What is the Tail of the Dragon?
The Tail of The Dragon is one of North America’s most well-known motorcycle and sports car roads. This stretch of highway contains 318 turns in just over 11 miles with no cross-streets. Thousands of drivers come from all over North America and beyond to drive this road every year. The road is covered with professional photographers and nice rides. Additionally, the beautiful Appalachian mountains contains numerous other fun roads including the Cherohala Skyway, Hellbender, Blue Ridge Parkway, The Diamondback, The Devil’s Triangle (TN), etc. within NC along the border with TN. A simple google or youtube search will pull up countless information about the area and all it has to offer.
GenSport United has routinely done two Tail of the Dragon runs each year, one in the spring and one in the fall. Additionally, the Fall is always our bigger event with vendors, larger numbers, and fun to be expected. Spring is the more laid back event where we look to try new things and ideas for future inclusion into the event.
9th Annual Spring Run of the Dragon
In just a few short weeks it will be time once again to cap off the summer and prepare to bring that project car out to truly test what she is made of! That’s right, its time again for the Spring Run of the Tail of the Dragon, 2018 edition. By and far the largest gathering of Genesis Coupes in the country. From Thursday, April 4th to Sunday April 7th, we will all converge once again at the Tail of the Dragon (Tail of the Dragon at Deals Gap, motorcycle and sport car two-lane tourism serving Tail of the Dragon at Deals Gap, Cherohala Skyway, Moonshiner28, Devils Triangle, and Six Gap North Georgia.) on the border of NC and TN to tear up some great roads, meet and have fun with great people, and enjoy the Genesis Coupe platform doing what it was designed to do. We welcome any Genesis Coupe owner whether in GenSport or not to reach out and attend. It is an absolute blast and we have yet to have anyone go home disappointed. We usually stay at a small resort called Fontana Village where we work a group rate for those attending that is just south-east of the Dragon along another good road known as Hellbender.
For more information about lodging, restaurants, entertainment and more please visit our friends at the Tail of the Dragon Store/Website:
REGION 1: ROBBINSVILLE, FONTANA NC; DEALS GAP NC & TN – Tail of the Dragon at Deals Gap Regional Accommodations & Businesses
Located on Snowbird Creek, well know for it’s trout fishing. Three bedrooms – sleeps 6, 2 bath log cabin. Good for both motorcycles and sportcars, covered parking, room for trailers and extra vehicles. Enjoy the roads and come home and catch dinner !!
Run of the Dragon Event Countdown!
Watch out for local law enforcement. The map below shows the most common areas for radar speed traps.
REMEMBER:
LEOs on and near the Dragon usually set-up in straights where the unsuspecting driver punches the throttle. They are also watching for passing on the double yellow.
In North Carolina the most likely radar spots are on the 4-lane highways, particularly US19/US74 near Bryson City and NC 28 near the Graham/Swain County line (4-lane).
Also take note that many locals have EMS/FIRE radios in their trucks and will call in high speed/reckless passing.
Although the event primarily focuses on driving the dragon, we also drive a few scenic routes as well. We routinely have over 50 cars if not 100+ attending a run and we want to make sure everyone knows what to do if you get separated from the group. We will have veterans of any given run leading the various groups and will do our best to keep everyone together. Unfortunately, things happen such as driving through towns with red lights that cause the group to break up a bit, so please familiarize yourself with the routes (noting key points along the drive) in case you get separated. We will be providing a digital copy of the routes so that you can print them to take a hard copy with you.
The goal of this event is to have fun, make memories, and to simply enjoy the time that you spend with each other while here. Through various group activities and scheduled events, we hope to provide an atmosphere of respect and entertainment. Whether it’s your first time with us or you are a “repeat offender”, we anticipate that all of the planning and effort will help to provide you the best weekend you have ever had. So, whether you are tearing up a mountain road solo or with a group, helping a fellow friend to install that particular mod to their car, or just sitting around a warm camp fire at night enjoying the stars and a drink, please keep an open mind and enjoy your time to the fullest.
Cherohala Skyway

Google Maps Link for the Route: Cherohala Skyway
Note: To open the map in your mobile phone’s Google Maps app, you must view this page through your phone’s browser on an Android device. If you got here through a link from the Facebook app on your phone, the page opened up in Facebook’s browser which will allow you to see the map but not navigate. If you open this link on an Apple device it will only open the first waypoint; however, there’s a good chance that it will recompute a route that may be different than the planned route.
Approximate driving time – 5+ hours – Longer with stop offs
The Waterfall Run

Google Maps Link for the Route: The Waterfall Run
Note: To open the map in your mobile phone’s Google Maps app, you must view this page through your phone’s browser on an Android device. If you got here through a link from the Facebook app on your phone, the page opened up in Facebook’s browser which will allow you to see the map but not navigate. If you open this link on an Apple device it will only open the first waypoint; however, there’s a good chance that it will recompute a route that may be different than the planned route.
Approximate driving time – 5+ hours – Longer with stop offs
Devil’s Triangle

Google Maps Link for the Route: Devil’s Triangle
Note: To open the map in your mobile phone’s Google Maps app, you must view this page through your phone’s browser on an Android device. If you got here through a link from the Facebook app on your phone, the page opened up in Facebook’s browser which will allow you to see the map but not navigate. If you open this link on an Apple device it will only open the first waypoint; however, there’s a good chance that it will recompute a route that may be different than the planned route.
Approximate driving time – 7+ hours – Longer with stop offs
Newfound Gap/Clingman’s Dome

Google Maps Link for the Route: Clingman’s Dome
Note: To open the map in your mobile phone’s Google Maps app, you must view this page through your phone’s browser on an Android device. If you got here through a link from the Facebook app on your phone, the page opened up in Facebook’s browser which will allow you to see the map but not navigate. If you open this link on an Apple device it will only open the first waypoint; however, there’s a good chance that it will recompute a route that may be different than the planned route.
Approximate driving time – 6+ hours – Longer with stop offs
The Rattler

Google Maps Link for the Route: The Rattler
Note: To open the map in your mobile phone’s Google Maps app, you must view this page through your phone’s browser on an Android device. If you got here through a link from the Facebook app on your phone, the page opened up in Facebook’s browser which will allow you to see the map but not navigate. If you open this link on an Apple device it will only open the first waypoint; however, there’s a good chance that it will recompute a route that may be different than the planned route.
Approximate driving time – 8+ hours – Longer with stop offs
Blue Ridge Parkway Run
Google Maps Link for the Route: The Blue Ridge Parkway
Note: To open the map in your mobile phone’s Google Maps app, you must view this page through your phone’s browser on an Android device. If you got here through a link from the Facebook app on your phone, the page opened up in Facebook’s browser which will allow you to see the map but not navigate. If you open this link on an Apple device it will only open the first waypoint; however, there’s a good chance that it will recompute the route and may be different than the planned route.
Approximate driving time – 6+ hours
Foothill’s Parkway Twilight Run

Google Maps Link for the Route: The Twilight Run
Note: To open the map in your mobile phone’s Google Maps app, you must view this page through your phone’s browser on an Android device. If you got here through a link from the Facebook app on your phone, the page opened up in Facebook’s browser which will allow you to see the map but not navigate. If you open this link on an Apple device it will only open the first waypoint; however, there’s a good chance that it will recompute the route and may be different than the planned route.
Approximate driving time – 2+ hours
Thunder Road Run
Google Maps Link for the Route: Thunder Road
Note: To open the map in your mobile phone’s Google Maps app, you must view this page through your phone’s browser on an Android device. If you got here through a link from the Facebook app on your phone, the page opened up in Facebook’s browser which will allow you to see the map but not navigate. If you open this link on an Apple device it will only open the first waypoint; however, there’s a good chance that it will recompute the route and may be different than the planned route.
Approximate driving time – 4+ hours
Tips for not dying on the Dragon
Caution: Stupidity can hurt! Don’t be stupid.
Cellular reception in the mountains is spotty at best. Fontana Village has limited Verizon cellular support (at the Main Lodge) and WiFi (if you have calling over WiFi capabilities on your phone). Our main means of communication at Fontana Village and on the runs is via FRS portable radios. This is a proven and effective means of getting information out, but it can also become an annoyance. Unnecessary chatter and “drunk” calls can motivate folks to turn their radios off. When important information needs to get out, it can’t. We ask that all participants use some radio discipline and keep your announcements short and to the point. If you like to have a long conversation with another person or group, have everyone change to a different channel so you don’t hog the event’s communication channel. In addition, we have compiled a few tips about general radio etiquette:
- When using your radio, press the PTT (Push to talk) button and hold for 3 or so seconds before you speak. Speak clearly and calmly at least 2 to 3 inches from the mic. on the radio. If you get closer, you may blare or come across garbled.
- Additionally, if you do not wait the 3 or so second, you may cut off the first half of what you say making the message confusing.
- DO NOT USE THE AUTOMATED CALL BUTTON! This causes a very loud and long audio page to come across every single radio within distance on that channel including your own to occur. It’s annoying and rude and can cause communication issues between others that could be important. This should ONLY be used in an emergency.
- When using the radios to relay information, such as debris in the road or a LEO around a corner to be mindful of, be short and sweet with your statements. We do not want to hog the channel and or broadcast garbage that other people outside of our group pickup and disturb them.
- Understand that we are in the mountains and reception can at times be very short distances, especially when we are actively driving on one of the runs such as The Dragon. In these cases, please help to relay back important information through the group. For example, if I was the leader and there was debris on the shoulder coming up, I would radio “Caution, debris right”. If you can hear this and are a few cars back from the front, please repeat it as those closer to the rear may not have heard me. The last thing we want is an easily avoidable obstacle to cause damage to someone’s car and ruin the rest of their weekend.
- There are a lot of shortened words used to expedite communications, such as LEO = Law Enforcement Officer. Due to this, please plan to pay attention and learn these the first day or so you are here. It will help everyone to be on the same page to directly and efficiently communicate what needs said.
Damn, I hate it when I forget that!