[bill]

From the Iron Butt Association Newsletter

Deals Gap - 1,000 miles, 33,708 corners in 24 hours!

Although we want to stress, due to the fact that this ride **requires** a pace above the posted speed limits for the entire time (unlike the NYC-1000 and DC-1000 routing that allowed an average near 50 mph) and as such, we will not offer it as an IBA ride, it is newsworthy for the long distance world. On that note...

Rick Pepin has completed 106 laps (a little over 1,000 miles) riding, of all things, a Honda Gold Wing (GL1800) on a very winding road the locals call "The Tail of the Dragon".

According to our own Sheila Winnie, the ride was completely documented to the highest standards and there is no doubt Rick did it!

 

[BlackScorpion]

Don't forget to mention about the "Tree of Shame" where folks that have crashed their bikes while riding "the dragon's tail" hang a memento of their crash.

 

[Brendan]

Is that "Yellow Wolf" ?
I'm suprised it could be done.

 

[SkipTkt]

On last night's "SuperBikes!" [Speed Channel] there was a story featuring Deal's Gap. I decided I absolutely MUST do that road once in my life. But not on a Goldwing... that rider has my highest regard. Amazing. [ :bowdown ].

:rider

 

[Thumper 8]

Is that "Yellow Wolf" ?
I'm suprised it could be done.

Yep, Yellow Wolf.

Here is a cut and paste from a VFR site where he is a frequent contributor:

-------------------------------------------------------

I DID 106 ONE WAY LAPS AT DEALS GAP,STORE TO OVERLOOK AND BACK
ON A GL1800!!!

ok its the facts time!!!

tires are still good,they were new--metz rear"60" and avon front

brakes were new,oil and rear changed

1001.7 miles"real"

55.69 gal of fuel

high mpg 22.8
low mpg 19.28

6 witnesses

slowest riding lap time 15.00 min.

fastest lap time and personal best 11:30 at 8pm after 2 hrs of riding

had 1/4 steel plates on my foot pegs,yes i need to make another set,lol

iba---i knew the would not do this why and agree with why!
the speed limit was 55 a few short yrs ago but was lowered for reasons that anyone knows,the n.c. side is still 55mph so?

i have no problem with mike kneebone,thanks for the kind words

now to safety

i picked tues-wed due to the low traffic

no tickets,in fact never saw an leo

not one complaint lodged at the store for my riding"people know where to complain"

not one crash there for that 24hrs,this surprized me

the ride was uneventful really,just clicked off lap after lap,got cold at 6 am or so,one trailer truck but thats it really!

thanks again for the folks that helped me they made the ride easy!!

--------------------------------------------------------

An amazing feat.

There is a video out there somewhere of him on his yellow Wing at Deal's Gap - very, very smooth and fast rider.

 

[J_Scott]

Does riding a Goldwing for IBA rides REALLY count? I mean, seriously... that's just not fair!

 

[KaiBosh]

http://media.putfile.com/deals-gaplake-trash

That isn't a video OF the guy, it is from his bike though. I think he is the guy that will video-tape you from front and behind. Would be awesome to follow him through...

 

[lizard928s]

most of the porsche 928 crowd gets together every year to ride the tail of the dragon, looked pretty nuts.

 

[Brendan]

I decided I absolutely MUST do that road once in my life. But not on a Goldwing...

Why not ? Wing too fast for you ? ... not enough PVP ? ... can't afford one ???

 

[alternateimpact]

http://media.putfile.com/deals-gaplake-trash

That isn't a video OF the guy, it is from his bike though. I think he is the guy that will video-tape you from front and behind. Would be awesome to follow him through...

OMFG that was the sexiest stretch of twisties I have ever seen! I just got a boner! so where exactly is deals gap again? somwwhere in the deep south of USA? more importantly...soes anyone know anyone who lives around there? Screw Cancun, I will pay an all inclusive (rental of sprtbike included) trip to deals gap!:rockon

 

[weitaro]

i've seen some clips about "the tail of the dragon" on youtube.
where is it exactly?

 

[BlackScorpion]

where is it exactly?

North Carolina.
N35*27.968' by W083*55.174'

 

[Daniel Witt]

Yep saw that sequence on Superbikes/Speed Channel too... awesome... 318 turns in 11 miles... few good links...
http://www.killboy.com/
http://www.dealsgap.com/
http://www.tailofthedragon.com/

You know the more I surfed out Deals Gap <which I too would love to visit>, the more I realized how awesome we have it here in metro Vancouver, Fraser Valley, BC, the Pacific Northwest... Still no place like home...

 

[Thumper 8]

the more I realized how awesome we have it here in metro Vancouver, Fraser Valley, BC, the Pacific Northwest... Still no place like home...

3 words - Mount St Helens :rockon