mini mover.. was out drinking with R FLOCK last night for 41 anv of the double door blues club in downtown charlottle..   talking about living on the EDGE. who needs the dragon.. when you know folks like the FLOCKS!!. you meet them at the NASCAR race that time  at CMS..  I would have liked to take the ride.on the dragon with the late TIM FLOCK and his monkey.. driving..

Trucks/semis just don't belong.

Ignore the over-dramatization but this vid should give an idea about trucks on the Dragon to those who haven't been there.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=K16YnmJN0fc

With a little creativity I have just made the first one work.  I will send you some pics when the install is complete.

That's a great history with a lovely part of the country esmith!  I can see why you've waited all these months for that custom made (wrong again as it turned out...so sorry!) sway-bar!  Have you tried checking with this crowd to see if anyone here can point you to an NOS bar that might be hanging in someone's rafters?  I know I have a few from my GTO, K5, a WS6 Trans-Am, even an old paperweight (pretty big paper) from Mini Mania that fit who-knows-what!

I know it's pulling the topic sideways, but anyone have an old rear sway bar for a Hydro S like esmith's? We've been trying to resurrect an old part number for months, and we're O for 2! It's from the last millennium like most of us... and our cars!

Living in Knoxville with grandparents in Robinsville, 129 was at least an every other weekend trip. This was long before it was " discovered". I have puked on most every curve as the view from the back seat of an un-air-conditioned car was most unpleasant. My dad helped pave sections of the road in his younger years so we have a serious love hate relationship with this ground. When I got my drivers license this was part of my training ground. With little to no traffic this got to be a blast drive. This is still some what of a regular trip for me, however only during the week days. When I started road racing curves were not new to me. For a time I sent trucks across 129, but this was long ago and with a 32 ft trailer. I now just pull off where I can and let the fools go by.

A seedy Biker Motel, cheesey souvenier store and gas bar-

I wouldn't get caught dead in that motel , even with Angel Jolie, (with Brad Pitt , peeking in the window)

And as far as petrol, sales only to Bikers not cars as Bikes can only hold a small capacity in their tanks, so fill up before you head for the dragon

And for Gods sake, keep your wheels off that double YELLOW line, massive fines if you get caught-

BIG AL

Living near the Gap, I have to say that the road is not fit for semis.  There's many riders and drivers who aren't fit for that road either....  I don't think squids, grandmas, and the dorifto crowd would obey any bans on their use of a road, certainly not as well as truckers who can't afford a ticket.

I would definitely recommend the road as a bucket list item.  However, on a summer Saturday afternoon, it could be the final bucket list item.  You may meet a high speed maniac coming the other way, or you may just die of boredom stuck behind a nonagerian in a Mercury Marquis...

thrill seekers.. living on the edge.. my kind of thread.. hehe

Big trucks just don't fit.

Me? I wouldn't drive on that stretch of road. Too big a chance that some idiot comes into a corner too hot and uses your lane for the apex. (makes for a bad day)

Yes, our society likes to place the blame where a lawyer can convince a jury.... sniff, sniff, the evil trucking company insurance MUST be to blame!!   My client was just sliding across the road when his motorcycle fell over.... if only that big bad truck wasn't coming the other way... sniff, sniff...

BUT.... I hate getting stuck behind a semi too! 

Another blame the victim story. The real problem is probably the yahoo thrill seekers in cars and motorcycles getting out of control and sliding into trucks coming the other way.

https://news.tn.gov/node/13281

Truck Restrictions on “The Dragon” in Blount County; Limits for commercial vehicles longer than 30 feet on US 129 (SR 115)

Tuesday, December 02, 2014 | 10:45 am

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Following the completion of an operational and safety review, the Tennessee Department of Transportation has determined that vehicles over 30 feet in length will no longer be allowed to utilize a mountainous section of US 129 (SR 115) in Blount County, known as “The Dragon.”

From 2010 to 2012, there were 204 total crashes from the Tennessee/North Carolina State Line to Tabcat Bridge (Log Mile 11.19) in Blount County, with six of those involving fatalities. This is considered a critical number of crashes based on the type of road and number of vehicles per day on this facility. While only one of the fatal crashes involved a tractor trailer, there were a number of incidents involving large trucks. Due to the curvy and narrow roadway, incidents involving tractor trailers usually block the highway for several hours and prevent travel for all motorists.

Signage detailing these restrictions will be installed in mid-January. TDOT has coordinated these efforts with the Tennessee Highway Patrol and Blount County law enforcement.

North Carolina has similar restrictions for truck traffic on US 129 from the Tennessee/North Carolina State Line to the Graham (NC) County Line.

For travel and TDOT construction information, visit the TDOT SmartWay web site at www.tn.gov/tdot/tdotsmartway/. Motorists are reminded to use all motorist information tools responsibly.  Drivers should refrain from texting, tweeting or using a mobile phone while operating a vehicle. 

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Disregard the story on the crushed mini, old news, check out the story on commercial trucks being banned on Route 129, Deals Gap, aka The Dragon-

I have run it 3 times in 3 different minis,

1st/ 998cc mini clubman estate, drum brakes, just scary-

2nd/ 1380cc mini clubman estate, disc brakes- interesting drive-/full control

3rd/1380cc mini cabriolet, swiftune engine, oversized disc brakes ,coil overs, a real pleasure-

Great scenery although you are concentrating so hard on the next twist coming at you, you can't appreciate it-

This is a must (Bucket List) for anyone who owns a classic mini-

BIG AL