 ast year Drag Specialties kicked off a series of annual dealer rides as a way of saying thanks to its many great dealer customers around the country. The inaugural event was the Black Hills Ride, held in June of 2006 in and around Sturgis, SD. For 2007, the ride moved east and was based out of Asheville, near the Drag Specialties and Parts Unlimited distribution center in Flat Rock, North Carolina.
The event kicked off with a pre-ride warehouse show and BBQ allowing attendees to not only meet and greet their fellow participants, but to also have a nice meal, pickup free event swag and take advantage of some one-on-one time with the sponsoring vendors of the event.
There were two ride days and two routes for the group that allowed half to take each route each day. The northerly route took riders on a clockwise ride from Ashville up into eastern Tennessee and over to Boone, NC for lunch. The group then returned to Ashville via the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway.
The other route went from Ashville west to the famed “Tail of the Dragon loop” around the Smoky Mountain National Park with a hosted lunch stop at the Deal’s Gap Motorcycle Resort. Following lunch, some riders returned to Ashville via the same route they had arrived, while more adventuresome riders navigated the “Dragon” with its 318 curves in 11 miles.
A popular stop on the way back to Ashville was the Wheels Through Time Motorcycle Museum in Maggie Valley, NC. Curator Dale Walksler not only provided free admission to all Blue Ridge Ride participants, but conducted personal tours of his fantastic museum and collection of historic motorcycles, cars and related memorabilia.
For more info about Wheels Through Time Museum, check out its website at www.wheelsthroughtime.com or call 828-926-6266. For more info about Deal’s Gap Motorcycle Resort, its website is at www.dealsgap.com or call 800-889-5550. 
Every turn on the Blue Ridge Ride provided another fantastic view to fill the rider’s memory banks.
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One of the groups taking a rest break along the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway.
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Let’s ride! From left are Drag Specialties sales reps Brian Sullivan and Ken Caves, Gary Stout of Headman’s Cycle Shop in Rochester NY, Dan Thayer of Thayer’s Sales & Service in Corfu NY and Dwight Covell, Drag Specialties’ NE Regional Sales Manager.
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Drag Specialties customer and noted custom builder Tank Ewsichek of Tuff Cycle brought along one of his latest creations to ride. Nice.
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Randy Creel (left) of Memphis Shades was just one of many Drag Specialties vendors that helped sponsor the ride and participate in the “Performance Alley” warehouse show.
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Some of the Drag Specialties staff who were on hand for the ride (from left): Bob Cashwell, Brenda Trumbo (Icon), Kathy Sommervold, Dwight Covell, Tom Motzko, Mark Anderson, Jim Matchette, Brian Fox (Foxy’s Cycle & Ski) and Dan Haak.
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Drag Specialties National Sales Manager Jim Matchette was one of the many staff members who worked hard behind the scenes to make sure the event was a success.
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“His” and “Hers” Yamaha R7s. That’s serious equipment for a run up and down the “Dragon.” This couple was spending a few days at the resort.
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A good reminder of the toll that the Tail of the Dragon has taken through the years is the “Tree of Shame.” The parts and pieces were all picked up along the road near the resort. Ouch!
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The Deal’s Gap Motorcycle Resort is a must stop for any rider navigating the Tail of the Dragon Loop. You can get motorcycle parts and accessories, lunch and gas, all in one stop. They even have a few hotel rooms to rent if you want to stay for a while! |
There is more motorcycle history than you can digest in one day at the Wheels Through Time Museum in Maggie Valley. A lot of museums have nice collections of motorcycles, but few can match the atmosphere of this place. And the best thing is that all the bikes run. If you don’t believe it, ask Dale Walkser to start one up for you and he’ll do it right on the spot!
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