Most liked posts in thread: Miata crash on The Dragon

I can't imagine why a truck driver would want to subject himself to driving down or up the Dragon in the first place. Can't be that much of a time saver or short cut when one considers just how slow they have to go and how dangerous it is for them to be on the road.

Nuts I tell ya!!:mad2:

 

^^^I'll bet they get tricked by their GPS unit....

 

I thought it had been closed to tractor trailers. I read that someplace on here.

Jim

 

Don't like trucks there, but the crash was caused by someone who does not know the meaning of assured clear distance. Maybe they do now.

 

Or when you are looking at the Road Atlas looking for the way from X to Y and you see US 129 and then since the scale is like 1/4"=1 mile the detail doesn't show just how convoluted the road is...

Then you see the signs, but it says Consider Alternate Route and golly, you are a Professional Trucker so that sign for the new guys, not you...

Well that is how more than a few trucks stumble upon the road.

 

Well, it's a lovely illustration of different driving practices and expectations in America and Europe.

Here, it's an everyday occurrence that semis may need more than their side of a narrow road on corners and full marks to the first Miata driver for responding to that. No marks at all to the second Miata for driving too close with too little attention - like, did he not see a semi coming?

And I like how the third driver, at the end of the vid, never once puts both hands on the steering wheel, at any time. Good practice for always having one hand free for the drink or phone, I guess.

 

UGH "Trucks":mad2::mad2::mad2::mad2:

Its not a race track but it is also not the interstate. No TRUCKS

 

They are not allowed on the NC side but TN is being stupid and not banning from even being on the road.

((Almost all of the Dragon is on the TN side.))

All TN has done was puts up warning signs at the very begining on the TN side telling all truckers to turn around and consider an alternate route.


Meaning they let them go up the Dragon and then they have to turn around.

Just STUPID TN DOT politics.

See below from: http://www.tailofthedragon.com/

Want to hear what Tennessee says about banning trucks?

The commissioner (John C. Schroer) added that TDOT provides enhanced safety advisories in regards to potentially dangerous roadways and that it is the responsibility of motorists to exercise a greater amount of caution when traveling winding mountain roads.

So in Tennessee the signs warning trucks are actually aimed at other motorists telling them to DODGE THE TRUCKS THAT WILL BE IN YOUR LANE !!! Leave it to Tennessee to even make such ridiculous statements. The commissioner ought to be FIRED !!!

How about just banning the TRUCKS like North Carolina !!!! Now it is technically illegal for trucks to cross the Dragon and enter North Carolina. But they can legally turn around at the state line and return northward back across the Dragon as long as they stay in Tennessee. Great thinking Tennessee.

 

The only time I have my hand on the shifter is when I am changing gears. Do what you like. The day you hit something & the steering wheel is wrenched out of your hand you will understand.

 

I just remember my (police pursuit) driving instructor saying "if you've got two hands, why not use both of them?".

It's interesting to see in the latest WRC rally cars with manual sequential gearchanges how some drivers (notably Jari-Matti Latvala) will leave their hand on the gear lever between upchanges on full acceleration (so maybe only 3 seconds between each) - only on straights, but twitching under wheel slip even with LSDs at 100mph on gravel would need two hands if I was driving.....

Serious drivers don't corner hard with one hand on the wheel if they don't have to - though again, guys like Latvala seem to be able to apply 90deg of steering lock with one hand, if they have to change gear at the same time.

But I think one would have to look long and hard to find anyone taking the Corkscrew at Laguna Seca with one hand on the wheel.

Maybe another difference between American and European expectations is that I drive each week on minor roads like the Corkscrew - but narrower and more poorly surfaced - whereas they wouldn't be tolerated by North American drivers?

 

Rally drivers are somewhat above us mere mortals, as are their cars. The times where I've had to let go of the wheel mid corner to try & grab a gear after one of my screw ups always got my attention.

 

Set up for the turn, before the turn. No need to have your hand on the shifter. You shouldn't be doing anything in the turn except turning and using the throttle.

Jim

 

they need to come up with a better way to keep trucks out of there. It is just to tight for them and too dangerous for everyone on the Dragon.

 

They were both cheating over the double-yellow and the white. I'd say they're sleeping on the bread they buttered for themselves.

 

That's right, now I remember. But if they are not allowed on the NC side, wouldn't they have to turn around at the state line or get ticketed?

Jim

 

Is there even a truck turn around anywhere on the Dragon????

 

^ Exactly!

Paper maps FTW....

 

And there is not a area suitable for turning around a 53' truck, coming from Tenn once you pass the bridge, you are committed.

 

Could be NC is looking for some extra money. Not a bad move on their part.

Jim

 

What was the following car? Right hand drive!