The Dragon/Deals Gap

NYSpeed Automotive
1

Headed down there this weekend for a 3S gathering and had an insane time. Not sure how many you have heard of it but it’s this insane road on the TN/NC border…318 curves in 11 miles, I don’t think my steering wheel was straight for more than 2 seconds the whole 11 miles. If you guys ever get a free weekend/cash for gas it’s more than worth the 700+ mile drive.

Here’s some pics…stole them from friends that were there/photographers that hang out on the side of the road and sell them…

A few of the cars…

http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj24/MelisJphotography/BRG41.jpg
BRG41.jpg1024×680

She made my direct port look ridiculously awesome

http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj24/MelisJphotography/BRG28.jpg
BRG28.jpg1024×680

So yeah, we partied in the river behind the hotel…

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v609/sixsixfour/Blue%20Ridge%20Gathering%202008/DSC_3619.jpg
DSC_3619.jpg800×531

About half the cars that we cruised to the dragon with (this was at the bottom)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v609/sixsixfour/Blue%20Ridge%20Gathering%202008/DSC_3678.jpg
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RX7 happens to have an LS1 swap…

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v609/sixsixfour/Blue%20Ridge%20Gathering%202008/DSC_4003.jpg
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So we lost a cooler and decided to make the rental car into one (which also was on the dragon with “weight reduction” and spring rubbers)…
http://www.maximalperformance.com/pics/galleries/brg08/IMG_2238.jpg

http://www.maximalperformance.com/pics/car/dragon1.jpg

http://www.maximalperformance.com/pics/car/dragon2.jpg

http://www.maximalperformance.com/pics/car/dragon3.jpg

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I hear nothing but good things about Deals gap. Was going to do a massive ride in a few years back but kinda fell through.

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+1

I would love to ride that.

4

The 350Z forum held a really big meet at the Dragon called ZDAYZ every year. I would love to go one of these day. Look like you had lot of fun.

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Maximal 3S gatherings are awesome. :tup: I’m sure you guys had a ball.

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Awsome terry, Fuck I wanna go just to take pics, lol looked like a great time

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I have a Mini Cooper, of course I have been there =P. We actually went there for Minis on the Dragon. Over 400 of them. We stayed at Fontana Village. Biggest rule on the Dragon, stay on your side of the yellow line. Bikers love to hug it and you don’t want to clip one.

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another board was down there this past weekend too

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Damn dude… I was down there this weekend too. 3kGT’s and stealths were everywhere… Along w/the Teggy’s :slight_smile:

I was much more of a fan of the skyway in teh mountains than the tail itself… you happen to make it over there? its a 5000 foot elevation change all the way up then back down on teh edge of a cliff. 32 miles long. Much higher speed than the tail.

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Small world I guess. And yeah…tons of Integras at the bottom when we came back through.

We didn’t make it on that…the foothills parkway was another pretty nice road though and we took that to the dragon. Will have to remember the skyway next time I’m down there.

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looks like fun… so is it 700 miles one way ?

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From me…probably a bit farther from Buffalo.

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Does it get super crowded? How do they manage everybody wanting to take a run?

This is obviously a public motorway, but I imagine the local authorities have some kind of system worked out to keep people safe.

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No real system. Cops are there to make sure you don’t cross the yellow mainly. There are “normal” cars on it going slow as balls that you get hung up behind. Alot pull over but some decide to hold everyone up. On the way back through we did 25mph behind a pickup most of the way.

Here’s some more pics:

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http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2049/2465524413_cc7d3ac8d3.jpg

this is a fun road down there

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3097/2465521121_d75550435d.jpg

this is not. When you’re in unfamiliar territory, do not set your GPS on shortest route. I took this road for 10 miles over a mountain. Took me about an hour and 15 minutes over ruts and washed out road with no guardrails. It was the most frightening experience I have ever had. There was no cell phone reception and I had to keep avoiding huge ruts to prevent bottoming out or even worse getting high-centered. I had no idea it was 10 miles long or else I would have never entered it. The pic taken was of the mild easy stuff. I told my wife not to make a sound when we were traversing the serious shit. All this in my Mini Cabrio…

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Hahaha. GPS FTW