NICOFest at the Dragon 2018 Registration

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September 3-6, 2010 we’ll be heading to the TN/NC state line to tackle the world famous Tail of the Dragon.

 This 11 mile stretch of road has 318 curves, with various camber and elevation changes all within the beautiful scenery of the Smoky Mountains. Take all of that, plus add a gang of tuned Nissans & Infinitis and you’ve got a beyond epic vacation.

There is more than just The Dragon up there. There is the Cherohala Skyway, Moonshiner 28, Blue Ridge Parkway, The Devils Triangle &  Fontana Dam. If you’re into the outdoors, there are parks you can go to for camping, hiking biking and rafting.

We have a group rate setup at Fontana Village. They have various lodge rooms and cabins available. To get the group pricing, you must mention NICO CLUB 2010. Fontana Village is located in Robbinsville, NC. Robbinsville is the closest town to Deals Gap and has gas stations, a drug and grocery store and has Verizon cell service.

We’ll have several caravans coming from all different directions, converging on Deals Gap/Tail of the Dragon. Not only will this be an awesome vacation, but it’ll be an epic road trip on top of that. 

Saturday, September 4th we’ll be having a BBQ / Show off your ride / Swap meet. This will be a group event, so everyone will have to contribute supplies/food. 

The Dragon has claimed a few, don’t be one of them. When you come out, come prepared, physically and mentally. Make sure you prep your car, not only for a long road trip but also for a track day. Properly functioning brakes and suspension will go a long way. 

Please keep in mind that The Tail of the Dragon is a TN/NC road, this is NOT a race track. There is NO passing and you must maintain your lane, no matter how far off the "racing line" it is.

For everyone’s safety, all attendees must submit to a voluntary tech inspection.

Click here for the Official thread:

http://forums.nicoclub.com/first-annual-nico-tail-of-the-dragon-2010-t502439.html

Any questions can be directed to the thread above, or on the forums by sending a PM (Private Message) to NICO user  sil240 



FACTS ABOUT THE DRAGON

Weather for the month of September:								        High of 77 deg F 											         Low of 56 deg F											             4 inches of rain / month

SPEED LIMITS:
Prior to 1992 the speed limit in both Tennessee and North Carolina was 55 mph. In 1993 the speed limit on the Tennessee side was lowered to 40 mph. In 2002 the speed limit was lowered to 30 mph, which is still in effect today. The North Carolina portion of the Dragon was lowered to 30 mph in early 2005..


 

 
 
graph of elevations on tail of the dragon roadway
 
 




 









http://www.dealsgap.com/

http://www.tailofthedragon.com/

http://www.fontanavillage.com/
                    [post_title] => 2010 NICO Tail of the Dragon Meet/Cruise  Sept 3-6
                    [post_excerpt] => NICO members will be meeting Sept 3-6 for a weekend of driving at the world famous Tail of the Dragon roadway in TN. 
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Friday, September 2, 2011
For most this was the day of arrival to Fontana Village, NC at The Tail of the Dragon (TOTD) for NICO Fest 2011.  The Louisville, Kentucky “enthusiasts” arrived Thursday evening, so by midday they were anxious and ready to hit TOTD before traffic became too heavy.  One of the new-comers was surprisingly overwhelmed with his introduction to “The Dragon”…as this was “His First TOTD Rodeo”.  NICO Fest attendees checked into their cabins to soon find that their cabins weren’t all nestled together as they were the previous year.  

Attendees began driving around, checking out the “lay of the land” while others gathered in the Lodge waiting for more arrivals. Later that evening, the NICO “Meet & Greet” was held under the pavilion where approximately 30 attendees gathered.  The unusual 90 degree temperature for this time of year at Fontana made the pavilion a nice shade from the sun.  As attendees got acquainted they discussed their cars and plans for the next day, before food finally arrived.

Saturday, September 3rd
TOTD offers many things to do but by 9:00 a.m., 8 to 10 cars departed for the “driving excursion” to Gatlinburg, Tennessee.  The buzz around Fontana found more attendees still checking-in and some relaxing until the Tunerz Store picnic at noon.  The picnic wasn’t huge but it was a success with about 20 attendees.  One small group went white-water rafting after the picnic, while 7 car enthusiasts made the drive on the Cherohala Skyway “Cruise”.  Front of the line, was an Infiniti G35 Sedan (sporting a Go Pro camera on the exterior of the car) followed closely by a Chevy Camaro SS, a BWM M3, a Nissan GT-R, a Nissan 350Z, a Nissan 240 and a Nissan pickup truck.  The trip “up” the skyway was boring, to say the least.  Cars going 20 mph under the speed limit did not make the drive at all enjoyable.  After what felt like hundreds of miles, the decision was made to turn around at one of the beautiful look-out points in Tennessee and head back to North Carolina.  The trip back was a lot of fun as drivers got to experience what their vehicle capabilities really were.  Stopping again at another look-out point, everyone got out for a stretch, to find heated and smoking brakes for some.  The Nissan 240 from Virginia broke the record for the smokiest brakes.  Pictures were taken and brake cooling was an absolute necessity.  

After returning to Fontana Village, the Tunerz Store cabin played back recorded video of the “cruise” enjoyed by all.  The “driving excursion” attendees returned just in time for a cookout under the pavilion where most NICO members congregated in anticipation for Fontana’s Annual Fireworks Display.  This brought the majority of members together at one time with an estimate of around 40 cars.   As the night grew dark, members shared stories of the day’s events and wondering what Sunday would bring.  The fireworks echoed through Fontana, but made for a very enjoyable evening.

Sunday, September 4th
Today’s “driving excursion” got off to an 8:00 a.m. start to the Biltmore Estates in Asheville, NC with 10 or so cars taking part.  The Tunerz Store offered a photo shoot at Fontana Dam followed by a “Rolling Photo Shoot” on Route 28 later that day.  The first “rolling shots” wrapped up just in time for a downpour that soon subsided.  Once the rain subsided, another session of “rolling shots” was made on Route 28 which turned out perfectly.  The rain actually made for better pictures…go figure.  Upon returning to Fontana Village that evening, many NICO members had already departed for home.  The few remaining “die-hards” stayed to “close up shop” at the pavilion and some went down to the Ice Cream Parlor for a sweet treat.  Everyone said their goodbyes and wished safe travels in hopes that next year will be a bigger and better event.

NICO and the Tunerz Store would like to thank all that assisted and attended this event in helping create new and great memories.  Check out the photos of the event.

The Tunerz Store hopes to see you next year as plans are already underway for 2012.
Stay tuned…      



                    [post_title] => NICO Fest at The Tail of the Dragon - 2011
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                    [post_content] => 2nd Annual NICOfest at The Tail of the Dragon (TOTD)
Labor Day Weekend (August 30 – September 3, 2012)
Hosted by Tunerz Store

Last year, the NICOclub crew in the southeastern United States decided to present a little "fun run" at The Tail of the Dragon, a scenic, tree-lined 11-mile stretch of highway 129 in Tennessee. The Dragon partially borders the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and boasts 318 curves - a driver's paradise! It was such a success that we decided to make it an annual event.

The Tunerz Store team arrived Thursday afternoon at Fontana Village Resort, NC and immediately began setting up shop for a fun-filled and eventful weekend.



Friday morning's wake-up in the breathtaking Smoky Mountains while fog slowly lifted encouraged us to visit “The Mansion” in Robbinsville to check out another possible hosting area. Although beautiful, it was quickly and unanimously decided that Fontana Village was “the place” for future events. During the return trip back to Fontana Village, a spirited drive was a must-have before dinner preparations began at the Tunerz Store cabin. Attendees began to “roll in” on that beautiful mid-80 degree day. Dinner was ready at 7 pm for Meet & Greet under the pavilion for the group of 30 or so attendees.



After dinner, “specially selected” Hot Wheels cars were given to each attendee. Hot Wheels Bocce proved to be a great hit and ice breaker for those in attendance. Door prizes were given and raffle ticket sales began. With morning quickly approaching, most hit the sack early to be well-rested for the next day's 130-mile cruise.

Saturday morning came with great weather in store for our excursion onto some of the most famous roads in America. The first leg took 19 cars and 1 motorcycle onto the infamous Moonshiner’s Run (HWY 28) and The Tail of The Dragon (HWY 129), finally stopping for lunch in Tellico Plains some 60 plus miles away. The Outpost Pavilion offered a host of food from seafood to BBQ which provided everyone with several different options. After lunch we prepared for the remaining trip back, starting on the Cherohala Skyway. Unfortunately, the return trip was not as enjoyable due to slow-moving traffic and high visibility of traffic enforcement... the latter causing serious issues for one particular attendee who will have to make a return trip (not intended for pleasure). Since the group was separated during the debacle on the Skyway, we all reconvened in Robbinsville for the last portion of the trip back to Fontana.

Upon returning to Fontana Village, the Tunerz Store crew began preparing Saturday’s dinner. Festivities continued into the night as attendees purchased raffle tickets, played several rounds of Hot Wheels Bocce and Auto Bingo. Raffle drawings consisted of a case of AMSOIL, 5 quarts of Redline motor oil, 3 bottles of Motul RBF brake fluid, 350z Mishimoto radiator hose kit, R2C polished Altima intake and a 50/50 cash drawing. The raffle drawings ended just in time for the highly anticipated Annual Fireworks Display by Fontana Village. As the night passed, attendees shared stories and reminisced about such a remarkable day.

Sunday morning brought most to the car wash bays in preparation for the 1st annual Car Show and Group Photo at Fontana Dam. Once again the weather provided a sensational atmosphere for attendees to enjoy the incredible scenery and capture a diverse array of cars on film. The Best in Show went to Gordon MacSwain of Ohio with his rare and immaculate Orange 1970 Datsun 240z with an RB swap (special thanks to killboy.com for their amazing TOTD photography!).



The Car Show provided new and old friends with one last group gathering and a bittersweet ending for some. After the car show, a handful started their long journeys back home, while others explored more of the Smoky Mountain roads and a trip to the casino. That night a small group conjured at the pavilion for more shop talk which brought it all to an end as the rain came in.

NICOclub and the Tunerz Store would like to give a huge thanks to all that attended and assisted in making this a successful event that created new and great memories forever. Be sure to check out the Tunerz Store and NICOclub Facebook pages for event photos, comments and updates.

We're already laying plans for a bigger and better event in 2013. Same time, same place, and we hope to see you there!
                    [post_title] => 2nd Annual NICOfest at The Tail of the Dragon
                    [post_excerpt] => What could be better than a weekend of great driving roads, awesome food and a bunch of  car enthusiasts in the Great Smoky Mountains? The 2nd Annual NICOfest was an absolute blast!
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For the past three years, the staff of TunerZstore and NICOclub have been hosting NICOfest at The Tail of the Dragon (Deal's Gap).  

This is a three-day event that offers tons of driving through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park on some of the most beautiful and challenging roadways in the US, with 318 turns in 11 miles.  

As if that weren't enough to get a bunch of car enthusiasts together, add in tons of great food, good friends, and a relaxing, laid-back atmosphere in the cabins of Fontana Village.  Each year, the event gets bigger and more fun, and 2013 was definitely one of those events you wouldn't want to miss!

Thursday, August 29, 2013
The TunerZstore “enthusiasts” arrived in the late afternoon and preparations for NICOFest 2013 began.  Later that night became an overwhelming adventure for two passengers on the Dragon as they experienced several miles of nauseousness and numerous stops for the driver on a return trip from the local airport.  Now obviously no real names will be mentioned, but one passenger is known as 'AZhitman.'

Friday, August 30, 2013
Fontana Village Resort, NC welcomed most attendees throughout the day, allowing them to gather at the TunerZstore Cabin.  The setting is gorgeous, to say the least:

   

   

That evening, the NICO “Meet & Greet” dinner was again held under the pavilion where about 25 people gathered for smoked BBQ and southern-style fixin’s.  Hot Wheels Bocce was one of the most popular pasttimes, and this year it got incredibly competitive.  Who knew adjusting the camber on a Hot Wheels car would make a difference? Raffle drawings were opened and the stories began, with everyone hanging out late into the night.   

Saturday, August 31st
The morning came with great weather in store for the 60-mile trip that would take 20 cars onto the infamous Moonshiner’s Run (HWY 28) and The Tail of The Dragon (HWY 129), finally stopping for lunch in Tellico Plains, TN.  Here's some of the cars getting ready for the early-morning run:



The Outpost Pavilion offered a host of food from seafood to BBQ which provided everyone with a variety of edible options.  



After lunch we prepared for the remaining 60 miles back, starting on the Cherohala Skyway and dropping back onto Moonshiner’s Run.  This trip was a pleasant outcome compared to last year as it allowed for some spirited driving with no signs of local law enforcement anywhere.  This kept the entire group together for the 120 mile loop, which is a huge feat within itself!

   

Now, as all newcomers have experienced, this trip is guaranteed to put a smile on your face.  Upon returning to Fontana Village after the 6 hour excursion, the TunerZstore staff began preparing Saturday’s dinner.   Festivities continued into the night as attendees purchased raffle tickets, played several rounds of Auto Bingo and Auto Trivia, with the “Old Timers” table prevailing with their many years of wisdom.  

Raffle drawings consisted of a case of AMSOIL, Race Ramps, Mother’s Car Care kit and a 50/50 cash drawing.  Just as last year, the raffle drawings ended just in time for the highly anticipated Annual Fireworks display by Fontana Village, which always ends the day with a bang.  

As the night passed, attendees shared stories, watched videos and reminisced about another trip in the books.  The final excitement for the night was the 1st annual “Burnout Contest” between a certain famous orange 240z with an RB26 swap and a real, imported white Silvia with a nasty-sounding built SR... the videos (which we'll have to dig up) clearly depict the winner.  I'm sure 2014 will bring a hotly-contested rematch!

Sunday, September 1st
The morning brought some to the car wash bays in preparation for the annual Car Show and Group Photo at Fontana Dam.  However, the weather did not want to cooperate, bringing rain and washing everyone’s car cleaning attempts down the drain.  As they say, “The show must go on”, and with a stroke of luck, the weather began to clear on the trip over to the Dam for the show.  

   

This year’s Best in Show turned out a little differently from last year.  Gordon MacSwain of Ohio returned with his rare and immaculate orange, RB swapped, 1970 Datsun 240z, but was dethroned by Herman Carrick, a newcomer this year, in his well executed 1976 Datsun 280z - requiring a TIE BREAKER vote!  

                 



After the car show, some started their journeys back home, while most explored the winding Smoky Mountain roads as others chilled into the late evening at the pavilion, bringing this year’s event to an end and what some call the best one yet!

   
  
With plans in mind to host an even bigger event at TOTD next year, the TunerZstore would like to thank all that attended and made this another great and memorable time.

Next year’s plans are in the works, so get your car prepped, pack some Dramamine for your passengers, charge up your GoPro, and bring your appetite.  NICOfest at the Dragon is a great time.

The author, Gidget Henderson, is the wife of Michael Henderson (RED_DET).  She's also the brains behind TunerZstore and the Head Chef in Charge of Food, Entertainment and Shenanigans at NICOfest TOTD.



                    [post_title] => NICOfest 2013 at The Tail of the Dragon (Deal's Gap)
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                    [post_content] => Straight line or Curves… The age old tug-of-war in performance car building in backyards all over America.  Whichever way you go, you need solid, reliable and high performance suspension.  Personally, I like curves (and yes I’m talking about cars)! Recently I wrote an article covering installation of the new PowerTrix Ultralite coilovers into my 1990 Z32 (300zx) affectionately named Shibui...  Well recently I was able to take her up to ZdayZ in North Carolina to put the new setup to the test!

Last year, Shibui was on KYB AGX adjustable struts and Megan coilovers.  The car performed fairly well with the exception of a tail wag into the other lane once because the rebound of the suspension lightened up the rear end as well as the occasional roar of rubbing that sounded like Bigfoot after being in captivity for a week without food.  But other than that, I was pretty content.  But since I don’t like the feeling of death threats of oncoming traffic with my rear end sticking out, I decided to get with Charles and his team at Powertrix.com.  Now it was time to put it to the test and drive the Dragon again with the new setup…. WOW WOW WOW! If I weren’t so excited, I could end the article there and it would sum it up pretty well!

Not only was the rubbing gone, but the control of the vehicle was so much that I would literally grunt in the corners!  We are talking about a 25 year old, heavily front weighted car with as much technology as a Nokia 5100 (yes I had one back then), but yet I was able to control it to the degree of fear!  I kept saying to myself “This is going to be where it breaks loose, this is it!” and would begin to grunt as I pushed the throttle coming out of the curve, and yet it held - it felt almost as though I could feel the tires on the ground, so my confidence level in the car went through the roof!

Not only was the performance great, but I was extremely impressed with the ride when I turned the knobs down to its lowest setting to soften it up.  To paint the picture, I drove the car from Central Florida up to Fontana Village, North Carolina - Some 12 hours of driving with friends in a Nissan/Infiniti train of performance cars ranging in colors that would make Skittles jealous. But 12 hours of driving on a performance setup was a bit nerve-wracking at first because I’m no spring chicken. But I have to say I was thoroughly impressed with the range of adjustment allowing me to get out after the long drive without groaning like a bear after hibernation.

To sum up my review, I do not think you can find a better mixture of performance and price for your Z31-Z34 as well as S13 and S14 cars than with the Powertrix line of coilovers, and the knowledgeable staff just puts a cherry on top!  I believe I may look into some more adjustable goodies from Powertrix in the near future... Until then, below is a video from one of my runs. I sped up a couple spots where we got stuck behind locals :)

https://youtu.be/ysSNbtQ-0KI
                    [post_title] => Test of the Dragon | Powertrix Ultralite Coilovers on a Z32
                    [post_excerpt] => Our Z32 Moderator puts the PowerTrix Ultralite coilovers through their paces on a Nissan 300ZX at the Tail of the Dragon.
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                    [post_content] => Editor note:  After a long hiatus, Jerry Hofschneider returns with the latest installment in the Skidmarks series of articles... Welcome back, sir!

Random puffs of fog appear in patches on the slopes of the impossibly green mountains, drifting out of the trees and getting captured by unseen breezes that blow them into oblivion. They appear, they puff and they drift on the wind only to reappear upslope, giving delightful animation to the static scenery of tree and stone.

A lone road winds its sinuous path up, down and through the green wilderness, a road carved, in places, through living rock, a road that goes through the backcountry and into isolation. 

US 129. 

The Dragon.

It delivers impossible curves and stunning vistas. When the driver travels this road, he can only wonder just how the hell some long dead highway engineer who laid this path along the ridges and around the escarpments had the imagination and sheer guts to plan the route. Those pioneer contractors followed the Cherokee trails and deer paths through the challenge of the Great Smokey Mountains and endowed upon this beautifully tortured land an impossibly amazing stretch of passable highway, a road eventually dubbed "The Tail of The Dragon".

I have the little shoulder patch in front of me now, a memento of one of the times that I wrestled with The Dragon, that time when I spun the 350Z into a 180 heartstopper across a skinny piece of mountain road, at a blind curve, in the rain. The patch is yellow and black, shaped like the familiar "Caution" sign, and it says--"DEAL'S GAP--318 CURVES IN 11 MILES". 

i have intimate knowledge of at least one of those curves.

The road was bordered on the left by a sheer wall of rock. On the right was a clean, two hundred foot dropoff, unsullied by fencing, certain death if explored any further. I downshifted the Z through the wrong revs as I tried a wet-road drift around the curve, spun it, recovered it and learned the real meaning of caution. I also learned how to sweat profusely in air conditioning. 

I had to drive back several miles before I found a place wide enough to turn my car around and continue onward. As I passed the spin spot, I gave an involuntary shudder. I saw what might have been and realized how totally lucky I was. It was THAT scary. I didn't try any more fancy shifting that day.

I've passed through and around each of those curves six times now. Twice in the Z car, twice in the Infiniti G, and once in a lumbering van--which was no fun at all . 
( On my second trip on the Dragon--in the Z--I drove the road full-out, turned the car around at the North Carolina terminus and drove it BACK into Tennessee, tasting each delicious mile once more, then I turned again, shifted through what felt like a thousand gear changes and got back into N.C. That time was the most fun I've ever had with my pants on. I didn't stop grinning until Atlanta).

The Dragon does that to you. It's probably the most challenging road in the Eastern U.S. Bikers discovered it, enjoyed it and and named it. They saw its' 11 miles and hundreds of curves as the ultimate balls-to-the-wall challenge. I discovered it by chance, looking for a sports car experience and a backroad passage to Knoxville. All I had done was follow US 129, a blue highway that passed through the Appalachian foothills. What I found was serendipity, a gift, a genuine driving experience.

The Dragon has been the guest star in several Hollywood productions. Robert Mitchum played a furtive moonshiner, blasting down The Dragon (BEFORE it got its' name) in his '32 Ford in the classic "Thunder Road", and Harrison Ford, playing a fugitive in "The Fugitive" dove off the Cheoah Dam, trying to evade Tommy Lee Jones, who had a gun. You can see that dam near the N.C. terminus of the Dragon. There's a wide spot where you can park and see it. If you're ever there, stop. It's worth it.

Also, the cops are very familiar with the road and the designs that folks have for it, so it's heavily patrolled, making, I'm sure, lots of cash from the adventurous drivers who blissfully avoid the posted limit. I managed to tear through the thing several times without gaining any points on my license, but that was just luck, like when I recovered from The Spin of Doom.

There is a LOT of traffic on the Dragon these days. A lot of people--like me--have discovered it and make deliberate pilgrimage there, so prepare for disappointment if you hit the road at the wrong time. Early morning seems the best time. It's also the prettiest time to drive into the mountains.

On one of my trips through, I got behind a delivery truck. The driver appeared to be semi-paralyzed with fear, so he drove really slow, which caused me to trail behind him for an eternity. There was NO way to pass, so I had to suffer through mile after mile of third-gear driving. Finally, a rare, straight stretch appeared and I was able to pass, but it really took away some of the fun factor, forced to drive the Dragon that way.

I make a habit of finding and driving interesting roads. I've done The Blue Ridge Parkway a half-dozen times in all kinds of vehicles and weather, purposely avoiding the posted speed; I've roared up US 12, alongside the whitewater rapids of the Locsha River in Idaho, I've crested the Continental Divide at Yellowstone at illegal speeds and have driven the Dragon's cousin, a challenging road named "Diamondback" ( ...N.C. 226A, out of Little Switzerland, N.C.--find it and try it. You'll love it...), I've raced against ricer bikes down Highway 60 out of Globe, Arizona--but never have I found a better way to pass the time and scare the whee out of me than traversing the Dragon. It's a perfect sports car highway, designed to extract every last skill from the driver who decides to take it on.

One should not approach the Dragon timidly. One should realize what lay before him and attack it. That's the only way to fully appreciate what those old time highway engineers birthed when they paved the rocky Indian trail, breached the wilderness and presented the traveler with the ultimate challenge. Just don't try anything fancy if the road is wet.

Sometimes, in the higher passes, the road will drop into a shallow valley. The clouds touch the trees and little pockets of fog settle into the hollows. You find these places unexpectedly, while rounding a blind curve or cresting a hill, and for a brief moment you are enveloped in the fog. your forward vision is stolen, and you drift from tree-dappled sunlight into a dreamscape. The breath of The Dragon envelopes you, and you understand, as you pass back into clarity, that you've just had a golden moment, a driving experience that will never leave you.

The Dragon does that. It always does that.

Editor note: NICOclub hosts an annual event at The Dragon - As I enter this article, I'm about to board a plane to Knoxville to join the crew.  Hope you'll do the same next year.

                    [post_title] => A Tale Of The Tail Of The Dragon
                    [post_excerpt] => The breath of The Dragon envelopes you, and you understand, as you pass back into clarity, that you've just had a golden moment, a driving experience that will never leave you.  The Dragon does that. It always does that.
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                    [post_content] => September brings anticipation of fall, cooler temperatures, changing leaves, pumpkin spice everything, and NICOclub's annual pilgrimage to one of the jewels of the American highway system - Highway 129, also known as the Tail of the Dragon.

Each year, loyal NICOclub members come from all over the country on Labor Day weekend to convene in a small town in North Carolina to do what automotive enthusiasts love to do - Drive.  

This year, NICOfest at the Dragon happened to draw a smaller than usual turnout, but no less fun was to be had.   Fontana Village Resort in Fontana Dam, NC is Ground Zero for the festivities, and this place is a phenomenal destination for drivers, nature buffs, or those just looking to get away from it all in the Carolina mountains.   

For less than the cost of a tank of gas, the attendees got to enjoy a picnic lunch Saturday afternoon at Sassafrass Mountain, dinner and adult beverages with the rest of the NICOclub crew on Saturday night, bar-style Nissan Trivia (with a $50 grand prize), and five chances at a 50/50 raffle drawing.  Plus, HKS USA came through with some cool goodie bags for every participant!  

Arriving at the Knoxville airport on Thursday was a welcome break from the heat of an Arizona summer.  My wife, Becky (nissangirl74), is from upper-east Tennessee, so that area already holds fond memories for me.  The resort is about an hour drive from the airport, and I had already booked a rental car for the trip... Considering Knoxville airport isn't a major hub, choices are limited, so I had already relegated myself to having the slowest, most boring car at the event.  No worries, I'll take the $17/day Chevy Spark and full coverage.  Little did I know, the rental counter was about to make my trip even more interesting.  

Since my flight was early, most of the weekday cars hadn't been returned yet.  The counter agent told me, "I have three vehicles, and you can take whichever one you want for the 'economy car' price."  Keeping in mind that I would be doing a LOT of seat time, on a lot of winding country roads, I strolled out to the lot to select my ride for the weekend.  My choices:  An F-150.  A Hyundai Accent.  A Nissan Frontier.  Well, this is fun... I'll take the Frontier - I'm familiar with it, as we've owned a 2005 Frontier for the past six years.  So, off I go, in a 2016 Frontier Crew Cab 4x4 with 1500 miles on the odometer.  Poor truck had no idea...


A quick bite of food near the airport and I'm off to Fontana.  The bonus?  To get there, you actually drive Highway 129 (The Dragon).  
 Fortunately, there was no traffic (I think I saw one vehicle the entire drive, and he pulled off when I loomed in his mirror).  I was at the resort within 45 minutes, ready to unpack, wash off the plane trip and settle in for some rest.  
  
Dinner on the balcony at the Lodge was awesome - Relaxing and beautiful!
  
A Friday tradition for NICOfest at the Dragon was started a couple years ago: Rafting down the beautiful Nantahala River.  Whitewater rafting beneath the canopy of the Nantahala National Forest is an experience that is not to be missed - eight miles of adventure, scenic views, and periods of quiet, gentle floating, interspersed with exciting but tame Class II rapids in sparkling clear Smoky Mountain waters.  

Friday evening, an informal meet and greet at the resort's Oak Suite (our headquarters for the event) gave everyone a chance to reconnnect and catch up with recent arrivals.  Naturally, the group spills out into the parking area, where everyone checks out everyone's ride and looks forward to the next day's adventures on the scenic byways of the area.

Saturday morning brought everyone together in the parking lot for a radio check and final vehicle prep before we headed off for our day of driving.  This year, Torry (EZcheese15) planned out a phenomenal route, wisely omitting the Dragon entirely.  "WAIT - WHAT?"  Yep.  Traffic on the Dragon on Labor Day weekend was substantial, and there are literally thousands of miles of equally-amazing routes that would be unencumbered by distracted vacationers (and the local constabulary).  

Torry's route took us the back way out of the resort, and included a chunk of the Blue Ridge Parkway.  The Blue Ridge is a meandering road with stunning overlooks, views that reach across state lines, plenty of close-up looks at the rugged mountains, and intimate views of the landscape of the Appalachian Highlands.  Our official starting point was Ocanulftee River Outlook, just north of Cherokee, NC.  From there, we'd travel 75 miles to Sassafras Mountain for lunch.  By the time of our arrival, everyone was hungry and ready for a break from driving - and the views from the mountain were breathtaking.  

       
 
Sidebar: I should note that, considering my transportation for this journey, I had already planned to bring up the rear, for two reasons - One, I expected to be the "weak link" in a quartet of fast-moving cars that included a modded Juke 6-speed on coilovers and R-compounds, a 300+ hp new GTI with mods, and a modded and turbocharged FRS.  Two, I suspected that at some point, we'd need someone to run interference (in the event of any "official" attention), so I was more than happy to run 'blocker' for my fast friends.  As it turned out, neither proved necessary.  

The Frontier, despite its bulk, suspension travel, and all-season tall tires, proved to be a capable performer when pushed hard in the twisties.  A lot of trail braking, a lot of manual gear management, and a lot of early anticipation of the upcoming corners kept the big workhorse in the rear view mirrors of the pack for most of the trip, despite one scary point wherein the brake pedal bounced off the firewall entering a particularly hairy turn. After a few 'cool-down' corners, brake function returned to normal, and the only lingering memory was the pucker in my seat, some severe sidewall scrub, and the overwhelming stench of cooked brakes that remains with that poor truck to this day.  It should be mentioned, I'm in no danger of ever being recruited to drive competitively, but I enjoyed chasing the faster cars with the "Underdog" - and my core muscles are still sore a week later!

Our return route was 104 miles of somewhat different scenery, and a lot more elevation changes, blowing through tiny towns and little settlements in the middle of nowhere.  After nearly 200 miles of twisting, winding, mountain roads, through some curves with posted speed limits as low as 10mph, we were all in need of a different kind of relaxation.
   
Fortunately, the resort was already setting up our catered dinner, and it was nothing short of phenomenal - Pulled pork, BBQ chicken, slaw, potato salad, cobbler, and a bunch more southern fare, all served on an open-air patio overlooking the Great Smoky Mountain National Park.  Full stomachs and good friends made the Nissan Trivia Challenge a raucous affair, with "Team ZdayZ" taking the prize.  With the competition over, the attendees meandered over to the resort bar for cocktails and chatter, lasting into the wee hours of the morning.
 
Sunday morning is reserved for relaxing, and the schedule is open, so that attendees can check out the area on their own, do some more driving, explore some of the gift shops, or just chill out and enjoy the scenery.  I enjoyed an early-morning walk in the misty air before the sun got through the trees, and took one more leisurely drive down the Dragon to Deal's Gap. With that, it was time to head back to Knoxville and board a flight home, but you can bet we'll be back next year, with even more cars, more people, more shenanigans, and more memories made.  Make plans to be there! 


                    [post_title] => NICOfest at Tail of the Dragon 2016
                    [post_excerpt] => NICOclub's annual pilgrimage to one of the jewels of the American highway system - Highway 129, also known as the Tail of the Dragon.
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                    [post_title] => NICOFest at the Dragon 2018 Registration
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September 3-6, 2010 we’ll be heading to the TN/NC state line to tackle the world famous Tail of the Dragon.

 This 11 mile stretch of road has 318 curves, with various camber and elevation changes all within the beautiful scenery of the Smoky Mountains. Take all of that, plus add a gang of tuned Nissans & Infinitis and you’ve got a beyond epic vacation.

There is more than just The Dragon up there. There is the Cherohala Skyway, Moonshiner 28, Blue Ridge Parkway, The Devils Triangle &  Fontana Dam. If you’re into the outdoors, there are parks you can go to for camping, hiking biking and rafting.

We have a group rate setup at Fontana Village. They have various lodge rooms and cabins available. To get the group pricing, you must mention NICO CLUB 2010. Fontana Village is located in Robbinsville, NC. Robbinsville is the closest town to Deals Gap and has gas stations, a drug and grocery store and has Verizon cell service.

We’ll have several caravans coming from all different directions, converging on Deals Gap/Tail of the Dragon. Not only will this be an awesome vacation, but it’ll be an epic road trip on top of that. 

Saturday, September 4th we’ll be having a BBQ / Show off your ride / Swap meet. This will be a group event, so everyone will have to contribute supplies/food. 

The Dragon has claimed a few, don’t be one of them. When you come out, come prepared, physically and mentally. Make sure you prep your car, not only for a long road trip but also for a track day. Properly functioning brakes and suspension will go a long way. 

Please keep in mind that The Tail of the Dragon is a TN/NC road, this is NOT a race track. There is NO passing and you must maintain your lane, no matter how far off the "racing line" it is.

For everyone’s safety, all attendees must submit to a voluntary tech inspection.

Click here for the Official thread:

http://forums.nicoclub.com/first-annual-nico-tail-of-the-dragon-2010-t502439.html

Any questions can be directed to the thread above, or on the forums by sending a PM (Private Message) to NICO user  sil240 



FACTS ABOUT THE DRAGON

Weather for the month of September:								        High of 77 deg F 											         Low of 56 deg F											             4 inches of rain / month

SPEED LIMITS:
Prior to 1992 the speed limit in both Tennessee and North Carolina was 55 mph. In 1993 the speed limit on the Tennessee side was lowered to 40 mph. In 2002 the speed limit was lowered to 30 mph, which is still in effect today. The North Carolina portion of the Dragon was lowered to 30 mph in early 2005..


 

 
 
graph of elevations on tail of the dragon roadway
 
 




 









http://www.dealsgap.com/

http://www.tailofthedragon.com/

http://www.fontanavillage.com/
            [post_title] => 2010 NICO Tail of the Dragon Meet/Cruise  Sept 3-6
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