Report: Tail of the Dragon

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Report: Tail of the Dragon
Blacksmith

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Report: Tail of the Dragon

Report Tail of the Dragon
Tree of shame

All hell breaks loose on the highway: The Tail of the Dragon is probably the most famous motorcycle road in the east of the USA. Some over-motivated or inexperienced drivers fall here. And immortalize their parts of the fall on the spot, on the “Tree of Shame”.

Thomas Schmieder

09/03/2015

The name alone sounds smoky and goes down like oil: the Great Smoky Mountains. They are a mountain range of the southern Appalachians, once the land of the Cherokee Indians. Wide, round mountain peaks and many waterfalls are rather untypical for the US southern states, almost reminiscent of the Black Forest. The highest peaks of this low mountain range tower up to over 2000 meters above sea level. The associated curves here magically attract motorcyclists as they follow the tempting, winding asphalt from Tennessee to North Carolina like moths to light.

One street here is particularly euphoric: Highway No. 129, better known as the Tail of the Dragon. The name fits, the kite’s tail has so many curves and hairpin bends, so many bends and inclines. It follows an old Indian trail and has 318 curves. So fold down and straighten up 318 times over a total of eleven miles, around 17.7 kilometers. So a lot of driving fun.

Regardless of whether you are a cool Harley owner or a purist naked biked rider, a prudent two-wheeler tourist or a hot-blooded super sports pilot: you will come to the asphalt rollercoaster in droves. Not to forget squads of Gold Wing gliders and completely over-the-top trikes.

Rigid speed limits, loads of overtaking bans

In terms of road technology, there are usually good drivable, often excessive curves. But some turns are really tricky, suddenly closing further than expected. Anyone who lacks routine or lean angle of his machine, possibly even both, ends up rudely in botany. To be taken literally, because the longest sections lead through beautiful forests, which, with their dazzling play of light and shadow, place high demands on eyesight and the sixth sense.

The Highway Patrol stands in highly armed radar patrol cars on many corners, threatening martial law – sheriffs who are wearing sunglasses and enforce law and order. That means: rigid speed limits, sometimes only 35 miles per hour (56 km / h), and loads of overtaking bans, signaled by double solid lines. Overtaking on short intermediate straights? Difficult. Fat US trucks, crazy sports car drivers and anxious pensioners also drive here in comparatively small cars. The full program.

Average speed almost at bike level

No wonder that here on sunny summer weekends the average speed drops almost to the level of a bicycle. The controls are tough, and the driving skills of those in front are sometimes excruciating. Nevertheless (or because of it?) There must have been moments of inexperience, in which someone apparently cranked it up too much and then lost control. Lots of devotional objects on the Tree of Shame, on the Tree of Shame, at the “Deals Gap Motorcycle Resort” (www.dealsgap.com), the hottest motorcycle meeting place within 500 miles, tell of this.

It is just before the border between the two states, still in North Carolina. Like overripe fruit, heaps of parts of the fall hang down from the bright green tree of driver knowledge: parts of the fall and driver equipment with severe battle marks after unsuccessful driving maneuvers: helmets and visors, side panels and windows, mirrors and clutch covers, handlebar halves and tanks, rims and exhausts. Everything broken, in two, with deep scratches, dents or grooves. That is why some people who have fallen to the ground have draped crutches or children’s tricycles …

Good quality photos for a fee

Most German Christmas trees do not have that much creativity when hanging. But in the USA, of course, “safety first” applies – large, bright yellow signs warn against “being hit by falling motorcycle parts”. So keep your distance or just approach “at own risk”. Then read warnings like that of a hapless GSX-R pilot: “Never try to follow the Repsol Honda!”.

Next door, in the well-attended motorcycle meeting place, it’s easy. The walls and ceilings are full of T-shirts signed by drivers from all over the world. Anyone who has returned home safely can see for themselves on the Internet whether the on-site action photographer “Killboy” (www.killboy.com) hit you well while conquering the dragon’s tail: The photos are all online, you can they can be downloaded in good quality for a fee.

Tree of Shame in Germany?

Maybe a tree of shame would also be a good idea in Germany? This kind of special recycling, from scrap to art, from disposable motorcycle items to live performance, could be a good idea for some German motorcycle meeting places on winding roads. After all, all religions know something comparable: to make sacrifices to appease God or gods. To ask for fertility and good harvests, assistance in times of war and rain in times of drought.

So why not these days for better adhesive tires or more experienced driving skills? “Every fall is a shame,” said “no brainer” Ernst Leverkus once as the moral and journalistic authority among Germany’s motorcyclists. A “tree of shame” at a German motorcycle meeting would correspond to the simple principle of confession: “I have sinned, but now I am sorry.” And everything is fine again, isn’t it?

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