Dragon Tales - Smart Car of America Forums : Smart Car Forum

**jwight** · 09-28-2009, 10:31 AM

What to say? If you weren't there you missed a fantastic smart gathering as well as the opportunity to put some faces with those user id's and get to meet a bunch of very enthusiastic smart owners. Lots of folks involved, but one guy made it happen - thanks Gary!!!

If a single photo had to sum up the weekend, it might be this one:

or this one:

or possibly this one:

hopefully not this one

but it probably has to be this one:

A really mixed group of folks; the youngest was a 9 year old named Sam and the oldest was... well, older than I am at least. Stock cars, modded cars, custom paint jobs, car on trailer, trailers with extra tires, motorhomes, smarts pulling trailers - you name it, you could find it there.

The best part of the weekend - for me, hands down it was doing the Dragon several times, both directions, wet and dry conditions, and finding out just how well a stock smart can handle that stretch of road. No doubt the highly modded cars were better at it, but the stock car is no slouch. That's something most of us never had the chance to discover until this past weekend and more owners should try something similar - find an autocross venue near you and have at it. You'll be surprised how well these little cars handle when pushed hard.

Had a great time, thanks again to Gary for making it happen, to everyone who turned out in spite of the weather, to Dave Schembri for braving the roads in a rented Toyota

and to Louis (tvengineer) for bringing the New Orleans goodies:

More photos at: Picasa Web Albums - John - Outsmarting t...

bpsmart · 09-28-2009, 11:19 AM

What happens on the Dragon stays on the dragon, but I can testfy that
Sundays dry run with the Northern carvan was the most fun I had
even the motorcycles were yeilding to the down hill flyers this car only
gets better when asked to perform,10+ hp and even 1 Lap of America,
looks good.

See you in the parking lot next year

**jwight** · 09-28-2009, 11:24 AM

Absolutely! What I forgot to add was that I really wished there had been a turbo car (not the 450 cdi version) at the Dragon. The smart handles fine, but it doesn't have enough oomph out of the corners to the next turn, especially if it's an up hill run. I think the turbo would add the needed hp and with the right suspension and tires the smart would be a true Dragon slayer.

And another thing... one of the reasons I went to the Dragon was to see if taking the Corvette would be a good thing. After driving the smart, I've decided the Vette is just too big and there's no way you could throw it into those tight curves the way we did with the smart.

bpsmart · 09-28-2009, 11:40 AM

I would trade my Mini Cooper for a turbo smart, that would really be cool
and then I could, take on Jet Fuel.He was really Quick.

**rfernatt** · 09-28-2009, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwight

Absolutely! What I forgot to add was that I really wished there had been a turbo car (not the 450 cdi version) at the Dragon. The smarts handles fine, but it doesn't have enough oomph out of the corners to the next turn, especially if it's an up hill run. I think the turbo would add the needed hp and with the right suspension and tires the smart would be a true Dragon slayer.

I said the same thing to the wife coming back across the Dragon.

I started using 2nd a lot more even if it was near redline going into the curve and had some better luck coming out of the turns, but more power is always welcome. The wider fronts definitely helped in the grip area compared to what I remember of the stock setup on WV twisties. And, the Dragon has two marked lanes! For added challenge on our back roads, we just don't mark them and let people in the hairpin sort it out!

jetfuel · 09-28-2009, 12:27 PM

..Mr.jwight had a chance to experience both...the Pasion with a totally stock set up and a Brabus that some one was dumb enough to hand him the keys....very first turn in the Brabus and all we/I saw was him coming out of the grass on the right side...
...hope you enjoyed the very short time on that Brabus...it may or may not happen again...

jetfuel....thanks for the pics....
btw....bent a wheel when I hit that gianourmous pot hole before the 275 by-pass...but that's another thread.........................

**jwight** · 09-28-2009, 12:42 PM

Man, hate to hear that! I-75 is pretty much all potholes now.

ulflyer · 09-28-2009, 12:44 PM

Loved the pic and commentary. Glad to see there are some owners almost as old as I am. Only wish I could have got my 08 Cabrio a week earlier so I could have participated since I live in central NC and that would have been a great drive getting there.

Maybe I can generate a one day get togather somewhere up on the Blue Ridge Pkwy.

roobi9 · 09-28-2009, 12:47 PM

Great pictures. Looks like everyone had a great time!

**jwight** · 09-28-2009, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ulflyer

Loved the pic and commentary. Glad to see there are some owners almost as old as I am. Only wish I could have got my 08 Cabrio a week earlier so I could have participated since I live in central NC and that would have been a great drive getting there.

Maybe I can generate a one day get togather somewhere up on the Blue Ridge Pkwy.

Sorry you missed it; Gary is working on Outsmarting the Dragon II as we speak so block off your calendar for next year.