SATURDAY DECEMBER 28: Photo from Bill White on his K1200RS on SR 28 near Fontana.
CLICK HERE FOR ENLARGEMENT
SATURDAY DECEMBER 21: Nanc and Ron took advantage of the 60 degree weather and rode the FZ-1s over to Wheeler's Chrismas party about 1:30. After an hour of gorging on pizza, snacks, and cookies we decided to make a run on the Dragon. On the northbound run we saw one cycle and only a car or two. There were two riders at the Overlook.
We talked a while and Edmond from Columbia who was riding a BMW R1150GS asked if he could follow us back across the Dragon. Off we went and unexpectedly Edmond was keeping-up with us. He was one great rider for not being a Dragon regular! After the crossing we found his secret .... he learned to ride in the Andes. Now we want to try those Andes roads!
Edmond followed us to the Cherohala and then headed over the mile-high route saying that he was used to watching for ice patches. We were beginning to chill (temp was 46) so we headed home for a brew.
It was good to get back on the Dragon after nearly two months even though we had to take it at a slower pace.
SUNDAY DECEMBER 22: Saw a group of six riders fly by our house headed for the Cherohala about 2:30 pm. Remember this road crosses mile-high mountains and you might encounter icy conditions at the higher elevations.
December 4, 2002: Graham County's new Sheriff Bob DeBruhl was sworn into service on Dec 2. At a recent Graham County Commission Meeting he recommended that the helicopter be disposed of and he does not want to keep it in his department. This is the same helicopter that issued many questionable citations to riders on the Cherohala Skyway and all of Graham County. This does not give you a green light to race on Graham County roadways. NCHP and the Sheriff will continue to enforce with radar.
November 26, 2002 BULLETIN: Rockford TN police officer vehicular homicide trial verdict is in. CLICK HERE for the story
November 23-24, 2002: Spent a great weekend at Carolina Motorsports Park for a couple of trackdays sponsored by TeamPromotion.com What a fun, fast track! Our friends Monte & Bonnie from SportbikeTrackTime.com, some Dragon regulars, and alot of first timers were there too. CLICK HERE to read the story. Weather at the Dragon has been marginal and forecast for Turkey day weekend are not so good. We should have ridden today with clear skies and temps mid 60s. Saturday is calling for highs in the 40s and snow/rain on Sunday.
November 12, 2002: A strange appearance in the sky.... IT'S THE SUN. The rain finally let up and Saturday was a good day at the Dragon with quite a few bikes. Killboy.com was there riding and taking pics. He told us of a serious accident on the Cherohala. TNHP had no report of any deaths, but we are unsure of any details. Sunday was a rain out. From here on out... you take your chances from one day to the next regarding road and weather conditions. Graham County election results: Incumbent Sheriff Odom was beat in a land slide by Bob DeBruhl. Our new Sheriff DeBruhl is retired NCHP and we believe he will have a positive PR impact on riders and drivers in Graham County... more inside info later. See Killboy.com for the TNHP sting video.

Halloween Trick or Treat local sheriff keeps eye on NJ Dragon Slayer in her Miata.
Miata pics
Tuesday October 29: Our EMail is working again, technology !!! A quick word of warning.... if you're planning a trip to the Dragon this week or weekend, make sure you watch the weather. Forecast is calling for cold weather this weekend - lows in the 20s highs in the 50s.
CLICK HERE for local weather forecast
Sunday, October 27: Much better riding conditions, but Dragon remained damp in some spots most of the day. Lots of leaf looking cars on the road and the Cherohala Skyway was crowded and slow going. Saw one sportbike down on the Dragon with no apparent injuries.
We heard about two Canadians being clocked going 88mph near Tabcat Bridge by the SO and TNHP was patrolling 72 heavily, be sure to Check our radar map. TN has been repaving the Cherohala Skyway for the past week. Project should be near completion, but be warned of traffic delays and sticky pavement.
Saturday, October 26: Misting rain left the area roads damp most of the day. We rode the Cherohala around 4pm and saw more (slow moving) cars than bikes. Colors are finally at their peak at higher elevation and should be peaking next week at lower elevations. We plan on riding the Dragon tomorrow and hope the roads are dry. We'll continue to ride the Dragon for the next few weeks if weather permits. 'Tis the season to get the dual sports out !! CLICK HERE for Cherohala video at Obidiah Overlook
Pictured left is Dragon regular Mike with his GSXR 1000. This was Mike's first track day and he's already making plans for the next.
CLICK HERE to read about the weekend
LIVE FROM Little Talledega Track Day Sunday, October 20. Early morning sprinkles started the first session on a damp track. It was dry in 30 minutes with even a few hints of sunshine. No incidents other than a few dirt rides where rider recovered and re-entered the track. We rode opposite direction today which made it seem like a different track. Saturday was lefts today was rights. The surface of Little T is similar to the "old" surface of the Dragon, sticky like sandpaper but eats tires for lunch. After a twenty minute session you could smell the rubber melting. Rains came around noon closing the track for a few hours. Many of the riders called it a day but there were a few brave souls that did a rain session later in the afternoon. More filming today from Killboy and Neale Bayly. Killboy will be posting a large photo album on his site Killboy.com and Neale should have an article and more photos posted shortly on MotorcycleJournal.net. The film shot during this weekend will be used for a promotional video for Sportbiketracktime.com and Aprilia and perhaps a TV spot too. It was fun to spend the weekend at the track with so many Dragon friends. I think we have hooked a few riders on track days. I'm sure these riders will agree they will gain skills that can be applied to handling the challenges of the Dragon. Thanks again to STT and Aprilia USA.
Saturday, October 19. We are coming to you via track side at Little T for a track day with STT (Sportbiketracktime.com). Lots of familiar Dragon riders are here. First session of the day found one intermediate rider down from a high side. Rider suffered dislocated shoulder. Perfect weather with highs in the 70's. Killboy.com and crew plus Neale Bayly with MotorcycleJournal.net will be doing some filming during the track day. We will be posting pictures and there is a professional event photographer here. (CLICK HERE for website) Paul will have photos posted on his site tonight. We will be updating the Tail throughout the today and tomorrow so check back.
Sunday Oct 13, 2002 Day began with showers, but roads dried by afternoon leaving fairly good riding conditions. We rode the Cherohala/Dragon loop with AMA Superbike Racer Bobby Hillard. Heard of one accident early on the Dragon ... Harley vs Gixser ... no report on injuries. The mishap left large oil spill on road at about mile 3.4, just north of Hog Pen. Miata drivers picked-up trash from roadside.
Saturday, Oct 12 2002: An even mix of cruisers and sportbikes enjoyed the good weather on the Dragon. Road conditions were very good with only a few damp corners. We also noted two Cobras, a new Mini Cooper, bicycle riders, and one naked sportbike rider. A typical weekend at the Dragon. We heard of no accidents and the SO stayed at Tabcat Bridge most of the day. Very little color on the trees and some leaves are falling. In dry conditons, the falling leaves present no problem on the Dragon. The leaves can be hazardous when the road is wet. Once again we'll remind riders to avoid crowds at Cades Cove.
Sunday, Oct 6, 2002: Another safe day on the Dragon with 3 SO cars patrolling most of the day. We escorted two wayward 18 wheelers over the Dragon in mid-afternoon warning on-coming traffic. They were thankful to have the escort and will not take the big rigs on this route again. Even mix of cruisers, sport-bikes and cars today. The weather was perfection and the road was dry. Just a quick reminder that this time of year Cades Cove is bumper to bumper and we suggest avoiding this area.
Saturday, Oct 5, 2002: Early morning drizzle left much of the Dragon damp for the day. Many riders braved the tricky conditions for an overall safe day. We did see one bike over the edge at about mile 4.4 near Graces Esses. Rider looked unhurt but bike was down about 30 feet. This time of year the infamous "crud corner" lives up to it's name. Damp conditions, leaf debris, and no sunlight during the day keeps this corner rather slick. Crud Corner is located at mile 10.9 We have found another "mini" Crud Corner, a hard slippery left as you're heading towards the Overlook, at mile 8.5 just south of the "Hump" See Dragon Map
Sunday, Sept 29, 2002: Couldn't ask for a more perfect day. The road finally clear of storm trash and lots of bikers took advantage of the great conditions. We spent a few hours at the Overlook taking pictures and swapping stories. Heard of one car running into a bank but nothing serious. We did hear of two cruiser wrecks, one yesterday evening just above Tabcat Bridge and another early this morning at the Hump. Blount County made their usual patrol. We welcome their presence as it tends to promote responsible riding. SWEATSHIRTS ARE NOW ON THE SHOPPING CART.
Saturday, Sept 28, 2002: The weather finally cleared and the bikers were out. The past week left lots of trash on the road and the Dragon stayed dirty and damp most of the day. The only casualty we heard of was a BMW car who lost control and luckily caught a tree before heading over the bank. Triumph Riders Association are holding a rally this weekend at the Tapoco Lodge conveniently located at the base of the Dragon. Between 70-80 Triumph owners attended along with the executives from Triumph Motorcycles America. This will be an annual event at the Lodge and we look forward to seeing even more Triumphs next year. For pictures of this years event CLICK HERE.
Sunday, Sept 22, 2002: The rains continued all day Sunday keeping most riders under cover.
Saturday, Sept 21, 2002: Lots of rain and the opening day of hunting - perfect excuses to stay home !! We only heard a few bikes passing our house heading for the Cherohala...brave souls. What do environmentalists and motorcyclist have in common?? CLICK HERE to find out.
Friday, Sept 20, 2002: The forecast didn't call for rain, the radar didn't show rain, but it rained. We jumped on the FZ1's with friends Mark and Amy from Ohio. Our goal today was to check out the roads crossing the Blue Ridge Parkway. We saw a lot of Harley and Gold Wing riders thru the mist and fog. After BBQ at Skeeters in Canton we took 215 south over the BRP. Here we met continous showers and thick fog. Even in the bad conditions this was a fun road. Lots of waterfalls, little traffic, and some decent twisties. The road surface was a little rough near the BRP. The other side heading towards 64 was fun too. From 64 we headed to Highlands for a much needed strong cup of coffee, and then finally hit some dry roads on our favorite section of 28 - from county line to 19/74. We'll do this again on a dry day!!
Thursday, Sept 19, 2002: No rain today prompted us to jump on the dual sports for an afternoon of backroad investiagion. We got out the USGS maps and found a very remote back way from Robbinsville to Marble NC which brought us over the Snowbird Mountain range. From there we headed to the NC entrance of the Upper Tellico Off-Road Vehicle Area. We took the easy route through the area. With the recent rains, the more difficult trails were a bit too much of a challenge for our KLR's, but we'll head back again on a drier day. The easy route brought us to the TN entrance at the Stateline Campground. From there we stayed on gravel along Big Santeetlah Creek to end the day back at Santeetlah Gap along the Cherohala Skyway. We'll post more information on the ORV area in the future. MC accident on the Foothills Parkway
Monday, Sept 16, 2002: After a wet weekend the weather cleared and we headed to the Dragon for some evening fun. About 5pm we came upon a semi stuck in a corner at the state line (see picture below). Met a number of riders from as far away as Oklahoma and enjoyed swapping stories at the Overlook.
Saturday & Sunday, Sept 15, 2002: It's been a damp weekend and looks like it will continue into Monday. Rain couldn't keep the Buell's from crashing on Saturday. We heard of at least 4 wrecks, injuries unknown. 9am Sunday medics responded to a wreck at the state line and transported rider to UT.
Friday Sept 13, 2002 Made a late afternoon assault trying to find some Buells on the Dragon, but they all seemed to be elsewhere. Accident near Fontana resulted in rider airlifted with serious back injuries. Heard of a few other trashed Buells too. Looks like a rainy weekend, so ride carefully.
Thursday Sept 12, 2002 We did a few runs on the Dragon this evening. Found more gravel than usual but still managed some fun runs. The Buells will be here this weekend for their annual weekend BRAG and wrench fest at Fontana Village. Here is an EMail we received from Heather, one of the Buell rider wives: "BRAG riders are truly a unique crowd. It really takes a stallwart soul to take a machine destined to break down/apart/away over 1000 miles away-one way that is-just to ride a stretch of road. My husband is out there for the BRAG festival this year, having missed it last year due to complete engine failure of his 2 year-old bike. It would be great to have some photos of these people on your web site."
Sunday September 8, 2002 Bike traffic was much less but the weather held. Nanc and I rode the loop and saw some friends at the Overlook. Nothing major to report ... one or two minor accidents, but clear roads with minimal enforcement. One corner with a lot of gravel on the Dragon between Tabcat Bridge and the Overlook.
Saturday September 7, 2003: The weather was perfect today. Lots of bikes in the area, probably the most we've seen since Honda Hoot. As we were getting ready to head out this morning a three motorcyle accident occured near the Cherohala at a sharp curve. One rider was seriously injured and all three riders were transported. With all the chatter on the scanner about the need for additional enforcement, we figured it might be a good day to stay off the roads. Friends advised that other than a few minor drops the Dragon was clear. We also confirmed with Alcoa that we were asked to leave the Overlook because they had received complaints. It is our understanding that no law enforcement agencies registered these complaints.
Friday thru Monday September 2, 2003: The weather has been typical late summer - warm during the day with afternoon showers. Made a few runs on the Dragon Friday afternoon and welcomed our Canadian friends who had just arrived. The road is in great shape, gravel in a few corners but nothing serious. We are not used to the new paving and are still learning the new line.
Saturday we headed to MotoBritalia.com in Woodstock GA to pick up an Aprilia Falco, our track bike and Dragon toy. It came with street fighter high pipes and MAXXIS tires. Nanc rode the bike on the Dragon Sunday. The V-twin dives into the corners and is much more agile than the FZ1 (but lacks the comfort and power of the FZ1). Freelance writer Neale Bayly visited us on Sunday. You can read one of Neale's articles in the latest issue of RIDER MAGAZINE about the roads from north Georgia to Deals Gap. Neale is now living in NC and we'll be working with him and his website MotorcycleJournal.net.
Dragon riders were safe over the holiday weekend. Even the Blount County Sheriff patrol was pleased. The SO reported no major accidents. We did see a Ninja being pulled up from Guardrail Cliff on Sunday. Bike was in bad shape but rider was fine. for info on this corner.
Monday brought more crowds, mostly cruisers. We had some good runs. Ron got to try out Nancy's Falco. Thinks he might need some pucks. Weather held all day. Sorry to see our Canadian friends leave ... OH Canada!!!
Sunday, August 25, 2002: Rain most of the day, managed to clear in the late afternoon. We stayed home and worked on web. You'll find more items in our on-line secure store and the summary of our VIR weekend. We also worked on Killboy's new video. The video will be in DVD format and should be available in about a month. Looking forward to another track day at Little Talladega October 19-20th. Come join us and SportBikeTrackTime.com for this two day event. for details. Track days are a good way to improve your riding skills and have a great time - you'll find NO minivans, radar, gravel, or 18-wheelers!! Our summary of the weekend at VIR on August 9-11 has been posted to read about the Aprilia Femmoto Event, AMA Superbike Races, and our first Track Day.
Saturday, August 24, 2002: We rode the Dragon late in the afternoon - 2-up on the FZ1, taking pictures and video. We saw the usual Blount County SO two car patrol. We heard of no serious enforcement or crashes. Most of the riders were on cruisers and we didn't see alot of traffic. Road conditions are improved, but there is a sand covered oil spill just south of the hump - you can see it coming. Visited the new Punkin Center Full Service Campground located 12 miles north of the Dragon on US129. Quiet setting and biker friendly. for more information - they've got a labor day special coming up next weekend. We'll be on the Dragon again tomorrow - taking pictures and more vids.

August 24, 2002 Sand covered oil spill just south of the hump. The white area is sand - NOT sun.Sunday, August 18, 2002: Turned out to be a nice day and we saw lots of riders enjoying the dry roads. After wrapping up the Lean event at Fontana Village, a group of us headed to the Dragon. We passed a serious accident just north of Parsons Branch. We heard the rider lost control, went over the bank. He suffered possible severe injuries and was transported by ambulance. We heard of minimal enforcement on the Dragon all weekend.
Saturday, August 17: A wet day on the Dragon and local roads but a number of riders braved the elements to attend the first annual Lean on the Dragon. for details and pictures. We noted four NCHP units on Hwy 28 between Fontana and the Dragon. The helicopter was also flying in Graham County. No doubt the increased enforcement is a result of seven motorcycle deaths since June... two deaths on the Dragon, one on Hwy 28, one on 143 near Robbinsville, and three on the Cherohala Skyway.
August 13, 2002: We found new speed limit signs on the Dragon today....30mph. Guess the TNHP will be cracking down on speeding bicycles too. Wonder if they'll ever do anything about the trucks?
August 12, 2002: Lyo Francois, 40, from Coral Springs, FL, was killed at 2:45 pm at the NC/TN state line on the Cherohala. Speed estimated at 70 mph on 2002 Suzuki.
August 9, 2002: We spent the weekend at VIR with Brad & Chris from Asphalt Surfer. We watched the races on the north track and had a track day with SportBikeTrackTime.com on the south track. Nanc participated in the Femmoto Event at south track on Friday with some 50 other women. She got her first real taste of a track day. The ladies had workshops and at least three 15 minute track sessions on Aprilia demo bikes. She had an absolute blast riding the Mille and Falco.
AUGUST 10, 2002: TNHP made our friends manning the Overlook shut down on Saturday. They told us that ALCOA (land & dam owner) had not given us permission to be there. Gosh - guess we'll have to ride on the weekends!! We apologize to those who expected us at the Overlook. REMEMBER you can buy Tail of the Dragon merchandise at WHEELERS PERFORMANCE motorcycle shop located just 2 miles north of Robbinsville on US129, and on our on-line store. We'll be on the Dragon during the weekends, still taking pictures and video.... and RIDING. We heard of an FZ1 rider that had an accident about 1 mile south of the Overlook. Rider suffered head injuries and was transported to the hospital and is listed in serious condition. Regardless of what happened at the Overlook, we had a great time at VIR. We spent some time with our good friend and local superbike racer Bobby Hillard, from Chattanooga TN. Bobby races with the big boys on the superbike circuit with his GSXR 1000. Unfortunately, a crash on Friday put him out of Saturdays big race. Tail of the Dragon helps sponsor Bobby in this expensive sport.
AUGUST 11, 2002: Today we spent the entire day at the south track participating in a track day with SportBikeTrackTime.com. Thanks also to Aprilia for letting us demo their bikes. This was an incredible experience. We've got lots of photos and we'll write a report on what it's like to take part in a track day - an activity we highly recommend to sportbike riders of all levels.
BULLETIN: Second death on the Cherohala Skyway for the year occurred Sunday the 4th at 10:50 am. Sportbike rider Joseph Stroud, age 25 from Old Hickory, TN, hit a guardrail at the 10 mile marker on the NC side. This is the same curve as a Triumph ST rider death on June 20th. Riders were eastbound and heading downhill into what looks like a sweeper and then the corner really tightens. PLEASE slow down on the Cherohala.
AUGUST 4, 2002: The Blount County SO greeted riders at the Overlook early Sunday morning which seems to be a common procedure. We continue to warn rides to watch their speed past the Overlook.... you might just meet radar. Lots of locals on the Dragon this morning. It was an uneventful day until an SO went by with blue lights around 1pm. Ron followed and found a fatal accident near Parsons Branch. Lendry Obanna, age 24 of Jacksonville, Florida riding an R6, high sided and went over the embankment. Scars on trees some 20 feet from the road at eye level indicated a major impact. The rider died at the scene from severe trauma. Thanks to all the riders who stopped to assist and administer CPR. Our hearts are heavy for this young man's family and riding buddies. More details tomorrow. We once again ask riders to treat the Dragon with utmost respect. A simple mistake can be fatal.
AUGUST 3, 2002: Another hot day at the Dragon, but a nice breeze made the Overlook tolerable. Still gravel on the road causing riders to slow in many corners, but not so bad that you can't have a good run on the Dragon. Heard of a few drops but no injuries. Blount County made their usual sweeps of the Dragon, but not much action today. Cruisers outnumbered sportbikes and all shared the road and the fun. We've been noticing more courtesy among riders, both towards vehicles and other motorcycles. LEAN ON THE DRAGON is coming up in two weeks !! We'll have additional information posted here and on the Lean website next week (Vendor Area, Mystery Event, all at Fontana Village).
JULY 20 BULLETIN: Keith Huckabey 48, a motorcycle safety instructor from Memphis, TN, was killed instantly late Saturday afternoon on Hwy 28 between Fontana and the Dragon in the hairpin corner near Twenty Mile Creek. The cyclist crossed the centerline and struck an oncoming car. Please watch for this dangerous corner. for photos of this corner.
JULY 28: It was a hot, slow day on the Dragon. We were surprised to see three Blount County cars at 10:00 am, but the Dragon was fairly quiet and they headed back to the lake. Most of the Miatas left the Dragon and traffic was light. It was a good day to ride until afternoon showers at around 4pm. We heard of no wrecks today. The Dragon made Page One of the Maryville Daily Times to read the article.
JULY 27: ZoomZoomZoom - Miatas everywhere and outnumbering motorcycles 2:1. Heard of one Miata eating a bank, but no serious wrecks today. Cars and bikes shared the road, but Blount County Sheriff were once again present to keep everyone in line. NCHP and Sheriff had a road block on 129 between the Dragon and Robbinsville.... most people don't realize that this is common practice in the area and not just done during a big event. Seemed like more Miatas than last year, probably close to 500. Ron & Nanc enjoyed the Miata drivers, sharing their love for a great road. We look forward to seeing them again next year.
JULY 26: Blount County SO issued some 65 citations for wreckless and careless driving, primarily to Miata drivers. The SO had two cars on the Dragon, one to spot and one to stop.
JULY 23: Finally finished our narrative and maps on our jouney to find twisties in WV & VA and Nancy's AMA Conference. We found one fantastic road - Hwy 311 just north of Salem VA to read more.
JULY 21: We had great weather on the Dragon today and a big turnout of bikes. Road conditions improve everyday, including the section from Tabcat Bridge to the Overlook. Had some fun runs on the MZ but still being very alert for gravel in the road. Late in the afternoon the Blount County SO were looking for a bike with 2-up who had run from a deputy. Both riders were wearing T-shirts and shorts and the bike was traveling at excessive speeds thru the Dragon. In another incident at about 5pm, a cruiser was forced off the road by a BMW car. The rider and bike fell some 80 feet down an embankment near Parsons Branch curve. Miraculously, the rider crawled back up the bank with only minor injuries. Yesterday evening, a women cruiser rider had an accident between Tabcat and the Overlook resulting in possible back injuries. In another incident yesterday afternoon. Our friends Dezmo and Slug rode the Wayah / Franklin / Hwy 28 route today. They report Wayah Road & 28 in excellent conditon with only a few minor bad pavement patches.
JULY 20: The weatherman had it wrong today - it turned out to be a great day on the Dragon with only a brief shower late afternoon. Traffic was moderate, allowing for some good runs. Gravel conditions were bad from Tabcat Bridge to the Overlook with some corners bad on the remainder of the Dragon. We suggest you continue to ride with caution. Only a few minor drops with no serious injuries. Weather sounds good for tomorrow.
JULY 14: The weekend was pretty much a rain-out. Sunday it started to clear around noon, but rains began again late afternoon. Wheeler reported lots of gravel and sand in the road on both Thursday and Friday. The road crew finally leveled out the pulloffs, but left the road in a mess. Our friend Dezmo from MR Honda in Asheville stopped by our home on Sunday afternoon just in time for lunch! Dezmo reported that cycle traffic was light and the Dragon was in reasonably good shape on Sunday, dispite being damp. There still was some gravel but apparently most of the mess was either washed or swept away. We'll probably have to live with gravel problems for a few weeks so ride cautiously.
JULY 7: We (Ron & Nanc) were at the Overlook today - and the road was in pretty good shape. Gravel in a few corners, but not bad. We rode the new MZ Baghira (motard). It's needs some tweaking and getting used to - but it's a handful of fun on the Dragon. Nanc will be started an MZ page to let you know how the new bike is coming along. We didn't hear of any accidents. Blount County was patrolling as usual. Final plans are in the works for our Lean event and we'll be updating you soon (this week hopefully).
LOST CELL PHONE - Dragon rider Linda and her husband were riding US129 on Saturday and on one of the curves, their cell phone came loose and fell off their bike. If anyone finds a cell phone along the Dragon, EMail then at AwanaTN@comcast.net.
JULY 6: Brad & Chris from Asphalt Surfer are at the overlook this holiday weekend. We'll be at the Dragon on Sunday. July 4th was a slow day at the Dragon even though the weather was beautiful and the road was in good condition despite gravel in several corners. It appeared that someone swept the corners later in the afternoon - THANKS. Heard of no accidents. More traffic Saturday and more gravel in the corners. We heard of four minor crashes with major hurt pride. The accidents were a result of the combination of gravel and speed - WATCH OUT. Lots of motorcycles in the area!! We took a dual sport ride on some of our local mountain roads on the 4th - we'll post the route and story next week. Nanc got back from the AMA Womens Motorcycle Conference in one piece - even after spending the week riding with some crazy Canadian sportbike chicks from twisty-sisterz.com. We'll post info on some of the roads in WV and VA that we challenged. Lots of stories coming soon !!
JUNE 30: Road in better shape except for excessive gravel in some of the corners (worse from Tabcat Bridge to the Overlook). A real mix of bikers today took advantage of the great weather. We heard of three minor accidents. Radar on 72 most of the day nailed some speeders. The Cherohala was busy too, and a few riders had minor drops.
JUNE 29: Road construction continued with mainly clean-up and laying gravel along the shoulders. One-land closed along work area. Only 3 minor bites with no reported injuries. Mostly cruisers although a few sport bikes came through on their last day of vacation. Graham County Sheriff Helicopter flew the Cherohala.
JUNE 29: We drove the Dragon this morning and found gravel in many of the corners of the north bound lane. Trucks and trailers running off the edge in the hard rights have spread gravel across the road. It's nasty in many spots, please ride with extreme caution. The edge of the south bound lane has only been graveled in a few areas. Expect gravel to be an issue for the next few weeks. Brad and Chris from Asphalt Surfer will be at the Overlook this weekend and next while we take a few days off. Nanc will be attending the womens AMA conference this weekend in WV. Both of us will be doing some WV backroads - watch for updates.
JUNE 26: PAVING IS DONE. Ron made a quick run to the Dragon this afternoon and found the paving completed and the crew was in the process of painting fresh stripes. The road was still sticky today but with a few days of traffic and the afternoon showers it should improve. Remember, in places along the newly paved Dragon there are high drop-offs if you pull off the road - be careful.
JUNE 22: Final fun day of the Hoot and the Dragon was packed with riders. Seemed like there were even more bikes than yesterday. A few more Dragon bites than yesterday with one requiring a meat wagon visit. From what we heard a KLR rider lost control landing in a ditch. Heard of a few other minor bites but nothing serious. For the incredible number of cruisers and sportbikes populating the Dragon, it was a fun and safe day. Nanc was excited with the arrival of her new MZ Baghira. This is really cool dual sport / motard type of bike with the Yamaha Raptor 660 engine (and the price is right too at $6200 retail). It's a scream on the Dragon and likes the mud too - just like Nanc. We'll be featuring this bike and let you know what Wheeler thinks of the mechanics and how we feel it rides and handles. The Dragon was in great shape during the Hoot but remember - paving will continue on Monday. We'll head up to the Dragon during the week and report progress.
JUNE 21: A hot hootin day on the Dragon. Just an incredible number of bikes of every type and it was quite the show at the Overlook. Heard of a few minor Dragon bites, but nothing serious and probably more ego damage than anything. Expecting the same weather tomorrow. Blount County Sheriff patroled the Dragon and was also shooting radar along the lake - remember the speed limit is 40mph all the way on the Dragon to the Foothills Parkway. Also heard that Graham County was patrolling the NC side of the Cherohala. After yesterdays fatality on the Cherohala expect enforcement all weekend.
JUNE 20: What a perfect day on the Dragon. Lots and lots of bikes, you name it - we saw it. Heard of an accident on the Foothills earlier in the day with a possible leg injury, didn't sound too serious. Did not hear of any incidents on the Dragon. Unfortunately, we learned that a biker died on the Cherohala today near mile marker 10. Apparently the Triumph ST rider lost control and hit the deadly guardrail. Ron and Billy were at the Hoot while Nancy manned the Overlook with her friend Jo... ditto for tomorrow. It was good to see many of our friends again from years past at the Dragon. You'd be surprised at how many of you'all that we remember. Looking forward to another great day tomorrow.
JUNE 19: Big THANK YOU to TNDOT... Dragon was in great shape today and lots of Honda Hooters were enjoying the road. The weather was perfect for riding with showers cooling us off around 5pm. Ron is at the vendor area at the Hoot and met many Tail surfers who had downloaded maps and information to help them with their rides. We didn't know we had so many friends. Nancy was at the Overlook with her "Autograph the Dragon Map" poster...be sure to stop by and leave your mark... it's amazing to see where all our Dragon friends come from. The Hoot seems to be bigger than last year.
Ron followed this logging truck home on June 19, 2002. This picture is taken at the Slide near Fugitive Dam after a near collision with a truck towing a boat. Who says sportbike riders are a danger on the Dragon??
JUNE 18: Both lanes are now finished from Tabcat Bridge to the "Hump". Road looks to be in good shape with minimal hazards. Perhaps not exactly in "knee dragging" condition but good enough for an enjoyable ride. TNDOT will not be working on the road until next Monday - so come and enjoy but please remember to ride with caution. On a sad note, we learned of a motorcycle death on the Dragon last Sunday. Dale Bently was passing a car while riding his 1999 Honda Valkyrie and lost control for details. This is the first motorcycle death in Blount County this year.
JUNE 17: The paving crew was hard at work today and both lanes are now finished from Tabcat bridge to the "Horns of the Dragon". From the "Horns" to the "Hump" you will find a single lane, and from the "Hump" to the state line you will find the base layer of pavement. for map of the Dragon. The road is in the worse condition from the "Horns" to the "Hump" where the pavement is the freshest. They should finish both lanes from the "Horns" to the "Hump" tomorrow (Tuesday). We spoke to the TNDOT and there will not be any paving work from Wed thru the weekend so the Honda Hooters can enjoy the road. The Dragon should be in good shape for an enjoyable ride, just remember to ride with caution. US129 from Tapoco Lodge heading towards Robbinsville is improving with only a small amount of loose gravel on the recent patch project. We will post another update Tuesday evening.
JUNE 16: A 29 year-old Valkyrie rider from MI critically injured in Dragon accident at 5:30 pm. Rider was passing a car near the Horns of the Dragon when he wrecked and suffered head injuries. Thanks to Hrlyrdr1 for the article.
JUNE 15: Took a day off from the Overlook due to paving and found a great dual sport ride near the TN/NC border. for more information. We not be at the Overlook on Sunday - look for us next week at the Overlook and Honda Hoot from Wed thru Saturday.
JUNE 6: HEADLINES Rockford, TN drops police force for article

Darryl Cannon - killboy.com sent this photo of a truck on the Dragon June 1 that ran a bike off the road.   TO ENLARGE
BE ALERT We have seen and been advised by two others of an empty blue or white auto carrier truck speeding on the Dragon aking both lanes in the curves. Nancy and I met him on Tuesday and he was driving way too fast. Anyone with ID info please contact us.
BULLETIN May 1, 10 am accident, truck vs car on Dragon, ties up traffic for hours.JUNE 13: We checked out the Dragon today and found road construction behind schedule. The second and final layer of asphalt has been layed on the north bound lane from Tabcat Bridge to the Horns of the Dragon (approx 1/2 way). Road conditions are poor in both lanes over the northern 6 miles. Lots of loose, asphalt covered, small gravel. Be sure to watch out for uneven lanes as the new layer is over an inch high. According to TNDOT work will continue this coming Saturday. It looks to us like completion is still another two weeks away. Remember that they will not work during Honda Hoot, but road conditions will be fair at best. We will not be at the Overlook this weekend. Look for us next week during Honda Hoot both at the Overlook and at the Hoot.
JUNE 9: Another slow day at the Dragon. Riders continued to exercise caution on the first pavement layer. Blount County Sheriff patrolled and uneventful Dragon and found more action down along the lake where they were collecting autographs for speeding in this 40mph zone. Paving work starts again tomorrow limiting traffic to one lane in the work zone. Look for work to continue thru Saturday noon. Don't let this stop you from visiting the Dragon, just ride cautiously. It's also the perfect oportunity to check out other area roads. If you visit during the week, make sure you stop at Wheelers Cycle Shop located 2 miles north of Robbinsville on US129.
JUNE 8: Slowest day of the year, as many bikers stayed away because of the repaving. Mostly cruisers and quite a few family riders with their kids as passengers. We even had a brand new B-8 Boss Hoss show up and turn around for a second run thru the Dragon. The classic 356'rs Porsche Group visit the Dragon - and left their marks at the Overlook. Those who did come found paving in progress until noon with several miles of fresh pavement slowing everyone down. The southbound lane was good and about half of the 11 miles of north bound was in good shape. Paving Update...The 3/4 inch sealing coat is completed and Monday they will begin laying the 1-1/2 inch top coat. Target date for completion is the 18th, if all goes well. The road should be in good shape for Honda Hoot riders. Paving work will be suspended during the Hoot, if necessary. NC is up to its normal road patching practices. Be careful riding US129 south of Tapoco Lodge for about 3 miles. It usually takes a week for these patches to smooth out and the loose gravel to adhere.
JUNE 2: It was a hot one today. An average Sunday with light traffic in the morning, a mid afternoon rush, and then little traffic after 4pm. The north bound lane remained "un-nerving" due to the sand. We heard of a few minor accidents, two near the state line in the afternoon. The crowd had some good fun challenging the Dragon safely. We saw the Sheriff make several passes, but no major enforcement was needed today.
JUNE 1: The weather was clear and hot. In spite of the sandy north bound lane, hundreds of bikers, sports cars, and bicyclist tamed the Dragon today. Conditions were better in the north bound lane, but many of the hard left turns still had sand to watch out for. The south bound lane is clear. We heard of no mis-haps, not even any minor drops. Blount County Sheriff had their own mini rally between Tabcat Bridge and the Foothills Parkway catching many speeders with rader - the speed limit on this stretch is 40mph. They also patrolled the Dragon on a regular basis throughout the day. We did not see the TNHP today and heard of no Drag Racing citations.
MAY 31: The north bound lane continues to be in bad shape. We have heard that a truck leaking hydrulic fluid caused the spill and the DOT spread sand to dry up the fluid.
REMEMBER: Paving begins on Monday. We'll keep you up to date on the progress and current road conditions.
MAY 28: TN DOT installed warning signs along the Dragon in preparation for repaving. Watch out for sand in the corner at picnic table (mile 4.1).
MAY 26: Another great day with rain holding off until late in the afternoon. Lots of cruisers, a few sport bikes. Only one minor accident, a Harley, with no apparent injuries. TNHP set up radar at the Overlook for a short time so remember to slow down as you approach this area. Cherohala accident mid-afternoon, airlifted rider with head and possible back injuries. Two other accidents on US129 near the US19 intersection. One rider airlifted.
MAY 25: Brad, Chris, and Jason from Asphalt Surfer manned the Overlook today giving Ron & Nanc a much needed day off. The weather was ideal and they saw a tremendous number of bikers of all types on the Dragon. The blue haze and ring-ding-ding on the mountain was from the 2-strokers that showed up in masses. Another day of enforcement failed to dampen the fun. We heard of an undercover operation near the state line on the TN side, a license check and radar at Tabcat Bridge, and a license check on the NC side of US129. Reports of 4 accidents with no serious injuries. One accident on the Cherohala late in the afternoon with possible broken collar bone. Once again we want to remind riders to ride responsibly and obey the law in order to avoid citations and we'll guarantee a great time at the Dragon.
WARNING TNHP has been going undercover and issuing citations for double yellow and drag racing violations. "Drag Racing" by TN law means operating your vehicle at top performance - not necessarily racing another vehicle for the TN law. If you have a video camera attached to your bike - WAMBANG lots of evidence if you videoed your reckless riding, and if they catch you a second time - do not pass go... go directly to jail !! You can expect more unless riders and drivers chill and use a little more common sense - THE DRAGON IS NOT A RACE TRACK. If you want to test your skills at high speeds - go to the track. Check out our friends at SportbikeTrackTime.com to visit their site.
MAY 19: Clear and chilly today. We could have guessed a crackdown was coming after several days of mayhem on the Dragon. TNHP went undercover and issued numerous citations for double yellow and drag racing violations. "Drag Racing" by TN law means operating your vehicle at top performance - not necessarily racing another vehicle for the TN law. You can expect more unless riders and drivers chill and use a little more common sense - THE DRAGON IS NOT A RACE TRACK. If you want to test your skills at high speeds - go to the track. Check out our friends at SportbikeTrackTime.com to visit their site. But even with all the craziness, the majority of riders avoided citations by riding legal and still enjoyed the road. There were at least 7 minor wrecks but no serious injuries. Two newbies never made it all the way over, as both ran off the road late in the day. The Dragon got some press this past weekend, some good - some not-so good to check it out.
MAY 18: Lots of rain Friday night, lingered into Saturday morning and temps dropping to the 40's. Yet, the bikes came out by the hundreds. Busiest day we've seen on the Dragon this year. Several minor drops and another Subaru went off the mountain by the "Wall". No apparent injuries in any of the incidents today. Lots of Canadian friends at the Dragon celebrating their May 2-4 Holiday. No one has more fun than the Canadians - even when the Carolina Hurricanes are threatening their hockey team!! We did see one citation issued for a double yellow violation. Another warning to riders that the Sheriff is patrolling the Dragon.
MAY 17: A bad day at the Dragon with numerous accidents and 2 requiring air transport. One of the accidents involved a bike lowsiding into an oncoming bike. The other involved a cruiser. Details unknown. Subaru went over the side with no injuries.
MAY 16: HorsePower Mike riding with the ZX12R's suffered serious leg injuries in an accident on the Foothills Parkway. He is still at UT recovering.
MAY 12: An overall slow day on the Dragon but great riding conditions with overcast skies and light traffic. Only a few minor drops with no injuries. We saw lots of familiar faces and everyone had some good runs on the Dragon including us. Next weekend looks to be busy with KatanaPlanet.com, ZX12R riders from Bikeland.org and the southeast Subaru Club.
MAY 11: No rain and light traffic made for some great riding. Large group of VMax's and a wide mix of other bikes had a rather safe day on the Dragon. There were a few minor drops: one newbie laid it down at Wheelie Hell without ever meeting the Dragon. Another went down at Guardrail Corner. Both suffered shoulder injuries. Remember, Blount Co Sheriffs are patrolling the Dragon.
MAY 10: 2002 R1 meets pickup truck head-on at CRoT. Rider thrown thru windshield but walks away with minor injuries. See Trashed Bike of the Week below. PLEASE RIDE ALERT.
MAY 8: We heard of two accidents on the Dragon. One was a woman on a 3-wheeler that ran into the ditch near the TN line. The other was a head injury that appeared serious, but turned out to be minor.
MAY 6: 2 pm - Tourer with two on-board crashes into railing at 5.5 mile point of Cherohala Skyway on NC side. Two airlifted to hospital. Injuries appeared non-life threatening. Rider underwent surgery on May 7 for punctured lung and other internal injuries.
MAY 5: The sun came out and so did the bikes. We had cruisers, sportbikes, dual sports, tourers, classic sports cars, bicycles, and even a street legal ATV. It was a fun, safe day, even with this odd mix of vehicles. We've read discussions on forums about riding safer and we believe it's paying off. We did hear of a few minor drops, but nothing of any consequence even though the mountain was packed with bikes. It just proves that riders can have a great day of fun without trashing thier bikes. It was great to see many familiar faces from last year. JUST A REMINDER - THERE IS RADAR ON HWY 72 LEADING TO THE DRAGON.
MAY 4: Rain until noon today, then more than a hundred Audi TT's attacked the Dragon. Within an hour they were gone - and the cycles took over. Much safer today than last week. A tree came down with the bad morning weather and blocked the road for a few minutes, until a local came up with his AX (seriously!!) and cleared the road. Perhaps that's why the sportbikers behaved today!! We did hear of a Busa that went down, but no injuries. Blount County Sheriff will be making regular patrols on the Dragon so watch your speed. We did hear of 4 bikes who rear ended a turning vehicle on Hwy 72 at low speed, no injuries.
APRIL 28: An overall slow day on the Dragon with rain until noon and then a sprinkle late afternoon, never giving parts of the road a chance to dry. We heard of no accidents. We saw two 18-wheelers come thru, neither were SWIFT trucks. We got more details on yesterday's serious accident at "Guardrail Cliff". The Greensboro NC Gang were busy pulling up the bike and we got an update on their friend Phillip who was airlifted to UT on Saturday. Phillip's parents and friends want to thank all those who helped him ... bikers, medics, helicopter and hospital staff. He is now at home and recovering from a broken pelvis, broken ribs, and bruised internal organs. for details of this dangerous corner.
APRIL 27: Our first day back at the Overlook and it was busy. Great to see many familiar faces returning .... the bad side was too many accidents. We sure wish that riders would be a little more cautious. There were two accidents requiring medical attention. One rider who went down at the nasty guardrail corner just short of mile 4.0 was lucky to survive after falling some 100 feet. Phillip suffered broken pelvis, broken ribs, and bruised internal organs.. This was the same corner that several riders went down last year. Many cruisers and Goldwings made the crossing safely while the sportbikers were doing major damage to themselves and their bikes. Looks like they need to slow down until they get back in the groove. We also heard of a Goldwing accident on the Skyway, no details known.
APRIL 26: Serious accident at Hog Pen resulted in air lift to UT. T.J. from Wisconsin suffered head injuries after high siding into bank. Friends of T.J. want to thank the many other riders who stopped to help. Injuries are serious, but recovery is expected.
APRIL 23: Nancy and I made a couple of runs on the Dragon and found a lot of trash on the road from mowing of the banks. Lots of twigs, small limbs, and even a couple of smashed cans. Ride with caution until the debris is gone.
APRIL 21: BULLETIN Dragon regular Darryl "Killboy" was bit by the Dragon after 2 years of riding it. Luckily his injuries were not too serious (7 stitches on his shin). His bike survived.
APRIL 20: We didn't get out until late afternoon, but made the Cherohala / Dragon Loop finishing the Dragon in the dark - now that's a challenge!! We heard it was a big day with as many sports cars as cycles. Two cycle accident on the Cherhala at the state line, one rider transported (didn't sound life threatening). Weather held all day, looks like possible rain on Sunday - but we could miss it.
APRIL 19: We heard that one female suffered an injured shoulder in a bike accident on the Dragon.
APRIL 13: We had 6 great runs on the Dragon... just about had it to ourselves. Only a couple of dozen bikes and even fewer cars. The rain held off and conditions were perfect. One sport bike down at the state line ... no injuries except for the bike.
APRIL 10: With the weather finally breaking, we made 4 passes on the Dragon this afternoon. We found debris on the road from tree removal. Be careful near the "horns of the Dragon" which is about 4-1/2 miles in from Tabcat Bridge - see Dragon map .
APRIL 6-7: Saturday an RC51 slid off of Parson's Branch Bridge SEE PHOTO AT RIGHT. Rider stopped before going over. He is now know as "Scuba" and his bike is equiped with goggles and fins. Sunday, a couple of sportbikes went down, taking out a couple of "Motards" (dirtbikes with street tires) and Hollywood Chris Allen of Knoxville took a 150' dive off a steep bank bringing out the law and rescue squad. Chris was released from Blount Memorial Hospital April 19. Thanks to Darryl Cannon and Michael Buchanan for these updates. We did the Cherohala / Dragon Loop on Sunday and observed the most cycles on the road so far this year. The weather was a little chilly with highs reaching the low 60s.
APRIL 1: Of course the weather was perfect after a wet weekend... Ron and Nanc took the day to test the Mille and Falco on the dry roads and perfect conditions on the Dragon. We saw our good friend Darryl from killboy.com and a group of "coasties" but that was about it - we had the road to ourselves. And what a tough job it was test riding a brand new Mille and Falco. to read our story.
MARCH 30-31: The weekend looked bleak but we managed to salvage 2 hours of riding the Dragon on Saturday morning. Much of the road never dried out, but we still made some good runs. Together with SmokyMountainMansion.com we hosted 5 writers from various motorcycle publications. Aprilia graciously lent us a Mille, Falco, Capo Nord, and Futura to test ride for the weekend. We will be posting an extensive review of the cycles and weekend fun.
MARCH 24: Riders are coming sooner than ever and taking advantage of the early spring weather. More than a hundred bikers and dozens of sports cars were at the Dragon. A couple of sheriff cars greeted riders on the TN side, but all was well. Great riding and no accidents by the time we left at 4:30 pm.

IN MEMORY OF TOM SHAW A Dragon rider and friend who was killed March 26, 2002 in north Georgia while riding his Harley. We'll miss you Tom.

MARCH 23: A great day on the Dragon. Temps in the high 50s and very little traffic.We made 8 runs before heading home. Scrubbed in our new Metzeler M-1s and showed some new friends the road. Mandy, a writer from Atlanta, made 5 runs on the back of Ron's bike and found it to be her biggest thrill in years. Watch the Tail for her article about her experience. Also riding with us was Bill from Mountain Thunder Tours of WV (www.wvbiker.com) and Brad from Asphalt Surfer. We will be riding again on Sunday.
MARCH 17: Tail of the Dragon's latest tour was to NC Outerbanks for story and photos. Weather at the dragon on the 16th & 17th was mostly rain. We have been seeing a number of bikes in the area - probably on their way home from Bike Week.
FEBRUARY 28: Cold weather into the teens brought out the sand and salt trucks on US 129. Be very careful until the roadway has a chance to clear itself.
FEBRUARY 26, 2002 Latest on the trial of Rockford TN Police Officer who killed a motorcyclist in wreck in 2001. Thanks to hrlyrdr for the update: Story by Erin Hudson of The Daily Times Staff The case against the Rockford police sergeant charged with vehicular homicide has been postponed.

James Ray ``JR'' Johnson, 33, of Highway 72 in Maryville was charged with vehicular homicide in August. Following a grand jury indictment, he surrendered at the Blount County Jail on Aug. 29. He was released that same day on a $25,000 surety bond. Johnson was originally scheduled to go to trial Jan. 7 for allegedly swerving his police cruiser into a motorcycle driven by Philip ``Mickey'' Laton on Old Knoxville Highway on March 10, 2001. Laton, 27, of Knoxville, was killed instantly when his motorcycle hit a guard rail. Laton was on his way to begin his shift as a corrections officer at the Knox County Detention Center when the crash happened.

Blount County Assistant District Attorney John Bobo said some of the previous investigations are being done again prior to taking the case before a jury. He was not specific on what was being re-investigated. Johnson was scheduled to have pre-trial motions Monday, but the case was continued to 9 a.m. March 18 in front of Circuit Court Judge D. Kelly Thomas Jr., Bobo said. Johnson was not present in the courtroom Monday, but Rockford Police Chief Robert Simerly, Rockford Officer Bill Allen and Rockford Police Department Communications Director Dennis Faircloth, were present, he said.

When the accident was initially reported to Tennessee Highway Patrol State Trooper Ron McDonald, Johnson told him that Laton lost control of his motorcycle as he was attempting to pass Johnson's cruiser and struck the guardrail and then the cruiser. Witnesses came forward contradicting Johnson's story, and McDonald reviewed the tape from Johnson's cruiser, which allegedly backed the witnesses' statements. Johnson was placed on paid administrative leave with the Rockford Police Department once the investigation began. He remains on paid administrative leave.

FEBRUARY 25, 2002: Accident on US 129 south of Robbinsville. Here is the rider's account.
Well, Guys/Gals... My VFkR is history. On my way home from the "Dragon" Monday, some inattentive female in a pickup rear-ended me as the line of traffic in front of me was coming to a stop. She was doing about 60mph at impact, and I was nearly stopped. After fracturing my spine on her hood, I was launched into the tailgate of the pickup in front of me, which I grabbed hold to and held on till I was dragged to a stop.
With a quick glance behind me as I fell to the asphalt, I saw my bike underneath her truck in a pool of gas, antifreeze, and oil. After an ambulance and Life-Flight rides, I found myself in Asheville's Memorial Mission Hospital neurology wing with a crushed T12 vertebrae, and a large bruise to my left lower abdomen. Damn, it sure did hurt (got good drugs now though). I was discharged Thursday afternoon with a minimum 3 months in bed and a partial permanent disability.
The N.C. State Trooper that worked the crash came to the Hospital and told me I should be dead considering the severity of the crash, and that the woman does have insurance. Good thing for that, as Hospital bill has been estimated at $50k, not counting physical therapy. I hired a lawyer from the hospital bed.
I always say there are two kinds of bikers... those who have crashed, and those who are going to. I guess I was way over due for a crash, 36 years of riding without a serious injury. Maybe this will last me for another 36 years......
Guys, don't skimp on your safety equipment. I don't think anything I could have done would have prevented my back injury, but my leathers and quality helmet positively prevented additional serious injuries in this crash.
I have some post-crash pics of the bike if anybody wants to see them. Her front bumper crushed the gas tank on impact.... Ya'll be careful out there.
UPDATE MAY 24,2002: A much needed visit to the Dragon was had on Sunday 5/19/02 aboard my trusty old Sabre.
After nearly 12 weeks of recuperation (7 flat on my back), I'm finally able to throw a leg over my bike again. The Doc says my crushed T-12 vertebra has healed about all it's going to. Although it still hurts a lot now, I'm hoping for a pain-free recovery. He is keeping me supplied with the necessary "compounds" to alleviate the pain. I have to wear a TLSO spinal brace to work or ride, and it does fit under my leathers, but as the weather heats up, it's going to be unbearable. Anybody know of a good
deal on some perforated leathers (black and yellow, please)??

Beaver Koch
P.O Box 155
Mountain City, GA 30562
vfkrrider@yahoo.com
sabrev65@alltel.net
84'V65 Sabre (pickled till' June)
86' VFkR gone but not forgotten

IN MEMORY of Brooks age 27, who we met at the Overlook on Sept. 9, 2001. He was killed in a motorcycle accident near Canton, NC on February 12, 2002.

FEBRUARY 24, 2002 Nancy and I made 4 runs on the Dragon today with Wheeler and Lauralee. There were some 50 bikes and some 15 sportcars taking advantage of the 65 degree weather. We saw many regulars like Frank, Big Dick, and Doc. The trash from Thursday was gone and the road was in good shape except for Crud Corner. Watch for more regular updates as spring nears.
FEBRUARY 21, 2002 Made 4 passes on the Dragon Thurs and Crud Corner is still bad. The TDOT is also removing dead trees along the ROW and there is sawdust and twigs in the roadway. This was about 1.5 miles in from the TN/NC border. This will be underway for another few weeks so be careful. Workers told us that the Dragon will be repaved in the next few months. Looks like we might have a new, smoother surface for 2002. Sure wish they would repave the NC side!

JANUARY 31, 2002 We took the FZ1s to the Dragon today at about 3/4 speed. One really bad spot at Crud Corner about 1/2 mile into TN. This corner is very wet with lots of sand and gravel. The rest of the Dragon was fairly clear. Just remember, many roads still have lots of winter debris. Plans are now underway for our August "Lean on the Dragon" sport bike event to be held at Fontana Village. We'll start posting more often as the season draws near.