Wake the Dragon 2025

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86salmon

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I guess I should post some background about Wake the Dragon for those unfamiliar


It's my favorite car meetup by far. I've also gone Classic Hondas on the Dragon a few times and will be back again this October. Wake is very different. While CHD is huge and has a great meetup portion with a large variety of old Hondas and wild builds, Wake is more about the roads

Some folks arrive the Wednesday or Thursday before so that they can get good clean runs on the Dragon and explore the Smokey Mountains.

On Friday, there's usually a newcomer drive in the morning. That evening there's a meet and greet and folks will get their welcome packets

Saturday there's traditionally a rally at the Fontana dam for a group photo before driving groups head out. Folks usually run the Dragon and loop back to Deals Gap via the Cherohala Skyway with stops for lunch and at the Killboy T-shirt shop and/or 129hub.

Groups are split up before hand by the pace drivers of are confident in running. Slow medium and fast. While we're up there to have fun, we encourage everyone to be safe and NOT push beyond your comfort as well as maintaining proper mountain etiquette

After the days runs there's a car show at Fontana villages followed by a BBQ banquet and charity raffle that usually has pretty amazing door prizes

Honda pro Jason, Derek Robinson, Two Step Performance, Hybrid Racing, Unity Performance, and Wunderladen Racing were all present at last year's event and have away gift certificates, a free tune, a shifter assembly and loads of other swag

The best part is being able to actually meet and talk to other enthusiasts. This meet is very much about the community and of course, that amazing bunch of roads!!


Things to see in the area? The Dragon and Skyway are both phenomenal drives. Dragon is white knuckle twists and turns. Skyway has long fast sweepers and pull offs with great views. Foothills parkway is a slow road along the top of a ridge with great views of the valleys below.

Also nearby are Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, Maggie Valley, Pisgah National Forest, and Smokey Mountains National Park

The Blue ridge parkway runs through a lot of these sights. I love highway 28, the Moonshiner. It climbs up the mountain from Walhalla, SC all the way to Deals Gap and the Dragon. It's a great road with just as many technical sections as the Dragon, but more spread out and with great views, waterfall hikes, and nice towns along the way

I'll continue posting more info about the meet as it becomes available
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86salmon

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Just booked a room for my first Dragon event. Trying to talk a 2006 Cayman S and a late model Fiesta ST to come and crash the party with me... Really looking forward to it! Only a 12hr drive for me..

C'mon black Friday... get here so I can get more ready for this!
 

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It might be a Canadian thing ;P

I have some friends I rock climb with every year and they drive down from Great Lakes area of Canada to meet me at New River Gorge

That’s a few hours from me but it’s always a good day trip to hit the curves in Hawks Nest when traffic allows it.

I missed out on this years event. I’m hoping to plan in advance enough that I can finally make it to one!
 

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My buddy and I talk about this past April's event pretty much every week... it was such a good time. Every new mod or adjustment is followed by "damn this thing is gonna be so much fun on the Dragon next year." Can't wait!! Really hoping I can be FBO/big turbo by then ;)
 


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86salmon

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My buddy and I talk about this past April's event pretty much every week... it was such a good time. Every new mod or adjustment is followed by "damn this thing is gonna be so much fun on the Dragon next year." Can't wait!! Really hoping I can be FBO/big turbo by then ;)
It was nice chatting before the banquet last year. I'm excited to hear how you run with the things you've recently added 💪
 

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It was nice chatting before the banquet last year. I'm excited to hear how you run with the things you've recently added 💪
Really need to get this thing on a track... the Dragon gave me an itch I didn't even know I had haha
 
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86salmon

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Really need to get this thing on a track... the Dragon gave me an itch I didn't even know I had haha
CCR autox at zmax is supposed to be well run, and you have Track night in America at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Get a helmet and give it a shot!

I'm going to CCR autox at Michelin proving grounds and a track day at CMP next month
 

JustAHatchback

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CCR autox at zmax is supposed to be well run, and you have Track night in America at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Get a helmet and give it a shot!

I'm going to CCR autox at Michelin proving grounds and a track day at CMP next month
Yeah I'm like 10min from the Speedway lol. Unfortunately don't see many upcoming events, but VIR is also 2.5hrs away...
 
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86salmon

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JustAHatchback

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CCR autox at zmax is supposed to be well run, and you have Track night in America at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Get a helmet and give it a shot!

I'm going to CCR autox at Michelin proving grounds and a track day at CMP next month
Can confirm the autox at Zmax is a great time. I’ve done it twice in my Civic, but honestly saving up for an old Miata to lean more into that hobby, since the Civic is my daily.
 
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86salmon

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Deadline for room discounts is quickly approaching! Come join us ripping it in the Smokey Mountains!!
 

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Dragon was recently featured on Gears & Gasoline if you've never seen it

Honestly, that video 100% put me off going there - if it is like they portray...

"Hell is other people [on the road]" - Sartre

I'd probably need the Banquet-only option for my sanity lol 🥩🍳

 
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86salmon

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Dragon was recently featured on Gears & Gasoline if you've never seen it

Honestly, that video 100% put me off going there - if it is like they portray...

"Hell is other people [on the road]" - Sartre

I'd probably need the Banquet-only option for my sanity lol 🥩🍳

I saw they posted this but hadn't watched it until now

Seeing that they were there for Toguefest, I get the chaos. Toe gay has some clapped out craziness. I would t let their experience at the Dragon scare you

It's an experience worth having

There are MANY other amazing roads there too. 28 from the gap down to South Carolina is a favorite. There are lots of smaller back roads around that are as technical and have zero traffic

The key is like the locals said in the video: stay in your lane, don't cross mustard, don't try to push beyond your comfort/limits

Also, driving during the week and at dawn/dusk the road is mostly clear
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