A motorcycle crash on a curvy stretch of U.S. 129 in the Smoky Mountains killed a Maryland motorcyclist.
The Tennessee Highway Patrol reported 21-year-old Jarrett Andrew Proctor of Brandywine, Md., lost control of his cycle Monday night after taking a curve at high speed.
The trooper's report said the motorcycle skidded about 230 feet, went off the road and struck a tree.
The section of highway is called "the Dragon," and is favored by many motorcycle riders because of its curves. The road winds around the western side of the park, near the North Carolina border.
The report said Proctor was wearing a helmet.
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Franklin P. Jones
Thats too sad and at 21 years old. However he was going at a high speed and with those tight turns high speeds are not a good idea. I know it was a sportbike but wonder if it was a 600cc, 750cc, or 1000cc. These bike are fast. He should have slowed down.
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Very sad.
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We just did the Tylip Rally in La Conner this past Saturday, and as the weather was great, there were lots of bikes on the road. We turned a corner and saw a few motorcyle riders pulling a large bike back onto the road - the fellow had missed a corner and went right thru the guardrail and over the edge.
We didn't see any casualties, so hopefully he was able to jump off before the bike went over.
This is a good reminder for us all to be careful and safe!
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Lorraine
Sly "Sol-Seeker", Fully Loaded
Over 36,000 km's, purchased May 2006
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Its all too common for bikes espeacially sportbikes to take the turns here too fast. Its best to take this high speed stuff to the track. Most of us are not professional racers and people always try to be.
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Here in So Cal there are a number of mountain roads with lots of twisties where every weekend there are large numbers of sports cars and particulary motorcycles carving the roads. The mountains that surround LA go to 10,000 ft.
It is an every weekend afair with riders going off the road and down very steep cliffs. Specially trained mountaineering rescue teams are constantly called to rappel down to try to save the dare devils but going off one of these mountain roads leads to death most of the time.
The Highway Patrol trys to control some of this with constant patrols and speed traps but they are outnumbered. The loss of life is sad but if you push the envelop too often your number will come up. Motorcycles are very unforgiving.
I live near (50 miles) the Dragon and have run it several times. Every year there are wrecks and occasional fatalities. The Dragon is a fun run but it is also dangerous The first time you run it should be at slow speed to see how it goes. Then you can speed up and have some safe fun. The first time I ran it I never got over 30 MPH.
I live near (50 miles) the Dragon and have run it several times. Every year there are wrecks and occasional fatalities. The Dragon is a fun run but it is also dangerous The first time you run it should be at slow speed to see how it goes. Then you can speed up and have some safe fun. The first time I ran it I never got over 30 MPH.
Even the "real" Mario Andrettis of teh world WALK a race course before ever getting behind the wheel. But sadly, some riders may feel invincible after showing their prowess in 6-lane superhighway driving.
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This hits close to home for a number of reasons. First, I'll be leaving for Knoxville tonight to visit friends who live about 20 minutes from the Dragon and part of my plan is to take the Sol for its first spin around the Dragon. I have a 'busa and I've been on the Dragon many times and each time it never ceases to amaze me how some folks just don't think through clearly and do really stupid things. You see riders and drivers doing things that quite possibly will get them or someone else killed! My heart goes out to the family of this rider left behind and it serves as a reminder to all of us that we pass this way for only a
brief moment and we've been promised life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness...just don't be stupid about!
Take care!!
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I don't try to explain why I love my Solstice. For those who have experienced the joy, no explanation is necessary, for those who have not, no explanation is possible!
I taught the Motorcycle Safety Course here in PA for almost ten years , and the statistics still confirm that the overwhelming majority of motorcycle accidents involving the rider only are due to the rider's failure to successfully negotiate a curve. The bulk of the training , and the actual rider's test , as I remember, is weighted towards negotiating curves. For a low time rider , it's unnatural to "lean over more" to negotiate a curve. The instinct is to apply the brakes , or stick out your inboard foot , ala dirt bike style.
The bikes off the showroom floor have an unbelievable power to weight ratio , and I believe the Hayabusa is still on top of that pile. The trite saying that " there are old riders , and there are bold riders , but there are very few old, bold riders" still has real meaning out there among the " crotch rocket " crowd , of which I am a former member. ('93 CBR900RR).
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I taught the Motorcycle Safety Course here in PA for almost ten years , and the statistics still confirm that the overwhelming majority of motorcycle accidents involving the rider only are due to the rider's failure to successfully negotiate a curve. The bulk of the training , and the actual rider's test , as I remember, is weighted towards negotiating curves. For a low time rider , it's unnatural to "lean over more" to negotiate a curve. The instinct is to apply the brakes , or stick out your inboard foot , ala dirt bike style.
The bikes off the showroom floor have an unbelievable power to weight ratio , and I believe the Hayabusa is still on top of that pile. The trite saying that " there are old riders , and there are bold riders , but there are very few old, bold riders" still has real meaning out there among the " crotch rocket " crowd , of which I am a former member. ('93 CBR900RR).
I plan to take the MSF course and I of course love all bikes but want a sportbike. I really want a 600. I also like some of the cruisers out there as well as the choppers.
__________________ Team Solstice 2008
Ordered 11/12/05
Black, manual trans, Premium package, power package, convenience package, floor mats, AC, XM radio, LSD, and Polished Wheels Produced 6/1! VIN:18718
Mods: Fujita CAI, Stubbie Attenna, Lil Chromies, Third Brake Overlay, 35% Tint. Solo Headers, Solo Exhaust.
Tailhooker : ....... The trite saying that " there are old riders , and there are bold riders , but there are very few old, bold riders" still has real meaning out there among the " crotch rocket " crowd , of which I am a former member. ('93 CBR900RR).
Another trite, but true, saying is "It's not if. It's when, and how bad." ('92 GSXR600)
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John
Lexington, KY
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A motorcycle crash on a curvy stretch of U.S. 129 in the Smoky Mountains killed a Maryland motorcyclist. 
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