TRACK DAZE
Cop Tales 5
Author: Jim Bailey/Photos by Kilboy.com
“Tails” from The Dragon
 The younger of my two sons, Ted, is an active member of KatRiders.com. As the name of the website somewhat implies, it’s a discussion forum primarily for Suzuki Katana owners, though all are welcome. One of the KatRiders annual events is a trip to North Carolina to gather at “Deals Gap”. This is a beautiful area close to the Smoky Mountain National Park in Tennessee. One of the most famous roads is US 129, a stretch at the Tennessee/North Carolina boarder called “The Tail of the Dragon”. Its claim to fame is an astounding 318 curves in just 11 miles. Simply put, the road is a motorcyclist’s dream.
The police presence in this area has grown substantially from what it was a decade ago, as the reputation and notoriety of the “Tail of the Dragon” continues to draw ever increasing numbers of riders (and drivers) who come to test their skills. Each year they make a pilgrimage as if this place were Mecca and every year some don’t return home. As a result, increased law enforcement has been allocated to the area roads, especially on the Tennessee side. Recently, some locals began expressing concerns that things were getting out of hand, and a plea for help went out. Fortunately or unfortunately, law enforcement responded. It wasn’t long before the LEOs (Law Enforcement Officers) were accused of being overzealous in their efforts, as even some of the locals were receiving citations. Tourism had taken a hit since the LEOs arrived, and the economy was already abysmal. Indeed, this has become quite a dilemma. The lesson here is simple: be careful what you ask for folks; “Big Brother” may be all too happy to oblige. When we vacation at the Gap, Ted and I always stay at the Two Wheel Inn, a motel near Robbinsville, NC. At this unique establishment, each unit has an attached garage which is big enough to accommodate two or three sportbikes. It’s a neat idea; your motorcycles are secured and out of the weather so you can rest easy at night. The place is clean and has a friendly atmosphere. Almost exclusively, the motel’s guests are riders.
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