First Annual NICO Tail Of The Dragon 2010

[Carl H]

open to all members pending tech inspection of the cars...sorry but i dont want to see some half assed car with a poor braking system behind me when i know i can brake safely and for the long term run of the drive.
dragon is no joke, you can really do damage if the car isnt prepped.

[Sil240]

open to all members pending tech inspection of the cars...sorry but i dont want to see some half assed car with a poor braking system behind me when i know i can brake safely and for the long term run of the drive.
dragon is no joke, you can really do damage if the car isnt prepped.

Yes.... +1,000

I know this is going to sound cheesy, but SAFETY is # 1!!!!!

This goes to everyone, RB or No RB.

At no time will anyone choose to do something stupid. If you would like to do so, seperate yourself from the group and go ahead.

Please make sure your car is Road worthy.
I've never been there myself, but I've seen and read many things. There is a tree dedicated to the people who have had accidents or died up there. (google: Tree of Shame)

FYI:

Also please look about a heat shield or something for your turbos or Master Cylinder.
I have a KA-t buddy who crashed his car on the BQE (brooklyn-queens expressway) in traffic because his Master Cylinder caught fire.

[RED_DET]

My car is road worth, track worthy and everything in between. I have been on the dragon numerous times and the abuse the car saw in Omaha is much worse. If you need a guide, I'm willing to show all the great spots, because I'm telling you the "dragon" is treacherous and sometimes not the best place to be. Tons of motorcycles hauling a**, some driving way too slow and slow moving tourist in vehicles. There is "NO" passing on the dragon, but you will see it happen. There are pull offs throughout in certain areas, but not all of the slow moving cars will get out of your way. There are several other roads in that area that are just if not more enjoyable than the dragon. Sure everybody needs to experience it, but don't limit yourself or you will miss out greatly.

Your brakes, your tires and suspension will be taxed very hard on the dragon or any of the canyon runs you go on. The highest speeds on the dragon you will see will be 60-65mph(if you are pushing it) and less. If you don't have upgraded brakes, at least pads, lines and fluid, you are fooling yourself thinking you will be ok. The last time we were there, a friend of mine came in his S15 with stock brakes and his brakes were faded in less than 1/3 of the dragon and that was on our way in, as he followed and we hadn't even unloaded the cars yet, which means I wasn't pushing it like I normally do because of the weight of the cars. Same thing happened on the canyon runs, didn't take long before the old S15 was falling back. It is just not the place to experience brake failure, period. So if your brakes and tires aren't up to par, maybe you should lead and not follow, because I guarantee I can stop every time.

[RustspecS13]

Id highy highly highly reccomend brake ducts!!! I had a similar experience and it sucks having to go easy on your car after driving so far!

I'm likely going to make some for my hatch and do a writeup, other wise i'm afraid alot of nicoans wont be prepared.

~Alex

[OutToWinPAHC]

I'd love to come, just a little too far from me.

[l0nestar]

As previously stated,
Group rate ends in 8 days!

Let's get to booking rooms!!!

[Sil240]

Ryan- did you send out that mass email as yet?

If not could you include the Question of opening this meet/cruise up?


I'm going to start working on a Article or something to post up.
If ANYONE has any ideas for an article??
I'm definitely no writer/journalist, I could use all the help I could get.

[Team Punisher]

Looking forward to making it.. Missed an event there last year Because of work.

[Sil240]

OK great!!! it looks like were opening this meet up.
about 7-8 Yeahs and 0 Nays

So I'm going to post this meet up in the NICO general section
I've already created a little article to submit.
If anyone has any literary talents, give me a buzz because I have none. lol

[l0nestar]

First group message sent out.

Only FIVE days left to register and receive our special discounted rate!

Let's get to it!

[8thgenInAL]

Not good with introductions or first posts, but I'm a member of the afore mentioned 8thcivic{DOT}com.

I have been to Deals Gap many a time, maybe 25-30 full runs (all the way through and back) in two years. Thats not a whole lot but I figured that I would fill you guys in on a few things. Mods if this doesn't fit forum rules, please edit as you see fit.

First, Fontana Village, the resort your staying at, does have Verizon cell phone service, they just had a mini tower put in this past spring.

Second, for anybody that hasn't been, people do die on this road, but are more often injured. There are no second chances and the dragon does not forgive.

Third, it is a patrolled legal highway, however big rigs are banned from driving on it, but this does not stop them from occasionally trying.

Forth Deals Gap bar serves excellent food. But remember, cars park in the back of the parking lot, the place is first and foremost a biker area. I only bring this up because the owner will shut the parking area off to cars if they don't mind his rules.

Fifth Graham County may be dry, but the resort and local gas station near the resort are not dry. Resorts can serve booze. They do close early though if any of your members should like to visit.


Please do not take this as offensive, I see that some of you have been. I just want to try and make sure that your event goes really really smoothly.

To the OP, if you have any questions, don't hesitate to come to the 8thcivic site and ask around. We are very nice people.

Good Luck and have fun guys.

[RB25nURface]

wow, wish i could make it to this. Crazy scenic

[l0nestar]

Not good with introductions or first posts, but I'm a member of the afore mentioned 8thcivic{DOT}com.
...

To the OP, if you have any questions, don't hesitate to come to the 8thcivic site and ask around. We are very nice people.

Good Luck and have fun guys.

Thanks for the info! If you have not, please enable PM's.

[nelson8708]

Took a bike trip there the first week after the rocks were cleared....So much fun. We made plans to go back so we can check out the rb's tearing up the mountain. If you guys dont mind we'd like to tag along with the crew? We stay in Maryville so maybe we could meet up on the dragon or something? Dragon kicks @$$ and the Foothills parkway is pretty good too, very good views.







-Nelson

[Sil240]

Nelson come on out!!!

[nelson8708]

Will do, i'll have to get some of your guys numbers so i can get in contact with you to find out what time everything is going on. I bought gear when i got back from the dragon and already dragged knee here in indy. I'm not leaving the tail until i drag knee in front of kill boy or us129 photo's.

-Nelson

[8thgenInAL]

Not good with introductions or first posts, but I'm a member of the afore mentioned 8thcivic{DOT}com.
...

To the OP, if you have any questions, don't hesitate to come to the 8thcivic site and ask around. We are very nice people.

Good Luck and have fun guys.

Thanks for the info! If you have not, please enable PM's.

Yes sir I did. Also another suggestion is Cheraholla Skyway. I spelled that wrong but it is an extremely good area to get pictures if anybody coming does photo stuff. It's really close to deals gap.

[Sil240]

Yeah I hope to get lots and lots of pics and vids!!!

Are there any stop off/ pull overs to get some pics??

8th gen are you gonna come out'??

[Cookstar]

Hey everyone. My name's Chris and I've been organizing 8thCivic.com Conquers the Dragon for 5 yrs now. You'll have a great time there! If anybody has any questions feel free to contact me. I've learned a little over the years about organizing these events.

We're staying at Fontana Village for the second year now. Before that, we stayed at Tapoco Lodge which has been closed for two years but will be reopening next year. Fontana has been awesome to work with and I plan on continuing our relationship with them.

I saw in the first post that KOA in Tellico Plains, TN was mentioned. We will not be staying there. We drive the Tail of the Dragon-Cherohala Skyway loop on Saturday. We will be using KOA as a place for us to regroup because there will be a stoplight in Vonore, TN that separates us. One of the managers there, Majorie, is really cool and is allowing us to stop there.

[Cookstar]

Just a couple thoughts after reading through the thread. You should absolutely encourage members who drive other vehicles to come. We even give away a trophy for the best "non-8thcivic". The friendships that will develop at your event will be far more meaningful than what you drive.

Also, definitely make sure your car is in good working order but, in my opinion, stock brakes are fine as long as you drive reasonably. (That is, unless your brakes are a lot worse stock than ours are.) I'm not hard on my brakes at all there. We had one guy overheat his brakes at the first meet but he was trying to keep up with a guy that had a lot of experience there. I do have Hawks HPS pads but I really don't need them.

[Sil240]

Hey Cookstar,

Thanks for dropping in!!!
Appreciate the info and the map.

Where is there an area where we can have a BBQ/Car Show?
Where ever you mention do they have built in Grills there or do we have to bring our own?

I think either you guys or the Mini guys had mentioned KOA Campgrounds.
But I don't know how close that is to Fontana Village or The Dragon.

Yeah... your cars are much newer than ours, plus a lot of use have some big iron block 6's in the bay.
Plus not many of us have been to The Dragon before.

I'm definitely changing my brake fluid, changing my pads hopefully to some Ferodo DS2500's and getting a Brake Master Cylinder Heat Shield.
Our turbo, downpipes and wastegates are right by the Master cylinder.

If I have extra time, I'll look about Brake Ducts.

[toadx8u]

Made my reservations today...I got the last cabanna room and paid upfront...woot

[Sil240]

NICE!!!
Ryan and I Got the last Willow Cabins.

Hurry up guys!!!!
Were going up Labor Day weekend.
I'm sure the rooms are going to book out.

AUGUST 1ST IS THE LAST DAY OF THE GROUP RATE

[Cookstar]

No problem, Sil240. There's a couple places I can think of. I think there's a picnic shelter at the top of Fontana Dam and there's a parking lot there that would possibly hold everyone. I don't know if you have to reserve it. I know in Vonore, TN you have the Sequoyah Museum and Fort Loudon State Park, both with picnic shelters. You can reserve there. They are probably about an hour away from Fontana Village. The KOA is about 1-1/2 hours away in Tellico Plains, TN. Of those places, I would check into the two places in Vonore. Nantahala Outdoor Center might have some picnic shelters. It is about 45 min away. I can't really think of anywhere else.

I assume you have been dealing with Lacey if you're bringing a group to Fontana. I would call her and see what options they have available. The parking lot at the Wildwood Grill there is big enough and it's where we meet before we leave together as a group.

I've pretty much always had our food catered because I didn't want to figure out how to serve that many people. We had 55 at our Saturday night banquet last year.

[Morb]

Im from VA i will be going bringing my 300zx if anyone is coming threw VA and wants to drive down together let me know and i'll give ya my email and my # so we can arrange where to meet up. Im coming home from Iraq next week, and i can't wait to be attending this. It's going to be epic..

[toadx8u]

good to hear morb...and welcome back i have been home about 3 months...was in tallil

[Morb]

Im in tali far/FOB Sykes atm headed to Kuwait Tues. or Wen. Not sure yet. Glad you made it home safe.

[toadx8u]

good you will be home b4 you know it...im going down from delaware and i was trying to organise a meeting spot for ppl to ride down together...theres quite a few ppl coming from the north east

[Morb]

Ok kool well if yall are coming threw VA let me know what route and i can tell a meeting place so we can meet up there, im trying to get people that i know in VA to go now, i've been hitting up most of the nissan owner's and some other people out there seeing if i can get a good showing. I'll be take the I 40 all the way it is fastest for me.

Btw Sil: i got a room reserved thanks for setting this up and for all the info.

[Sil240]

Cookstar - Thanks I'll check out these places.


Apparantly the same weekend we're going to be up there,"LakeAlooza" will be going on.
This event seems to be going on AT the hotel.

Check it out here:
LakeAlooza
http://www.fontanavillage.com/events/view?id=213

Since this event is going on, make sure you book your room NOW


Morb -
Cool!!! Can't wait to see the Z
I'm going to setup a thread with all the caravan details and people can setup caravans for their area too.

Get home safe!