I've been thru the Dragon seven times so far..... I can't get enough of it!

Kim, I've GOT to be here in the Spring... I'll arrange it, somehow.

 

Some jealousy here

 

Had an incredible time today. Living in Texas hasn't given me much of a chance to really test the car's handling. I love this Car! I was running nose to tail with Mr. Taz and the sound of two V8's accelerating out of turn is a great sound. Itsky was our guide and did a great job leading our group.

 

And, being so modest, Kim forgot to mention that you won Best of Class! Way to go, Kim!!

 

I managed to do the Dragon 11 times this weekend... got up this morning and ran four times - first two times, NO ONE was on the road!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Last two times, almost EVERYONE pulled over for me right away - must be the mentality of the Sunday morning drivers, but I waved and smiled at them for lettin me go!

Danimal: You were so right, the 6 speed was BUILT for the dragon - I was thinking I'd miss the auto, but no way!

32KRAZY, JHM2K, Eric, 13K9, etc... You guys are awesome - the Skyway was too much for me, I had to back off and let you all go... more HP would be nice, but PIZZA NEEDS A BRAKE UPGRADE!

AMX1397: Jim, awesome car! Rudy did build another beast - that was a hell of a ride. Very interesting talking to you about the mods.

GraphiteGhost: Your first Dragon? NO WAY! How the hell could you drive like that?

LANTANATX: I am your cars' BIGGEST FAN! The way that engine fits in there, and how it's enough, but not TOO much, how it looks, how it all sounds ... I love it ... and your BRAKES! I WANT THOSE BRAKES!


This was an awesome Dragon for me. A weekend I'll never forget.

Finally, thanks to Deb Walker for egging me on and getting me to go in the first place!


I very much enjoyed seeing old friends and meeting new ones.

 

Another great Dragon. Glad you were doing good enough to make it Gary.

As always, great seeing old friends and meeting new ones. Fantastic seeing the three beasts together. Until next time.

 

well the end of another dragon. special thanx to 13dog and jhm2k for teaching me the ways of driving other than a straight line, ole doc for just making me laugh rudy, rob, jim and jim for reminding me why i love doing this kind of thing! to the folks i didnt get to chat with much i apologize to those that i spent way to much time with thanx! the dragon, hellbender cherohala skyway and devils triangle all in one day!! kim you were a trooper in johns car no way i could ride copilot!! thanx to franc valk dananimal i had so much fun!! see everyone next year!!!

 

We are home.

 

WOW...A real treat to end the day today.
DakotaBoy1 (Don) and his wife had a surprise BBQ down at the Fontana Campground around 5:30 today.
We got back from our runs and the group was hungry.
We all drove down the hill to the campground where he had his 40 footer parked this weekend.

Thanks for a really great end to another excellent weekend.
Also thanks to everyone who offered me help while I limped around during my knee surgery recovery.
So glad I was able to still drive down and be a part of this fantastic group.

See ya in the Spring and Fall next year !!!!!

A few pics from today.............

 

Well, I just made it home. 9 hours and 3 of it in the rain (2 of those in the dark too). That was fun. And I walk in my front door and my house is freezing. So I go turn on the furnace and... nothing. Nice. I think I should have stayed an extra day at the Dragon. Its gonna be a chilly night here in PA.

Big thanks go out to everyone for a great weekend. To Gary and all those who helped organize the event, to Ray and Susan for leading a cool casual group to Gatlinburg, to Steve for splitting a room with me, and everyone else that I can't think of at the moment.

Sorry to those I didn't get to spend much time with! I wanted to, but there just weren't enough hours in day to see everyone. I guess we'll all just have to do it again in the spring!

 

Rick and I enjoyed our weekend with a bunch of wonderful people! It was good to see ole friends and good to make some new friends!

Speed and curves aren't my two best friends but the fellowship and the gathering of people with something in common makes the trip fun!

We booked our room for April before leaving so we're looking forward to seeing everyone again next spring!

Joyce

 

Wow, I really had a good time this year. I too want to apologize to those I didn't get to meet or spend time with... I haven't seen some you of guys in awhile, and did manage to meet a few in person for once...rather than on here. Thanks for your work Gary, crippled and all... I could tell everyone was having a great time doing what ever type of driving they wanted to do...all were pros this weekend, as the Dragon didn't bite anyone... Jim had some mechanical problems and added a pulley to the tree of shame at Deal's Gap, but the Dragon didn't get him. Lantana Man, finally nice to meet you in person, but if I ever get a nail in my tire, I will know where to look...LOL... John Book, you surprised me...I will get even... and I could go on and on here, name after name, good times after good times...If you didn't make it, you missed a great time with Crossfire owners... so many colors, so many different wheels, and so many different mods to look at...and I didn't see one average crossfire there...they all looked great. Thanks to my running buddy Rudy, escorted the old man down and back, and to Rob as usual, top notch, and he ran back with us for awhile..always great to see those two... had a great time, booking next year for 4 days, two just doesn't get it...going to bed...car is put up...lol...

 

[MEDIA]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rN5FnjPxVRw[/MEDIA]

 

Cool video! Seems like the V8 had to work hard in order to catch the srt roadster.
Did you mount an iphone on the windshield ?

 

The SRT driver is actually a very competent driver. He didn't have any trouble keeping up with me all weekend.

 

Sunday was another great day. After checking out of the lodge, my wife and I ran the skyway. I built up speed smoothly and gradually and my wife never yelled to slow down or "stop the car, I am going to walk" like she did on Friday. It was a beutiful and thrilling ride until we left the run to find the highway for the sad drive home. I can't wait to do this trip again!

Pizza guy, I am glad you enjoyed the ride. Rudy also drove the car and also thought it was "just the right power for the dragon without being overkill". If Rudy decides to to MB n/a 500 engine swaps, my car is available to anyone who wants to test drive one first. Warning: you will be hooked.

Doc, as long as you don't jump curbs in our tax payer paid patrol cars to set up a good speed trap, you have nothing to worry about

We made it to Little Rock and just have an easy 5 hours to go until we get back to Dallas. Can't wait to get home and share some "shine" with the neighbors!

 

Excellent video, Nick!

All I can do is echo the sentiments of the others above. This event is the highlight of my year, an annual meeting and comparing of notes between some of the best friends and coolest enthusiasts the hobby has to offer.

Saturday's run that included Moonshiner 28, Cherohala Skyway, some "spirited" highway runs on I-75 en route to the Devil's Triangle, and the return trip through the Dragon and Hellbender was the MOST FUN I've had behind the wheel, ever. Kim was a trooper and only got a little nauseous at the end of the Dragon. I also got my arm punched a few times on the Triangle when the car was in a sideways drift coming around the apex. The fresh pavement on the Triangle made things... interesting. Rocks blasting the fenderwells like machine guns, rear-end stepping out from the slippery fresh tar... Ahhhhhhh.

It was a pleasure driving with 32krazy, Thirteendog, Jason HBC and Eric on that run. I was impressed with pizzaguy's abilities on the Cherohala, he kept up very well. Graphiteghost was a hoot. As Nick mentioned, Jason is one helluva driver. I felt honored to be the only Limited amongst the SLK55, SLK32, and two SRT's on that last run. Kim loved it.

Running up the Dragon on Sunday was my best run. Very fluid, very confident, and no mistakes. I can't say enough about the Continental tires. As much as I hate their misleading warranty, they performed beautifully for me and never gave me the pucker factor. And I started the weekend with 4/32 left on the fronts... ended with wear bars

Finally got to meet oledoc, what a nice guy. Wifey enjoyed meeting lots of folks and getting to see some old friends again. Franc's gas pump story STILL has her laughing.

Special thanks to Gary for all the diligence over the years in making this meet happen.

We will be at the spring run, no doubt about it.

Sorry if I left anyone out, too much to process for my limited brain-bandwith at this hour of the day

 

Well it would be a waste not to have the picture to help remind her.

I think the concept of topping off went just a little too far!


Love ya like a brother Franc, but Ruth made me!


This should go in a Tale's of the Dragon section along with the group driving down the Kentucky roads making the highway patrol envious.