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frosty
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« on: September 03, 2009, 06:11:35 AM » |
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The Dragon is the 11.1-mile section of U.S. 129 (Calderwood Highway) that has 318 curves, running from the Tab Cat Creek bridge in Blount County to just over the North Carolina line at Deal's Gap.
The group got on the Dragon in North Carolina and had reached the 8.4-mile point when the accident occurred. The location was less than a mile south of the scenic overlook on the road.
Tennessee Highway Patrol Trooper Phillip Warren said Green came out of a left hand curve, entered a right hand turn, ran off the road and rode in the ditch before the bike overturned. The white Honda Gold Wing motorcycle and its rider wound up back in the road in the northbound lane.
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was performed on Green, but was unsuccessful.
Green was declared dead at the scene by Rural/Metro Ambulance Service personnel and transported to the medical examiner's office at Blount Memorial Hospital.
"So this is the Tail of the Dragon?" asked one of the Wisconsin friends of Green. "We were trying to be careful, but this road's a beast."
Known by locals both as the Dragon and the "Tail of the Dragon," it is a world-renowned destination motorcycle ride.
"That's just a challenging ride," Trooper Warren said. "If I ever had a desire to ride a motorcycle, I don't any more after working accidents on the Dragon."
The accident occurred during overcast skies on a dry road.
This is the seventh traffic fatality in Blount for 2009 and the fourth on the Dragon.
"We will have extra troopers working on the Dragon this weekend," said Sgt. Randy Huckeby, supervisor of troopers in Blount and Monroe counties. "We will be trying to keep people safe and slow people down some. We will be enforcing the rules more since this is the Labor Day weekend."
Also responding to the crash scene Tuesday were Blount County Sheriff's Office and Fire Department and Volunteer Rescue Squad.
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Jack
Member
Posts: 1889
VRCC# 3099, 1999 Valk Standard, 2006 Rocket 3
Benton, Arkansas
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« Reply #1 on: September 03, 2009, 06:19:28 AM » |
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You gotta know your limits. May he rest in peace.
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"It takes a certain kind of nut to ride a motorcycle, and I am that motorcycle nut," Lyle Grimes, RIP August 2009.   |
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HotRod
Member
Posts: 909
2001 I/S First one was a 1999 I/S
Henderson, NV
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« Reply #2 on: September 03, 2009, 06:38:17 AM » |
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Rest in peace brother.
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Cruzen
Member
Posts: 491
Wigwam Holbrook, AZ 2008
Scottsdale, Arizona
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« Reply #3 on: September 03, 2009, 07:07:17 AM » |
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While I have sympathy for those who loose their lives on this, or any road, I have ridden that road several times and believe that most of the problems are rider error. Actually by following and paying attention to the signs etc. the only concern I had or mentally considered was on coming traffic which may cross the line in some places. I imagine that most riders attempt to keep up with their more experienced buddies or duplicate that Yellow Wolf guy who runs the Tail on his yellow 1800 Gold Wing. The guy is better and faster than many of the sport bike riders. Those signs along the road are put there for a reason and it’s not to physically stop you from going into the ditch .
The “Ride Like a Pro” people down in Florida put out a video on doing that ride and it shows some of the accidents and a few of them while they are in progress. Towards the end of the video, Yellow Wolf takes you down the route on a “High Speed” run and in the process catches a couple of guys on Sport Bikes. The video then shows these guys trying to out run him and his Gold Wing and the mistakes they make. He also states that most of the accidents occur when riders attempt to keep up with their buddies. Maybe that is what happened here.
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The trip is short,
enjoy the ride,
Denny
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Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005
Member
Posts: 13833
American by Birth, Southern by the Grace of God.
Beautiful east Tennessee ( GOD'S Country )
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« Reply #4 on: September 03, 2009, 05:07:45 PM » |
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Misty Dragon, mountain high;
Smoke and leather, do or die;
On golden wings, angels fly;
To tame the dragon in the sky.
Road of thunder, metal flash;
Burning rubber, smoke and ash;
Road to glory, heaven’s gate;
Eleven miles where angels wait.
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 I've seen alot of people that thought they were cool , but then again Lord I've seen alot of fools. |
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robin
Member
Posts: 2335
Get on it and RIDE!!
Hardwick NJ
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« Reply #5 on: September 03, 2009, 05:12:28 PM » |
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I like that Joe and i will not try to keep up with you in October when we meet see ya at the bottom  |
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KY,Dave (AKA Misunderstood)
Member
Posts: 4146
Specimen #30838 DS #0233
Williamsburg, KY
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« Reply #6 on: September 03, 2009, 05:17:58 PM » |
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I like that Joe and i will not try to keep up with you in October when we meet see ya at the bottom Knowing the road and seeing pics of Joe, I'd say not many could keep up with him. |
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Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005
Member
Posts: 13833
American by Birth, Southern by the Grace of God.
Beautiful east Tennessee ( GOD'S Country )
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« Reply #7 on: September 03, 2009, 05:52:25 PM » |
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I like that Joe and i will not try to keep up with you in October when we meet see ya at the bottom We have too many folks on " The Fall Color Ride " to be draggin' hard parts WFO . We split into two groups most of the time Britman will lead those that seek a spirited ride the rest of us travel just above the rose sniffer level  Speaking of Britman ...Hey Paul I saw you had a cottage for " The Fall Color Ride " ....You are still coming ( correct ? ) . |
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I've seen alot of people that thought they were cool , but then again Lord I've seen alot of fools. |
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Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005
Member
Posts: 13833
American by Birth, Southern by the Grace of God.
Beautiful east Tennessee ( GOD'S Country )
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« Reply #8 on: September 03, 2009, 05:56:33 PM » |
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I like that Joe and i will not try to keep up with you in October when we meet see ya at the bottom Knowing the road and seeing pics of Joe, I'd say not many could keep up with him. You should come join us on a ride ....I'm not out to get hurt or killed everytime I get in the saddle.The Fall Color Ride would be a great place for you to meet some of the folks that come to this site. We had 57 bikes show-up last year....Bring It....LET'S RIDE  |
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I've seen alot of people that thought they were cool , but then again Lord I've seen alot of fools. |
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thumper
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« Reply #9 on: September 03, 2009, 07:49:14 PM » |
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Misty Dragon, mountain high;
Smoke and leather, do or die;
On golden wings, angels fly;
To tame the dragon in the sky.
Road of thunder, metal flash;
Burning rubber, smoke and ash;
Road to glory, heaven’s gate;
Eleven miles where angels wait.
Damn Dude.....is that off of a t-shirt or did you make that up? ??? |
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An oak tree is nothing but an acorn that stood it's ground!
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22Dasher
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« Reply #10 on: September 03, 2009, 08:22:23 PM » |
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What's this fall ride you guys talkin about? Where and when and how many days?
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Ghillie
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« Reply #11 on: September 03, 2009, 09:19:38 PM » |
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the poem is from tailofthedragon.com
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When the people fear government, there is tyranny. When government fears the people, there is liberty.  |
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