Import Alliance Summer Meet 2012

If you plan on attending with us, I highly suggest you buy your tickets now.

$20 + convenience fee per ticket. (My total ended up being $43 for two tickets.)

Not sure if they are only seeling a certain number of pre-sale tickets.
Enjoy

Can u post a link? And do I need a separate ticket for each day. Or is 1 ticket good for the weekend?

One ticket will get you in all weekend





I hate that they raised the price from $10 a car for both days to $20 a person for both days and that it is now further away. There's no way you can tell me that renting out Zmax for the weekend is that much more exponentially expensive than Nashville Speedway.

Eh who knows what they have in-store for this event. Maybe more resources available? (Bathrooms, security, food/drink stands blah blah blah)
I still think it's a fair price for both days. Anything above $20, I may question it more lol.

We'll see how this 'expedited' entrance goes with the pre-sale tickets. Pretty sure it's the first time they're doing pre-sale tickets, so hopefully it goes smoothly!

As noted, it says to be sure that EVERYONE in the vehicle has a ticket in hand otherwise they'll move you over into the regular line and that would suck donkey balls. Don't be THAT GUY.

Tickets

Link.for presale tickets please

xjoshx wrote:

Link.for presale tickets please

Yo dawg, I heard you like links. So I had hannah link you above your link request so you can request links when there are already links yo.







/mind fuck.

Lol didn't see it was blue since I looked on my phone. thanks

Yep no problem

Been awhile since we all checked in. Just making sure planning/saving is on track. We're coming up on the deadline to have unnecessary rooms cancelled so if you have any doubt in your mind about the possibility of you going, let me know.

Doing this from memory...
We have Q, his friend Riley, and Matt in a double room.
Dylan and his gf have a double room. <-- This is what I would like an update on. lol Room for 2 more.
and Josh, his gf and his friend have a double room.
Anddd then my room with Mike.

I believe I just have the 4 rooms under my name, and the other guys booked for themselves.

Here's an update, I just purchased my tickets


As far as rooms, I believe all of what you posted is still solid. When it comes to Dylan's room, it 100% depends upon him bringing his friends from back home. Text him, message him, call him, whatever you need to do......but we need to figure that out. He won't listen to me anymore. The whole room situation is riding on that and he doesn't seem to really want to give me info. The only thing he has told me is that one of the two possible 'others' that he's bringing is giving him money soon




So. If he brings his friends, I will be staying with Matt. If he doesn't bring his friends, I think it would be in best interest to cancel Matt's room and have Matt, myself and Riley stay in Dylan's room.




Contact Dylan. I've tried and he's always going to 'get back to me' on that one

yeah im buying our tickets friday. its closing in too fast, and my budget is getting stretched very tight lol. i feel like im not gonna have enough money, but i know for a fact im gonna have hundreds more than i need to. and thats just me, multiply that by 3 for my gf and brandon

More Tail of the Dragon tips:

Quote :

During your first, and maybe even second pass, stick to the speed limit, and the speed advisories on the curves (some are as low as 10mph). That will give a feel for the road and traffic conditions. Don't bother trying to scope out the LEO's hiding spots. They are usually moving, not laying in wait.

Stay away from the center line. You may find that others do not follow that rule. This past year, I nearly got into a head-on with a crotch rocket, that was riding left of center - ya know, to see how fast he could take the turns.

Keep as close the shoulder as you can, without falling off. Yes, in some areas falling off the shoulder is a real possibility. It's not gonna send you into a barrel roll down the mountain, but you could mess up the underside of your car.

If the driver/rider behind you seems agitated with your speed, do not drive faster than you are comfortable. The road is littered with shoulder pull-offs. Stop on one of those, and let him pass. once he's passed, do not try to keep up. While he may be a local who's been on the road dozens of times, he may also be a first-timer with no clue. It's best not to take the chance, and follow him off a cliff, or into the mountainside.

And as James said, "...go during the meet in the summer and you will have a lot more fun."

Oh! If you haven't already, check out the site Tail of the Dragon Lots of info and tips there.

Quote :

upgrade your brake or at least the brake pad.
use higher boiling point brake fluid.
good tires.
get familiar with the dynamic of your suspension, know when you need to accelerate and when you need to brake.
go easy on the first run and feel the road and twists.
have fun and yea, watch for cops.

Quote :

So definantly go easy on the first run. Also, if your going up there with some friends and you decide to keep in touch via radio, the cops will listen in to everything you say... Cough Cough!

Quote :

(Certain parts are omitted because they pertain to motorcycles)

1. Always check your tire pressure before a run on the Dragon. It will never be as important as here.

3. Stay in YOUR lane. and there are a few good reasons... some obvious.. some not. (1). Yes, you might shave a hair off your time by "cross-laning", but keep this in mind... Riding the Dragon fast takes 100% concentration. If you are drifting across lanes and there happens to be another rider coming the opposite direction, as soon as he sees you in HIS lane.. he may lose HIS concentration and perhaps go down or take you down. His life is not worth your 1 second of shaved time. (2) you may take out somebody else, and (3).. You could die.

4. If another rider is on your ass... when appropriate, wave them past. No matter how good you THINK you are.. there is always somebody who is faster or stupider. Do not take it personal. You getting passed will not appear in any newspaper or the next issue of MCN.

5. As the Dragon is not a race track, there will be police. I find that they usually set up their radar traps on the few straights or at the bottom of the hill on the Tennessee side... almost never in the curves. To avoid handfuls of tickets... SLOW DOWN on the straights...If you must speed.. do it in the curves which is the primary reason you're here anyway. I give this same advice for riding the Blue Ridge Pky.

6. Try not to scare the shit out of the cages you are going to pass. They may be old.. they may be looking for a place to move out of your way.. they may be an undercover cop. Be courteous. Try to both flash your lights as a warning that you are going to pass and WAVE after your pass is successful. About 60-70% of the cages on the Dragon will actually pull over for you when they find a spot. If you/we continually piss off the locals.. sooner or later our party will come to an end.


9. Rather than riding full out and trying to make better times (if that is your goal...) work on your technique at slower speeds. Hanging off, throttle control, corner exiting, etc.. Like martial arts.. once you master the technique.. the speed will come. THINK about what you are doing, analyze AFTER the ride, then practice.

10. Never ride at 10/10ths. There are too many variables. The Dragon is not a track and conditions change quickly. Shadows will strain your vision, gravel (while not common) appears after rains in some curves, furry little critters scramble out in front of the unsuspecting, a shady area may still be wet if early, and sometimes you'll find oil or antifreeze where a cage has either spewed or another rider has crashed.. Give yourself at least 1-2 second padding for emergencies or line corrections.

11. Many SUV's, pick-ups, etc have large mirrors that stick waaay out. If you are hugging the center line and hanging off.. your head may come into close contact with these mirrors..not a good thing unless you want to eat pudding and drool for the rest of your life. Try to stay centered or to the outside of your lane if possible.

12. Dont go blowing by the overlook....bikes and cars are always pulling in and out... and coppers too............Contributed by Patrick Jennings

13. Ride the Dragon on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday, fewer bikes and fewer police. I first rode the dragon 10 years ago when it was still fairly unknown. Speed limit was 55 with nary a cop in sight. Now police jump out of the woods taking video and speed limit is down to 35. Contributed by Pete Osta / Raleigh,NC

14. Check your mirrors before you pull out for a pass/overtake, so you don't get zapped by a 23 year old on an R1. Contributed by Ozy / France

15. Avoid the painted lines when the pavement is wet. They are extremely slippery.

16. Do NOT sightsee!. The Dragon is to ride, 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 ahead.

17. The road crews usually work on the eroded shoulders after the summer peak is over. They have a way to use gravel in places that need it. Unfortunately, they pile the gravel on asphalt patches in the broken pavement spots on the inside radius of the turns. The first cage that comes along will scatter the gravel out to the center of the curve. Be extremely careful!! Be sure you can avoid the gravel or you'll take the ball bearing ride of your life! Contributed by Wade Davis / Ocala, Florida

18. FATALITIES: According to the official Dragon website...."Every death that we know of on the Dragon occurred while riders were NORTHBOUND !" Hmmmm (We will be heading Southbound)

DO A BARREL ROLL!

what is a cage

xjoshx wrote:

what is a cage

biker term I think for cars, trucks, vans, etc.

Yep^

Hopefully by now everyone has their rooms switched over into their name.

Is there anyone else that wants to caravan down with us?

Everyone else that I've talked to is leaving either Thursday evening or Friday morning.



As of today (7/8 ), we have the following people leaving Indianapolis Thursday morning:
Hannah (Accord)
Mike (M3)
Josh (Accord) + 3
Dylan (240sx) +1
Matt (STi)
Myself (350z) + 1

Not sure if Dylan's friends are driving down with us or if they are leaving later.

Q joey an ricky said they are going to meet up with us when were all leaving thursday, But if there not there when we are leaving, no were not waiting I know that so its all good.

Sounds good to me. Try to have them shoot for about 8 EASTERN time on Thursday morning. We will try to leave by around 8-9am

Sounds good man

If anyone has any walkie talkies, feel free to bring them. On any long caravan trip, they've always helped in the past. I have one set that I will be bringing.

QMeli907 wrote:

If anyone has any walkie talkies, feel free to bring them. On any long caravan trip, they've always helped in the past. I have one set that I will be bringing.

i can has the second yes?

I know for sure Dylan isn't getting it


Last year he turned it off and simply left it in the cupholder for all 5 hours of the trip.

QMeli907 wrote:

I know for sure Dylan isn't getting it


Last year he turned it off and simply left it in the cupholder for all 5 hours of the trip.

i have the most sketchy car.

If anyone has any stops they would like to make along the way, let me know. I'm trying to plan out the pitstops ahead of time so we can know exactly where we will be stopping. You should all have received a text

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Edit: Here's what Hannah and myself have come up with so far. Like I said, message me or post if you have ideas, input, or suggestions.

Proposed First Stop (A): Highway I-75 - Exit 87 - Richmond, Kentucky
Approximately 230 miles and 4 hours from Indianapolis
This will be used as a fuel fill up point, as well as for getting lunch.
Food: Steak n Shake, Chik fil a, BDubs, Panera Bread, QDoba, McDonald's, Penn Station, Arby's
Gas: Shell, Circle K, BP, Speedway

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Proposed Second Stop (B): Superstop Shell Market, 743 West Lamar Alexander Parkway, Maryville, TN 37801
Approximately 160 miles and 3 hours from Stop A
This will be used as a fuel fill up point, as well as a location to check our cars before we get to the Tail of the Dragon. This is about the last town we will pass through before hitting the Dragon.

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Proposed Third Stop (C): Shell Gas Station, 443 Airport Road, Arden, NC 28704
Approximately 130 miles and 2 hours BEFORE we arrive at hotel in Concord.
This will be used as another fuel full up point and will be the last stop before we arrive at the hotel.

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Lastly, here is the updated link with all the stops included from Avon, In to the Howard Johnson in Concord, NC: http://goo.gl/maps/bqKq