Tutorial: How to Drive the Dragon-Page 2: Off-topic discussion forum: Grassroots Motorsports Magazine

Subscribe get a full year for only $23.95 Sample Free Test Drive—no strings attached

1 2

July 21, 2011 7:53 a.m. Duke SuperDork

oldsaw wrote:

I pulled the vid off the Pelican Parts forum, so there's a better than even chance it's a Porsche of some type. IIRC, the guy who posted it has an '85 911 listed in his profile.

Makes sense - the brief shadow of the front end that crosses the camera looks to have headlight pods consistent with that era 911. I just didn't figure we'd hear that much engine noise from the front of a 911.

Drewsifer: I'd like to go too (my Miata has been, but not when it was my Miata). Then I remind myself that probably 85% of the daylight hours there are going to be hundreds of idiots clogging it up and the chances of encountering conditions like the OP are almost zero.
July 21, 2011 7:58 a.m. njansenv HalfDork

Stace and I spent some time there on our Honeymoon. It's a GREAT area for driving, sight-seeing and hiking. There are LOT's of great roads in the area, many of which don't have the high-profile (and traffic) associated with the TOTD. It's pretty easy to have a good time and still stay in your lane. It didn't take many trips up and down to get the brakes pretty hot on the protege....
July 21, 2011 8:07 a.m. EvanB SuperDork

I did one run through the Dragon on my way back home after buying my Miata in Chattanooga. 9am on a Saturday in February and it was perfect, hardly any cars on the road and 60F.
July 21, 2011 8:29 a.m. Duke SuperDork

Work with me here, guys...
July 21, 2011 9:04 a.m. iceracer SuperDork

Shoot, There is a 15 mile stretch of road near me that is almost, not quite, as crooked. Nice part, speed limit is 55. Pavement is not as smooth, though.
July 21, 2011 10:41 a.m. Keith SuperDork

That's what makes it more fun I've driven the Dragon and while it's entertaining, it's actually too well engineered to be really challenging. I can see why bikes like it, but I think there are a number of better roads right near my house.

The big problem with the Dragon is the mythical status. People get all wound up about it and plan vacations around it - and when they get there, they just go too hard and crash. The first time I drove it, I didn't actually realize we were on the road until I asked someone.
July 21, 2011 2:09 p.m. sobe_death Reader

Yeah, 28 out past Fontana Dam is WAY more fun to drive, IMO