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Globe Drive columnist Peter Cheney recently introduced his son Will to one of the most renowned roads in the world. With 318 curves in 11 miles, The Tail of the Dragon is the perfect place to learn to love driving a stick-shift car.

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Globe Drive columnist Peter Cheney and his son Will are photographed by a roadside photo company called 129Slayer.com driving through a curve on the Tail of the Dragon.

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Will Cheney in front of the Tree of Shame after driving the Tail of the Dragon. He didn’t add any car parts to the pile.Peter Cheney/The Globe and Mail

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If you crash on the Tail of the Dragon, tradition dictates that a piece of your shattered vehicle be hung from the Tree of Shame at Deals Gap.Peter Cheney/The Globe and Mail

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Killboy.com is one of three companies that makes a living by taking photographs of drivers on The Tail of the Dragon, then selling the photos on their website.Peter Cheney/The Globe and Mail

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Columnist Peter Cheney's son Will follows a pair of motorcyclists through one of the 318 curves on the Tail of the Dragon.Peter Cheney/The Globe and Mail

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A motorcyclist gliding through a set of S-curves on The Tail of the Dragon.Peter Cheney/The Globe and Mail

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Countless sports car fans test their cars on Route 129, where winding curves place a premium on agile handling and powerful brakes.Peter Cheney/The Globe and Mail

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A group of sports car buffs gather at the end of the Tail of the Dragon.Peter Cheney/The Globe and Mail

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Sharp curves, trees and rock walls make the Tail of the Dragon a rewarding but unforgiving ride.Peter Cheney/The Globe and Mail

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Columnist Peter Cheney's son Will (right) with Harold Reagan, who lives on Route 129, just north of the section known as The Tail of the Dragon. (Mr. Reagan claims that he is a fifth cousin of former U.S. President Ronald Reagan.)Peter Cheney/The Globe and Mail

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As you head to the Tail of the Dragon from the south, you pass the Cheoah Dam, which was used as a setting in the 1993 film "The Fugitive."Peter Cheney/The Globe and Mail

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Wall sign at the Deals Gap Motorcycle Resort.Peter Cheney/The Globe and Mail

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Drive columnist Peter Cheney samples a Campagna T-Rex three-wheeler at the Tail of the Dragon. Made in Quebec, The T-Rex is powered by a 1.4-litre motorcycle engine.Peter Cheney/The Globe and Mail

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The northern end of The Tail of the Dragon.Peter Cheney/The Globe and Mail

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The curse of the Dragon - stuck behind a minivan. Short straightaways and blind curves making passing difficult.Peter Cheney/The Globe and Mail

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Motorcyclists sail through banked curves on Route 129. The road's spectacular turns make for great riding - and a high number of crashes.Peter Cheney/The Globe and Mail

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The Smokey Mountains range is home to some of the best driving roads in the world, including Route 129.Peter Cheney/The Globe and Mail

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