Sunday July 12

Welcome to Sunday folks. Unfortunately weve started the day with some rain but it looks sparse so hopefully it will dry up a bit. We are expecting much of the same for tomorrow too, so bring some gear.

Well, the weekend has gone fairly well so far. We had a couple of smaller wrecks yesterday, but nothing major. This am, there are already a lot of riders out even with the rain so I dont expect it to get very quiet. There is also a Mustang group milling around, not too many, but between them and the S2000's there are a few cars around the area.

Upcoming this week, is the BMWOA Rally in Johnson City. It should bring a fair bit of riders out, and I would think we will see many, if not most of them here sometimes between now and nest Sunday. Even Francois and www.dualsporttouring.com will be there vending, so make sure to stop by and say hello to Americas favorite frenchman.

Enjoy your day folks. Be safe, have fun and respect all you see and meet. --- Ben

Saturday July 11

Good morning everyone. As of 8:30 am, its a beautiful morning and it only looks to get better. highs today will be in the 90's and there is a chance for rain because of our elevation but I dont think it will. Ive been wrong before though.

Looks like theres a small gathering of S2000's here this weekend. Looks like its mostly the core of the group that comes out a couple of times a year, and all are pretty good drivers. There also seems to be quite a few dual sports around this weekend, though Ive not heard of any gatherings. Otherwise its just the usual traffic up here.

Late yesterday, there was a wreck around the 6.5 mm where someone was showing off for the cameras. Rider and bike were ok, but it was a wreck none the less. Then on my way in this am, I found a perfectly good rider laying in the road about 4.5 mm. The rider is ok, but could have a broken shoulder. It definitely could have been worse though. This isnt a place to mess around folks. Riding in this area requires your undivided attention at all times. To lose focus, even for a second or two could be very bad for all involved. Please ride within your abilities and know your limits.

T-DOT finished the paving of the pull offs. They completed the job by paving the complete pull off at Tabcatt late in the day, and it all looks great. A huge thanks to T-DOT for all they have done thus far.

Fishing update. Stopped and talked to a TWRA guy a couple of days ago, and was told of some super secret crib beds they dropped in the water after they raised the levels back in Chilhowee. Ive not had the chance to fish them yet, but Im all a flutter thinking about the huge bass sitting on the new beds. Just last week there was a 7 and 8 pound largemouth taken form the lake. I want one of those !!!

Special thanks goes to Yard Dog in Maryville. Seems hes pretty smart when it comes to fishing these parts and he left me a grab bag of soft plastics to try. Thanks Yard Dog !!!!! I will let you know how they work.

Thats all I have. Please folks, be safe, have fun and respect all you see and meet. --- Ben

Friday July 10

Howdy everyone and welcome to Friday. Weather is a bit overcast, and nothing like we wanted but the sun should have this burned off in no time. Highs are expected to be in the 80's with a small chance for a shower in the afternoon. The weekend looks ok, but we can also expect showers here and there through the days.

Leaving yesterday, I noticed that T-DOT is at Tabcatt Bridge paving the big pull out down there. All the turns are complete nad they are finishing now. They even started to move equipment out, so you know they are done. Lastly will come the new signage program and although we are not exactly sure what will become of that, it should start next week or the week after.

Ive got nothing on the schedule for the weekend but that does not mean it wont be busy. Plenty of folks will be rolling around so be ready for some great people watching. With the weather as perfect as it is, I wont be surprised to see many folks out.

Did some fishing the last few nights, and to answer the question of Banjo Minnow vs. Gulp Alive, the answer is, its a tie. Joe did get a beautiful 4 lb smallie on his Banjo, Gulp Worm seems to be getting way more hits. Maybe Joe didnt watch the infomercial close enough..... :)  The saga continues and I will keep you updated.

7 more weeks til the ultimate in motorcycle racing on the Eastern Seaboard. The Red Bull USGP will be at Indy Motor Speedway on August 28-30 and I plan on being there with bells on. Last year we did a group photo in front of the museum and we want to do it again this year. Bring your smiling face and your Deals Gap t-shirt to the huge fountain on Sunday morning around 10 am so we can get a shot for the site. 7 more weeks !!!!!!

Thanks for all the great emails sent in folks. Its good to hear from all of you and thanks for the kind words. Sometimes I get some pretty silly emails from armchair warriors and they can get pretty harsh, but the good far outweighs the bad in this arena, and again, we appreciate the hundreds of emails that thank us all for doing the job we do. Keep 'em coming.

Thats all I have for now. Please be safe, have fun and respect all you see and meet. --- Ben

Thursday July 9

Its Thursday and its kind of quiet this am, but we expect it to get busier. Weather was supposed to be nicer than it is, and we are expecting a shower or two over the next couple of days.

Once again, I need to tell you about a sad day here. Tuesday we had the second fatality of 2009 here. Southbound rider went off the mountain at the 5mm, and passed on shortly after. I hate to report this type of occurrence folks, but its also the reality of day to day sometimes. Our thoughts go out to her loved ones and friends. Thanks to all that responded to this call. We do appreciate your efforts.

T-DOT  is almost done paving the pull offs. They are on the last stretch from 10 to Tabcatt. Its looking pretty good, though there are a few turns that could use some clean up and rolling. What a difference it has made though. Most folks use them to pull off and let quicker traffic by, but some still just dont get it. I followed 2 mini vans through from 10 to the store - at 15 mph - and never once did they even think about using them. I guess it takes all kinds, but hopefully it will catch on with the masses sooner than later.

With nothing on the schedule, I cant give you any info. So, instead I will with you a good day. Be safe. --- Ben

Monday July 6

Howdy everyone. Its Monday and its a bit wet still here. She rained hard last night up here but the road is trying to dry for the day. Highs are only expected to be in the 70's. We expect a bit more rain later today, but the balance of the week is looking good so far.

Ive got some great news for all of you. Last week I had reported that there was a second fatality on Saturday night. I had been told by 4 separate folks that the rider had passed on, and I reported exactly that. Thankfully this was incorrect information(sorry to report it) and the rider had been checked out of the hospital just a few short days ago. This means we are back down to the single fatality this season. Again, my apologies to everyone for reporting misinformation and thanks to the THP for sharing information.

GP race yesterday was a hair puller. What a great race is was. More importantly, I wanted to point out the fantastic job that Scott Russell continues to do calling these races. Scott is a good friend and he had said earlier in the year that he was having difficulty calling it, but I disagree. I think Scott is doing a fantastic job and I appreciate it very much. Looking out over the last year of so at all the people that have tried to do a job thats just not very easy, Scott has stood up and taken the reins. GREAT JOB SCOTT !!!!

Still looking for answers: Banjo Minnow or Gulp Alive Worms ?? Which is better and why /?

Looking like a quiet July week coming up. I would get out and ride if I were you. Be safe, have fun and respect. --- Ben

Sunday July 5

Sunday is here and so are we. Morning folks and welcome to yet another fantastic day at Deals Gap. Weather isnt working the way we want it to, but that to be expected sometimes. Forecast is for showers today and tomorrow with bits of clear here and there. They do say that this system might produce some rougher storms late in the day, but we shall see.

Yesterday was light for a Saturday, but people enjoyed it none the less. Typically, the 4th around here is a bit more quiet because so many spend time with family and such so we werent surprised to have a fairly slow day. Riding was still great and everyone that was out seemed to be having a great time so all is well that ends well.

GP Sunday: Today the race is coming to us from Laguna Seca in California. Always a great place to watch world class riders, and if you havent gone to check out the track, you certainly need to. I was there in 07' and had a great time. Food, people and the area were all fantastic. With a front line of Lorenzo, Rossi and Stoner this should be a good one. I believe Fox is going to cover it live at 5 pm so come out ans watch with us if you have the time. GO ROSSI !!!

Question for all you fishermen: Which do you think will work better. The Banjo minnow or a Gulp Alive minnow/worm and why?? Email me... ben at dealsgap dot com

Thats all I have. Be safe, have fun and respect all you see and meet. --- Ben

Saturday July 4

Happy 4th of July to all of you !!! A very special, heartfelt thanks to all that have given their time, energy and ultimate sacrifice to keep this nation as free as it is.  

Well, the weather is just fine today, but tomorrow might see some showers and thunderstorms. Highs will be in the 80's, which is great for riding too, so get out and go for a ride.

Yesterday I reported that there will be fireworks in Maryville and Knoxville, but shortly after I was told that both have been canceled because of tight budgets. I guess its time to break out the sparklers and make our own fun. Last night we got together with a bunch of friends and had a fantastic BBQ, then finished the night up with a bunch of fireworks. We just couldnt wait til tonite and it was worth it. Thanks to all for the fantastic evening.

The new pull offs have been working fantastically. Thanks T-DOT !!!  Please remember that they are there for both bikes and cars to let faster traffic by. There are plenty to choose from, and many seem to use them, but there are still some that arent interested in sharing. Please be courteous and share with everyone else.

With all thats going on, I still dont have much to report. I guess that is a good thing. Til tomorrow, I wish you a fantastic day. Be safe, have fun and respect all you see and meet. --- Ben

Friday July 3

Its Friday and the day is coming together very nicely. Highs are only expected to reach the high 80's and there is little humidity, so it makes for a perfect day riding. There is threat of showers through the weekend, but we will take a wait and see approach.

The 4th is tomorrow, and everyone seems to be heading somewhere. Yesterday was a little light in the motorcycle department but that is typical of this weekend. Seems everyone wants to hang with family instead of riding, and honestly I cant blame them.

There are fireworks all over the place this weekend, including Booms Day in Knoxville Saturday night, as well as the Duck Pond in Maryville. Tonite, on the lake just north of the Dragon, there is a lone family that lives just a few hundred yards north of the Foothills. This family has been doing a small fireworks demo every 4th, and this is no exception. If you are in the area tonite, and want to see a smaller display, but impressive none the less, then head towards the Foothills by 9 or so. You will see everyone gathering for it.

Special Mention: Todays mention goes to Tam and Randy in the STL. They couldnt make it down this weekend like they were supposed to, but Nonie and Al did. We will have a few boat drinks for you guys. Cheers !!

Thats all I have today. Be safe, have fun and respect all you see and meet. --- Ben

Thursday July 2

Its Thursday and what a beautiful day its turning out to be. Weather looks good, with a small chance of rain through the weekend. Overall, its looks like a perfect 4th weekend coming up.

Happy Belated Canada Day to all our Canadian friends. Just so you all know, I had 2 Molson Exports for all of you yesterday. Hope the party was a good one.

Well, theres not much on the calendar for the 4th weekend. I presume we will be busy as we always are, but I would also think many are going to spend time with family and head to parties this 4th. AAA actually said there would be much less travel this year, but weve not seen a slow down. Things are rolling right along here.

T-DOT update: The road crew are almost finished the northbound pass to fill in the pull offs. They are great too. Just an FYI, they are not there just for cars, but for bikes too. If you find yourself to be the slower rider/driver with people piling up behind you, take a minute and pull over to let the others pass. Legally in TN, if you are holding 5 or more vehicles up, you should be pulling over.

With nothing to report, I will wish you all a great day. Enjoy. --- Ben

Tuesday June 30

Good Morning Gang Looks like a superb week coming up as far as weather goes. Temps were 20 Deg cooler this morning than 24 hrs ago. Looks like mid 80's for the next 5 days. Monday was another great riding day with no major mishaps on the Gap. 4th of July weekend is shaping up to be a great weekend to ride, for those who can come up the 4th tends to be a slow and quiet weekend as everyone is doing the family picnics and fireworks think so it makes for a great time to ride here. Good friends (Cliff and Shawn) from florida are in this week, always great to see the Florida kids up in the area. Hope everyone has a great week. Brad

Monday June 29

Welcome to Monday and all it has to offer. Weather looks great for the coming days, and its already shaping up to be a perfect day here. Even with a little fog this am, it was a beautiful morning.

Once again, its with great sadness that we must report the passing of yet another rider. The accident from late Saturday night proved fatal for a sport bike rider from Georgia. Even with the efforts of his friends, the police and the Rescue Squad, the rider passed on from injuries at the hospital yesterday. Our thoughts go to all involved.

The weekend was a busy one with many milling around. Weather was hot and many felt it. There were in fact a couple of groups including the Savage Owners forum and a car club. Its was good to see as many people out as there were, and many had a great time.

Thanks to all for all the emails received. If you ever have something to add or say, please dont hesitate to email me here.

Thats about it. Be safe, have fun and respect all you see and meet. --- Ben

Sunday June 28

Good morning everyone. This ams weather is a bit overcast with lingering fog on top of the mountain. Highs are expected to hit in the 90's again, but we also have the threat of a shower or two this afternoon. Weather through the week looks good for the next few days, so get out and do something.

It is with great sadness and regret that I must report the first fatality of 2009 on the Dragon. Said rider was traveling southbound around the 5.5mm and went off the road and down the side. The riders friend didnt know what had happened to his buddy and enlisted the local officers to try to find him. It took hours to find the rider, as there were no indicators to show anyone had wrecked. It seems that he just drove off the side of the mountain. There is speculation as to whether or not the rider had suffered some sort of medical issue just before or not. Time wil tell and I will let you know when I get the info. RIP fellow rider.

After getting home last night, I decided it was time to gear up and head out for a quick spin to wind down after a very long day. I didnt make it to the Tallassee Store and I saw flashing lights. They were waiting for the helicopter to land so they could fly a guy from GA to the hospital. Seems he didnt negotiate one of the last turns coming off the Dragon, and he took a spill. I certainly do hope that the rider is ok, and that it wasnt more serious than it seemed. Our thoughts are with you.

Time to step up on the soapbox here for all you readers that actually care about what I have to say. I can go through all the "the isnt a race track" or "ride your own ride" but thats just not good enough. Yesterday, there were no less than 7 wrecks in various places and just about all were from rider error. .... and for the record, they were all cruisers. While I respect everyones right to go where ever they want, I also think some better judgment should be used based on riding ability and experience. The Dragon is not a place for just any rider(though some think it is). This - and most of the roads around it - are all very demanding and require your undivided attention at all times. If that is something you cant give, then you have no reason being in the mountains possibly putting yourself and others in danger. Yep, motorcycling can be a great way to pass the day and share time with family and friends, but not all roads are created equal and most everyone that rides should know their place. Please people, use just a bit more common sense..... end rant.

Had a visit from the head honcho in NCHP yesterday. He was ver complimentary regarding all we do here at the shop, and that was very flattering. Thank you for that.  He also said that because of all the issues on NC-28 that there will be some increased presence in the NC area. I for one, think this is a great idea, and I support them 100%. It all comes down to respect people. There are some great roads around this area, but we all need to respect those roads, our own abilities and the locals that live in this immediate area. We all have to share, and so far we arent doing that great a job right now. Please be mindful.

www.rideohio.org 's fearless leader, Tank, graced us with his presence the last 2 days. Its always a pleasure to see you Tank, and we look forward to your next visit. Maybe next time you can bring some friends with you.  :)

Race Day Sunday !!! Races start at 3 pm with WSB and go to GP at 5. It stands to be a perfect day on tv, so come up and help me scream at it. Its looking like a great race weekend. GO ROSSI !!!!!

I wish you all a great day and Im sorry that this isnt the best daily. I hope you enjoy whatever you are planning, and you do it with people you love. Please folks, be safe. Remember to have fun and respect all you see and meet. --- Ben

Saturday June 27

Welcome to Saturday everyone. Its already looking like a beautiful day here on the mountain and it looks like it will only get better. Highs are expected to be in the 90's today, but we might also get to see a shower later in the day.

On my way home yesterday, I noticed that T-DOT has already started to head back north, and that should take much less time than the southbound run. If all goes well, I would think they should complete it all by the end of next week, but I may be wrong. Either way, Ive noticed a difference already, and its much appreciated by all, Im sure. The berns seem to be getting used too. There are a few more scuffs on the guardrail berm, but thankfully Ive not seen anyone hurt seriously. Thats good news folks.

Heres a good one for you. This weekend, the Iron Pigs(a police motorcycle club) are in the area for a regional meet. Yesterday most of the group came through the Dragon and stopped for lunch here at the store. While they were here - 70+ of them - a younger man shows up with a FTP - Cops Lie - shirt on. Let the roasting begin, as I understood it. One of the larger cops took him up in a headlock and dragged him into the Grill where all the Pigs were hanging out, and it went from there. Both the police and the kid were in good spirits, so it all ended up well, but Im sure the guy with the shirt must have been worried for a bit. Theres a great shot on the top of this page on our site....

There are a few other groups around. Yesterday, we saw a small group of Triumph owners come through as well as a CBX group, but nothing in any major numbers. It was great to see all the CBX's come through. Ive always loved that style of bike.

Lastly, Tank is here. Lock up your women and children !!! Im not sure who let him out of Ohio, but Tank is back for another weekend of early morning/late night riding. Always great to see you Tank.

Thats all I have for the day. I hope you all enjoy it. Please be safe, have fun and respect all you see and meet. --- Ben

Friday June 26

Welcome to Friday everyone. Hope this finds you well and getting ready for a fabulous weekend. Weather doesnt look so promising for a short time today then it should be good after. There is a southbound storm coming out of Kentucky and we expect it will make it here by about 2 pm, if not sooner. After that, its looking really good for the balance of the weekend. Though theres a chance of rain all weekend, its a slim one.

This weekend Is yet another busy one with many smaller groups hanging around. I presume it will be ebb and flow today with many various gaggles coming and going. Sounds to me like a perfect people watching day/weekend.

T-DOT has started to head back northbound from the state line filling in the smaller northbound pull offs. I cant thank them enough for doing such a great job, and for their work ethic of cleaning up after themselves. Ive seen a lot of road work done in the past where they dont care so much about what is left behind on the roadways and these guys are just the opposite. They are even sweeping up after they are done. Once again, HUGE THANKS to T-DOT for the great job.

I wish I had something more interesting to share with you, but thankfully its been a pretty quiet week overall. I hope the weekend stays the same. Please remember to be safe, have fun and try to respect all you see and meet.  --- Ben

Thursday June 25

Morning everyone, I hope this finds you all well. Weather should be great the next few days, so no worries there. It looks like there might be some small rain showers coming. Weekend looks good though so dont let a thing stop you.

Well, I had a couple of days off and it just doesnt seem like its long enough to get my stuff done. I want to have a bit of fun and do all the "honey do" chores that need done. Well, between the chores, I went down to Smokey Mountain Harley Davidson to see about a new Harley...... for me. Before you start to pick on me for my choice, I wanted to ride the new XR1200 revamp of the old race flat tracker bike. Long story short, I was treated very well, but it was not a bike for me. With only 90 hp, it seems very under powered, but the ergonomics were very nice overall. I could see it as a "ride all day" bike, but I dont know that I would get anything with such little in the aftermarket world, just yet. Thanks for the test drive SM-HD. I now understand why everyone speaks so highly of you folks.

This week there are a bunch of motorcycle cops coming through the area. There is a gathering happening in the region, but Im not sure where. Either way there will be plenty of great riders out enjoying the roads, and you wont know whether they are police or not. Be polite people and remember to pass with respect.

Lastly, Brad has started to load more and more videos on www.dealsgaptv.com . If you have any small videos on the area, send them on to me or Brad and we will post them up on the site.

Thats it for me for the day. Be safe, have fun and respect all you see and meet. --- Ben

Monday June 22

Howdy, and welcome to Monday. Its a wet dreary am, but its promising to be a better day. Currently its in the 80's but I dont think it should get any worse. Seems lately the rains have been coming early in the mornings with nothing through the day. Good news for all you riders out there...

This last weekend went very well and there were no major incidents. I did see some smaller turn overs, but again nothing major. I did have a couple strange incidents though, and I will share one with you. Saturday am, I was coming in to work, and had came up the area that T-DOT was working on. T-DOT had coned off the pull offs that they had planned on paving coming this week to keep folks out of it. Well Saturday am, Im driving in and someone has moved the cones to make it seem as if southbound traffic had to change lanes around blind left handers. When I found the first set it took a minute, but I quickly realized that the rest of the pylons would be messed up as well, and they were. It tool me about 15 minutes to get them all off the road again, and Im glad I had because if not, there could have been a bad wreck.

This weekend coming up all I have on the list is a Subaru group and a couple of police riding groups coming through as well. I have not heard of anything else though. If you have a group coming through, dont hesitate to email me and let me know.

Thats all I have. Be safe this week with the paving of the pull offs. Be safe, have fun and respect all you see and meet. --- Ben