What's been your favorite stretch of pavement with your new MINI/S??

i've only had Gidget for a couple of days and I took her out on Topanga Canyon and Old Canyon Road [freshly paved] and..... ohhh BABY.

talk about s.w.e.e.t. Incredible handling and she just hugged the road like a dream. I didn't do anything that would be crazy or just plain stupid since i'm in my breakin period and also...i'm pretty new to canyon roads and know that there can be crazy drivers on them.

The best part was that it was during the work day so I only saw one other car on the road and they slowed down and check me out from before and after I zoomed past.



PS. that Boston Globe article likened the tires "to gripping like erasers" and I thought that was spot-on.

 

Here in NE Ohio we have to be super ultra mega careful, as the cops are particuarly annoying.

There is a valley nearby with some short stints of really fun roads, but the best is one called Riverview Road, it follows the Cuyahoga river, which means "Crooked River", so I'm sure you can imagine what the road is like... S-curves, blind hills, doubling the speed limit... hehheh. Too bad I let my dad drive it that day. I need to go back!

-J

 

The one from the dealer to home, I'm totally bummed by the screw in my tire, beautiful day outside and there she sits in the garage. I think I'll go drive anyway, the flat tire indicator isn't on yet.

X2

 

From my home in the Southern Tier of New York, North on Route 26 a twisty 2 lane road to Route 80, more of the same, East to Cooperstown. This stretch of road offers numerous turns and twists, alot want you to slow down to 25 mph, but not in the MINI!

Had to turn around and come home though, my face hurt from smiling so big !!

 

Country road in Niagara/Erie County... bumpy as hell (swamp road) and taking it at 70 in the middle of the night.... Also.. had a great navigator (my wife) riding slingshot keeping an eye out for anything i might not have seen...

Or really, any 2 lane highway where I pass anyone

Rocketboy_X

 

I took a vacation day from work on Friday and Motored up to Wisconsin's lower kettle moraine area. You can not find roads that turn in the Chicago area. I put about 330 Mi. on the clock in one day and I was not uncomfortable at all. The Kettle moraine is one of the areas where the great (big) glaciers stopped their southward movement, and all the earth and rock they were pushing along were deposited there making some beautifull rolling hills. The roads are traffic free compared with Chicago. Much of the road surface is new in that area great for Motorin!

S.D.

 

Drove from San Francisco this morning to Stinson Beach on the Pacific Coast. The trip's only about 20 miles one-way but it was sheer pleasure! Once over the Golden Gate Bridge, early enough before the traffic really picks up, I was on California 1 off of US 101 in a matter of minutes. Cool green woods, breathtaking vistas of the ocean and beaches and more winding roads, switchbacks and curves than I deserve in one morning. With only 700 miles on Ringo to date, I have another 500 before I can really pop it. I'll make that trip to Stinson Beach and back many times. Woo Hoo! I need a co-pilot.

 

700 miles, eh? Man, I feel naughty now. Had a little fun with my MINI on the highway today, hit 100 in 4th gear and it was still pulling. But, it IS good to give it the occasional romp to get the engine sorta stretched out.

 

My favorite drive so far has been our trip to Issaquah, Washington, up the coast roads. See link for details, (still adding, too!):
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The most relavent sections are the last 20-odd miles of HWY 1 from Ft. Bragg to the HWY 101 junction - real awesome. Then a cool drive thu the Avenue of the Giants, in the Humboldt Redwoods, a side road to take instead of HWY 101.


BCNU,
Rob in Dago

 

I guess the name didn't take - but the link does work.

BCNU,
Rob in Dago

 

Gidget wrote:

>>What's been your favorite stretch of pavement with your new MINI/S??
>>
>>i've only had Gidget for a couple of days and I took her out on Topanga Canyon and Old Canyon Road [freshly paved] and..... ohhh BABY.
>>
>>talk about s.w.e.e.t. Incredible handling and she just hugged the road like a dream. I didn't do anything that would be crazy or just plain stupid since i'm in my breakin period and also...i'm pretty new to canyon roads and know that there can be crazy drivers on them.
>>
>>The best part was that it was during the work day so I only saw one other car on the road and they slowed down and check me out from before and after I zoomed past.
>>
>>
>>
>>PS. that Boston Globe article likened the tires "to gripping like erasers" and I thought that was spot-on.<<

Gidget, Topanga is my favorite drive, so far. My best friend lives up there & that was the first destination on the first weekend I had MINIclo! So much fun!

Do you know about the Rock Store on Mulholland Hwy? Take Old Cyn. to Las Virgenes, turn right, then left on Mulholland & watch for the Rock Store sign. It's a famous meeting spot for bikers & exotic cars. Little MINIclo caused a few whiplashes as she motored by a group of gnarly bikers looking under the hood of a yellow Ferrari!

 

Without a doubt it was the "MINI Caravan" drive a few weekends ago. 15 MINI owners met at the derlership and drove about 45 minutes to a British car show. Imagine the site...15 very disctinct (color, stripes, roof decals, etc.) MC and MCS driving down the road in a looooong line. People on the street went CRAZY! I saw someone almost fall off their bike! I have a video of the drive that I will post...it was a blast!!

 

This is truly one of the world's best drives in anything, but in a Mini, what a total blast! As an offshoot, the road down to Muir Beach is fun and you can stop for a snack at the Pelican Inn. I'm envious. Guess I'll just have to plan a trip out from NJ in my MCS and join you sometime !

 

>>Drove from San Francisco this morning to Stinson Beach on the Pacific Coast. The trip's only about 20 miles one-way but it was sheer pleasure! Once over the Golden Gate Bridge, early enough before the traffic really picks up, I was on California 1 off of US 101 in a matter of minutes. Cool green woods, breathtaking vistas of the ocean and beaches and more winding roads, switchbacks and curves than I deserve in one morning. With only 700 miles on Ringo to date, I have another 500 before I can really pop it. I'll make that trip to Stinson Beach and back many times. Woo Hoo! I need a co-pilot.


Sorry everybody, please see previous reply in which I neglected to add quote.

 

The 60 mile drive from Tate Mini to Patterson Park on the Patuxent (September 7th Meet!). 24 Minis all in a row on some fantastic curvy, twisty roads! TOO MUCH FUN!

 

My favorite and most unforgettable drive since I got my MINI was when I drove my new MCS from the dealer to home. I was on the road for FORTY SIX hours. My dealer is in Florida and home is San Diego Calif. During those forty six hours I was behind the wheels 70% of the time, my brother drove part of the way. I had memory flash backs of my younger days when I first owned a car I felt young again. I really enjoyed driving thru the winding roads in Las Cruses New Mexico, Arizona and finally the last winding road in Boulevard before arriving in San Diego. Having completed the break in period in Texas I had the pleasure of putting my MINI to the test while going thru the "S" turns at some incredible speed. the MINIs power is very noticeable it can climb steep grade of road in 6 gear while other vehicles lag going uphill. A trip to Mount Palomar Observatory was another fun drive.

 

So far, Ortega Highway, between Lake Smellsomemore (Elsinore) and Mission Viejo in So CA.

Every day between home and work I drove a twisty road that's about 6 miles long before hitting the freeway. That was until 2 weeks ago when they started to re-pave it. Can hardly wait for the new driving surface!

 

I took a drive yesterday during lunch with my partners. Partner 1 drives a 911 carrera (SP?) cabriolet, partner 2 was driving the company Z3 3.0 (i work with some great gear heads!!) me in my MCS. Drove up lower Tujunga road to Angeles Forrest Highway to Upper Tujunga Road to Angeles Crest and back down. I was in the lead (I know the roads the best as most of it is in my commute). I put distance on the Porsche, blew away the Z3 (he is a bit timid as a driver on the twisties). Pushed Mini very hard... 100+ in 4th gear... Mid-day no cars... oh my gosh!!!!!!!!!!!

 

It is hard to say. I drove from Florida to NY, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont and back into upstate NY. The run from Wilmington, NY, past Whiteface Mountain and into Lake Placid has always been one of my favorites in any car but was really sweet in the Cooper :smile:. It is a stretch of road I'd always wanted to see a road race on and that is how I drove it. Lots of twisties through the Notch, nice curves and straights. Coming back to Florida Skyline Drive was spectacular but speed restricted

_________________
2Minis

 

On the East side of Mt.St.Helens is NF25 - Randle to Carson (on the Columbia Gorge) - kick-*** twisties the whole way!! But you better hurry - it's closed in the winter!