Caution this season while cruising the Dragon( Deal's Gap)

[wncbmw]

I received this via a local rider message board and although it is a little long it contains a warning for all riders wanting to ride the Dragon, i.e. Deals Gap in Western NC. Apparently there is a severe crackdown coming this riding season! (note - most of this famous road is in Tennessee!)

Just another reason for me to ride other roads and leave the Dragon to all the tourists on two wheels!

FYI

Posted by TNHP officer Cagle on his myspace page

"EVERYONE WHO GOES TO DEALS GAP------PLEASE READ THIS-----I'M TRYING TO HELP YOU ALL OUT"

posted by a State Trooper:

"Hey, just to give you a heads up for next season----we have a new captain in the knoxville district which covers blount county------ he has already told us that we will put a stop to the "race track driving" up on the dragon this year------so far what they have said is that the speed limit is 30mph and "ANYONE" caught going 50mph and up will be charged with reckless driving and will be jailed and their bike/car will be impounded--- --

I am telling you this because i am trying to put the word out to everyone i know----or to people who know people that go up there-----I don't want to have to take people to jail for this---however I have bills to pay and I kind of like having a job---so never the less I have to do what i am told to do-----so the way i see it is that if killboy.com knows and you know and dealsgap.com knows and whoever
elsecan find out can pass this along---it will benefit everybody--- -----feel free to copy and pass this to let everyone know-------if you get caught up there it is only your fault because i am trying to pass the word along for everybody's sake-----

we are not just going to come up from the bottom like in years past---they are gonna have us go through cherohala skwy in north
carolina and come from the top down to the bottom----so no more free rides on your way back to the state line----they are gonna bring unmarked cars with radio's and have unmarked bikes up there----this will be a joint effort with blount county and the THP-----The entire THP motor unit will be brought in 2 people at a time(for a week long assignment) to be paired up with the local car----

they plan on busting tail at least 3-4 times right off the bat---then they will sit back and see what takes place-----these orders came from Nashville Headquarters- --we have a complete brand new higher ranking structure from the very tip top spot down----they have said we will work until the problem is solved----just wanted to give you and your friends a heads up.......... SIGNED...

.......Trp Cagle with THP assigned to Blount County Division----

(don't come crying to me if you get busted----cause I'm telling you
now)"

Come visit this summer and I will show you some great roads nowhere near all these speed traps!

[DK]

Vann,

Some friends and I are taking a trip into NC the last week of June. We are staying at the Iron Horse Motorcycle Lodge and are planning a couple days riding in the area. We're open to any road suggestions you might have and you're certainly welcome to ride along as a guide!

Dwayne

[Beemeridian]

9876

[R4R&R]

If that's a real trooper posting on Myspace.com, then more power to him. The troopers are people too, and I'm sure there are quite a few that ride so he's probably trying to warn his fellow riders. Maybe it's a publicity hoax - who knows? I know the gap made a few TV news headlines so I'm sure they want to crack down on it. Either way, there will be riders that either don't get the message or choose to ignore it, thinking they won't get caught.

A few years ago while on a weekend trip out to Ocean City, Md., there were plenty of those big portable electric roadwork signs, you know - the ones that they can type in any message. There must've been about five in a row, one every couple miles warning about the 50 MPH speed limit (anxious drivers on the way to the beach would ignore the conservative speed limit), then we passed one stating "No excuses- You've been warned". Sure enough there were police up ahead shooting radar, with a bunch of cars pulled over.

Come visit this summer and I will show you some great roads nowhere near all these speed traps!

I'm still planning on attending the RA rally in Ashland, and I'm hoping to go on a guided tour of some of your secret roads.

[Ric]

Posted by TNHP officer Cagle on his myspace page

(don't come crying to me if you get busted----cause I'm telling you
now)"

Why would we come crying to him ?

This is the same every year. I go twice a year to the Gap; have been for years. They have a crack down about one weekend a month. If that happens on your weekend just drive in a sane manner.

Frankly I hate the publicity on TV and the owners of "Tail of the Dragon. com" going around the nation hawking the Gap so they can sell more T-shirts. I hope the cops scare a lot of people away.

[CycleRob]

What a buzzkill !
I transplanted myself here for retirement and found out I was only 105 miles (169km) and 3 hours from the Dragon.
Met the south east coast Beaksters (our guys) there a couple'a months ago for a ride and now the cops are taking their job seriously. I don't blame them. They get tired of taking dead or twisted squid bodies out of the ravines and woodlands. There was a serious off-road accident when we were there. The cops can't just keep looking the other way. Mid-week vigilent visits sounds like a good plan.

[wncbmw]

Dwayne - pm sent! I'd be glad to meet up with you guys.

John - Come on down! I'm looking forward to taking some of you guys on my backyard rides!

[socalrob]

I Live about a half mile from the bottom of Angeles Crest Highway (Cali. Route 2) in Los Angeles County. The Crest is a beautiful road with both 45 (in the lower stretch) & 55MPH (upper stretch) overall speed limits that include many curves down to 25mph. The road is dry, banked, & has just enough traffic to keep it pretty clean. Its 28 miles up to Nuecomb's Ranch, a great bike destination, on summer weekends normally find 150 or so bikes there at any one time.

In short, riding nirvana.

Unfortunately, several years ago 7 riders were killed in seperate accidents in one weekend. This, along with the daily (weekend) helo lifts of non fatalities to area hospitals, the authorities just had to notice. IIRC, there were about 30 rider fatalities per year, making this little stretch of road the most dangerous (or second, anyway, there is a similar road in San Diego Co.) in the state.

Huge enforcement came. Fatalities are down to a few per year. The Crest became sane, & thats about when I went out & bought a street bike. The "wild" period on the Crest was above my personal risk level. Even during the enforcement period it wasn't unknown to have a sport rider blow by me in triple digits in what I thought were sane 80mph sweepers.

Last year Officer Stout, the lead enforcement guy (I spotted him 6 days in a row once, the guy never stopped work) was actually run into an oncoming truck by 2 riders running a block for a runner. During my one ticket producing encounter with Stout in August '05 I found him to be a decent guy & avid rider, although no break was given for my 70 in a 55.

The riders that caused Stout a life threatening crash never stopped. Subhuman in my opinion.

He was off the Crest for at least 9 months, but I have heard he is back. I haven't riden the crest in maybe 6 months. Now that Stout's back, I figure its time to ride it again. Its actually more fun during dry periods during the winter when its empty anyway.

I guess my bottom line is, on a road like the Gap, I'd rather there be the threat of enforcement, otherwise, I figure an idiot rider will be my greatest danger.

[towerworker]

I rode the Gap last June and the large number of idiots there (most on two wheels) made me extremely nervous.

If you want to ride like a bat out of Hell------do it on a track.

I know its fun and exhilerating, but the risk of hurting someone else is not worth the rush.

[OU812]

Towerworker has it right. The track is the place to push your limits. I did and lived to say it was the best times of my life on a bike!

[wncbmw]

Like many here in this area, I bemoan what has happened to the Gap. It used to be a road only the locals and a few others knew about. Now it is a playgound for the testosterone junkies, the cruisers who can't ride and the car clubs with members who can't drive! Riders and cars routinely cross into your lane, some at high speed and now they 'go-fast' guys like to filter though your group, taking up your lane space in order to get around you.

I quit going years ago, except when visiting friends insist or I can catch the occational off-peak times. (Late fall, early spring works!) From now on, if someone insists on going, I will take them, park at the store and wait for them to come back!

What has happened to this road is the reason I follow the 'road-that-shall-not-be-named' policy on the internet. I will show you the road in person, maybe tell you in an email but not post on the board.

I have a buddy who belongs to both Suzuki and Duc groups who regularly come to visit and he has a 'no GPS' rule on his rides! I am not quite that paranoid yet!

[Biff's R]

Vann,
I like the no GPS Rule. It is another way to protect the innocent roads from being ravaged by too many people.

[wncbmw]

It is another way to protect the innocent roads from being ravaged by too many people.

Actually, my motivation is much more selfish than that!

[Samiam]

Vann,
I like the no GPS Rule..

What rule is this? I didn't see any mention of GPS. Did I just miss it? I read the post several times.

[Boxer]

What rule is this? I didn't see any mention of GPS. Did I just miss it? I read the post several times.

I have a buddy who belongs to both Suzuki and Duc groups who regularly come to visit and he has a 'no GPS' rule on his rides! I am not quite that paranoid yet!

[Boxer]

Just read this post from one of our BMWMOGA officers. He got it from the PelicanParts Mail List I believe.

"BULLETIN: We have received numerous emails concerning the recent posting on the Internet by a supposed Tennessee Highway Patrol Trooper warning of dire consequences on the Dragon this coming year for speeders. We do not post rumors on this site so we contacted Captain Ray Fletcher of the Knoxville Division Tennessee Highway Patrol. He confirmed as we had believed that some of the details in the post are completely false, such as the immediate arrest and impoundment of vehicles for speeding over 50 mph on the Dragon.

Captain Fletcher was not able to comment on whether or not the post was made by a Trooper, but some of the language, unusual statements and obvious errors as stated above make us believe the post was by someone other than who supposedly signed their name and position to it. Obviously a real Trooper would not jeopardize his job by signing such a post.

Captain Fletcher stated that the laws will be enforced on the Dragon as they are on all Tennessee roadways. Tail of the Dragon advises riders to obey the laws and they will have no trouble with the Tennessee Highway Patrol or Blount County Sheriff Deputies.


We will post relevant news as it occurs in the coming year. Watch for continuous updates."

[wncbmw]

Captain Fletcher . . . .advises riders to obey the laws and they will have no trouble with the Tennessee Highway Patrol or Blount County Sheriff Deputies.

Well, duh! As opposed to those LEO jurisdictions that give those who obey the law trouble!

Well, like all internet stuff, including this post , facts may not be as presented. I do know that there is periodic crackdowns on the road and the locals are sometimes resentful of the resources required to deal with the carnage.

So, if you want, go visit the Dragon and take your chances. My offer still stands to show some alternatives!

[Samiam]

DUH!! I was looking in the original post.

[Brownw3]

I knew this would be debunked. Yet another Internet rumour of the end of all things fun. Hit the Dragon, ride it like you stole it; have your medical coverage and insurance updated. I personally don't think its cool to treat a public road like a race course but I don't think my opinion is going to change anything on the dragon.

I'm sure a regime change at the police station would not create a single-handed change in state traffic enforcement. The road is narrow, winding and its hard to hide a police car. I'm not proud of this but in my younger days I've been stopped by the Tennessee Highway Patrol at warp 6 and there was no discussion of seizing my bike.

[NCPadgett]

Vann -
Won't be making the May trip to the mountains Too many military obligations so we are trying to plan a fall trip (before leaf-looker season). I did mark all the routes you and Boxer gave me and if they are the ones you are talking about, don't worry they are safe with me. Be safe. chris