Deals Gap Cruise

[cougar_fan]

Alright, the plan is as follows: UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE!!!

THE SET IN STONE DATE, TIME, AND MEETING PLACE ARE AS FOLLOWS: 9:00AM, APRIL 3, 2010 at FOOTHILLS MALL-Maryville, TN.
* WE WILL BE MEETING IN THE PARKING LOT STRAIGHT ACROSS FROM THE FIRESTONE ON THE NORTH END OF THE MALL. ADDRESS IS:
500 South Foothills Plaza Drive
Maryville, TN 37801*

ssrogers and I will be there before anyone hopefully, so keep your eyes peeled for a white XR7 and a black C6 Vette in that area. Firestones parking looked a little cramped for the potential amount of cars that could show, so we'll just use that as our landmark. Any comments or concerns post them up.I sincerely apologize for having to move the date one weekend forward.

The mall is located at the junction of TN 411 and TN 129, in Maryville, TN, as proposed by SuperXR7. This location was by far the best location, as it prevents back-tracking, and is located right beside the route we need to take in order to drive Deals Gap and the Skyway. The exact location in which we will meet at the mall will be posted shortly, however here is a link to the mall site and an address for the out of towners.

http://www.foothillsmall.com/shop/foothills.nsf/index (main page)
http://www.foothillsmall.com/shop/fo...panddirections (overhead map)

500 South Foothills Plaza Drive
Maryville, TN 37801
LOOK FOR THE FIRESTON - WE'LL BE STRAIGHT ACROSS FROM IT. SEE PAGE 7 FOR THE EXACT GPS LOCATION.

I would appreciate a PM from those who are planning to attend in order to compile a list of how many folks we have coming. PLEASE INCLUDE YOUR NAME AND PHONE NUMBER IN CASE WE HAVE TO CONTACT YOU OR YOU HAVE TO CONTACT ME IF YOU'RE RUNNING LATE. If you are an outside veiwer, please send an email to me direct at joshua.east931@gmail.com.

Guys, this is going to be a great time and I invite ALL ans ANY to attend. The more we have in attendance, the better we can represent this site and what we're all about! Lets not forget that we get to drive one of the greatest drives in the United States! I look forward to seeing each and everyone of of y'all in APRIL, and I will continue to post any updates and answer any questions that may be posted.

[machausta]

IN. I took my silver '90 through there all the time...of course, I lived in Maryville at the time.

[cougar_fan]

Well, make a trip up in the spring and we will do it again. I really want to get something going for a cruise.

[machausta]

I think it would be pretty awesome to get a cruise going.

[midnite93]

Sounds like a great idea... I'd love to go.. I'm going to subscribe to this, so I can keep an eye on the progress..

[cougar_fan]

Like I said this isn't anything formal. I just want it to be a nice get together for mn12 people who like to drive their cars. And what better way to cruise than through the gap! Lets get this rolling. I know spring is ways away but this could potentially be a really good time!

[BLOWN38]

I would like to go down there once in my life. When I had a bike I thought about it alot, but never made it down there.

If you get this going hopefully I can make the date.

[machausta]

Originally Posted by BLOWN38

I would like to go down there once in my life. When I had a bike I thought about it alot, but never made it down there.

If you get this going hopefully I can make the date.

Its every bit as good as described. Go already!

[AnthraxBird]

Just watch out for this guy:

Fast forward to: 0:27

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57JwGSD8h-w

[White Lightning]

I am interested, last time I was down there it was in my F250 and I still got pictures taken by Killboy.com and they were great (tires rolling under as I went around the curve). I was there camping for a week and the roads are great, as is the area. Also a good spot to hit is Floyd Garrett's Muscle Car Museum up in Sevierville, that itself takes me half a day to view.

Scott

[BLOWN38]

Originally Posted by AnthraxBird

Just watch out for this guy:

Fast forward to: 0:27

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57JwGSD8h-w

LOL. Funny but not for the rider. "F'in idiot.... why would he do that"LOL.

I heard the cops hang out in the woods with radar and radio down to the end to pull you over.

[Trunk Monkey]

Oh, I'm definitely down for this. The only problem is my screwy schedule.

Anyway, I'm subscribed. Oh, and don't forget the Cherohala Skyway. This road looks like it would be more fun to drive with a car. I always thought of the tail as a road for bikers.

I recently bought the GoPro Hero HD Motorsports camera and need an excuse to shoot some video with it. This would be a great occasion for that.

There are a lot of problems with rock slides up in that area right now but they should be taken care of by spring.

Originally Posted by BLOWN38

...

I heard the cops hang out in the woods with radar and radio down to the end to pull you over.

Oh no, they don't hid in the woods (there's really no places to do that) they sit out in the open and harass the drivers. The worst case of this was in July and August of 2007 and the offenders were on the Tennessee side of the tail.

See this link for all the details. I think after this fiasco the LEO's backed down and it's nothing like that now however, prudence is always rule rather than the exception when driving the Tail or any of the great mountain roads.

[ThunderChecken]

Originally Posted by midnite93

Sounds like a great idea... I'd love to go.. I'm going to subscribe to this, so I can keep an eye on the progress..

Hmm I will be moving to NC during that time frame , but if the time is right that would be some FUN, Subscribing as well

[AnthraxBird]

Originally Posted by BLOWN38

LOL. Funny but not for the rider. "F'in idiot.... why would he do that"LOL.

I heard the cops hang out in the woods with radar and radio down to the end to pull you over.

In the video, listen to the guy in the truck.. "they're gonna kick our A**es" haha

[cougar_fan]

I literally live 45 minutes from the gap. I am open to the dates that would work for YOU guys. As long as it is a weekend and is warm (no ice or winter weather), I am open. Like Trunk Monkey said, the whole loop would do it for me, and that is what i was hoping to do, but just the gap would be a heck of a day. SO LET ME KNOW DATES THAT WORK FOR YOUR SCHEDULES AND MAYBE WE CAN MATCH UP A DATE THAT WAY EVERYBODY CAN BE AVAILABLE AND ABLE TO COME! I really want to do this y'all,but I sure as heck don't want to do it alone! Think about how neat it would be to have a large group of us lined up rolling down the interstate, then tearing through some curves! LET ME KNOW YOUR IDEAL DATES!

[AndyR]

i was just there a couple months ago. it was my 3rd or 4th visit.
the cops had gotten really bad for a while due to people getting themselves killed, but while I was there I didn't see many. I think people finally complained about them hasseling folk enough and driving the tourism away that they slacked off. However, as long as you don't speed and stay on your side of the road they won't bother you.
and Ron, it's not just a biker road true, there's more bikes than cars but there's all kinds of cars showin up there all the time.
I took the turbocoupe up there a couple years ago and had a blast. ...lucky i didn't go to jail.

[cougar_fan]

Well AndyR, plan to make another run in the TC. When would be a good date for you?

[XR7X2]

There seems to be a lot of guys interested in this so it will be very hard to get a date that is good with everyone. I would suggest picking a date and people will be able to adjust their schedules if possible to make it. If for some reason a bunch of people just can't make the date you pick then it can be changed. We probably would need to do some research to not have it on a weekend when there is an organized motorcycle ride, seems like I hear about things like that every so often.
Anyhow, count me in.

[cougar_fan]

I agree XR7X2. Let me work on that and I will post a tentative date.

[cougar_fan]

By the way, does anyone in here know who the TN chapter director is? I'd like some help getting the word out to others who may not see this thread or site, and of course organization. Heck, if anybody in here wants to step up to the plate with me, lets knock this thing out and CRUISE!

[cougar_fan]

Alright, here we go y'all.
I found this master list of all the events that are currently registered to run the Gap/Skyway.

The list is at this link. http://www.tailofthedragon.com/calendar.html

We will be going in April, and it will be getting into the early Spring weather during the early part of the month.

AS OF NOW, I AM SCHEDULING OR CRUISE FOR APRIL 3, 2010. I WILL WORK ON THE MEETING PLACE WITHIN THE NEXT FEW DAYS. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF THIS DATE WORKS FOR YOU! I HAVE THE FLEXIBILITY TO MOVE IT BACK ONE WEEKEND IF NECESSARAY.

[XR7X2]

Nice job, I'll mark it on my calender, when I get one for next year. Weather should be warming up nicely by then. I'll post a link to this in the Southeast forum on SCCOA.

[BLOWN38]

Sounds like a good date to me. Or the first weekend in april too.

[cougar_fan]

Originally Posted by XR7X2

Nice job, I'll mark it on my calender, when I get one for next year. Weather should be warming up nicely by then. I'll post a link to this in the Southeast forum on SCCOA.

Thanks XR7X2, I APPRECIATE YOU GETTING THE WORD OUT TO THOSE GUYS TOO! The more cars that show the better this could be. trust me, this is going to be an awesome cruise for us! I sent an email to the gentleman in charge of the calender for Deal's Gap and we should be posted soon. Anyone else who is planning to come please post to the thread or send me a PM. I'm trying to compile a list of who is coming. THANKS FOR ALL THE SUPPORT!

[SuperXR7]

Done the dragon many times but never in the Cougar. Count me in.

Mike

[AndyR]

just for kicks

[Trunk Monkey]

Originally Posted by SuperXR7

Done the dragon many times but never in the Cougar. Count me in.

Mike

I've done the Parkway but never the Dragon. I really wish I could make this meet but unless hell freezes over any time between February and the end of May I'm going to be really busy with work and unavailable.

Here are some of my pix from my Blue Ridge Parkway cruise. I really enjoy driving the mountain roads of NC.

Best wishes for a great get together! March will be here before we know it.

[cougar_fan]

Trunk Monkey, its only work

[cougar_fan]

Alright, the next order of business is coming to agreement on a meeting place. Anybody who has any sugestions feel free to post.

[SuperXR7]

From the TN side we could meet at the intersection of TN 411 and TN 129. From there run along the river until we get to the dragan, go thru the dragon and stop at Deals gap; from there to Robbinsville, NC (lunch here) and onto the Cherohala Skyway. This is a wicked nice ride and would take pretty much of the day.

Mike