Going to the Dragon...

Discussion in 'MINIs on the Dragon 14 (May 11 - 15, 2016) Fontana' started by Goldsmithy, Mar 1, 2016.

  1. caseydog

    caseydog Well-Known Member

    Nov 7, 2012
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    This forum has died over the last few days. I check in and find 2 unread posts. Everybody seems to be at MOTD. It would sure be nice to read some posts from the event, and see a bunch of pictures and videos.

    Please, share the experience with those of us who couldn't make it!!!

    CD
     
  2. 05r50

    05r50 Well-Known Member

    Dec 4, 2010
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    Unfortunately there is practically zero cell coverage up in them hills and Fontanas wifi gets bogged down pretty easy.

    And so we wait.......
     
  3. FranticFreddy

    FranticFreddy Drive-N-Eat
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    Well, to continue the thread......coming home from the dragon.
    I made a couple of side trips while driving home to NJ.
    1st, The Snake, went up and over the snake, pretty neet road. Not as long as the Dragon but just as much fun.
    Got to Shade Valley and the store parking lot looked like a motorcycle convention. (Why can't motorcyclist park in some type of order instead of where their machine came to rest?)
    Next stop was the town of Damascus,Va. Normally a sleepy little hamlet kind of gentrified now.....Not on Saturday. Must have been some type of Hikers/bicycleist convention. (Thought I was in NYC there were so many cars and people walking around. Tents everywhere! Was going to stop for coffee, but.........
    Moving on.
    Next stop, Marion, Va. And the "Back of the Snake". Va.Rt 16 to Tazwell, Va. 32 miles over two mountain ridges with a pretty long valley between. Rode the first portion to Va.Rt42. This is about the halfway point.
    Lots of hairpin turns and switchbacks with some serious elevation changes. You are either on the edge of a steep drop off or against a rock wall. A number of hairpin turns are blind and really, really, really tight. Not many pull offs and those that are there are gravel. Did not come up on anyone else going in my direction but did pass a few vehicles going the other way (One was a service truck and it was on one of the hairpin curves. No room for error here!)
    Va.42 runs north and south up the valley. Nice sweeping curves with just enough twist to make it fun. Good pavement.
    Next up was a "Country Road", #622, Haven Ridge Rd/Bear Creek Rd. started out nicely paved put as I got up the mountain the road deteriorated. Not for anything lowered! Truly a Mountain Country Road, lots and lots of switchbacks and hairpin turns. Most where blind and not for passing the opposing traffic. (Not that your going to run into anyone coming the other way, but I did, twice.).
    After that it was back to I81 and the long drive home.
     
  4. mrntd

    mrntd Well-Known Member
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    First time I've seen cops on the Dragon. Friday we were saved by a bike coming the other way giving us the slow down signal (I guess there is a use for the bikes up there). Yesterday it was my trusty radar detector on an unmarked car in the big overlook.

    Little bit of rain, warm the first few days then it cooled off. Overall a great time.
     
  5. Qik

    Qik Well-Known Member

    Oct 27, 2015
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    #85 Qik, May 16, 2016
    Last edited: May 16, 2016
    It was my first time up there and it was a blast! Went on a few Dragon runs , met Nathan, and it's driving on that road everything everyone says it is :) I even had a guy come up to me and ask if I had any mods done to my car because it "seemed to handle better and is quicker than a standard JCW", Bitsy is just an S. I think driver has alot to do with how a car goes thru some twisties :D Though that did get the ball rolling, I've sent to find out her previous owners name. I'm gonna ask him what he had done to her if anything, that's not weird is it? Anyways, I plan on heading up there at least once every couple months to get some more runs in. MOTD was awesome!
     
  6. Goldsmithy

    Goldsmithy MINI Alliance Ambassador
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    Jan 30, 2015
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    Ann and I got home yesterday. We had the most 'actual' fun than we have had in years... The weather was awesome ( we seemed to drive between the rain :) ), and after the first day, Ann said she would rather drive than hang out, so the rest of the time we 'explored' and came to the conclusion that we will turn off on every side road we come to. Next year our goal is to explore the waterfalls...

    Special thanks to Chad and the guys at DT for all their help and to Jan who performed miracles on my car. I really think that Jan switched engines on me when I wasn't looking :)

    Now for the bad part. I would like all of you to send prayers to "Larry". Larry has been a friend for thirty years and we worked on many projects together. His engraving and carving were absolutely stellar. I came home to find out that he is in ICU, on dialysis, with an unknown prognosis. When it rains, it pours...
     
  7. MCS02

    MCS02 Moderator
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    Jul 31, 2009
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    Sorry to hear about your friend. I will say a prayer
     
  8. wmwny

    wmwny Well-Known Member

    May 29, 2009
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    Prayers from here for your friend, Teddy.

    How does your wife like your trailer hitch cover?
     
  9. vetsvette

    vetsvette MINI Alliance Ambassador

    Nov 9, 2013
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    Sorry to hear about your friend GS. Thoughts and prayers my friend.
     
  10. Goldsmithy

    Goldsmithy MINI Alliance Ambassador
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    I didn't ask her until she quit laughing :) Pic's tomorrow...
     
  11. minirab

    minirab Well-Known Member

    May 6, 2009
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    Prayers for your buddy.
     

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