Dragon claims life: Man falls over 80-foot cliff to death

jhonda41 · 08-04-2007, 10:29 PM

Sad news out of Tennessee.

ConqSoft · 08-04-2007, 10:42 PM

That was back in July.

Interesting observation from Tail of the Dragon at Deals Gap and Cherohala Skyway, Graham Co, NC

Quote:

An Open Letter to the People, Businesses, Governor, Law Enforcement Agencies, Governmental Officials of Tennessee, and All Those Who Come to the Tail of the Dragon:

A lot of attention has been addressed to the Tail of the Dragon recently. This short stretch of US 129 in Tennessee is one of the most thrilling roads in the America if not the entire world. With 318 curves in 11 miles it attracts motorcycle riders, bicyclists and sports car enthusiasts from every corner of the globe.

Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen recently allocated funds to increase law enforcement patrolling this highway. The justification is apparently to reduce the serious accidents and deaths in this small section of Federal Highway which spans four states. We don’t know the details of these allocations, but feel that some sense of reasonableness needs to be addressed.

There were no deaths on the 11 miles of the Dragon in the eleven months preceding the Governor’s stepped-up enforcement, from August 2006 to July 1, 2007. Since the increase in state spending which began July 1 there have been three deaths. In this period we have noted at least one Blount County Sheriff Officer on the roadway during weekdays and on the weekends some four Blount County cars, a motorcycle deputy, and one or two Tennessee Highway Patrol vehicles present.

We are not saying that these three deaths are a direct result of the increased patrols, but we do believe that no matter what the State of Tennessee does in the way of enforcement, it will not reduce the number of accidents or deaths on this highway. Dying is a part of living and we all take our chances in everything we do. People are seriously injured and even die at Disney World and Dollywood. There are more motorcycle deaths on other roads of Blount County each year than there are on the Dragon. We are more concerned when we ride our motorcycles along Alcoa Highway, a short stretch of US 129 four-lane south of Knoxville.

Last week there were two Tennessee Highway Patrol Troopers standing next to their well marked patrol cars, arms crossed, glaring at passing motorists, under the Welcome to Tennessee sign. These troopers had an expression of anything but a welcome. Another half mile into the state were three Blount County Sheriff’s Deputies with similar glares and a radar gun pointed at every passing vehicle.

When taking steps to increase enforcement it is important to consider how the general public views these actions. Tail of the Dragon has suggested for years an approach that welcomes the law abiding rider/driver and is harsh with those who violate the law. One or two patrol cars on the move is a great deterrent to speeders. This would also be a much more effective use of state funds and not have a strong-arm appearance.

Be aware that thousands of tourists from all over the country and world travel to the Tail of the Dragon each week. Many of these people spend a lot of money in Tennessee staying in motels, buying fuel and food, and attending other attractions in the state. The tourism dollar is not spent just at the Dragon itself. The entire state benefits. The appearance and actions of the law enforcement agencies at the Dragon have left many tourists wondering if they should return.

If the State of Tennessee would like post a response to the tourists who come to the Dragon just let us know. We will publish any statement by the Governor’s Office on our website. With some 1.5 million unique hits a year we should be able to spread the word that visitors are welcome or not welcome. The State of North Carolina has many great roads with businesses that would just love to have some of these tourism dollars.

Sincerely,
Tail of the Dragon

jhonda41 · 08-04-2007, 11:22 PM

yessir... i should have specified semi-old news but the date seemed obvious.

I found out about it through another forum.... regardless of the time they happened, all motorcycle deaths bother me to some extent.

I've never been there personally but do you think the increased enforcement causes some motorcyclists to push the envelope in certain areas as opposed to spreading out the speed over the entire route??

I wonder if there is another particular reason or just coincidence.

-jh

ConqSoft · 08-05-2007, 10:08 AM

Update

Belch · 08-05-2007, 11:03 AM

A buddie & I have been talking about coming to the Dragon, I think this thread just helped make our decision.

HCCAFan · 08-05-2007, 11:24 AM

Yep, saved me a ride.

ConqSoft · 08-05-2007, 11:27 AM

HWY28 is better anyway.

*Fastrr* · 08-05-2007, 6:23 PM

It sounds as if the guy on the black Yamaha who went over the cliff was an inexperienced rider who probably should not have been there in the first place. I am sorry he died and sorry for his survivors.

If you make the front end of a bike low side at low speed in a corner.. either there is sand or oil on the road or inexperience at hand.

Tennessee shouldn't be harrassing motorists either. usually 10 mph over won't get you a ticket anywhere i ride, but it is illegal. The radar cameras on Arizona Freeways are set to photo ticket at 11mph over the posted limit.

07Repsol · 08-19-2007, 9:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ConqSoft

Update

Unbelieveable!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Tennessee State Patol all sound like a bunch of unprofessional dickheads.

I'm sorry, but after reading this I'm really disliking the police...again. I don't give a crap how much they say they do for us. Like the old saying goes, a few bad apples spoil the bunch. In other words it only takes a few bad officers to make people hate all the police. Human nature.

ConqSoft · 08-19-2007, 10:07 PM

I've been there many, many, times over the years, including recently and have never even been looked at funny by the police.

If you are riding a legal bike, and don't break the law, you'll be fine.

The police are just doing what the local residents want them to do, which is control all the dumbasses that flock to the area.

sheepofblue · 08-19-2007, 10:20 PM

Not sure on the 'what the locals want' It is the governor and state police performing the dragnet which makes them less accountable to the local populace. Also when I was up north of there and got snagged in one of their dragnets (no I did not get a ticket) the locals did not look to happy. Further hearsay from one of the officers was that more CARS got tickets than bikes. I bet the locals love that

As a neighbor of TN I was always happy to go there and supportive of the state. However I plan on reducing my financial contacts there

Yes it will not break them but in addition to the gas, snacks and dining I do while I ride I have also bought a truck and my BIKE there. Until TN changes I suggest people spend there money in other southern states that treat guests fairly.

ConqSoft · 08-19-2007, 10:41 PM

Locals, meaning the residents in the area that have to deal with all the squids. Squids on the Dragon come on 2, 3, 4, and more wheels.

The same thing is going to happen on the NC side (Hwy 28 for example) if everyone starts migrating there...

jhonda41 · 08-23-2007, 8:54 PM

A few guys I ride with are heading down there early next month. They say the surrounding areas have enough good roads for the police presence not to be a deterrent. I'd like to ride the gap at least once before these alleged speed bumps are installed.

Conq.... where was your avatar taken?

-jh

*Fastrr* · 08-23-2007, 9:00 PM

Conqsoft, that is one thing I am beggining to like more about where i live. The Police no longer just harrass sportbike riders for the hell of it. They are pretty much looking for any person or vehicle not obeying the law, here in Phx anyway,

Lone Wolff · 08-26-2007, 8:39 PM

So what's the incentive to ride this stretch of Hwy in the first place? The curves? Speed limit of 30mph? WTF?

I can safely say there's no way I'm going to travel over 1200 miles just to drive my bike on a 30mph road. Scenic or not.

I've never been there, so this is an honest question...Aside from the scenery, what's the draw? How'd it get this big reputation? How much fun is it to be stuck behind a cager for 11 miles, with or without law enforcement present?

I just don't get it. Could someone enlighten me. Did the speed limits used to be normal?

ROCKSTAR · 08-28-2007, 1:05 PM

I just got back from there this weekend and it is an awesome place and defiantly worth the trip. The thing is that you must remember is to ride in your comfort zone and not above your head. When faster riders come up behind you just let them pass. But there are better roads to ride. I think 28 is by fare better than the dragon but the point is there are tons of roads over there to ride not just the dragon.

LITEITUP · 09-07-2007, 5:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lone Wolff

So what's the incentive to ride this stretch of Hwy in the first place? The curves? Speed limit of 30mph? WTF?

I can safely say there's no way I'm going to travel over 1200 miles just to drive my bike on a 30mph road. Scenic or not.

I've never been there, so this is an honest question...Aside from the scenery, what's the draw? How'd it get this big reputation? How much fun is it to be stuck behind a cager for 11 miles, with or without law enforcement present?

I just don't get it. Could someone enlighten me. Did the speed limits used to be normal?

Well its a blast. All the turns is what draws everyone and the fact that its simple popular. The Dragon isnt the only nice road down there. Cherohala Skyway is my favorite actually. If the Dragon wasnt so busy.....

Search around youtube for the dragon and police and youll find that cops down there target bikers directly and give them **** for no reason whatsoever.

Quick short story about my trip there and friends. We were on the Skyway, started to get dark, so we start to head back to the cabin. Well Im faster than them so Im up front then a friend a little ways behind me. My other friend was a ways back and decides to turn on a different road than we came. So me and number 2 wait for him, never comes. We turn around go all the way up to 5000 feet, no sight of him. So naturally my blood starts pumpin thinkin he went off a cliff. Scared shitless. So we see a cop, stop and tell him blahblahblah, he says "yeah that stuff happens up here" Im like WTF!! We tell you a friend might be dead over a cliff and you say it happens? Im fukin flamin by this time. So we start to head back to the cabin, stop at the Gap store and ask some people if they seen our friend on this bike blahblah. They say no. FUK! Its pure darkness by now. RODE THE DRAGON AT NIGHT! That was frickin nuts! Plus the adrenaline from thinking our friend was dead. So we end up at the cabin and what do you know, he walks out on the porch and says "where you guys been?" thinking nothing of what we were going through. O damn did he get bitched out....

Burntslapup · 10-01-2007, 11:17 PM

I've been there 3 times and loved it everytime... twice on a sportbike and once on a road king... I can see and saw why the police are out in force at Deals gap. My last trip was on the HD (the ninja had a bad tire) and has riding along minding my own when a black R6 passed me in the other lane in a blind curve STUPID!!!! that's when the police need to be around and did show up later... ne ways I admit the guy could ride and was laid over in the curves but he didn't last very long before tossing the bike down the mountain. He's lucky he didnt get hurt other then a twisted ankle and busted up bike... I beleave the police need to be seen on the Dragon, if nothing more then to let idoits know they cant act STUPID, and seeing a cop tends to slow ppl down and make them think (exp "If I do a wheelie here or pass in the wrong lane I might get caught or worse")... I'm not saying riders should run 30mph and dragging a knee on the Dragon is a blast, but be smart when riding and dont be stupid...