Tail of the Dragon Trip 2024

[wtwo3]

Went with some friends to the dragon this past weekend for an epic trip spanning 1,500 miles over the course of 3 and a half days.

I'd driven the roads surrounding the dragon in the past, but never went on the dragon itself. Last time my car was in this area I was driving it home from the Performance Center Delivery, so naturally I didn't want to push it while still in the break-in period and avoided the Dragon altogether.

For those who haven’t been, no words can truly capture the experience or prepare you for the shock of those first few corners. But once you navigate through them and recalibrate your mind, you start to find your rhythm. Your confidence builds, your focus sharpens as you realize you're riding the edge of disaster, and soon enough, you begin to feel like you're flying.

This is what they mean when they say man and machine become one.

[wtwo3]

Day 1: Day jobs


No trip for me is ever complete without indulging in some great food. My first stop was right near home. On Thursday a buddy came over early to hang out before we joined the rest of the crew. He had shown me a video of someone dining at a local spot, Nemec Brothers in Glenn Ellyn, and we decided to give it a try. The grandma style pizza was great with a crunch that needs to be experienced to be believed.


At last, around 5 p.m., we set off, officially beginning the trip. Unfortunately, that also meant enduring the slow and painful crawl through Chicagoland’s infamous rush hour traffic.




Our first meeting point was in Hobart, Indiana at a Cracker Barrell. We had planned on having dinner at Triple XXX near the Purdue campus in West Lafayette, but folks were running late coming from work, and jumping time zones from central to eastern meant we’d be too late to get there in time before they closed. So we pushed on, grabbing a quick bite at a Chipotle off the highway.


We arrived in Louisville, where we’d be spending the night. The Airbnb we rented was, to say the least, unique. It had a haunted house vibe, yet it was also awe-inspiring. Each room had its own distinct theme, and the entire mansion felt like a step back in time to the 1950s.

[wtwo3]

Day 2: Calm before the curve(s)





The next morning, we awoke to a stunning day filled with sunshine. We spent some time capturing photos on the mansion grounds before setting off for Tennessee.


We made a quick stop for some Southern fried chicken at a restaurant called Jacki’s Dream in Knoxville. The chicken was outstanding, and the place had a rustic Southern vibe—Southern hospitality in a hole-in-the-wall atmosphere, complete with bullet holes in the window and all.




As we drew closer to Tennessee, anticipation mounted—the roads began to curve more, the elevation changes became more pronounced, and we ventured onto a few backroads. We arrived at the cabin before sunset and enjoyed a tranquil evening grilling burgers on the deck while taking in the mountain views and sharing laughs amongst the group. It was a delightful night, a serene prelude to the fury that awaited us the following day.

[wtwo3]

Day 3: Slaying the Dragon

You hear all the stats and descriptions about the Dragon—318 corners over 11 miles of road; slaying the dragon; America’s most dangerous road; a driver’s paradise; and the serpent of the Smokies. It all seems a bit hyperbolic. Now, though, it was finally time to find out for myself.



We woke up before sunrise to get an early start and reach the Dragon ahead of the rush. As we drove along the Foothills Parkway, the sun began to rise, casting a warm glow through the trees on our left. The long, smooth road down the hill, with sunlight filtering through the branches, created an almost dream-like experience. It was the most peaceful and serene drive I’d ever encountered, a surreal overture to what would soon become one of the most intense driving experiences of my life.

It was time to slay the dragon.



I mentioned earlier that nothing can truly prepare you for the shock of the first few corners. Our group was a mix of experience levels, and we were all eager to tackle this road. My first hairpin turn approached at an astonishingly sharp angle and fast pace, and I found myself reacting in haste. My tires screamed as the weight of my 3,800 lb G80 M3 shifted from rear to front, then to the left, pushing me into a slide through the right-hand hairpin. Despite having some track time under my belt, this corner caught me completely off guard. The sharpness of the turn, combined with our speed and the steep elevation change, left me breathless as I scrambled to get my wits about me just in time for the next gut punching hairpin.




I quickly regained my composure and began to settle into a rhythm, building confidence with each corner. This was driving nirvana. We went on to tackle the Tail four more times that day, and with each run, I found myself pushing harder, my movements becoming smoother. The car began to feel like an extension of myself. People often say the G80, until about 8/10ths, feels too clinical and emotionless. But today, I unleashed the emotion within this beast. The sensation of flying intensified as I started anticipating the corners instead of merely reacting, gliding through the Tail at a rapid pace. By the end of the 5th run I felt I could exclaim - I had truly slain the dragon.

[wtwo3]

Day 3 continued: Winding Down


Amidst the adrenaline and 93 octane fueled madness, we stopped for lunch at the Topoco Lodge at the southern end of the dragon. We had some delicious crispy pizzas and soaked in the views from the Cheoah River flowing through.


After lunch we drove some of the surrounding backroads which were much higher speed with long sweeping turns. It was a much more relaxed afternoon. That evening a few of us drove over to Pigeon Forge and had dinner at Old Mill Restaurant. Best way to describe this restaurant is a fancy Cracker Barrell.

[wtwo3]

Day 4: Picturesque farewell


A few of us decided to wake up early and return to the Foothills Parkway to capture the sunrise over the Smoky Mountains. The view was everything we’d hoped for. After snapping some pictures and taking in the breathtaking landscape, we knew it was time to head home. Thus began the 9+ hour journey back.


The trip back was mostly uneventful. We encountered some haze while driving through Tennessee and faced intense winds blowing debris across the road in Indiana. We made a stop at Triple XXX for lunch, making up for the missed chance on our way down.


Finally home—this was a trip for the ages. Though it was short, it was unforgettable, an experience I’ll carry with me. I’m not sure when I’ll return, but if you haven’t driven the Dragon and love to drive, it’s an absolute must. The G80 performed admirably on roads designed for cars much smaller and lighter, and I’ve gained a newfound respect for its capabilities. After 1,500 miles over three days, I need a break, but I can say with certainty that a core memory has been created—one I’ll look back upon for decades.

[MMM.PWR]

Epic trip. Even though I don’t own a G80 anymore, I was happy to join my fellow friends on this bucket list item. Very well written and documented!

[Jack White]

Awesome! Do you drive the tail each way? Is there are preferred direction, if so? I was curious how many of those turns (or what %) would you find to be closing radius, generally speaking? Those roads look like a lot of fun, in any regard. I went to Asheville and also Gatlinburg, last year, but rode around in a minivan. I’ll want to drive there sometime but it’s a hell of a drive from the convenience of the Rocky Mountains. Still, I should take a road trip one of these years. Fun thread, thanks for sharing!

[MMM.PWR]

Some more photos

[wtwo3]

Originally Posted by Jack White

Awesome! Do you drive the tail each way? Is there are preferred direction, if so? I was curious how many of those turns (or what %) would you find to be closing radius, generally speaking? Those roads look like a lot of fun, in any regard. I went to Asheville and also Gatlinburg, last year, but rode around in a minivan. I’ll want to drive there sometime but it’s a hell of a drive from the convenience of the Rocky Mountains. Still, I should take a road trip one of these years. Fun thread, thanks for sharing!

Yup, you drive it down and then can drive it back up. In terms of corners with increasing/decreasing radius (depending on which direction you drive), if I had to take a wild guess I'd say maybe 10% of the corners were like that? But that's a pretty wild guess.

[Jack White]

Originally Posted by wtwo3

Yup, you drive it down and then can drive it back up. In terms of corners with increasing/decreasing radius (depending on which direction you drive), if I had to take a wild guess I'd say maybe 10% of the corners were like that? But that's a pretty wild guess.

Yeah it’s a tough question and obviously directionally dependent, but the highlight reels seems to highlight the decreasing radius turns for the extra drama that they cause. Just thinking about how many turns would catch someone off guard.

[Alfisti]

Great OP, really enjoyed it. WHat was traffic like and also what was policing like? Are the speed limits reasonable or artificially low to discourage enthusiasts?

OT: Does anyone in the aftermarket have a replacement for the front end of the G80? From all reports it's an incredible driver's sport sedan but jesus H that front end. Surely someone has something that can fix it no?

[wtwo3]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

Great OP, really enjoyed it. WHat was traffic like and also what was policing like? Are the speed limits reasonable or artificially low to discourage enthusiasts?

OT: Does anyone in the aftermarket have a replacement for the front end of the G80? From all reports it's an incredible driver's sport sedan but jesus H that front end. Surely someone has something that can fix it no?

Our first 3 runs through were in the early morning hours so traffic was light and we were able to let loose. But also, I would say 90% of the traffic throughout the day is other enthusiasts who are there for the same reason you are. Posted speed limits are normal and what you'd expect for mountain roads - 15mph in the corners and 30mph in the straights - and don't really matter because I'm not sure how many if any follow them.

There's police at the entrance of the dragon, but I get the impression the only reason they're there is to respond in case an incident happens. They know why people are there, and they let you drive as you want. So it's essentially a free for all - drive as fast as you feel comfortable. The only parts where you should take it easy is at the entrance, and towards the end at Deals Gap.

[unluky]

One question I always had was - how thick is the traffic? I always wondered if there would be all this pressure from people wanting to push it to the limit behind you for you to push it too or get out of the way. Place to pull over to relive congestion if you want to just enjoy the ride and the view?

Or just stay home if you didn't some to compress your suspension on every corner! LOL

[Alfisti]

Originally Posted by wtwo3

There's police at the entrance of the dragon, but I get the impression the only reason they're there is to respond in case an incident happens. They know why people are there, and they let you drive as you want. So it's essentially a free for all - drive as fast as you feel comfortable. The only parts where you should take it easy is at the entrance, and towards the end at Deals Gap.

Wow.... just wow. Mapping out a drive there now!

[wtwo3]

Originally Posted by unluky

One question I always had was - how thick is the traffic? I always wondered if there would be all this pressure from people wanting to push it to the limit behind you for you to push it too or get out of the way. Place to pull over to relive congestion if you want to just enjoy the ride and the view?

Or just stay home if you didn't some to compress your suspension on every corner! LOL

If you go early in the morning just after sunrise, traffic is very light. Even lighter if you go on a weekday morning. But in general you'll run into some drivers who are there for a more casual drive - if that's you, just have to be considerate enough to pull over when someone fast comes up behind you. There's plenty of places along the road to pull over to the side.

[ChrisWMT]

Hope to get there soon myself. Excellent photography!

[unluky]

Originally Posted by wtwo3

If you go early in the morning just after sunrise, traffic is very light. Even lighter if you go on a weekday morning. But in general you'll run into some drivers who are there for a more casual drive - if that's you, just have to be considerate enough to pull over when someone fast comes up behind you. There's plenty of places along the road to pull over to the side.

I'm all about letting the big dogs eat - I just was not sure there were pull off's to let them by - good to know!

Usually I am the one with my hood ornament up someone's tailpipe, so I don't wanna be that guy on a road someone drove hours to get down on. LOL

If I ever do it - it will be a weekday for sure and probably the morning for the views anyway, so perfect. Thanks for the info!

[Alfisti]

Urrrrgh i'd have to fly into nashville or charlotte. Looks like one flies into Nashville and drives to Charlottle, about 8 hours but a good portion of it is amazing roads. Take 3 or days and fly home. If only one wasn't married.

[wtwo3]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

Urrrrgh i'd have to fly into nashville or charlotte. Looks like one flies into Nashville and drives to Charlottle, about 8 hours but a good portion of it is amazing roads. Take 3 or days and fly home. If only one wasn't married.

Most shocking part of this trip is that my wife allowed me to go

[FrankMstein]

You didn't do the Cherohala Skyway?? IMO it'a a much better road. Less traffic, more and bigger scenic pull-offs, no cops, faster turns.

[erickonphoenix]

Awesome post! I need to get back out there. The weekend we did it was too crowded to really enjoy it. Going mid-week next time.