Interest in MM trip to Deals Gap/Tail of the Dragon?

[Goodspeed]

Tonight at our final MM meeting of this semester Dr. Thomas, one of our club advisors, mentioned his interest in going to Deals Gap, NC to travel on the famous "Tail of the Dragon". This is a great idea and would be something new for the club; the question is, is there enough interest among MM'ers to make a club trip?

Dr. Thomas may likely go in January over the winter break, and he extended an invitation to anyone who might like to join him. The idea was also to make another trip during warmer weather closer to spring perhaps as a club.

Thoughts?

[url=http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&saddr=Harrisonburg,+VA&daddr=deals+gap,+NC&hl=en&geocode=&mra=ls&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=44.069599,93.164063&ie=UTF8&t=h&z=7ed"]Map - H'burg to TOTD[/url]

Dragon Map

[ScottyB]

i would absolutely be there if we can nail down a date that at least partially falls on a weekend.

winter/spring is the time to go as well. there are some adjacent roads to the TOTD that i've heard are equally good but much less traveled and patrolled.

Chan went not long ago, maybe he can chime in

[Jake]

I'm going with my dad at the end of July - Miatas at the Gap is happening. 400+ Miatae and owners, lots of roads, etc.

I would definitely go if we could pin down a date early spring. Gotta be top-down weather to go. Assuming we could carpool and split gas and hotel costs, it wouldn't cost an excessive amount of dinero to do this. Maybe even club funds help cover the hotel, kinda like karting?

Maybe we could leave early afternoon on Thursday, then drive all day Friday/Saturday, head back Sunday AM? I'm just thinking if students want to go, they'll have to skip some class regardless - but the less skippage the better. If we left around 1 or 2, we could stop for a quick dinner along the way and be okay for time.

The official (and heinous) website for TOTD is here. It also mentions the Cherohala Skyway which Dr. Thomas said is good.

Another site with some cool pix/video - especially for Miata peoples - is here.

[Ryan T]

I've been there a handful of times and it's amazing! The Gap is only about 1.5 hours from my house in Abingdon. If you guys want to go we can drive down and stay at my house in Abingdon and then head there early the next morning and drive it. We've got room to sleep a good number of people if you bring air mattresses and a blanket. If we are really nice my mom will make bacon and eggs for everyone!

[Jake]

I've been there a handful of times and it's amazing! The Gap is only about 1.5 hours from my house in Abingdon. If you guys want to go we can drive down and stay at my house in Abingdon and then head there early the next morning and drive it. We've got room to sleep a good number of people if you bring air mattresses and a blanket. If we are really nice my mom will make bacon and eggs for everyone!

Done deal :lol:

[Maengelito]

I would definitely go if we could pin down a date early spring. Gotta be top-down weather to go.

I've been known to drive top down in Jan and Feb. The heater in Miatas are blazing hot and all you need is a hat for the top of your head and its pretty comfortable.

[DavidL]

Would definitely be interested if we could line something up.

[DavidM]

+1 Anyone want to haul a GS500 all the way down?

[Nis01]

I'd definitely be interested. This trip has always been on my wish list.

[Kaan]

i might be down... i need to get the bike fixed!

[95-GT0-MR]

Sounds like fun, just need some details of when/where/how etc.

[Ginger]

If you guys go, you need to do the Cherohola Skyway... it's about two hours of awesome

[rezarxt]

Ive been thinking about this forever. I had planned on waiting till I bought my new car though. I would certainly be down for the trip. It looks awesome.

[Jake]

If you guys go, you need to do the Cherohola Skyway... it's about two hours of awesome

Dr. Thomas mentioned that as well. I know it's pretty close by so it would definitely be worth it.

[Ginger]

A bunch of pictures from my trip are here:

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[kcook]

i am 100% down. ive been wanting to do this forever

- anyone know the speed limit on the road?

[Jake]

i am 100% down. ive been wanting to do this forever

- anyone know the speed limit on the road?

I think it's 35. Sounds slow but apparently if you can maintain that kind of speed throughout (i.e. trafficsuxsometimes) then it's pretty fun. Local LEO's patrol pretty hard I think.

The other local roads (Cherehola) offer a bit more speed afaik.

[BLINGMW]

Chan went not long ago, maybe he can chime in

I think it's 35. Sounds slow but apparently if you can maintain that kind of speed throughout (i.e. trafficsuxsometimes) then it's pretty fun. Local LEO's patrol pretty hard I think.

It is 35, and it is patrolled HARD. Some of the corners are fun at that speed, but you start to roll into the throttle on exit and suddenly you're going way too fast. There is always someone pulled over-- try to make sure it's not one of you. I guess it's something worth experiencing, but it's too bad they don't just close it down, make it one way, and let people go nuts nurburgring style. And yes, there are other fun roads and things to see, you could spend all day just driving around if it's nice.

[kcook]

lol if ppl went nuts on that road they would fly off and hit a tree. we can always hit roads near it that are less patrolled.

im glad its a pretty straight shot from jmu. fairly easy to get to. ive always wondered... why does the state or whomever create a road like this. was it made for certain purposes or "hey lets make a road with as many curves as possible in the shortest distance." if im not mistaken they do close this road off for events correct?

[Jess]

We had a great time at Minis on the Dragon in May. There is a campground/cabins/motel at the bottom of the tail that everyone stayed at for MOTD. Chan and I did just as well staying at a hotel on the Cherokee Indian reservation (not to mention the Harrah's casino!), which was about an hour away. Some of our pics: