Guys, just got in from a weekend up in the Smokies and ran the Tail on the way back home. I have taken that route in several vehicles and various bikes, but this was a WHOLE new experience. Paddle shifts were firm and quick, brakes never faded and the RPMs were in the perfect range for a great run. I had a pair of GoPros (front and back) and will get those posted soon. I will post more pics and videos once I get them together.

 

Very cool! Looking forward to seeing some great shots you got. Did you have a special mount for your GoPro? I'm planning on getting the camera as well so would be curious to know.

 

+1.

 

I just ordered that exact same shot from Killboy! I will post them all when I get the download links without the watermarks. My son and daughter-in-law were having a blast trying to keep up in his Cooper S in the back-ground.

 

Between my son and myself we have 4 various suction cup mounts and find they all work equally well. Unfortunately the front GoPro on this run came loose on the vertical axis and pointed up into the trees for part of it until I could find a pull over and reset the angle and tighten.

 

Probably have close to thirty runs on the Dragon and all the surrounding roads in various cars. If you are there early enough and have no traffic and really attack the dragon the rear diff will over heat and lock up. Too many turns plus the torque and wide rubber are too much.

My most recent run ... pretty busy that weekend, with lots of stops and a few accidents which closed the road for a few hours.

 

To much traffic and too many police to push the limits so I never had any issue with the rear diff and we totally enjoyed our drive. I'm sure my vid will not be quite so intense, but it was fun. I'll post it and the pics as soon as I get them uploaded.

 

Bought some additional pics from a different site...and thought I would share

 

That's ridiculous. Jag needs to resolve that issue. I've never had an issue with the old school LSD.

 

I agree with you, however the Dragon is also a very special situation. Not that I have to explain it to anyone who has been there. You crest the road almost every turn, 314 turns, elevation changes an almost 4,000lbs car with 305s in my case, 600+bhp and 500+lbs of torque, it is a lot to ask, it is a lot of torques, a lot of weight transfer and the diff has to sort it all out, maybe it is needs and extra diff cooler.

Again it is no problem with traffic as in my video above but we plan our rides during the week early morning when the road opens or just before sunset and it is empty, it is a lot of stress on the car. I run the Dragon usually with 50+ cars in various run groups with everything as here track prepped Corvettes in front of me, McLarens, Lambos, Ferraris and Porsches. Many cars have varying issues, it is more demanding than a track session - it is more like a 20 minute Autocross. Some have clutch slipping, brake fades etc.

At the end of September I will be back again with America North Rally which is a 4 day rally to 4 different tracks and also the Dragon. I will have my track built Golf R with me and see how much better it will handle the Dragon.

But the rear diff on the Jag is weak as we see more and more posts of people in stock F Types getting the rear diff replaced with low, well within the trans warranty limits miles.