Victim of the "Tail of the Dragon"
11-02-2012, 06:20 PM
#101
Racer
Thread Starter
Forgot to mention--I got a good settlement from the bike rider's insurance company. I'll be shopping for a nice, low mileage garage queen. The wife insists on an automatic so she can drive it. Damn!!
11-02-2012, 08:18 PM
#102
Intermediate
Member Since: Dec 2011
Location: Argo Alabama
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11-02-2012, 08:26 PM
#103
Racer
Thread Starter
This is great to hear. I'm happy for you. Hopefully this good settlement is weight off of your shoulders, although you seem to have handled all of this very well. I commend you on that. Good luck on your search for a "new" Vette! Question is, will you give in and get an automatic?
11-03-2012, 03:06 AM
#106
Team Owner
Again, nothing against autos, as I own one. But, if you are on the fence, or if you are considering buying what you do not want because 3 times in the next decade, she might want to drive it, just get the manual.
Bout the only reason I didn't get rid of my auto convertible is because it's a c5 convertible and it might end up becoming a 62 retro kit. Gotta say, I LOVE the looks of those...
11-03-2012, 08:09 AM
#107
Racer
Thread Starter
Coming from the owner of an automatic, (and a 6spd of another flavor too) do yourself a favor and just get the mn6. I say this even though today I was singing the praises of my auto, which I do like, but, a vette that's gonna be driven by someone who appreciates the advantages of a manual, should have a manual.
Again, nothing against autos, as I own one. But, if you are on the fence, or if you are considering buying what you do not want because 3 times in the next decade, she might want to drive it, just get the manual.
Bout the only reason I didn't get rid of my auto convertible is because it's a c5 convertible and it might end up becoming a 62 retro kit. Gotta say, I LOVE the looks of those...
Again, nothing against autos, as I own one. But, if you are on the fence, or if you are considering buying what you do not want because 3 times in the next decade, she might want to drive it, just get the manual.
Bout the only reason I didn't get rid of my auto convertible is because it's a c5 convertible and it might end up becoming a 62 retro kit. Gotta say, I LOVE the looks of those...
11-03-2012, 01:14 PM
#108
Race Director
With the prices of C5's today, why not get both? 
One for you and one for the wife.
One for you and one for the wife.
11-03-2012, 05:20 PM
#109
Le Mans Master
Wow, that happened just a few days before we were there. Just before the curve in the picture, some moron on a crotch rocket came around a corner at a high rate of speed over the double line and his left elbow hit my mirror...scared the living crap out of me. He hit it hard enough to fold the mirror in slightly and the couple with us (behind us) said he almost hit them, too.
Too bad about both vehicles...that road is such fun to drive, it's a shame when something like this happens. There was a 62 year old woman lost her life (on a bike) the day we were there.
Too bad about both vehicles...that road is such fun to drive, it's a shame when something like this happens. There was a 62 year old woman lost her life (on a bike) the day we were there.
11-03-2012, 09:11 PM
#110
Racer
Member Since: Nov 2006
Location: Tampa Bay Area, U.S.A. (Zombie Nation)
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Glad you're getting an acceptable settlement! Consider getting an MN6 and put it in neutral while in traffic in order to save your left leg. That's what I do. I even did it with my auto Trans Am.
My wife is also hesitant about driving a 6-speed but she knows that what makes a sports car a sports car is a stick shift. She likes sports cars so she makes up her mind to deal with a 6-speed.
My wife is also hesitant about driving a 6-speed but she knows that what makes a sports car a sports car is a stick shift. She likes sports cars so she makes up her mind to deal with a 6-speed.
11-04-2012, 04:54 PM
#112
Team Owner
Member Since: Jan 2007
Location: cookeville tennessee
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Wow, that happened just a few days before we were there. Just before the curve in the picture, some moron on a crotch rocket came around a corner at a high rate of speed over the double line and his left elbow hit my mirror...scared the living crap out of me. He hit it hard enough to fold the mirror in slightly and the couple with us (behind us) said he almost hit them, too.
Too bad about both vehicles...that road is such fun to drive, it's a shame when something like this happens. There was a 62 year old woman lost her life (on a bike) the day we were there.
Too bad about both vehicles...that road is such fun to drive, it's a shame when something like this happens. There was a 62 year old woman lost her life (on a bike) the day we were there.
Robert
11-18-2012, 10:42 AM
#113
Team Owner
Drove the tail of the Dragon last year. With all the bikes, it was a pain. Either it's the sport bikes running wild, and not staying in their lane, or it's the Harleys crusing at 10 MPH under the speed limit, holding everyone up that just wants to enjoy a little spirted driving(but not being stupid), or the really stupid people on their bicycles, at 5 MPH pedaling up hill, with their butts sticking straight up. I almost took two of them out when I was rounding a sharp right hand hairpin with the bluff on my right. Didn't see them until I was right on them. Luckily, I wasn't pushing it that hard at that time, and there was no one in the opposing lane when I had to swerve into it to miss the two idiots on their bicycles.
This past fall, we found some great roads in West Virginia, east of I-79 that have all the curvesthat the Tail of the Dragon has, but is longer, and almost no traffic.
We have some great roads just south of us in northern Arkansas, but they are also cult roads for the bikers. Weekdays are okay, but weekends, best to stay home, as that's when the bikers are out.
This past fall, we found some great roads in West Virginia, east of I-79 that have all the curvesthat the Tail of the Dragon has, but is longer, and almost no traffic.
We have some great roads just south of us in northern Arkansas, but they are also cult roads for the bikers. Weekdays are okay, but weekends, best to stay home, as that's when the bikers are out.