FOTD – Fail of the Dragon
At MOTD this year I was startled by the number of people in the MINI community who were constantly crossing the double yellow line. Usually I drive the Dragon watching for bikers over the line. This year, I was watching for MINIs.
These photos, taken from the Killboy, Moonshine and Zee Foto web sites (plus one video by MINIBee), were all made during MOTD 7. On the first day we heard reports that a MINI had crossed the line and forced a biker off the road. Are you shocked? Appalled? Keep watching and you’ll see many examples of FOTD – Fail of the Dragon.
Sure, some people may see these photos who were unaware they were crossing the line. If that’s you, this is your wakeup call. But when you look at many of the photos it’s clear people are intentionally crossing the center line.
Is this what we stand for as a community? We curse the bikers for crossing the line and then we go out and do it ourselves? The challenge and the honor in driving the Dragon at a spirited pace comes when you do it between the lines. Anyone can ride down the center of the road and do it fast. Come on people, lives are at stake here.
If you are in one or more of the photos (or video) I make no apologies. They are public record and you knew the photos were being made. I’m sure this will be controversial but I’m hoping through constructive discussion some good will come from it.
May 11, 2009 at 7:56 am
During the MOTD 7 my daughter and I took a run on the Dragon Saturday afternoon and got behind a minivan that routinely crossed completely over into the opposite lane, even to the point of crossing over the white line of the opposite lane!!! It scared me to death and we ended up taking a couple of photos of the infractions. As we came off the Dragon we met a state trooper and flagged him down. We explained the situation but he just said he would be on the look out if they came back through.
Not sure what he could have done but I at least would have wanted him to have a conversation with this person to make sure they understand the mortal danger they are putting other drivers in. It still shakes me up a bit to think about drivers operating their vehicles in that manner on the Dragon or any road with substantial curves.
May 11, 2009 at 11:41 pm
Its stuff like this that made me call MOTD quits. Its just gotten so out of control compared to how it was in the first few years. Too dangerous for my taste.
May 11, 2009 at 11:44 pm
I agree Holly. But we need people who care to help change it. I hope you’ll come back.