutch. 78 BRAT (New toy) (Soon to be EJ22T powered) 90 240 SX. RB25 powered!! DRIFT!!!111!!! (GF's car) To many cars to spend time on teh web!
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Sounds like a lot of fun Don and Jean
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