My first run on the dragon/cherohala skyway

[Hexon]

I didn't have to work today, and I've been itching to test out the difference between my stock suspension and my new ksports. So I convinced my friend to ride with my from the Foothills Parkway, Down US129, and then up the Cherohala Skyway. All said and done my favorite part was definately US129. I loved the feeling of flying around the many twists and turns while feeling that I was firmly planted on the pavement; not rolling all over the place like my stock suspension handled. I do have to say that a few performance mods would have made the ride a little more enjoyable, but I loved it when my tires would chirp on some of the sharp, uphill turns. The Skyway was a difference ride. You could zoom up and down the mountain at 60mph + occasionally braking. However, the downhill runs were a little hot on the brakes when you constantly went from 60mph into a 30mph curve. I took a few breaks to enjoy the view, let the brakes cool off a bit, and just relax. I definitely want to do many more runs, mainly on US129. I need to work on my braking and acceleration around the turns. I was amazed at the sports bikes that I let pass me! The flew by and rarely used their brakes, CRAZINESS. I might even go again this Sunday since I loved it so much. I doubt that it would be as fun as today though. There was hardly any traffic, no cops at all, and only a few idiots who refused to move over to let the faster traffic through. I was only slowed twice, two women in SUVs. One eventually moved over to let me by. The other lady refused to budge for anyone. I eventually stopped at the Deal's Gap store to get a snack and drink, which gave the lady plenty of time to move her slow self on down the road.

Anyways, here are some pictures from the ride. Killboy.com should have some up in a couple of days as well. I'll have to check them out, as my friend didn't take too many photos of the car or US129 since he was hanging on so tight haha.





Good thing I didn't add anything to that heap of scraps!

Fontanta Dam. Apparently the tallest dam ran by TVA.

[Hexon]

This is the dam from the movie "The Fugitive"

These are flying squirrel launching poles. Apparently they won't cross the road, which harms their mating rituals. So they climb and launch themselves off the poles to get to their girlfriends on the other side.

The only pic of the car the whole 4-5 hour trip. I let my friend get out and snap some photos of the scenery, while I was resting on the stone wall. The smell of the burning brakes was pretty strong, so I figured it would be a good idea to give them a brake as well.

Scenery from the Cherohala Skyway. Pretty, but it looks the same as from the Foothills Parkway.

I have a lot more pics of the scenery. When my friend was able to stop white knuckling he enjoyed snapping some photos. He's not a car person at all, but I think he still had a blast! I'll have to get the girlfriend to go next time. Although I doubt she will allow me to drive as fast as I did today.

[4DRSpeed]

Great to hear you had fun up there. I haven't been on the Skyway, but the Dragon and Parkway are fun. I'm surprised there was nobody up there on a Friday, guess all the cops scared everybody away. Oh well more road for you.

Dragon does use a lot of brake, the last time I was up there in the Maxima I literally set my brakes on fire, I basically had no pads left!!! It was kind of scary but hilarious at the same time.

I'll ride up there with ya when the Max is back out on the road! Killboy, Zeefoto, and US129photos, will have their pics up usually around Wednesdays. I know that's when Killboy does their weekly update.

[SilverGLE]

I need to try out the dragon... Never been there, believe it or not.

[Hexon]

That's why I went. I watched some youtube videos of people riding the dragon and it looked pretty exciting. The videos don't do justice to the real thing. If we ever arrange a meet down here, I think doing the dragon again would be really fun.

[4DRSpeed]

it's a fun road, can make some people sick, makes me feel not so great at times. I'd be down for a dragon run when my car is back up and running.

Ryan have you checked Zeefoto.com, us129photos.com to see if they got any pics? Killboy doesn't do their update till wednesday usually.

[Hexon]

killboy.com has theirs up. I'll never find it with all these miatas that came through.

[4DRSpeed]

Lol, ya you gotta go through every page which blows.

I'm bored lol, US129photos.com

http://www.photoreflect.com/pr3/Thum...9445&g=00&s=75
http://www.photoreflect.com/pr3/Thum...445&g=00&s=100

[Hexon]

I couldn't find my car on killboy.com. I like the ones you found though. I'll have to try zeefoto.com too

Edit: zeephoto doesn't have theirs up yet.

[Hexon]

killboy.com only has photos from 11am-7pm. I think I went through US129 before 11am.

[4DRSpeed]

that sucks, at least 129 got ya, problem is the photos are kind of pricey. I went up in my G back in May I believe all 3 sites got shots of the car I wanted to buy all of them but it was like $70 and I thought I can use that $70 on something else lol.

[VigilanteMax]

That does look fun. Clean ride. Ill be buying some land in Ocoee soon, love those mountains.

[NiZMo1o1]

nice pics !

[Hexon]

Originally Posted by 4DRSpeed

that sucks, at least 129 got ya, problem is the photos are kind of pricey. I went up in my G back in May I believe all 3 sites got shots of the car I wanted to buy all of them but it was like $70 and I thought I can use that $70 on something else lol.

It's only about 6 dollars for the picture on CD. That's full resolution. Then you should be able to take it to walmart and print out as many as you want.

[Hexon]

Originally Posted by VigilanteMax

That does look fun. Clean ride. Ill be buying some land in Ocoee soon, love those mountains.

If you've never rafted the Ocoee river, you definately need to! That's some of the most fun I've ever had. It's was also used in the olympics. Are you just buying land or are you moving to Tennessee?

[Hexon]

zeefoto.com http://www.photoreflect.com/pr3/Thum...293&g=07&s=360

I'm near the bottom of the page

[SilverGLE]

^ Nice photos! I like the ones with your gf waving to the camera!

I think I'm going to get new 16s mounting before the next AX and hit up the dragon sometime the day before (Saturday, August 16); Anybody interested?

[4DRSpeed]

Originally Posted by SilverGLE

^ Nice photos! I like the ones with your gf waving to the camera!

I'm down for a dragon run, hopefully by then I'll have the G sold and the max up and running.

edit: I must be blind and didn't see the $6 CD with all the photos.

[Hexon]

Originally Posted by SilverGLE

^ Nice photos! I like the ones with your gf waving to the camera!

ROFL. That's definitely not my girlfriend. That's my friend Noah. The girlfriend would have been holding on for dear life and screaming at me to slow down the entire time.

I'm up for a run. Just make sure that you can, because I will have to ask off from work.

[Hexon]

Originally Posted by 4DRSpeed

I'm down for a dragon run, hopefully by then I'll have the G sold and the max up and running.

edit: I must be blind and didn't see the $6 CD with all the photos.

It's 6 dollars per photo on CD. It's the first option on top of the list of packages.

[Hexon]

I was off from work today and I ran back down to the Deal's Gap store and back. About an 80 mile drive. I didn't have anyone with me this time though, but I still took a few photos.

I saw one Blount County police officer this time. And because I was there around 12-1 there was more traffic. I stopped a few times just to let the slow old people in front of me get down the road a bit, then I would catch back up to them after about 5 minutes of driving. I had to make a trip to home depot afterwards to buy some L-brackets to secure my sub box down. I drove a bit harder this time and my box was being thrown all over the trunk, which can be a little destructive for a 100lb box. But I'm ready for next time now.


My friend got upset last time because I drove by and he missed this shot.


I got bored while waiting for the people in front of me to get a long head start, so I took a picture.

This is the group of motorcycles that just meandered down the dragon really slow. But the guy looked original though: tattoos on his calf muscles and a rainbow poka dotted button up shirt.

[4DRSpeed]

lol, sounds like your hooked. all this dragon talk I may have to go some time this week myself.

[Hexon]

I have a blast every time. Guess it's the adrenaline, IDK. I might have to raise the passenger front side of my car up a little though. I think it's rubbing the CV boot. I don't want' to wear it thin.

[4DRSpeed]

I wish my Max was running, now that I have ample amounts of room between my wheels and bbk I'm dying to really see what the car can do in the twisties and braking.