Mountain Roads

[1baddrifter]

What's up guys. A couple of my friends and I are going on a road trip for like a month; and I wanted to know which are the best mountain roads in the U.S. since we dont have anything here at Miami.
Thanx :boink:

[240meowth]

I don't think people will post names of the roads... 'cause cops might be browsing the sites

[RoNiN240sx]

heh, sounds like fun. i'd love to take a road trip to all the good mountain runs in the US. Thing is, i dunno how helpful we'll be on thie forum about giving away our favorite locations. Mountain runs are great because they're not too overcrowded and not too heavily surveillanced by the authorities, besides being crazy fun. So to stay that way i doubt that many, if any, people here will reply giving away their favorite isolated locations. maybe you can get some to PM you....i have one right by my house, but it's just a small local mountain, not worth a drive from miami, there are better ones in Cali i've heard of but have yet to find.

[nokeone]

some of the best in California are in my backyard..Santa Cruz Mountains..;)..overlooking the Pacific..:D

[RanciD]

www.tailofthedragon.com

Probably the best mountain road in the country. I plan to take my MR-2 down there sometime.

http://www.tailofthedragon.com/maps/DRAGONmap.gif

There's a map of it.

Over 300 turns in the first 11 miles. Only one intersection which is at the end (the Crossroads of Time). Check it out, it's probably worth the trip. :cool:

[RoNiN240sx]

ooh..Santa Cruz mountains, that sounds nice, gotta check that out, and tail of the dragon...sounds interesting, i'll check it out if i ever drvie out to east coast. Definitely gotta check Santa Cruz tho.

[old_s13]

Originally posted by 240meowth
I don't think people will post names of the roads... 'cause cops might be browsing the sites

cops have better things to do than bust people for driving on canyons.. now "drift meets" I am sure they would love to bust, if they would get popular enough to make it profitable.

Cops dont like canyons, too tough to pull people over.. plus, its too dangerous.

- mike

[zenkiDori]

you also have the problem of ricers seeing the post and heading up there.

[proj240sx]

Originally posted by zenkiDori
you also have the problem of ricers seeing the post and heading up there.

ill second that, i can see it now, people that will just come with their "drift" or "race" cars and will sit on the side of the road. talking **** about everyone who drives by and how they suck, and how they could do better but their motor isnt tuned, clutch is out, blown shock, they dont feel like showing off, insert other lame excuse here. heh heh :D

[wingsnthangs]

I used to go up to some local mountains last year but i guess not anymore for a few reasons.

1. Witnessed a friend get into a serious accident while doing some "spirited driving", car got totalled, friend sent to hospital, lost much morale. If you see a wreck first hand and your buddy in the ER, it'll get to ya. He's fully recovered by now.

2. Hike in gas prices. MPG is more important.

3. Drift scene has grown in popularity with teens. Teens who have had their license for about a year. Inexperienced drivers. I'm not worried about crashing the mountains, but I'm deathly afraid of someone crashing into me. My car and my life isnt worth the fun. So in other words, I don't believe in dRiFt-fo-LyFe.

4. My thinking has matured, I realize it really is what the insurance industry calls a pure risk or hazardous occupation. I'm not experienced nor trained in this type of driving, so I'm not willing to practice in a place where there is a 90% chance of crashing into something.

[crypticfury85]

Well put wingsnthangs...

[nokeone]

Originally posted by RoNiN240sx
ooh..Santa Cruz mountains, that sounds nice, gotta check that out, and tail of the dragon...sounds interesting, i'll check it out if i ever drvie out to east coast. Definitely gotta check Santa Cruz tho.

if you get up this way be sure to look me up..i'd be happy to take you on drives with my friends and i...:D

[old_s13]

ill second that, i can see it now, people that will just come with their "drift" or "race" cars and will sit on the side of the road. talking **** about everyone who drives by and how they suck, and how they could do better but their motor isnt tuned, clutch is out, blown shock, they dont feel like showing off, insert other lame excuse here. heh heh

Survival of the fittest, if their cars suck let them die. Besides, what fun is it sitting on the side of the road -- thats lame. People need to find better things to do, like go have lots of dirty dirty sex with online groupies!


My thinking has matured, I realize it really is what the insurance industry calls a pure risk or hazardous occupation. I'm not experienced nor trained in this type of driving, so I'm not willing to practice in a place where there is a 90% chance of crashing into something.

The answer is that, you yourself, realized how crappy of a driver you are and threw in the towel. Dont sugar coat it and try to pretend you are mature, you just suck.

hahaha okay okay, thats so messed up.. I am just kidding. :) Honestly, I feel the same way when I go up in the canyons. I think my skills are good but I know there is SO much room for improvement. Lately, I feel the only place I can attempt to do a lot of these "manuvers" is offroad or at a track, so I'll have to make room for that type of stuff in my life in the near future. I never thought I'de ever go to a track.. but eventually the shiet hits the fan I guess.

Anyway, I dont make it a routine to go canyon driving, I just go whenever I commute.. thats all. In LA, this usually resuls in shorter commutes AND the commute is cooler (I have no AC right now).. and the canyons are usually nothing but cool air and shade.

Every once and a while people see my drive by in the canyons and try to "rush up on me" without me knowing, I am usually able to keep a really big distance with them.. so they never catch up with me. BUT, some people are just reckless and will do whatever it takes to catchup. When that happens, I just let them pass and then follow them for a while. Its happened to me with a WRX and a VR6 GTI a few times.. what can you do. Oh, it also happened with an Audi TT.. pretty fast cars.

- Mike

[wingsnthangs]

Originally posted by old_s13
The answer is that, you yourself, realized how crappy of a driver you are and threw in the towel. Dont sugar coat it and try to pretend you are mature, you just suck.
Most drivers out there do suck, I'm just smart enough to realize it before I wreck my car or kill myself. Yes, survival of the fittest, or rather, most rational. You wont be seeing me post "Man i just totalled my car" or "FS: 91 240 parts car, hit a curb while drifting". ;)

[AlligatorBling]

blue ridge parkway

[sykikchimp]

There are tons of sections through georgias mountains, all the way up through the blue ridge parkway.

I can't think of the name of the road we went on in Georgia at the convention, but it was sweet.

Drangons Tail is F*in awesome. watch the cops though.

[Steeles]

Originally posted by sykikchimp
There are tons of sections through georgias mountains, all the way up through the blue ridge parkway.

I can't think of the name of the road we went on in Georgia at the convention, but it was sweet.

Drangons Tail is F*in awesome. watch the cops though.

60 and I believe 72 was what we took back to SC...

Dragon is awsome. Chimp we're going in oct. you should come up :) gonna hang in knoxville and run the dragon. crap I need new tires before we go though... grrr.

[sykikchimp]

keep me updated.. I'm there.. :eek:

[direb0y]

Originally posted by AlligatorBling
blue ridge parkway

:bowdown:

weathers nice, going up there today :D

[Mirage]

here's some SC/NC roads for you.

US 178 - "Saluda Grade" the popular road around here, pretty weak compared to my others. Not very long, and 2 touristy towns at each end that you have to crawl through. Lots of old people traffic, and rice boys that thing their race car drivers. The road itself is nice, but not worth it IMO

Rating: 2.5 out of 5

US 276 - "Caesars Head" switchbacks galore. Nice decent length road with tons of challenging curves. Uphill there are 3 passing zones, great if theres traffic. Downhill is fun, but if theres traffic you're better to pull off and wait it out.

Rating: 4 out of 5

US 178 - Has a very nice waterfall (twin falls) about 5 miles off of the road about 3 miles into it. I think its ~17 miles with ~180 turns. Very nice variety of turns, lots of high speed straights and sweepers, and tighter sections. Very fun, very popular with bikes though. Not to much normal traffic though, but there are a couple passing zones, or if you dont mind, plenty of double yellow opportunities that you have plenty of the road ahead. SC troopers do tend to park on the bottom straight aways so be careful of them.

Rating: 5 out of 5

NC 215 - Go left on US64 when you get to the end of 178, about a 1/2 mile go right (canoe/kayak place). Long and narrow road with tons of turns. Very minimal traffic. Pretty fun around. It starts to climb hard though and it goes up to 5500' about 1 mile from crossing the BRP.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

NC 281 - Unpaved goodness, only if your a crazy nutter or have an awd car and you think your tommi makinnen. Loved this road with my old 1G GSX.

US 129 - "The Dragon" Just friggin nuts. Dont go on a weekend if you want to have fun though, too much traffic and bikes, and cops. Chance of making yourself carsick on this one. You're arms will probably be tired too, but man is it fun. Lots of back and forth action

Rating: 5+ out of 5 if theres no traffic/cops.

http://www.ncroads.com/maps/god2000.GIF

28 in the upper left heads towards the dragon I believe.

As a rule, I kind of never push myself more than 7/10ths in the mountains. Bad things can happen, and you never know what. After chasing a c5 down 178 in my eclipse and finding myself parked sideways in the road, I stopped doing stupid crap up there. Use the track to learn your limits.

As soon as a I get my AGX's you'll see me up there in my SE-R more often, gonna try and drag the upstate 240 guys too.

[Steeles]

That map is GREAT!!!! hahah I love it! :bowdown: you = ownz!

[[email protected]]

spirited canyon driving is fun as long as you know your limits and not cross it. just be responsible and open minded about it, in plain english don't be stupid about it. in the canyons you can only drive 80% or 110% of what you and your car are capable of. only at the tracks you can drive 100% of what you and your car can do.

80% - not able to push the car and your skills
110% - pushed too far that ... you hitched a ride home.

[old_s13]

Originally posted by Mirage
As a rule, I kind of never push myself more than 7/10ths in the mountains. Bad things can happen, and you never know what. After chasing a c5 down 178 in my eclipse and finding myself parked sideways in the road, I stopped doing stupid crap up there. Use the track to learn your limits.

I've never been to the track, I just use my head and dont let the adrenaline get to me. If you are calm and just go for fun, then its all good. Even when people race me, I dont give into the adrenaline.

- Mike