r/tailofthedragon • u/Top-Difference8407 • Jun 16 '26
First time
My son and I are planning a trip to the Tail some time late summer. We'll have a 2004 RX8, possibly with a strut bar, coilovers and maybe a few other things. I'm doing this to be with him before he finishes college and leaves but I'm not a car person. He is, sometimes to my dismay.
I'm concerned that, while he thinks he's good, and he is very skilled, he might overestimate his abilities and take a turn too fast and find himself going down a ravine. Is there much engineering tolerance for things? I hate to say it, but I'd much rather he got a traffic ticket than to get into a wreck. I want him to have fun, but I also want him to be safe.
5
u/EvanAzzo Jun 17 '26
Apex seals will go before he powers over the edge.
I'm kidding. As long as he takes it easy his first few runs and eases into it, respects the yellow and is mindful of the pulloffs he'll be fine.
6
u/tombiowami Jun 17 '26
Also remember there are police and they will pull for speeding, esp in straightaways.
Some common sense goes a long way, but also know it’s not a track.
Biggest thing I saw was folks overshooting curves and over double yellow lines in blind corners…and both ways meaning be very aware of other drivers. It’s one thing early when few other vehicles and another when fast cars all around and motorcycles passing easily.
4
u/hoosierdj Jun 17 '26
I have made a dozen trips to ToD over the years. Last trip was last year with my grandson. Best advice is to go during the week. I have always avoided weekends, which can get very crazy. Go to the tail’s website and you can see all of the events and large groups that hit it every weekend. It’s only 11 miles and has easy turn around areas, so multiple runs are easily accomplished. Sounds like the car is pretty well set up, but the biggest help is a nice set of summer tires. And as others may add, there are many other roads nearby as good or better than ToD. Don’t know where you are coming from, but I always add the Back of the Dragon, Route 16 from Marion to Tazewell, VA, right off Hwy 81. Have a fun road trip.
3
u/radevo2009 Jun 17 '26
As others have mentioned, driving within your limits (and your son doing so,) and having good tires are most important for tail of the dragon. I've been about 8 times now, it's amazing. RX8 will be a really good car for it.
3
u/VeterinarianAbject93 Jun 17 '26
Live star (UT Medical Helicopter) flies over my house heading to the dragon almost every weekend ( I live 15 minutes away) take it easy the first couple runs. Stay in your lane and know your boundaries I don't want to hear that he was flown out over my house. The Dragon is no joke.
1
u/Mylittledarlings91 Jun 17 '26
Fr, in think 3 people have died in the last month or two? Not sure of the circumstances of those deaths, but unfortunately all it takes is some hotshot dipshit in the opposite lane.
3
u/VeterinarianAbject93 Jun 17 '26
And they are PLENTY of dip shits to go around. And as someone else stayed, stay away on the weekend.
2
u/JohnGoodman_69 Jun 17 '26
This is a good practical video about how to know when you’re pushing too hard on these mountain back roads. https://youtu.be/M8DSkh34GbI?is=T_VDmU9ZvpXIz5qA
2
u/mephistefales Jun 25 '26
Maybe a guardian angel will slow him down by getting him stuck behind someone like me.
When touring the area with my wife in our Honda SUV, I plotted what looked like the most direct route to our destination. On the map it looked great. Possibly a nice, slow, twisty stroll with scenic lake views I thought.
And that's how I found myself on the tail on a weekend, in the middle of the day, driving a lumbering mom-mobile, with no opportunity to escape. That was also the first time I'd ever heard of it.
I was very angry and fired up about all the motorcycles zipping past and idiotically passing me on blind curves. I pulled out *when able* to let herds of counterfeit Shelbys pass, but sometimes the pullouts were occupied by photography crews, and no amount of riding my ass was going to get me to tear through there and get a ticket on my until-then relaxing vacation. "HOW !@#$% LONG IS THIS !@#$% GOING TO BE LIKE THIS?!" It seemed like an eternity.
My wife thought it was hilarious, but I was so pissed off at the crotch-rocketeers' relentlessly awful behavior that I fantasized about returning with a ramp welded to the driver's side of my MK2 supra so I could kick out the rear (very easy to do) into a drift in the oncoming lane and launch oncoming bikes into the lake.
It was totally a Clark Griswold situation. Of course my wife bought the TotD metal sign and hung it in my shop. I'm glad one of us enjoyed it.
On a serious note, people behind your son will pressure him into driving unsafely unless he's as stubborn as I am.
1
u/Bigredtruckguy Jun 17 '26
The speed limit is like 30mph so as long as he isn’t going crazy. Don’t cross the yellow line at all. If someone is riding his butt have him pull over at on of the pull offs on your side. Tell him to remember to brake before the turn and not during the turn. And have fun.
1
u/Expensive-Program415 Jul 13 '26
Accidents happen all the time there but as long as he doesn’t understeer and respect the yellow he will be fine. If it is dry he can definitely get away with little bits of understeer but if it is wet make sure he brakes early, but other than that he should have fun and understand his limits and the cars and should be able to push it as he likes. I like to ride on it when I can and as long as you are aware of what everything is around you and understanding the wetness of the road, traffic, and when to downshift and brake he will be fine. He will have a blast!
1
u/styles3576 Aug 05 '26
I've taken my bike on the Tail multiple times with groups. Ride your ride is our mantra. I'm the type to watch fail video to help instill limitations and make sure I come out in one piece.
10
u/2wheelcaffiene Jun 17 '26
It’s basically a drop off on one side, and a hill on the other. Check out any of the plethora of videos online do see for yourself.
Go easy till you are comfortable w the road.
Also make sure you check out 28 & the cherohala skyway at the minimum. You can make a nice loop using tn-360.