i'm heading down to Myrtle Beach for a long weekend and on the way back we are going to hit the Tail of the Dragon! It will add about 2.5 hrs to the trip but i figured why not.
Im not taking my car though. My dad offered his z28 convertible for the trip so i couldn't turn him down! Has anybody ever been there? any suggestions?

My biggest suggestion is ditch the Camaro and take a bike. I did the whole thing one way in an STU prepped '01 WRX and I did part of it on my dads bike ('02 Triumph TT600) for the return trip. The reason I only did part of the return trip on the bike is because my dad had so much more fun on it then in the Subaru and made me switch since it was his bike.

My other suggestion is take it easy and expect people to fly by you on motorcycles. If it is possible, try to start going through really early (~6:30-7am). There aren't nearly as many people on the road then for obvious reasons.

i definetely plan on taking it easy. My dads bone stock suspension is going to be a little different than my ESP car. i will be going through around 2:30 in the afternoon so im sure it will be busy then. Not the best car or time of day but it should be fun anyways. i was going to take my focus zx3 that i race in ST once in a while but since my dad offered it would have been rude to turn him down.

Overated. We just picked a Carrera 4 up in Roanoke, VA for a friend and had more fun on the back roads through Virginia, West Virginia and western Ohio than on the TOTD when we were there.

Great views in a beautiful part of the country. Police presence has gone up a good bit the last few years, so keep it easy and just enjoy the ride.

-Tim

Nashville has been spending a lot of money to 'calm the area down' in the past few years. Go up on a weekday to avoid most of that crap. Parts of it have also been closed down (on the Tennessee side) due to rock slides so you may not be able to do the whole thing. IMO, you will have more fun on the Cherhola (sic) Skyway than the Dragon.

ok newbie question what is the Tail of the Dragon

http://www.tailofthedragon.com/

curvy road in NC, known for idiots speeding and weaving in an out of traffic, causing accidents frequently.

Hit the Cherahola Skyway, you don't be disappointed. TOD is good, just have to watch out for all the bikes having fun and the cops trying to bust your fun.

Group from another forum just went, and I'm going back 1st weekend of Sept

thanks echo

Yup, some of the crotch rocket riders actually think it is a point-to-point World Superbike Championship race on an open (and unswept) road!!

+1

Having driven it many times in my M Coupe, it's really not all that it's legend is. Forget about driving it on a weekend. Weekdays early morning < 8am or for a different kind of adrenaline rush, try it after dark.

Oh, and watch for the wild turkeys.

You have to go do it, but just don't get too excited about it.

I've done it several times but always on a bike. You'll be overwhelmed by bikes and too busy trying to stay on the road to enjoy it. It's a lot of work on a bike and I can't imagine trying to run it in a car and enjoying it. You won't have to worry about cops as you won't be going anywhere near the speed limit. It really is 319 turns in 11 miles. Some of the corners you will wonder how you can make it around and stay in your lane as it's that tight. If you do run it make sure to stay in your lane and not drift across anywhere. Use the new pull-offs often as you will have bikes behind you. DO NOT TRY TO SIGHTSEE OR YOU'LL END UP IN THE TREES! The photos stapled to trees are not missing kids...they're memorials to all the riders who went a little too fast.

My suggestion: Head straight to Blue Ridge Parkway...450 miles, no commerical traffic and no stop signs. Beautiful views, 45 mph speed limit, and the smoothest road you'll ever drive. The Cherohala Skyway is very nice for an out and back and not near as tight as The Dragon.

Have fun,

Sidney

I drove it Last September with my Bimmer. I concur with the weekday suggestion. I was there 10am on a Monday morning and drove it both ways. It was the day after a big motorcycle meet, so there were no cops at all.

You're always finding seat time, one way or another !