Miata wrecks C8 on Tail of the Dragon

[GTRS Fiero]

The Tail of the Dragon is one of the most well-known “driving roads” for car and motorcyclist enthusiasts in the Eastern USA as it features no less than 318 curves over an 11 mile stretch of two-lane road that winds through the Appalachian mountains on the Tennesee-North Carolina border.


That popularity can make US-129 one busy road, and unfortunately, accidents sometimes happen.

We heard about this accident on Saturday involving a 2020 Corvette Stingray and a Mazda Miata. Although we believe this story first originated on Facebook, a post on the Corvette Forum by “gilbybarr” brings us the news:

Regularly there are threads here on the Forum about driving “The Dragon” here in the Knoxville area. While it can be invigorating, it unfortunately can also be dangerous, even if you are being careful. The photos below depict an accident recently on the Dragon when a C8 was struck by an older Miata whose driver allegedly failed to control his vehicle in the turns. Be careful out there!

A Facebook post from Lucas Moebes who may be the originator of this story lays the blame squarely on the Miata driver:

“To clear up any confusion, the Miata hit the C8. Miata came in with too much speed, understeered, and aimed it at the rear of the car instead of the front. Took the rear wheel right off the C8 and airbags deployed in the Miata. Everybody is okay, both cars are totalled [sic].”

We are glad to see that everyone is okay and of course our hearts go out to the Corvette owner for his loss. That damage looks pretty bad considering the rear wheel was ripped off the car, and I hope all can be made right for him.

As for the young Mazda owner, mistakes happen and he should be thanking his lucky stars that the Corvette couple wasn’t seriously injured.

Several members of the Forum sounded off with discussions about how the Dragon is especially congested on the weekends with many near misses from the “limit pushers” as one user described. As for the Mazda, “waynger” sums up what many of us were thinking: “That Miata was a wreck before it crashed.”

Indeed.

[GTRS Fiero]

It seems concerning that the rear wheel was ripped off the C8, given the other damage.

[Raydar]

Links to the pictures (for as long as they work.)

Edit - Kid's insurance rates are probably going to go to hell.

[Fierofool]

It looks like the Miata can still be driven away.  Can't say as much for the C8, but then it did take the full force of the Miata on the rear wheel. 

[Raydar]

It looks like the Miata can still be driven away.
...

It looks to me like the wheel is folded under a bit. May have bent the lower control arm.
It can probably be driven away, but I don't think it can be driven far. Not without grinding the outside shoulder off the tire.

Glad I wasn't there for the occasion.

[Fierofool]

That Miata looks a little familiar.  I don't know if I've seen it on The Dragon, or maybe sitting at The Dragon Souvenir Store. 

[Raydar]

I wonder if they'll hang pieces of it from the "Tree of Shame".

[GTRS Fiero]

Links to the pictures (for as long as they work.)

The kid seems to be making excuses, and the man not to happy--understandably.

The insurance companies always claim that they don't increase rates, due to 1 accident, but yes, they take your payment as income, so any pay-out must be rectified with an increased rate that never goes back down.

[GTRS Fiero]

It looks like the Miata can still be driven away.
...

It looks to me like the wheel is folded under a bit. May have bent the lower control arm.
It can probably be driven away, but I don't think it can be driven far. Not without grinding the outside shoulder off the tire.

Glad I wasn't there for the occasion.

The wheel on the ground does not appear to be close enough for major damage not to have been done.  I don't see driveable, for the C8.

The Miata likely has a broken tie rod.

[GTRS Fiero]

I wonder if they'll hang pieces of it from the "Tree of Shame".

They should hang the Miata from the Tree of Shame.

[GTRS Fiero]

Interesting.  Both drivers were participating in the same event.  The Miata driver admitted to coming into the turn too hot, losing control, and ultimately causing the accident.  The Miata driver stated that his front tires weren't up to evasive action.  He further stated that he was able to avoid a head-on collision.

Lots of issues:
He was driving that Miata.
He was driving that Miata on Tail of the Dragon.
He knowingly exceeded his driving limits in a sub-par car, with sub-par tires.
He was using his sub-par Miata to participate in a performance driving event, on one of the most challenging sections of road.
Most people would think the skill was avoiding a collision, altogether.  Not him.

[Raydar]

...Both drivers were participating in the same event.
...

"Same event"?

Going in opposite directions?

How does that work?

I don't understand how just being on the same road means that they are both participating in the "same event". Just being on the road does not mean that either of them were participating in "an event".
Further... even if it were RFTH, it's still not technically "an event" once one is on the road. Everyone is responsible for their actions, as an individual driver.

[GTRS Fiero]

Don't ask me.  The event was TougeFest.  Never heard of it.

There are a number of events on 129, where drivers run that stretch several times, in the same day.  They could easily be participating in the same event, and heading in different directions.  Additionally, people do not always start at the same time, or run at the same speed.