Anyone ridden Tail of the Dragon?
 

Has anyone taken their 8 on the "Tail of the Dragon" (US129 between TN and NC)? I am heading back to Georgia this morning for a week and I'm def. planning on hitting that thing on my way back! 318 curves in 11 miles!! :D :D Sounds like just the type of road the 8 was built for! I can't wait!

Check it out here www.tailofthedragon.com

So, any advice from those who have ridden that beast before?
How did you do compared to other vehicles on the road? (S2K, boxster, 350Z, etc.)

I plan on 2-3 scouting passes before tearing-up the asphalt.

Incidentally, there was an S2K meet there last weekend. Sounds like a fun place to get together with other 8 owners....

Two years ago I drove it by accident in a 626 rental car. Awesome road definitely hit it if it’s not raining. I was sorry I didn’t have a nicer car. It’s single lane and if you’re lucky you will not get stuck behind a truck or mini-van doing 20 MPH the whole way. You will also see tons of motorcycles; those people love that road the most. I would just check the brake fluid and tire pressure.

I go there every year with the Miata group.

I haven't taken a Rx8 yet.

I drove it this past summer in a Prowler group. Awesome stretch of road. But if you're not in a group with radios, be careful. Truck traffic can sneak up on ya in a blind spot easily taking both lanes leaving you with no place to go.

Hey Snap on, I will be happy to tag along with my 8 :)

I've heard it's an awesome stretch of road.
Just be careful. They usually have a few fatilties a year, from what I've heard.

A nice Video of that road would be nice, for those of us who can't travel there to run it ourselves. :)

I took my 8 there over some of the winter holidays, the ground was dry, and the trees bare, made for traveling a lot easier. I will definitely be going back.

Sounds like a GAS!
If a big RX8 rally there gets organized count me in.

You can sign me up for that one too

I was just talking about this the other day with my friend that has a Z06. We plan to do it. Although I think he's scared I'll smoke him in the turns.

I ran this road many times last year during the gathering of Miata's towards the end of July. Won't be able to make it down there this year, but that road is AWESOME!

Would love to see how my 8 does on it. :D

i live about thirty miles away in knoxville. if you guys ever want to go just pm me

That would be incredible, count me in if there is a meet set up there!!

I've driven it a handful of times in my TT.

It's a truly amazing road but a bit of advice: DON'T EAT BEFOREHAND! :)

Serious advice: Drive safely. It's okay to be agressive...but do it within your limits and the limits of the car. The dragon has eaten its share of cars and lives so just be safe about it.

I only wish it was a little closer to home. I've posted on this before. Seems like it would be a great road for an 8.

Most importantly, HAVE FUN! :)

-Eric

For those in Northern California, there's a stretch of road called highway 84- take that between Skyline and the coast. Actually, the fun part is between Skyline and La Honda, it kinda opens up between La Honda and the coast, but that road is frequently traversed by motorcycles, Ferraris, Porsches, anything that goes fast and handles well. Not quite as long as the Dragon, but very fun. There are fatalities every year (mostly motorcycles), so BE CAREFUL. Getting caught behind a slow-moving vehicle is a strong possibility, which sucks since it's all a double-yellow line. Speed limit used to be 55, and I think that may be the only road I've ever been on which I consider the speed limit too high for the road. Check it out, maybe someday I'll work up the courage to take it in my 8.

been. 2x (or was it 3?) in my Miata; took my 8 the last full w/e of July last year ( I took delivery 3 weeks prior). It was a blast. The low torque can make it seem a bit heavy compared to some other cars in the Gap - but it's faster than my Miata overall through it from top to bottom. There's only really one 'curve' where 1st gets just a bit slow but I found it possible to keep it at around 20 through that so that's about 4800RPM? (I think) so it was decent.

I've done it on my bike before... There's a Suzuki group that gets together every year down there and I went once.

Awesome.

Hmm... It might be time to start planning an 8 meet there.

---A

I went last weekend. Loved every bit of it the 8 really sticks to the road well. My average speed was about 45-50 & hit a top speed of 75mph

Going in June with friends. Went last year with the scoobie club, but this year I get to introduce the 8. Anyone else want to meet me up there? Im in shelby (28152), so I am pretty close.

I've often thought of doing it since I got my 8, just never had the time :(

Hi KBULL,

I've driven that stretch when I lived in California. Muir Woods is nice too! It's nice, but nothing compared to the experience of Deals Gap. If you ever come this way, check it out.

I rode it last year but I was on my 2002 GSX-R 750. It was way too much fun. Love to take my 8 on it. I probably wouldnt get out of 2nd gear. Some of the turns are VERY sharp.

Another great road in the Bay Area is Hwy 9 between Santa Cruz and Saratoga. Not as well-known or crowded as 84 - so you usually don't get stuck behind slow traffic. It's slower than 84 with some really sharp curves.

Check out www.katanaplanet.com There's a bunch of mostly Katanas that ride the dragon each year. There's always some Gixxers or busas that come too.

---A