The Dragon Claims another one.

[Rams]

Ferrari obliterated after hitting U-Haul truck during car enthusiast rally in Tennessee

This is the moment a Ferrari 458 taking part in the amateur driving event 'Dragon Rally' in Maryville, Tennessee on October 18 turns into a hairpin a bit too fast and smashes into a U-Haul truck trying to pass the drivers in the opposite lane. The truck is lifted off the ground by the force of the impact as the front of the Ferrari supercar is pulverized. It is unknown if the driver was injured, but they were able to steer their car off the road.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/news/ferrari-obliterated-after-hitting-u-haul-truck-during-car-enthusiast-rally-in-tennessee/vi-AA1PgWMg?ocid=msedgntp&pc=LCTS&cvid=690016f0aa0a4936a1e59704aa52ed51&ei=19

Precisely the reason I won't ride the Dragon's Tail again.   

Rams

[ridingron]

For a change, it appears the truck was in his lane as he should be. Too bad the car wasn't destroyed.

[Robert]

The cars value dropped by 75% if its repairable. No one wants a Ferrari that has been in an accident.

[Jersey mike]

The cars value dropped by 75% if its repairable. No one wants a Ferrari that has been in an accident.

Wonder if that will show up on a Carfax 

This was just bad driving.

[mbramley]

 A couple of seconds earlier could have been a motorcycle he hit. I agree on exactly why I have no interest in the Dragons tail.

[Rams]

A couple of seconds earlier could have been a motorcycle he hit. I agree on exactly why I have no interest in the Dragons tail.

Have ridden the Dragon's Tail twice, both directions.   Each trip I encountered other vehicles crossing the double yellow coming into my lane, each time these close calls happened I barely escaped and came close to either going into the ditch (on the uphill side) or going down the very steep drop off.  

It's one thing to challenge yourself on curvy/twisty roads but if you can't stay in your own lane and endanger other drivers/riders, you're risking killing people.   Just not interested in getting killed.
Doesn't matter how well I ride if I'm staying on my side of the double yellow and some speed crazed idiot is intent on proving he's a bad ass driver.   Don't get me wrong, I have erred in the past and will probably do so again but, that's on me and would be my fault if I crossed that double yellow.  

On the Dragon's Tail, the chances of such encounter is greatly increased by stupid people.

Rams

[mbramley]

A couple of seconds earlier could have been a motorcycle he hit. I agree on exactly why I have no interest in the Dragons tail.

Have ridden the Dragon's Tail twice, both directions.   Each trip I encountered other vehicles crossing the double yellow coming into my lane, each time these close calls happened I barely escaped and came close to either going into the ditch (on the uphill side) or going down the very steep drop off.  

It's one thing to challenge yourself on curvy/twisty roads but if you can't stay in your own lane and endanger other drivers/riders, you're risking killing people.   Just not interested in getting killed.
Doesn't matter how well I ride if I'm staying on my side of the double yellow and some speed crazed idiot is intent on proving he's a bad ass driver.   Don't get me wrong, I have erred in the past and will probably do so again but, that's on me and would be my fault if I crossed that double yellow.  

On the Dragon's Tail, the chances of such encounter is greatly increased by stupid people.

Rams


I've never personally been on the tail, but have heard too many stories and watched too many videos of the idiots. There are so many really fun roads to ride all over appalation/smokie mountain range I don't feel the need. Prime example out of Lewisburg Inzane rt 219 was a lot of fun.

[Serk]

If I'm in the area I'll probably still do it, although I'll keep a LOT in reserves for just such a situation...

...i was rather disturbed to see the motorcycle shop at the end/beginning of the road now includes a bar.

And was surprised to see just how many folks were having a beer or three right before heading out onto the road.

Wonder if Mr. Ferrari had indulged, or if he was just driving way beyond his abilities....

[RDAbull]

I rode the Dragon last week going home from Joe's FCR.  It was raining on Sunday so I stayed over until Monday.  It was 40 degrees when I left Robbinsville, bright sunshine and an absolutely beautiful day.  I came up on a little old lady driving her husband to church. (My Version.)  a brand new shiny bright Vette came roaring past both of us in one of the early hairpins and the LOL froze.  She got off the road at the next pull out and I stopped to make sure that she was ok.  She was crying and hubby was really pissed.
Did I get the license number:  No, going to fast and I was trying not to run off the road.  I told them I would follow them on out to the highway.  Rode out at about 20/25 mph.  No more traffic problems and it was the best ride I had ever had on her.  Got to enjoy the road, the sunshine and the crisp air.  Smiled all the rest of the way home.  Asshole are everywhere, but getting to help a little old couple calm down and finish their drive was kind of cool.

[t-man403]

I rode the Dragon last week going home from Joe's FCR.  It was raining on Sunday so I stayed over until Monday.  It was 40 degrees when I left Robbinsville, bright sunshine and an absolutely beautiful day.  I came up on a little old lady driving her husband to church. (My Version.)  a brand new shiny bright Vette came roaring past both of us in one of the early hairpins and the LOL froze.  She got off the road at the next pull out and I stopped to make sure that she was ok.  She was crying and hubby was really pissed.
Did I get the license number:  No, going to fast and I was trying not to run off the road.  I told them I would follow them on out to the highway.  Rode out at about 20/25 mph.  No more traffic problems and it was the best ride I had ever had on her.  Got to enjoy the road, the sunshine and the crisp air.  Smiled all the rest of the way home.  Asshole are everywhere, but getting to help a little old couple calm down and finish their drive was kind of cool.

Very nice!

[old2soon]

      U just KNOW the M/C was close to the center line! Happy the M/C Rider was left unscathed! Rode the Dragon I believe in 14. I'm good to go! So with the addition of a bar gonna be more-hold my beer and watch this??  RIDE SAFE.

[Challenger]

Rode the Dragon a couple of times on different trips east. Had a few cars and bikes on my side of the yellow, nothing serious. But the scariest ride was in the fall one year and the wet leaves in the corners caused the pucker meter to peg out. Set a new record for slow speed cornering on that trip.
Dragon bucket list (_/)

[Oss]

darrell maybe YOUR record  lol

Good on you Roger for helping those folks after their scare

We did do it with Taz one year, think you were there as well, that was a bit faster than slow

maybe the maggie valley ride

for me any ride after tricky dick and his wife went down in Deer, Arkansas is a slower safer ride   Just being the bike right behind him and NOT going down changed me forever.  For a good while I identified as the pilot in the beginning of Top Gun who got spooked by the Mig.  Just riding and riding helped break it
but never felt 100% on twisty roads that were wet again

[Jess from VA]

I rode The Dragon one time, with a buddy behind me.

It was night and pitch dark and we were the only ones on the road.

I knew it's reputation as challenging and I went pretty slow.  I can go fast when I want to, but I didn't want to as I'd never been on that road before.  I could do better when I can actually see.

Never been back.  

It has such a reputation people come to drive and ride there from all over.  I'd rather not be on there in traffic, at all.  It's challenging enough in no traffic.

EDIT:  I've now been riding motorcycles continuously for 55 years (starting at 17), except for two tours in the Middle East.  I'm a pretty good rider.  But is has occurred to me recently that riding bikes is a continuum between balls-out fast, dragging pegs excitement, and just cruising along smelling the roses and mostly obeying the speed limit and the 50 other rules of the road.

At 72, I'm doing a lot less of the wild and crazy and more of the smelling the roses these days.  I'm too old to be in court standing in front of a judge explaining my stupid behavior and asking for forgiveness.  Once in a while I let the dragon loose a little when I am out in the VA countryside on my own.  But I don't bounce as well as I did in my youth.  

[Rams]

I rode The Dragon one time, with a buddy behind me.

It was night and pitch dark and we were the only ones on the road.

I knew it's reputation as challenging and I went pretty slow.  I can go fast when I want to, but I didn't want to as I'd never been on that road before.  I could do better when I can actually see.

Never been back.  

It has such a reputation people come to drive and ride there from all over.  I'd rather not be on there in traffic, at all.  It's challenging enough in no traffic.

If, you ever go back, I'm advised that early on Wednesdays are the best times, less idiots out and about then.   That came from a local LEO. 

Rams

[Hook#3287]

Ive ridden it more times then I can remember, but always on a weekday.

I've never had any issues with close calls.

But the deal is, there's so much excellent riding in the area, that there's really no need to go except for bragging rights.

I'm hopeful I'll hit it a few more times before hanging my helmet up.

[Avanti]

Give me the mountain roads, the mountain passes and the open roads of the Great Plains where the eye can not see the end and I will leave the rest to you.

[Fazer]

Guess I'm Mr. Lucky.  I've done it three times, twice on weekends without a problem.  Not something I need to do again, but I guess if the guys I am with are doing it, I will too.

I think the Back of Dragon is more challenging.

[GiG]

…twice on weekends without a problem.  Not something I need to do again, but I guess if the guys I am with are doing it, I will too.

I think the Back of Dragon is more challenging.

 

Hey, Greg! Slight topic drift here:
Once , running late to Robbinsville FCR, jumped on 129 - most direct route- was already dark  
North to South going slow, seeing ahead was difficult, trying to make Phillips. Lulu was in awe, just sure bears were gonna eat us!

Quite the experience doing that road in near complete darkness! Wanted to pull over and walk around a bit in total darkness and play in the traffic, but thoughts of gravel & bears inspired us to keep rolling.
No Dragons or bears claimed us…

[Rams]

Guess I'm Mr. Lucky.  I've done it three times, twice on weekends without a problem.  Not something I need to do again, but I guess if the guys I am with are doing it, I will too.

I think the Back of Dragon is more challenging.

I was advised that traffic always depends on the time of day, the day of the week and the weather by a local LEO.   I'm glad you enjoyed your ride(s).

Rams