Thanks Nathan, that was actually a better article tha I expected. And about the last line.....he was referring to what he wrote at the beginning of the article " His headlights break through the trees every few seconds. He's driving hard, big downshift blips, each upshift coming at what sounds like redline. I'm listening for a mistake, a break in the engine's sweep or the screech of a sliding tire, hoping he's not as good as the locals claim. > After all, I came here to beat him. "
Great article. Makes me itchy to get back down there this fall....he is so right. all the turns are laid out for speed. I don't think there is an off-camber curve there... Just boggles my mind with all of these people driving off the Dragon(peer pressure maybe?) I seriously hustle on that road on both 2 and 4 wheels, have a blast, and never come even close to crossing (or usually touching) the white or yellow line. Not making a statement about my abilities, just saying you can have so much fun on that road by driving/riding within your limits... My first track weekend instructor gave me the best and most simple advice ever several years ago, and I remember it every time I go to the Dragon: "remember, you want to drive your ride home".
This is just an early fall tease to make me long of spring and the Dragon! And winter has not got here yet! Thanks Nathan!!
There is always the Fall event... MINIS Slay The Sleeping Dragon (October 24 - 26, 2014) Fontana Village, NC - Motoring Alliance :: MINI Cooper Forums
I agree with you completely. There is quite a variety of skill levels on the dragon & track. On track there is a lot of run off & folks to tell you that maybe you ought to take it a bit easier. On the dragon there seems to be a mindset that the mods added to ones car are somehow going to be a substitute for skill. The red mist is also an ever present danger on the dragon & folks fall prey to it all to often. The dragon is not my favorite road, there are better ones for me. That being said it is fun driving that road. I always drive within my limits especially there. No room for error, none. If I want to hang it out I know where the race tracks are. As the good folks at MG used to say, Safety Fast. :biggrin5:
The Dragon is a great road but you have to give it 100% of your attention 100% of the time. Don't wave to people and sight see or you could go over the edge or hit a tree. I never go "Full Dragon" because I never want to be towed back to Fontana on a flat bed an instantly become "That Guy" that crashed doing something stupid. I know my limits in my car. I agree you always have to drive in your comfort zone and remember you have to drive home. Also as mentioned above yes many roads around the Dragon are just as much fun if not more fun then the Dragon and tend to have much less traffic and no Harley's RV's cruising at 20 MPH.
And remember, he has driven this short road for a very long time. Plenty of time to have gotten all of the turns memorized.