Anybody ever hear of "Back of the Dragon"?

Discussion in 'Virginia' started by Standard Dude, Apr 15, 2014.

  1. Standard Dude

    Standard Dude New Member

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    Wasn't sure where to post this but Fun Roads, Routes and Drives sub-forum Virginia seemed appropriate.

    The wife was in Atkins VA, near Marion VA on business and saw something that referred to the "back of the dragon". She asked about it and was told of a drivers road, Tazewel to Marion. I found their website and their slogan cracked me up: "Eleven...try thirty-two".
    32 miles of twisties--looks pretty good on google maps!
     
  2. Mr. Jim

    Mr. Jim Mudshark
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    Heard of it but have not been there yet, sounds good.
     
  3. vetsvette

    vetsvette MINI Alliance Ambassador

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  4. Z06_Pilot

    Z06_Pilot Well-Known Member
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    Interesting find! Never heard of it, but I do like the slogan.

    Maybe if the "Tail" was designated a tourism zone, they might finally block trucks from going down it in BOTH directions.

    I do wonder about the 32 miles. The most unique thing to me about the Dragon in TN/NC is the fact that there are no driveways or intersecting roads, period. If this 32 mile stretch has that feature, I will find my way there for sure at some point.:cornut:
     
  5. Dave.0

    Dave.0 Helix & RMW Powered
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    Yup that is the best part of the Dragon and the Foothills Parkway. :Thumbsup:

    Oh and TN is not smart enough to block trucks from entering the Dragon from the TN side. :mad2::mad2::mad2:
    They will someday when someone has a crazy accident with a truck and has the money and a good lawyer and sues TN for allowing trucks on that section of road.
     
  6. mrntd

    mrntd Well-Known Member
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    Look at their map it looks like there are 2 good sections of limited access road. Both ends closer to the towns have a lot of roads coming in and a section in the middle has some more.

    Remember no radar detectors allowed in VA.
     
  7. Dave.0

    Dave.0 Helix & RMW Powered
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    :lol::lol::lol: I run my V1 every year without any issues. :devil::devil::devil:

    FYI they can't detect them. :ihih:
     
  8. Belhaven

    Belhaven Active Member

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    hmm - i think i found a road to travel on the way to the start of this year's BRPT :)
     
  9. JBC

    JBC New Member

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    Yes, Back of the Dragon, starts just pass Hungry Mothers State Park near Marion, VA. I have driven it several times. Beautiful and a fun drive if you have the right machine. Need the great balance of power and handling. Mini works great on this road.
     
  10. Belhaven

    Belhaven Active Member

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    We did that road last year on the way to the north end of the Blue Ridge Parkway Tour. As other have said, access isn't very limited so you can't go "full-dragon" for all of their 33 miles but it is a good set of twisteys.

    Another decent little road (again, not limited access) is VA-56 from Vesuvius over the parkway... you can go all the way to Patrick Henry parkway but we usually turn around and go back before then.
     
  11. AAONMS

    AAONMS Well-Known Member
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    Just remember that there is more than one way to be caught, some are very low tech. Family friend who was the County Sheriff told me if they radar your car and you brake, that's probable cause to stop you to look for a detector. Also, if when they radar you, they see lights come inside, that too is cause to stop you.
     
  12. Savvy

    Savvy Well-Known Member
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    That's why you just lift off the gas. Possibly, down shift a gear. And if you have the detector rigged right... only you will see the lights.
     
  13. LostDenverite

    LostDenverite New Member

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    Yup, yup. Was recently there:

    http://meetu.ps/2GmF67
     
  14. Justa Jim

    Justa Jim Well-Known Member
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    I was on some really nice twisties in VA last week, outside of Bedford and noticed that in VA, the speed limit on these roads was 55. One of them was the old "hair pin" type, right up the side of the mountain, with no guard rails. I was told, by locals, that new roads have been build now and the twisty ones are rarely used. :Thumbsup:
     
  15. maacodale

    maacodale Club Coordinator

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    Kinda of an old thread, but I'll chime in with my opinions on BACK of the Dragon. Our club, Hampton Roads club MINI had a run through there last year. It crosses three mountain ranges. Those are good, but the sections in between those ranges are a bit boring. Like Dave eluded to, there are side streets and driveways to deal with. The 32 mile claim, while true, is a bit disingenuous. The fun parts maybe make up 18-20sime miles of it. Still, not quite as hairpiny as teh Dragon is but there are a few "damn near stop" turns. There are a good number of sweepers, many of which are blind, as you'd expect.

    I'd do it again when I get a chance, but I doubt I'd make a special trek across the state for it. I'd honestly drive a bit further and hit Foothills or Cherohala.
     

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