2024 Fall Dragon Run & Chattanooga Motor Festival!

[Klasse Act]

I've been going to the Dragon every year since 2003, missing last year due to my buddy's work schedule as well as nobody else could go, plus I spent my saved money on perf parts for my EN, as you guys know that didn't quite work out entirely

This years run, according to my cars recorder, netted these numbers:

-1,940 miles
-33.5 mpg
-35 hrs

Now the mpgs aren't the most accurate, that 33.5 mpg was for the entire trip but during the first 3 freeway legs of the highway runs I got calculator numbers of 36.4, 35.5 & 37.4 mpg, the final leg got accidently erased but the number would've been similar

The 1,940 miles was done driving on Wed, Thursday, Friday & Sunday, the EN sat all day on Saturday, so almost 500 miles a day on average

I took the longer way to get there to avoid truck traffic that comes in and out of Indiana and Illinois but faster way home, next time I'll be taking the longer way to AND from, it's just a better drive

As I'm about to post pics/comments please let me finish the thread before commenting, I've got alot of pics and comments to make, this way there's a continuous flow, afterwards HAVE AT IT

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[Klasse Act]

The first pic is my first stop at a rest stop in Illinois, car still looking pretty good!

In a flash I'm there, Dragon City, Maryville TN!

The room is very nice and has everything you need. This concludes Wednesday

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[Klasse Act]

Thursday had me out from 7:40 a.m. till almost 7:40 p.m. 12 hrs of driving!

I took route 72 to 411 to 360 and on into Tellico Plaines for breakfast and fuel. I stopped at this bakery in downtown Tellico Plaines for a great start to my day, always fresh and always good!!

After filling up the tanks I head out, first stop is The Cherahola Skyway...and a notification on my phone

There's a number of places along the way to stop and take pics, the view NEVER gets old

As you drive up the Skyway, crossing into North Carolina the elevation goes from 3K to 5K and higher, over a mile high, here's the highest point on the Cherahola Skyway

Next stop...route 129 aka The Dragon

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[Klasse Act]

Luckily I didn't need gas because this station in Robinsville, right at the end of the Skyway and 129, was CLOSED️

I made my way to Killboy's shop, as well as Deal's Gap, right at 129 & route 28 aka Moonshiners. Here you get gifts, gas, food and take a break to mix and mingle with other enthusiasts. Met a couple from Chicagoland with an 89' GTR and well tuned FiST

Coming up...MORE

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[Klasse Act]

Next stop...Fontana Dam, largest Dam E of the Mississippi River! It's over 480' high and sadly the observation deck was closed, this really let's you know how high up you REALLY are

There's car people everywhere, here's a couple people I met. A 400whp MS3 and an entire family from Ohio in their Nissan Stagea

Stay "tuned"....

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[Klasse Act]

At this point I decided to head to Bridal Veil Falls, a must see on this trip. It was about a 65 mile drive but remember...it's all in the mountains

The road getting there, route 28 aka Moonshiners, is a great drive and very narrow at some points but the reward is what you see here

At this point it was time to head back to where I wad staying, as well as get dinner. I always stop at Poncho's at least once, a GREAT Mexican restaurant in Maryville TN. I stopped along the way though....

Thursday was a busy day, time to get some rest, pack up the EN and do some more touring before heading to my buddy's place in Decatur TN

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[Klasse Act]

Awaking Friday I noticed a new car at Dragon City, I left early so no time to chat with the competition.

I've never been on the Dragon early in the morning, so I was out the door by 7:30 a.m. I had the road to myself, drove at a brisk enough pace to get my oil temps up to 235 degrees!

I got to Deal's Gap right when they opened and paid for some premium, at $4.75 a gallon it sure was PREMIUM

I then headed back the way I came, got breakfast at Hardee's and made my way over to The Foothills Parkway for a moring run, passing a couple groups of perf cars along the way, they got up and going early as well.

Knowing I had to be at my buddy's by 2 p.m. I timed it pretty well and made it over there on time. I grabbed my duffle bag, put it in my room and we headed for dinner.

My buddy has been talking this place up, Smokin'F for quite some time. I'm a BBQ snob and my favorite is right here in Chicago...Smoque! Well, if you enlarge the pic of the sliced brisket it's game...set...match for Smoque, look at the smoke ring and edges, not to mention the meat, it doesn't look real but then again IT WAS OUT OF THIS WORLD

After dinner we went and dropped off his wife Jennifer and headed out to downtown Chattanooga to see what was going on the night before the big show Sat....ICONS coming up next️️️

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[Klasse Act]

CAUTION...PORSCHE CONTENT, RARE AND MORE RARE

My buddy Josh pointing out that Porsche is #1

A 9 0 4...only the 2nd one I've ever seen

#27...

A 935 w/turbo fans, 911 racecar hangin' out

930 in a unique color!

"Little Bastard" replica

Time to move inside the convention centre....

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[Klasse Act]

Celebrities were all around...

The cars are the real stars....HERE WE GO, buckle up

Lotus Cortina

Porsche...yeah, we got em'️

'...back seat of my sixty Chevy"

Ford GT & 58' Buick...part 2 next

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[Klasse Act]

The mix was incredible here

Ferrari outside the place

Next is the day of the official show, stay "tuned"

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[Klasse Act]

SATURDAY IS HERE...LOOK️️️

F40, 550 Maranello and 275 GTB...and more

XJ220 anyone

Project 7 AND 8...together

Old school Jaaaaags

...more coming

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[Klasse Act]

Miss Hurst Golden Rod...still going

The orange car is a Gregory, never even heard of it!

Brand new Lambo, can't even pronounce it it's so new , love the exhaust on it️

Next we go inside a Hot Rod Mecca

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[Klasse Act]

Coker Tire and Honest Charlie's are right next door to each other, here we'll go inside of Honest Charlie's Museum

Blower Bentley, replica of the first car to win the Indy 500 and various other cars...so much to see here

That concludes Sat and lastly the dirty EN about to head back up north on Sunday, hope you guys enjoyed the pics

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[Setec Astronomy]

Fantastic as usual, was that Wayne Carini up on the dais?

Also, what was that Lambo with the batmobile exhaust? That thing was just crazy.

 

[Klasse Act]

Fantastic as usual, was that Wayne Carini up on the dais?

Also, what was that Lambo with the batmobile exhaust? That thing was just crazy.

That was him, Corky Coker next to him and yes, a Lambo called the Revelto

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[JDGolden]

You have some awesome pics of the car and road! Lots of great car photos also (love the Nissan wagon).

Killboy has a few pictures of your car from Friday under that date in the sporty cars category.

This looks like a great trip!


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[Setec Astronomy]

a Lambo called the Revuelto

Holy cow! 1000 hp and $600,000!

 

[Klasse Act]

You have some awesome pics of the car and road! Lots of great car photos also (love the Nissan wagon).

Killboy has a few pictures of your car from Friday under that date in the sporty cars category.

This looks like a great trip!


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Thanks for the heads up, I need to check those out

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[Klasse Act]

You have some awesome pics of the car and road! Lots of great car photos also (love the Nissan wagon).

Killboy has a few pictures of your car from Friday under that date in the sporty cars category.

This looks like a great trip!


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Thanks JD.....

You guys can almost feel it as your going through the turn with me

Btw, that black Camry infront of me, was cutting every turn, going over the double all the time! I ended up backing away from behind him "just incase", luckily there was no incident

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[Silly Rabbit]

All amazing pics, cars, scenery and views, thoughts, etc. Looks like a can't miss trip. No wonder you have gone so many times.
Also spotted that clean turbo TA.