Back of the Dragon

[osbornk]

Back of the Dragon Day

June 2nd, 2012 ÔÇô ÔÇ£The Dragon AwakesÔÇØ

(Open to the Public at 9:00 AM)

Please come join us to ride and drive 32 miles of the most challenging black top in the southeast U.S. From moments of focused concentration, to moments of sheer beauty as you approach the overlooks (bring your camera). With mountain ranges in the distance and DragonÔÇÖs breath on the valley floor, you will feel the thrill of becoming a Dragon Master!

For the first time the gateways to the ÔÇ£Back of the DragonÔÇØ, Tazewell and Marion VA, will celebrate ÔÇ£Back of the Dragon DayÔÇØ in downtown areas on the same day, June 2nd, 2012. Festivities will include live music, bike shows, car shows, motorcycle and car company displays, and vendors. In addition, Tazewell will play host to three time national stunt champion, Bill Dixon. Bill will be on hand to perform for the crowd and celebrate the day with us. Another first this year is commemorative passports to mark the event. Be sure and pick up yours up at the Back of the Dragon tent in either town.

There will be plenty of food and beverages from local restaurants and food vendors. So come and celebrate ÔÇ£Back of the Dragon DayÔÇØ with us in Tazewell and Marion, Virginia.

Bike and Car Show Registration ÔÇô 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM

Opening Ceremonies ÔÇô 10:00 AM

Bill Dixon Stunt Riding Exhibition ÔÇô 10:45 AM, 2:00 PM and 5:00 PM.

http://backofthedragon.com/

 

[gsjay]

We rode this just last weekend.

Nice road for sure and the pavement was in good condition.

Sounds like a nice event.

jason

 

[26667]

wish

wish I could make the shindig, but I'm making plans to come down and spend money next month.

checked out the road and surround on google earth, and holy mackerel. I assume you have some fried food down there.

 

[osbornk]

wish I could make the shindig, but I'm making plans to come down and spend money next month.

checked out the road and surround on google earth, and holy mackerel. I assume you have some fried food down there.

I have around a half dozen routes of equally good roads mapped out in the area if you are interested. I did them back when the MOA rally was in Johnson City and later. They are a Word document. Some of them have a good place to eat around lunch time and are 150-200 miles long which is a good ride considering the curves and mountains. Let me know if you want them and I can e-mail them to you.

 

[26667]

sigh

I'm gonna change my sig line to: "In the middle of some of the crappiest excuse for riding in the country."

I'd love it if you recommended some other roads in the area. But it looks like all the way from Lex to The back o' The dragon is about a zillion per cent better than riding in IL. We made or roads reeeeally straight and flat to match.. I have no idea what they were thinking.

but anyhoo, I suppose i should PM my email so the heinous BMW riders don't see my email: geneweygandt@yahoo.com

thanx!

 

[26667]

you oughtta see

ok everybody else...especially those of you who live and ride in the middlewest. you really oughtta check this out. I went to The Dragon last year, and like so many would have to call it over-rated. The Cherahola right next door was much more fun. The roads near the soon-to-be-famous Back O' The Dragon look awesome from Google Earth. and Osbornk's extra guides are kinda incredible.

Meet you there

 

[39520]

We found the Back of the Dragon by accident last month. We went for a 3 day ride on the bikes and were temporarily lost-but-unconcerned along the VA/WV border and ended up in Tazewell, looking for Marion, and the locals pointed us to Rt 16. It was truly a great ride, almost no traffic on a Thursday afternoon. The rider on the GS in front of me low sided and was pinned to the guard rail by his bike, but neither rider nor bike were particularly hurt - got up, dusted off, fired up, rode on.

It wasn't until a few days later that we found out that the road was a destination for bikes.

BTW we stayed at the Francis Marion Hotel on the main drag in Marion. Semi-secure parking out back with surveillance cameras. A really really sleepy bar off the lobby with good beer prices (Black Rooster). Livelier place down the street called Macados, as far as I can remember.

 

[Earache]

Rode it last weekend. The road has been paved in sections since last summer and was not nearly as dirty with gravel as last time I was on it either. Not as much traffic this time around either.
Worth a ride if you're in the area.

Few pics from last weekend....