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Took my car to Pigeon Forge for the Fall Rod Run this weekend and figured I need to try the Tail of the Dragon since it's so close. Man... what a BLAST! This is the first time I've been able to see what this GS can do. Wow, you can tell this is what the car was built for. I've never had so much fun in a car. I can't wait to go back! The Cafe at the end was awesome, too. We sat there for about an hour watching all the different cars come and go. Saw a little bit of everything from McLaren to Miata and back. If you haven't been yet, make plans to go! You won't regret it.
Shoutout to 129 Photos for the professional shots! And to my Google Pixel for the amateur ones
Last edited by BluegrassMotorsport; 09-20-2020 at 08:55 PM.
Reason: Added phone pics
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
C4 of Year Winner (performance mods) 2019
The Tail is a blast, as are many other roads in the area. It's about 2-3 hours from my parents and I drive out from Dallas every few years just so I can run it.
This is from the last time about 4 years ago, I was planning on going out this year but Covid screwed that up:
Took my car to Pigeon Forge for the Fall Rod Run this weekend and figured I need to try the Tail of the Dragon since it's so close. Man... what a BLAST! This is the first time I've been able to see what this GS can do. Wow, you can tell this is what the car was built for. I've never had so much fun in a car. I can't wait to go back! The Cafe at the end was awesome, too. We sat there for about an hour watching all the different cars come and go. Saw a little bit of everything from McLaren to Miata and back. If you haven't been yet, make plans to go! You won't regret it.
Shoutout to 129 Photos for the professional shots! And to my Google Pixel for the amateur ones
Awesome! The start on TN side is almost exactly 30 miles from our driveway.
Saw that group in your last pic at their meeting point Saturday morning. Stopped to chat a bit. Here's a few more pics from their group...
(last one is my car, I didn't go with them)
Guessing you came Foothills Pkwy. Didn't see your car pass the meet spot which is on 129 prior to where Foothills Pkwy intersects.
If so, we just missed each other. I was driving Foothills Pkwy early morning and heading home when happened upon this group. That new section of the Pkwy is pretty awesome when there's not traffic and can drive it. I did see a couple of hot rods heading toward Pigeon Forge on the Pkwy shortly after sunrise.
PM if in the area again. Lots of good driving around here.
Awesome! The start on TN side is almost exactly 30 miles from our driveway.
Saw that group in your last pic at their meeting point Saturday morning. Stopped to chat a bit. Here's a few more pics from their group...
Guessing you came Foothills Pkwy. Didn't see your car pass the meet spot which is on 129 prior to where Foothills Pkwy intersects.
If so, we just missed each other. I was driving Foothills Pkwy early morning and heading home when happened upon this group. That new section of the Pkwy is pretty awesome when there's not traffic and can drive it. I did see a couple of hot rods heading toward Pigeon Forge on the Pkwy shortly after sunrise.
PM if in the area again. Lots of good driving around here.
Did you make it up to Cherohala Skwy?
So cool! We must have just missed each other. My passes were around 10:30am and 11:30am. I was at the Cafe when that group came through the first time. I did take the Foothills Parkway in and out - very pretty road! I was behind some sport bikes on the way in and we were making great speed. Then I got back on the interstate via Maryville in your neck of the woods. I'll PM when I'm down again! I'll be there for sure for the Corvette Expo and Spring Rod Run but I'd like to make another run on the Dragon before this driving season is over.
We are fortunate to live within 2 hours of the TOTD and we bring every car we own just to have the photos taken. It's always such an enjoyable day. Lunch in Fontana Village is usually a treat and I just hope the businesses survived during this Covid ordeal. Here we are in both our old C4 and current C6. 1996 C4 in 2016 2009 C6 in 2018
Had never looked at the map of this place until now - wow. There are a few roads out in Northern California I know which are this good, but not many.
Unfortunately I am very far from both Norcal and TN, but I have been steadily exploring the roads of southern NH and have found a few decent ones. Nothing like this though!
Do the police write many tickets on that road for speeding ?
I would think that the cops could write speeding tickets to just about every performance type car that drives that road.
It's dynamic, they do at times. Though mostly let things go as long as not too out of hand. Their presence is not absent and sometimes prevalent, will see them frequently in the area. Will also see medic units, crashes are not uncommon either.
Have lived here since 1990, can't tell you how much it's changed. What used to be rural enough to be scary to those not from here is now an automotive sports enthusiast's haven - tourists. It's a very unique area with much to offer in way of hiking, fishing, hunting, kayaking... roads, lakes, mountains and rivers. The outdoors people have been here forever and though increased in number, nothing like the automotive enthusiasts.
You have to remember the officers are local too. Many have grown up here and likely drive it off duty at times. It's fun, everyone likes it, as long as the stupidity remains in check. That said, they do have crack downs. You get a feel for what's what and when to go / when not to when live here.
Do the police write many tickets on that road for speeding ?
I would think that the cops could write speeding tickets to just about every performance type car that drives that road.
There was one sheriff parked up at one of the corners toward the end. He was pointing his speed gun at people but never moved. He was stationed not far from the Cafe at the bottom so I'd say he's just there to slow people down. Lots of pedestrian traffic at the bottom. Ever car including myself was absolutely belting down the hill when we approached him and he just smiled. Gave me a good heart attack, though haha.
The local PD know it's a tourist attraction that brings a lot of money into the area and they don't want to chase everyone off. Everyone was driving fast, but responsible. No lane crossing, passing, etc.
The local PD know it's a tourist attraction that brings a lot of money into the area and they don't want to chase everyone off. Everyone was driving fast, but responsible. No lane crossing, passing, etc.
This is true for the most part, but not always.
Have seen all kinds of driving and several wrecks. Two bike wrecks within the last year, one directly in front of me in the same lane, the other coming into a corner I was approaching in the opposite lane (this was during the Corvette Expo parade in August). The second I was inside the curve so the bike slid into ditch / embankment. Had I been outside he would have come right into me, he went right past me on the ground. Both were okay, they were both dressed for it in full leathers on sport bikes. But it happens, not that unfrequently. I too laid down my FJ 1100 up there around 1995 timeframe (don't remember exact year). That was back when semi's still came through there and got stuck on occasion. That was a real mess when it happened.
The ones that present the most danger are the sedans / vans that try to be performance cars. It is not uncommon to have them accelerate and start crossing the lane. When this happens, I immediately slow down and give them plenty of space.
You see all kinds like any other tourist destination. A different group every day during driving season. Most locals avoid the area unless driving enthusiasts themselves. I make it up there a handful of times a year. Mostly drive the surrounding area this time of year. The best though, is the odd December / January / February day when it's freakishly warm - like 70*. It is absolutely deserted, even if it's Saturday or Sunday. That's when I like to go.
When a high number of incidents happen in a short time it's expected there will be a crackdown by law enforcement. It happens occasionally. Good thing too.
Those of you that have driven this road that are from west coast, please compare and relate that "Dragon" road to favorite roads you've sport driven... say special favorite roads between San Diego and Vancouver, Washington..... Should I make a trip halfway across the country for tail of the Dragon, or find some here? is my question.
09-20-2020, 08:53 PM
First time on Tail of the Dragon!
