There's a road down in TN/NC (route 129) and its called the Dragon that I visit every year, well the past 2 anyways and wondered if you guys would like to make a trip down there. I usually make the trip in the fall as to check out the fall colors, sometime in early Oct. I know its a bit early, but these things need to planned well in advance. I will post some camp site/hotel info but I'll tell you this, book early as the low prices and high demand have them being scooped up early. Here's the website for it www.tailofthedragon.com I can attest to it being one of the best drives in the country and well worth the drive if you wanna see what your Crossfire can REALLY do!

 

also called Deal's Gap. BIG spot for Miatas, bikes, etc. 300+ turns in 11 miles... very cool.

 

My previous car, a 2000 Contour SVT, was built for the Dragon, but I added some 17" tires/wheels, upgraded the suspension w/ Bilstein struts and BAT springs, SS brake lines, carbon ceramic pads/new rotors, upgraded club 24mm rear sway bar. It did VERY well out there and if you were to go into the achieves, you'd see my car, a silver CSVT w/ dark blue racing stripes. I really hope to see some of the club members out there in the fall, it will be a good time!

 

Aero Blue,

Wrote you in the other forum. I had an 2000 SVT Contour that was silver as well. I had more GO upgrades than handling installed. Send me a PM if you want to discuss SVT vs Xfire or just talk SVT.

 

Deals Gap is a circus on the weekends. I used to 'race' my sport bikes through there every other weekend until the cops came down hard on the place.

If your looking for a similar road with less circus...try US421 in Shady Valley, TN about 3 hours north of the Gap. 500+ curves in 15 mile area...sport bike/car heaven. Im glad its only 25 miles from me.

 

It was 23rd April 1994 and I seem to have married the dragon. Should have asked St. George to kill it!

 

I'm so lost, fill me in, please!?

 

English thing perhaps - hope Bob's wife doesn't use the forum - St George, patron saint of England killed the last dragon (or so they said when I was in school).

Strange thing is George probably never saw England, might have been in the Roman army around 300AD. The best theory for the legend of the dragon is that the story may be a Christianized version of the Greek legend of Perseus, who was said to have rescued the virgin Andromeda from a sea monster.

 

I love to slay this Dragon and I feel I have an even better sword to do so!

 

Not been there in a car, but I seem to know my way around the Dragon on a motorcycle...

 

That's bad-as* and although I can't do that, I'm going to enjoy the heck out of my new Crossfire none the less!

 

I have never been to "The Dragon", But I live about two +/- hours from it, and have heard many stories of it. All were great... One will enjoy the mountains around here in the South if one has never been.

 

Another nice piece of road is Pocohantas County Route 66 from Snowshoe to Cass, West Virginia. Well maintained two lane blacktop across the mountain it has a ski resort at one end and a steam railroad and huge radio telescopes at the other. I've taken the Crossfire over it twice (and my previous Eclipse several times) and it is a wonderful exercise in reading the road.

 

I live in North GA. and we have done the Dragons Tail more times than you can think. We also do the skyway between Robbinsville and Tellico Plains. We usually drive the XF but sometimes we drive the Vette. You might see any kind of vehicle there. The roads are smooth and very winding. The view is also great and there is tons of stuff to do in that area.

Do you know what a motorcycle rider is called that tries to tame the Dragon? (Organ donor)

Is there a speed limit? One wouldn’t think so. We've seen two motorcycle wrecks one of them very serious so watch out for the bikes. The helicopter will take you to Knoxville if you screw up too badly.

For you city slickers it's worth taking a vacation there just to see it.

 

I'm a "city slicker" and I've enjoyed the Dragon very much! The first year I was down there, my wife and I did see a motorcycle accident, but it wasn't serious. You mentioned the Skyway and this is why I'm staying in Tellico Plains for the Dragon Run. I'm 3.5 miles from where the Cherahola Skyway starts, there's even a big brown/white sign that tells you so, which is good for those who've never been! I've also found the local people to be very helpful and friendly, but what do you expect, after all that's why they call it "southern hospitality!" BTW, what year Vette do you have?

 

So your staying in Robbinsville, NC aero blue?

I hate that Microtel there...I always stayed at the San Ran a couple doors down from it. I need to take the xfire down there sometime next year.

 

My Dad and I will be staying in Tellico Plains, at Caney Creek to be exact. My wife and I stayed there 2 years ago and I really like the place, alot! I tried to stay there last year, but there was this panning for gold thing going on the weekend I came in so I had to stay at another place in the area, not to far away though. A couple guys from the Contour forum are staying in a motel in Robinsville though. I leave ONE week from tomorrow and I can't wait to get down there!

 

My Vette is a '92 Coupe. It is highly modified for the drag strip but is streetable. I'm a Vette person 1st and a XF person 2nd mostly because we belong to Mountain City Corvette Club but the XF is much more fun to drive on a winding road.

 

ot...i see your 92' vette in your gallery (link below). i had a 92' vette many many years ago. question...your car has 93> rims on it...what made you change them? the reason i liked the 92' was...the rims were 9.5" front & rear...they could be rotated. in 93' the front rim changed to an 8.5". this eliminated the opportunity to rotate. just curious... maybe you wanted the shiner aluminum finish?

https://www.crossfireforum.org/galle...cat/500/page/1

 

Hey Andrew, the original wheels were scuffed badly. At one time or another, I got a little too close to a curb. I went to the Corvette EXPO in Knoxville and found a set of '96 style wheels with BFG's already mounted on them. It worked out great for me because I also needed tires (mostly rear tires). I do like the shinier aluminum finish. The narrower front rims also handle truck groves better but I can’t rotate anymore.



FYI, CNC heads, ported intake, 58mm TB, under drive pulleys, headers, Accel ignition, cold air/ram air induction system, 3,000 stall torque converter, Dana 44 axle conversion and 3.73 gear. It dynos 368 HP at the rear wheels. It also gets a respectful 21 mpg highway. Yea, it’s my baby. My best run is an 11.92 @ 119 mph.


The XF handles better and is more confortable.