Tail of the Dragon

[[ion] C2]

Short video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4BC88CmwR8

Pictures from the Dragon and Cherohala Skyway in Tennessee and North Carolina.

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs157.snc4/37197_473755260801_635770801_6902606_5620485_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs136.ash2/40148_473756645801_635770801_6902633_7416073_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs054.ash2/36083_473756930801_635770801_6902643_2596413_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs746.snc4/64650_473758130801_635770801_6902667_6438237_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs720.snc4/64074_473758755801_635770801_6902681_189912_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs407.snc4/47021_474114195801_635770801_6909792_4537333_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs385.ash2/66369_474140845801_635770801_6910346_8362244_n.jpg

Various professional photographers were all over, here's a few that are online already from one company:

http://ion-productions.com/dragonPhotos/1.jpg

http://ion-productions.com/dragonPhotos/2.jpg

http://ion-productions.com/dragonPhotos/3.jpg

http://ion-productions.com/dragonPhotos/4.jpg

http://ion-productions.com/dragonPhotos/5.jpg

http://ion-productions.com/dragonPhotos/6.jpg

http://ion-productions.com/dragonPhotos/7.jpg

[AlbinoMonkeyRat]

k I missed something...where's your bumper cover? err...where's your bumper? lol (bumper I see is to fit the FMIC)

[[ion] C2]

I took it off for a while because my friend was/is going to fiberglass it to be like this:
http://ion-productions.com/bigMouth2.jpg

Rear will be smoothed without holes, same with side skirts.

[alero_bmxer]

C2;559555']I took it off for a while because my friend was/is going to fiberglass it to be like this:
http://ion-productions.com/bigMouth2.jpg

Rear will be smoothed without holes, same with side skirts.

your not worried about road debris hitting your intercooler?

[jabartram]

you need to work on that body roll, besides that looks like a fantastic test of suspension. is it a sanctioned event?

[[ion] C2]

your not worried about road debris hitting your intercooler?
No, they're cheap. Do you have a screen over your radiator? That's more important and no one does that. It has a few little dings in some of the fins, but who cares..
you need to work on that body roll, besides that looks like a fantastic test of suspension. is it a sanctioned event?
Public road, regular driving. Sway bar wasn't made in time, just had front and rear strut bars and boxed/welded trailing arms. Car was stiff, suspension wasn't.

[robalero]

ok I have to ask, what suspension drop are you using and size of rims? because I love the no gap in the wheel wells. btw the car looks good right now can't wait till the front bumper is on

[Alerojester]

X2 Ion

[[ion] C2]

Stock, that's body roll lol. I like how it looks lowered from certain angles as I went around the corners.

[robalero]

holy sheehs thats the body roll! yea you deff need that fixed lol.

what size is the rims?

[alero_bmxer]

haha i like how the passenger is hanging on like holy shit slow down

[-Alero-]

ah yes the dragon....been there many times only on the bikenever in the alero, when and why were you in TN?

[[ion] C2]

Thurs/Fri/Sat, and because I wanted to drive the Dragon and Skyway.

[Vic28]

So sick... just wish it didnt have a bodykit :(

what kinds of brakes you got tho?? seems like alot of down hills.

[[ion] C2]

R1Concepts drill/slot rotors, APEX kevlar pads, DOT 5.1 fluid.

[Malibu369258]

Looks like fun. Ion since you drove with the pretty much stock suspension, you will be amazed if you ever get Eibach's on that thing.

My car handled so much better in the mountains after i had them installed...

[[ion] C2]

Struts are more important. KYB AGX + Eibach springs when I get a chance. Lately I've been handling engine stuff.

[Alerojester]

Well Ion your car is still very sexy...

[-Alero-]

lol did you like all the cops up there? i remember last time i was there got a ticket for 78 in a 30.......sigh

[[ion] C2]

78 is a little edgy on that road. Yeah there were a lot of sheriffs. I was doing 38-40ish and ended up skidding around a turn and near-missing a bike... now the entire group that I drove with is bashing me hardcore on that forum.

[-Alero-]

C2;559689']78 is a little edgy on that road. Yeah there were a lot of sheriffs. I was doing 38-40ish and ended up skidding around a turn and near-missing a bike... now the entire group that I drove with is bashing me hardcore on that forum.

oh shit, bashing you for sliding out of the lane?


all my friends i know who drove their car through 129 really just kind of play it safe and dont really push thier cars, just kinda take it easy and sometimes get frisky in the turns they know (Z, miata, SRT4, S2k, ITR, CTR, EK, EG)


that place is pretty serious, i mean people die up there every year..... its really a place where your driving for your life if your not careful.


even when i rode my bike up there, i was in even more danger because of cars creeping out of their lane, especially longer cars.


it was actually a nightmare when semi trucks came through


300+ turns in 11 miles......got to be careful unless your car is serious business for that kind of terrain.

[[ion] C2]

Yep. Huge piss-fest over there. I took all the roads around there nice and comfortably, but when I joined the group of cars I went at their pace and I found out the rear end kicks out with this amount of body roll and hitting a bump around a turn. I countersteered and regained control as quickly as physically possible and got back to my lane but a bike was coming around the corner so we both shat bricks upon seeing each other.

The bike turned around and came back for me, followed for a long way and then gave me the finger-across-throat signal that he wanted to kill me.

[-Alero-]

yeah thats why the cops are there lol, to help regulate the frisky people, so accidents dont occur.

to be honest if i went with my alero (in good running shape), i wouldnt even try to keep pace with anyone, or even "try" to drive it hardand just drive as relaxed as possible and only go for the pictures. i feel the alero needs extensive work to handle in those types of situations.

i bet you were doing more work than actually enjoying the road, you need a machine like this to have fun ;)

[[ion] C2]

Indeed, I want a bike.

I saw bicyclists on it the last day I drove.... wtf

[-Alero-]

yeah, i kinda came to the conclusion if you want to go fast, get the fastest thing designed to go fast.

and there alero is just for show with a tad of go really. i couldnt handle the turbo headaches you have :(

[tnalero99]

You suck Chris. I told you I could join up with you and run with you guys, not that for from me. I have family in the area with plenty of rooms to stay in. Better keep me in mind next time you make that trip.

[JoshGentry]

Wow, I've been there before and had no idea it was that big of an attraction. I didnt even know it had a name. lol. Looks fun.

[whiteliquid]

Nice to see you still have a nice, clean, functional car.