After we finish with the Group pic by killboy, whoever wants to join us, we'll head over to Pigeon Forge for some fun. Anyone familiar knows the area is loaded with restaurants, mini-golf, go-karts, etc.
Saturday Night June 28th -- Foothills Parkway
After the dinner Saturday night, anyone who still wants to take another drive, we'll make another night run thru the Dragon and up onto the Foothills Parkway, and stop to take in the lights of the Milky Way and the city lights of nearby Knoxville!!
After we finish with the Group pic by killboy, whoever wants to join us, we'll head over to Pigeon Forge for some fun. Anyone familiar knows the area is loaded with restaurants, mini-golf, go-karts, etc.
Saturday Night June 28th -- Foothills Parkway
After the dinner Saturday night, anyone who still wants to take another drive, we'll make another night run thru the Dragon and up onto the Foothills Parkway, and stop to take in the lights of the Milky Way and the city lights of nearby Knoxville!!
Keep these activities in mind!
Thanks SolsticeWolf for posting these. Just a little disclaimer for those that might be interested in doing the Pigeon Forge run on Friday night, keep in mind that the group pic is at 6pm and will probably take a half to hour to complete. The run to Pigeon Forge takes about 1.5-2hours depending on stops and traffic and return trip is same. And if you stop to play a round of mini golf, etc. in PF, then expected time back at Fontana would be close to midnight. However, this is a very nice run and well worth it. Much to see in PF, and there is a beautiful scenic spot overlooking Gatlinburg that is well worth seeing at night if the weather is nice as we all hope. There are many ways to get to PF and back. Brian my significant other said he would be happy to post shortly some directions of possible routes to and from Fontana for those interested.
OK, here's a few possible routes for a round trip through Pigeon Forge. The first one is a full loop, heading up through the gap to the Foothills, then Townsend, PF, Gatlinburg bypass, then 441 to Cherokee and back around...
It would also be interesting if the big loop (through Cherokee) is chosen, to add the 14 mile round trip loop up to Clingman's Dome when we get up to Newfound Gap in the park. I've never been up there after sundown, but it's one of the highest points around and it would be an awesome view if it's a clear night.
After we finish with the Group pic by killboy, whoever wants to join us, we'll head over to Pigeon Forge for some fun. Anyone familiar knows the area is loaded with restaurants, mini-golf, go-karts, etc.
Saturday Night June 28th -- Foothills Parkway
After the dinner Saturday night, anyone who still wants to take another drive, we'll make another night run thru the Dragon and up onto the Foothills Parkway, and stop to take in the lights of the Milky Way and the city lights of nearby Knoxville!!
When you come to the event and while you are there, please practice the utmost caution!! The Dragon is a fantastic road and very fun, but this stretch of US129 is not to be underestimated or taken for granted!! This especially applies to those coming who have never been to this road before. Remember this is a mountain road as high as 2000 feet. Very few guardrails and if you leave the road, it's a loooong way down!! The mountainside above the road can be deadly as well. We almost lost dengel last year when she was there with the group after Nationals!
I tell you this because last night a 21 yo sportbike rider from Maryland was killed on the Dragon, the first death this year and hopefully the only one. Hat Tip to Sol-Candy for posting this on the SolForum: Motorcyclist dies on "the Dragon" - Pontiac Solstice Forum
so I'm bringing back this post I've made the past 2 years:
Note: This post is for first-timers on the Dragon!!
Law Enforcement is there primarily for the Ignorant and the A$$es who come to the Dragon to show off. Don't go there looking to break a speed record or you're most likely break your neck or someone else's.
I won't sugarcoat this for fear of losing attendance.
This Is A Serious Road!
Stay near the Speed limit, and for certain Stay In Your Lane!!! Standard Rules of the Road, I know, but Crucial on the Dragon. Stay Alert because someone may come into your lane Cutting a corner around a curve.
People Do get hurt on this road! We all now know about Diane's Accident!
18-wheelers are a hazard on the road too. They are not frequent, but they do come through sometimes.
Chemist and Sol Cruisin had an encounter with one on the after-Nationals trip.
dlowie offered us this caution last year:
Quote:
Originally Posted by dlowie
It looked like rain here so I couldn't do much and decide to drive the 129, Cherohala and 360 loop. IYI it was 122 miles by my odometer. I drove it clockwise. On 72 I noticed a TN State Trooper beside a stopped, empty, 18 wheeler flatbed that was headed in the other direction. Don't know how he got there but it's entirely possible he came over the Dragon. Also, still on 72, I saw a large bus headed in the other direction. Also could have come over the Dragon. This was the only Trooper and large vehicles I saw on the entire loop. Even on a rainy, Thursday afternoon I saw lots and lots of motorcycles. The ones in bunches always seem to be going a bit slower than the individuals.
On the Dragon itself there are a lot of pull-offs and most people (especially the locals) use them to let faster traffic by. The graveling of the pull-offs looks to be almost complete. It leaves some gravel and sand on the roadway but the crews do a pretty good job of cleaning up so by Aug 13 that should be no problem. I did notice that a NC crew was well into TN. They were finishing up for the day - at any rate they were removing the work zone signs. They would just stop their truck in the roadway while a worker got out, crossed the road, picked up the sign and returned to the truck. I wasn't going that fast so had no problem. Sometime you've just got to be careful. The road was damp in spots but it didn't actually rain on me till I got to Cherohala. Anyhow, good traction over the entire Dragon.
Don't be intimidated by this road. It is very, very twisty and goes up and down a lot. But IT IS NOT A SCARY ROAD. I spent the entire Dragon in 2nd and 3rd gear with just an occasional, brief time in 4th. Never got to 5th at all. 20 to a high of 40 mph is plenty fast enough for me to have a good time in my Jetta. (I think the purpose of our functom is to have a good time.) Mostly the road is lined with trees that hang over the highway - no power lines requiring crews to cut the limbs back. Only occasional glimpses of vista and lake because of trees. Lots of mountain roads around here have little or no shoulder but the Dragon is different with lots of pull-offs, as mentioned, and most of it has at least some shoulder
Our own Appygirl gave us this advise last year:
Don't get bent out of shape if a motorcycle comes right up on your arse. Motorcyclists, in general, can go through the Gap aka The Dragon much faster than a normal car. If you see a motorcyclist or another vehicle that has more experience come up on you, please pull off at your first opportunity at many of the pull offs throughout the Gap. Also, do not get bent if the cyclist does not wait for you to pull off. Most will, but some will make their move around you when they feel they can. Most cyclists that are cruising that fast through there know what they are doing and also know it's a very touristy place. Crossing on the double yellow and all the other laws will be broke in the Gap by those that are experienced. IF you are not experienced, please take it easy, especially on wet pavement. Rear wheel drive cars such as ours have a tendency to get more squirrly than a front wheel drive car that can pull out of each turn much faster. Please be careful around blind corners for those that might be crossing double yellow or semis. It does happen. Be alert for animals as well. Police are pretty heavy on the weekends. Some cyclists may tap their helmets. That is a signal that cops are ahead. I would say this all would apply as well on the Cherohala and the Foothills Pkwy. I think that covers it
Remember we want you to have a good time but a safe one!!!
Thanks Solsticewolf for the reminders. And let me be the first to say that even experience can get the best of us. I had my scare in the Gap last year. There are areas where you can pick up speed not realizing that the corners come up quick and with elevation changes even more so. I CAN say that the Sky handled beautifully, but not something I want to test again, so even those of us that know the road like the back of our hand can get a scare. There are so many other factors besides the road and speed that come into play- other cars, animals, etc..
That said, I still have a hard time with the posted speed limit.
Here's an offer for the event to the ladies(and some of the men if they want) coming...
Fontana Village has an on-site day spa, Karing Karrs, as on of their many amenities. A big hat tip to pursuit for arranging this special.
For the duration of the event, June 26-29, Karing Karrs is offering the Solstice/Sky group a $10 discount on all 1 hour spa treatments!
(Cannot be combined with existing specials)
Please consult their website for their selection of treatments and their policies:
I'll admit that I haven't been following the thread that much but am condidering going up there in that same time frame. I see that you have more cars registered than those that have paid. Will those that have not paid be included in your'e activities?
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Barry, I hate to be the bearer of bad news but Appygirl and KYGXP covered this best earlier in the thread. This is the position we have to take on this. It's just the nature of the Beast. (pun intended ) If we do not have a waiver, you will not run with us, and with no fee from you you'll be left out of the other activities. THat's just the way of things...
Quote:
Originally Posted by Appygirl
we will need any of those that have not officially registered at the official Solstice/Sky Dragon site to be sure to register there, print waiver, and send it in along with fees. Unfortunately, if we do not have you officially register, fill out waiver, and send fees, you will not be able to run or attend official gatherings. I believe that SolsticeWolf and KYGXP will confirm this. We cannot stop anyone from attending and driving around- that is your God given freedom. But, we can ask those that have not officially registered and paid to please respect those that have. The fees cover meals, shirts, prizes, etc., and the waiver is meant to protect those officially registered from lawsuits should accident(s) happen. I used to own a MINI and annually attended the MINI's at the Dragon events. They had the same policy that we are trying to institute, and it's really for everyone's safety and enjoyment. Sorry if this sounded bitchy. It really wasn't meant to.
Quote:
Originally Posted by KYGXP
You are completely correct..... The wavier form is to protect everyone..... If you have been on any public runs you have signed a wavier at some point. The Nationals in Nashville, The Mecca Tour and many others. The Dragon is a great road but we all must have respect for it and understand that we all are driving it at our own risks.. At registration last year for those who attended we all signed a wavier. This should not be an issue. After the fees are posted we will have a deadline to send the waiver and money in so that we can get a headcount, make sure we order enough shirts and that we have a correct count for the meals.
As you said we can-not prevent anyone from enjoying this road but anyone who just shows up will not be included in any of the meals, tshirts or any group events. Please respect this....
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Evening Outings
) If we do not have a waiver, you will not run with us, and with no fee from you you'll be left out of the other activities. THat's just the way of things... 
But, we can ask those that have not officially registered and paid to please respect those that have. The fees cover meals, shirts, prizes, etc., and the waiver is meant to protect those officially registered from lawsuits should accident(s) happen. I used to own a MINI and annually attended the MINI's at the Dragon events. They had the same policy that we are trying to institute, and it's really for everyone's safety and enjoyment. 
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