FOTD - Fail of the Dragon

I am embarrassed by those pictures This was my first MOTD and even before the many stay in you lane warnings I had already figured it out, not that I am special for figuring out the obvious. I would have like to do a few more runs but I did not feel comfortable yet, so I stuck to the still very twisty roads compared to what I am used too, to get a feel for my skills. I really hope the offenders realize just how stupid their behavior was and never let it happen again.
I also heard the rumor of the biker forced off the road but had any one heard how bad he was hurt?

 

The biker broke something, I forget what. Mol probably has a better idea of what happened.

 

Well yes, but they aren't FROM there are they and really know the ins and outs. I've logged over 10K making passes ON the Gap (Dragon) itself (Local pass- Overlook to Store/Store to Overlook = 9.1 miles per pass).

Sorry, I won't talk up unless people want to know.

I sit silently at the side.

 

If only people were reading it! That's the point here. People aren't listening to the voices of experience.

 

THAT is a sobering picture. Do you have the link to the news site?

 

This pic is not from the news. It was taken by a friend who was there.

 

Would they mind if we plastered it all over the place as a reminder?

 

From what I saw in the pictures and clips there is a lack of understanding about performance driving. As a performance driving instructor, I teach execution and accuracy. Whether it's staying between the lines on the track through 120mph turns or driving the Dragon's turns at 40mph, it's the same thing.

The line crossers also havn't learned the secret of the late apex. Driving deep into the turn and then head sharply across the latter part of the turn. On right hand turns you would clip the latter part of the white line on your right after tracking your side of the double yellows going in. On left hand turns you would track the white line to your right going in and stay deep, then cut across to your side of the double yellows at the exit to the turn.

Another thing that happens with G-force driving, which this road is, occurs with your vision. There is some minor discomfort with your eyes that can start with rapid changes of direction with a MINI. These cars are among the best at changing directions and peripheral vision is impaired temporarily. You can feel this at the outer edges of the eye as the centrifugal force builds.

Some inexperienced people may well ease up on the wheel when this happens and fail to maintain the proper line. The best way to cure this is track-time with an instructor.

I hope this helps understand some of the problems out there.

 

I'm not sure if the problem is even that "deep."

My observation even in just everyday driving is that people are just lazy working the steering wheel. :crazy:

 

Very sobering picture, Mol, thank you for posting it. I hope that the people who think it's ok to drive down the middle take a good long look and realize that it could happen to them.
People are lazy, this is very true. That's the main reason I took it very easy up in the area during the first day and didn't drive the Dragon until my 2nd day there, after I'd had a chance to run some roads with real curves--I live in Florida, not exactly the twisty road capital of the south! I drive thru the roundabouts for a little fun!
When I first went to the Dragon I wanted to learn how to drive it in my own lane at speed--so I took my time, asked questions, and drove it. Also rode with a friend who is a much better driver than I am, to see what he did, how he handled the curves & all that. I'd love to take pro driving lessons, just haven't been able to fit it in the budget yet. The rear anti-sway bar came first.
Most folks are out for a fun ride, they don't think that a moment's inattention or drifting into the oncoming lane could hurt anything--until it does. I just hope that we don't see many more pics like that one above.

 

Good job MINIBEE

For all the noobs... we were all noobs once, don't be discouraged..

I am not a noob, and when someone comes up on me, I pull off to let them pass... there are pullouts, as long as you use them properly then the car behind you should not pressure you too much.

 

Great post! Track instruction is a fantastic ongoing experience for me.

 

Good point.... we all were noobs at one point. I will always remember my first time on the Gap (Dragon). For me it was scary as sh1t my first time with all the sport bikers wizzing by. I keep this in mind whenever I come up on a slower vehicles. Who woulda thunk they would eventually become my best freinds? LOL

Also good point. If you ride up too close on someone they don't have time to pull off safely. Always give room so that people can see a pull-off and use it. If they don't pull off for you, just use that as an opportunity to practice smooth driving.

 

OK.... so I'm gonna get blasted for this.... flame on...

I'm a BIG fan of driving safely on the Dragon. And, while not the veteran that Mol is, I'm not a newb... I've made 7 trips there, and have driven many dozens of laps.

While I agree that there is NO EXCUSE for hanging across the centerline on blind corners - NONE - there are many sections of the Dragon with clear sightlines where I personally <GASP> will put a toe on the line when I apex. There are probably even a few photos around that show me doing that... and, when the sightlines are clear and there are no LEOs watching, you're not going to convince me that that makes me (a) dangerous, (b) a bad driver or (c) a bad person.

I only mention this because, while I WHOLEHEARTEDLY agree with the general theme and intent of this thread, and while there are MANY heinous instances documented in MINIBee's video, there are also a few pictures that very well could be clear sightline, toe-on-the-line scenarios... I dare suggest that a few of the local slayers put their knee pucks on the line on those same corners sometimes when sightlines are clear...

I'm just saying that we're probably getting a *little* sanctimonious if we vilify every pictured car with a tire touching yellow.... if we're gonna go there, then let's all agree to drive it at 20mph just to be "extra safe"...

 

Blimey, there is no reason anyone should blast you, all of us that tend to ..umm.. push the envelope..when conditions allow are guilty of the same thing. There are many corners where you can see what is coming IF and only IF you are looking ahead and not focused on the small patch of sinuous asphalt directly in front of you.

I can see in my mind a few sections where the bends are quite slight and ...again, when conditions are proper...the road can be straightened.

There is no black and white distinction here, sure, some of those pictured were blatant way across the line at improper times but there are plenty of gray shadings shown as well. All we can do is impress upon everyone to drive within their ability. Not all of us are The Chad.

 

I wish I could hang like The Chad.

(I have to make that joke at least once a week or I turn into a pumpkin)

 

One of my major, major pet peeves - people driving way, WAY too fast on public roads. We're not talking 5 over here, but 10+ over and way, WAY more in the case of some MINI gatherings.

This is the major reason that I have avoided MOTD since its inception - each and every single year, someone's wrecked their car, going too fast on a public road, in an uncontrolled environment, etc. Personally, I don't want to have anything to do with it. It's a shame, too, because the social gathering aspect, peddling our parts, etc. sure seems like fun.

I have avoided our local club drives for the same reason - they haul down Texas back roads, putting themselves, their fellow motorers, and the general public in danger. At some point, something bad will happen - there are simply too many variables on public roads.

If you want to go fast, take it to the track or local autocross. Period. The ONLY exception to this is Open Road Racing (e.g. like the Big Bend Open Road Race), which IS on a public road but is in a controlled environment (and the road is closed to public traffic). There is simply no excuse to haul the mail on a public road - you're going to kill yourself, yourself and passengers, wreck your car, wreck someone else's car, wreck property - or worst case, kill innocent bystanders. None of these are very good outcomes, obviously.

You should be able to enjoy the Dragon at the posted speed limit. And, you should be able to enjoy it while keeping in YOUR lane as well... There is NO excuse, ever, for 'straightening' out a public road, and expecially a road like the Dragon where every other 'performance' driver is exceeding the limits of the road and themselves. The Dragon is NOT a race track, but it sure seems like everyone can't wait to get the chance to fly down it at breakneck speed.

Just my $0.02...

 

Agreed with Blimey and parts of Scott@txwerks.

Sure some MINI drives can be spirited, but I have had friends wreck, that were not being overly sprited, sometimes a loss of concentration, or miscalculation at posted speed is all it takes.

I can admit to being spirited at times, it's hard not to in a MINI.. :blush2:

 

Not to mention mechanical failure and the pesky wildlife at times.

 

This post is way too absolute for my liking. There have been plenty of times that I have been the only person on the highway. If I'm willing to chance an LEO encounter, I see no problem going faster than posted speeds.

The thing is, one must always drive within their abilities, and taking things beyond their control into account.

I'm not saying I did, or someone should, but a lonely stretch of highway is pretty easy to handle safely at far faster than posted speeds. Just because some tard in Washington said that 55mph (or 70 these days) is the limit, doesn't mean that it is the maximum others can handle.

And before my viewpoint gets forum-twisted into something its not, I'm not advocating speeding, or traveling in an unsafe manner. I just think there are many situations where the posted limit is well below the "unsafe manner" threshold, and if some people feel like approaching it further, so be it, I'm not going to decry it. I'm also not advocating line crossing without clear line of sight. I also know that in many parts of Michigan, driving merely the posted speed will get you killed.

The trick is being honest with yourself as to what your abilities are, and working within them. THAT is the point of what I'm saying, and I think the crux of this thread. If you're blatantly line crossing, you aren't being too honest with yourself regarding your abilities (or the camera angle in the shots doesn't take into account driver's line of sight and visibility). If you're weaving through traffic like crazy, same thing. But open road, no traffic, no obstacles, good conditions, and a firm grasp of one's abilities, I say enjoy a spirited drive.

D