Road Rally to the Famous Tail of the Dragon on US Highway 129 in Vonore, Tennessee
June 20-21-22, 2025
Launching from SILO Auto Club and Conservancy 7am-9am on Friday June 20th.
Presented by IndyHoodRats &
The Shop DIY Auto Center
This event has a maximum of 40 vehicles allowed.
Event ticket sales will end on Friday June 6th.
What is a Rally?
This is an event where we gather as a group and drive to a destination, with the understanding that it’s not a race, but a journey we enjoy together to make memories. All are welcomed!
What is included with a ticket?
*Continental Breakfast at SILO Auto Club and Conservancy at the launch, beginning at 7am.
*Event T-Shirt
*Event Sticker
*Event Vehicle Decals (set of 2)
*Event Poster
*SWAG Bag
*An optional Professionally Planned Itinerary for you for the duration of the weekend (we never make anything mandatory!)
*Free Bottled Water and Canned Soda for duration of the Weekend (out of the infamous IHR Yeti Cooler)
*Free Snacks for duration of the weekend (out of the IHR Support Vehicle)
*Reception Dinner at the Cheoah Dining Room at Tapoco Lodge
*Radio (walkie talkie) for the duration of the event, with the radio needing returned prior to your departure from event.
*Pre-Rally Group Maintenance Day at The Shop DIY Auto Repair Center taking place the weekend before event.
—>Our group is staying at Tapoco Lodge for this event, with you gaining access to booking your room after purchasing your ticket. You are responsible for your lodging costs and booking.
What is required of Drivers & Vehicles?
*A valid Driver’s License.
*Valid vehicle insurance.
*A signed event liability waiver (we provide).
*Vehicle to be in good running condition.
*Safe and Cautious driving (any reckless behavior will get you removed from the event with no refund and also banned from future events).
What can I expect at this Event?
This is a 3 day weekend event that is sure to provide you with an amazing automotive experience! We will be taking the most scenic route we can, with high quality roads in mind, to the south-eastern section of Tennessee where we will drive on the FAMOUS Tail of the Dragon! We won’t only be doing that road, but also a cruise into the country-side for an adrenaline-filled drive to see what all that region has to offer.
This Event will begin early Friday morning at our exclusive launch location, SILO Auto Club, where we will get all participants checked-in at the IHR booth. At the check-in you will be given your Event Vehicle Decals (installed by White Rabbit Wraps), SWAG bag, Event T-Shirt, Event Sticker, Event Poster, Breakfast, and Beverages. A mandatory Driver’s Meeting will take place beginning at 8:30am in the lounge.
We will start our journey at 9:00am, with an approximate 7.5 hour drive that includes multiple stops for gas and food. We will arrive at our group lodging around 5pm or so, where there will be time for a break before our reception dinner at 7:00pm.
Saturday mid-morning we will meet for a driver’s meeting before we begin our adventures for the day! This will not only include US129, but several other incredible country-side roads! Our late afternoon and evening will be full of good food, relaxing, laughter, and fellowship as we take in the beautiful sights around us.
Sunday we will begin with a driver’s meeting late morning before visiting the Fontana Dam as a group. From there we will head back towards Indiana, with some interesting stops along the way!
What is “Tail of the Dragon”?
Considered one of the World’s best motorcycle and sports car roads, the tail first began simply as a trail that herds of buffalo wore down and a trail that Native American Cherokee Indians traversed. By 1756 the British trekked through the trail and established an outpost named Fort Loudon, only to be chased out by the Native Americans some 4 years later.
Some point later the Deal Family established a small outpost/store along the trail, only to leave not long after for a less treacherous location. (This outpost is where the name “Deal’s Gap” comes from and what most people call the “Tail of the Dragon”.)
One of the saddest events in American History partly took place along this historic trail, as the Native American Cherokee Indians used this as an escape route to evade the Army sent to capture them during the event named “Trail of Tears” wherein the Cherokees were pushed out of their homes and forced off their land to move further west to Oklahoma.
After even more of a rocky history, to include the Civil War, in 1934 it was finally named US129 when the US merged Tennessee’s and North Carolina’s highways together. And US129 is what it remains.
Today this is a TOP destination for any driver looking to test their driving skills on this 11 mile stretch of road bearing 318 curves. It’s definitely not one to drive on haphazardly! This road requires focus, skills, and then even more focus.
To read more about the history of the area, click here.
