Z DayZ May 14-20, Tail of the Dragon!

[ZMIKEMAN]

Just checked out your cardomain site, cars looking sweet. Looking forward to meeting you.

Noticed several things similar to my car and several things I could improve on. I like your pedals, might have to look into getting some whenever my transmission stops sucking up everything moneywise that I come near.

I've always wanted a cusco front strut tower bar to but I just don't know that it will clear my upper intercooler piping and BOV. Probably won't but if it did I'd probably have to buy one. Cars already plenty stiff but I'd have to get it just because it looks so pretty anyway. You better watch out, I'm going to pack my wrench and socket so I might sneak around and try to pull it off :wink: .

Hopefully we will see each other on Friday and can chat, same to you kyle (You are entering the show this year... RIGHT!!?, lol). Need all the z31's we can get.

[Signal 12]

If you bring tools you can try the brace on to see if it fits...just don't get too comfortable with it :wink:

[Melspace02]

5 more days. So excited 8)

[Signal 12]

Melspace02 wrote: 5 more days. So excited 8)

hellz yeah :!:

[Melspace02]

Hey Sig , you going to tape up your lip? I just bought some 2" Blue tape today, Mite look a little funny but those rock chips killlll on black paint!

[Signal 12]

Melspace02 wrote: Hey Sig , you going to tape up your lip? I just bought some 2" Blue tape today, Mite look a little funny but those rock chips killlll on black paint!

sure am, and then some :!: I'll be taping the whole front of the car, mirrors, and on the back side of the wheel wells. I did a test run with the tape on my trip to Tampa this weekend and it worked great. This stuff is easy to install, easy to pull off, and leaves no residue.

[ZMIKEMAN]

Thats probably a good idea, especially for you guys coming from Florida.

Anyway, changed the oil, inspected the engine and tigthened up anything I saw that could be tightened, found a lose ground wire and re-connected it, as well as cleaned the K&N. Took the car out and it drove great, even surprised me at how pepy it was, hasn't done that in a while. Air filter might have been a bit on the dirty side or something leading to this newfound pep.

Cars mechanically ready (Or at least as good as its going to get, lol)... just needs a good cleaning and a wax job.

Counting down the days now!

[ZMIKEMAN]

Oh, and a little something for you guys. Don't want to see ANY cars running off the road this year. I personally have had my own scare on the dragon (Have it on video and can re-live it anytime I need, lol) so heed my advice and at least take it easy the first time, and be respectfull every time.

This road is crazy, its a car/driving enthusiast wet dream and will cause exessive laughing at the insane amount of curves the first time. Even the NC road leading up to it is udles of fun. Just be careful because its not as twisty and can lead to much higher/dangerous speeds.

Read this carefully:
How to Drive the Dragon



Drive the Dragon at your skill level - don't try to push it or keep up with faster vehicles.

STAY IN YOUR LANE, There are videos available for sale that show vehicles cutting the corners and taking chances that might appear "fun" while sitting in your easy chair. BEWARE ! This style of driving on the Dragon can cost you dearly. The challenge of the Dragon is to take the many curves in the best line possible and both lanes IS NOT "the line". Drive Florida if you like to straighten out the curves.

Do NOT sightsee. The Dragon is to drive, not to watch the sights. On many runs I don't even see what is on the side of the road. I'm watching the roadway way ahead.

Look far ahead at the road, curves, bushes, other vehicles, etc. If you haven't seen the hazards right in front of you, you are going to hit them anyway, so you might as well pay attention to what you have time to avoid.

We have seen deer, bear, turkeys, and wild boar on the roadway. Be ready to brake and slow. When we say brake we DO NOT mean slamming on the brakes. That will get you turned around in a hurry and it’s no fun looking at where you’ve been at any speed.

Maintain a "safe zone". Keep a safe distance between you and the vehicle ahead of you. Watch your rear view mirrors for faster vehicles. If you see a faster rider/driver coming up behind you, pull over to the right of your lane, slow down just a little, and wave them around. It is much safer to let a faster vehicle around you than to try to outrun them. NEVER stay left trying to keep someone from passing you. NEVER pull off the road onto the shoulder unless it is at one of the pull-off parking areas. It may be illegal to pass on the Dragon, but I'll let a faster vehicle get around me to protect my safe zone.

There will always be faster drivers than you. Don't try to be the King of the Dragon.

Drive the Dragon many times before trying to challenge it. Then you still need to respect it at all times.

DO NOT STAND ON THE BRAKES if you see danger ahead. You are much better off to tap the brakes and maintain control. Some 90% of the accidents on the Dragon are due to speed and then over-braking.

If you see another vehicle coming at you in your lane, hug the white line in your lane. In all likelihood you can avoid trucks and trailers if you stay alert and watch ahead.

DO NOT be spooked by other vehicles. DO NOT make sudden avoidance moves. You might have to adjust your line to avoid a car, truck, or bike, but DO NOT lay on the brakes or turn off the roadway suddenly unless that is the only out you have. Motorcycles might dent your car, but that is better than going off the bank and hitting a tree sideways. If a cycle is in your lane that is their mistake and problem … don’t let them force you into a worse situation for yourself.

Trucks are usually traveling at a very slow speed and you should have time to stop and back-up if you see one coming at you and taking the whole corner. Watch for signals from drivers/riders coming at you. Many times they will escort a big truck over the Dragon and wave a warning to you to pull over. DO NOT ignore these warnings.

Avoid driving hard on the Dragon in heavy traffic times. Weekends from 11 am to 5 pm are the busiest. These are the times to lay back and enjoy watching the "show" go by.

The early mornings (before 11 am ) and the late afternoons (after 5 pm ) have the least traffic.

ALWAYS stay 100% alert. You do not have the advantage of relaxing on the Dragon.

Make sure your vehicle is mechanically sound and that your tires are good.

Plan to make several runs, the first is always a nervous one .... then you can have fun on the second and third.

DO NOT over-use your brakes. Use your gears and DOWNSHIFT. A good Dragon driver WILL NOT use a lot of brakes.

Focus - do not daydream. Watch the road, your mirrors, and pay attention to other bikes/cars/trucks.


99% of the accidents on the Dragon come from the following:

Too much speed

Too much brakes

Inattentiveness

Driving above your abilities


http://www.tailofthedragon.com/dragon_howtodrive.html


Last piece of advice I have for you guys. That previous note wasn't kidding when it said use your gears. I run 97% of the dragon in 2nd gear, 3% in 3rd (If even). There are only about 4 or so starights that you will hit 3rd on and be ready to haul it back down for the next turn. (Course you guys are pushing a bit more power then me so you might see 3rd more often) If you try and run it mostly in 3rd or any higher gear you will KILL your brakes and probably loose them all together about 8-9 turns into it. If you use gear then your brakes will be fine, never had a problem with mine (no fade or anything, except when they where mostly stock I glazed my pads, no biggie). You really shouldn't have to brake to much if you use your gears anyway.

I'm sure you guys know how to drive so no problem there. Its me I need to be worrying about, lol.

Kyles been, so I'm sure anything your curious about can be directed at him personally.

SOOO excited!

[Signal 12]

thanks for the write-up Mike. I've got new tires, brake pads, and driving gloves in my preperation for the Dragon.

I can't wait for this shit; I'm even prepping my liver right now for the abuse it'll take Thursday, Friday, and Saturday night 8)

[ZMIKEMAN]

You guys ready for this:


See you guys up there, be on the lookout!

[Gritt]

mike, you need to be prepaired for the car show, not the tail. sig`s and mel`s car will give you a run for your money this year. black bitch won`t be making the trip, customer`s car`s have taken priority. not time for the reverse pathy intake with v mount intercooler, m30 ecu and remote mount turbo. but next year, if i`m not driving the 450zx instead (opps! did i say that out loud?) i`ll look for you mike, you`ll have to come by the cabin for some drinks. should be getting there around 5 or 6 if everything goes as planned, thursday evening. we`re bringing our own car model this year and i told her to bring some slutty clothes (don`t tell charlie) so we`ll all have to head to the dam or somewhere with good sceanry for pics. see you tomorrow!

[Signal 12]

this is gonna fuckin' ROCK. I spent at least an hour looking at Tail of the Dragon footage on youtube and five times that cleaning the car today.

See the FL group at 6:15 off of exit 329. I'm bringing plenty of Rockstar, booz, cards, and beer pong balls for a killer time.

[ZMIKEMAN]

mike, you need to be prepaired for the car show, not the tail. sig`s and mel`s car will give you a run for your money this year.

Kyle, yeah I've already figured my chances at the car show have dwindled substantually, lol! I'm excited about that though, much rather go down in a blaze of glorious competition then to prevail over little.... but I do wish I could get a torphy... hehe. Can't wait to see the cars, have been doing my homework on them already and am prepared to be impressed.

Sweet... I'm all about some slutty car models... just don't tell the rents since they'll be along as usual, lol. Def. up for hanging out tomorrow night, I should be up there between 3-4 or so. I should have plenty of time for a shakedown run... just enough time to throw a nice layer of brakedust on my wheels for that gunmetal/AE look. Its going to be a pain to keep the car anywhere near clean this weekend.

See you guys soon!