All this talk about banning trucks from US129 is way out of line IMO. They have as much right to the road as anyone else driving out there. The issue with The Dragon is that the car enthusiasts & bikers think it's a road course and as such, they want to drive as fast and/or careless as they want. But the fact remains it's a public road, governed by public laws and everyone has the right to use it. I enjoy The Dragon, Moonshiner 28 and all the other "twistie" roads in & around the Smokies. But you've got to respect those that use these roads for everyday transportation and a means for getting from Point A to Point B.

A few years back, I was returning from Alcoa, TN and decided to take US 129 back to US28 and then home. About 1/3 of the way thru The Dragon, I came up on a Highway Patrol officer going the opposite direction. He flagged me down to warn me that a mobile home was about a mile behind him. They were escorting the home to a location somewhere up the road. Now you want to talk about something to see when a mobile home & you meet along The Dragon!!! That road really ain't wide enough!!!