RedSpade, as she is called, is a motorcycle journalist, photographer, racer, and so much more.
Recently, she took a two day road trip riding roughly 18 hours through some of the South’s twistiest roadways on her 2008 Honda CBR600RR. “I took highway 60 from from route 19 (Georgia) all the way up to 68- Tellico Plains, Tennessee. From there we traveled East to 129 into North Caroline where Tapoco is via the Tail of the Dragon. We stayed at the Dragon Inn resort which is really close to the dam you see in the pictures. We also traveled along the Blueridge, 28, Cherohala Skyway and a bunch of other very gorgeous roads that I can’t even remember.” It’s easy to forget exactly what roads you take when you get wrapped up in the perfection of the ride.
The Tail of the Dragon, aka the Dragon’s Tail, route 129 is a notorious road for motorcyclists and sports car drivers. It has 318 curves in 11 miles, and is known as America’s number one motorcycle and sports car road. On either side of you sits the Great Smoky Mountains and Cherokee National Forest, with no intersections or driveways.
Photographs by Jeff Etringer.
Follow her on instagram @RedSpade and her website RedSpadeRacing.com.
past posts:
Mary McGee is a pioneer in American motorcycle racing, thanks to her untamable determination and a spirit as warm as her smile. Her excitement for motorcycling, especially racing, is contagious even in her eighties. She was the first woman to receive an FIM racing license in the United States, first woman to complete the Baja 1000, and the first woman to race the Baja 500 solo. These aren’t her only firsts, either. She was also the first woman in motocross and road racing in the States. McGee was rightly inducted into the AMA Hall of Fame in 2018.
Tags: 600, 600cc, cbr, georgia, honda, motolady, motorcycle, motorcycles, north carolina, one piece, one piece suit, racer, real, redspade, road trip, safety is sexy, sportbike, tail of the dragon, tennessee, track suit
Posted on July 29, 2015 in MotoLadies, News & Features by Alicia Mariah Elfving
Welcome to my backyard. For you adventure riders , nearby “parsons branch” road is a 8 mile gravel road that spills out on the dragon. The start of PB is in Cade’s cove. 19 creek crossings. If on bike I would not do it during a heavy rain as water can be fast and knee high. The crossings are cement. I recommend this primitive trail to all. Cars will bottom out, a small two wheel drive truck is minimum for a bit of clearance.
Just returned from Tail of the Dragon yesterday. Stayed for a week. Altogether, rode 1801 miles from Philly and back. I had a blast!