Where are your favorite roads for a little spirited driving?

After living in the Sierra between Reno and Sacramento for ten plus years where I was surrounded by great “twisties” I’ve recently moved to SoCal - Ontario area - and am still looking for places where I can safely drive my MCS/JCW and Z3 the way they’re meant to be driven.

Hwy 243 from Banning to Mountain Center is the best that I’ve found so far. I’ve been pointed toward roads like Topanga Canyon and Ortega Hwy, but with the large amount of traffic on them they don’t feel very safe to me. I’m looking for places with few side roads or driveways, little or no traffic, and a reasonably good surface.

 

the Dragon (US129) N.C./T.N.
route 218 (Storm king Mt.) NY
route 6 (by the Bear Mt. bridge) NY
PCH1.....CA

 

>>Where are your favorite roads for a little spirited driving?
>>
>>After living in the Sierra between Reno and Sacramento for ten plus years where I was surrounded by great “twisties” I’ve recently moved to SoCal - Ontario area - and am still looking for places where I can safely drive my MCS/JCW and Z3 the way they’re meant to be driven.
>>
>>Hwy 243 from Banning to Mountain Center is the best that I’ve found so far. I’ve been pointed toward roads like Topanga Canyon and Ortega Hwy, but with the large amount of traffic on them they don’t feel very safe to me. I’m looking for places with few side roads or driveways, little or no traffic, and a reasonably good surface.

Ortega Hwy is ok, but you have to hit it super early on a saturday or sunday. during the week forget about it. But, if you can hit it right, it's a great road! It's in awesome shape and is very fast (avg. speed 70mph in my MC not a problem from Lake Elsinore to the Ranger station on the other side). I would watch for Hwy patrol and the crotch rocket set tho.

Another good set of roads are out passed Ojai. Just ran them last weekend (Maps here). Talk about awesome! Little to no traffic, roads were all in better than average shape, but some had a bit of loose dirt, and the twisties were awesome.

If you don't mind the drive, the road up to Mt. Palomar is a good one too! again, just need to watch for hwy. patrol and the motorcycle dudes.

 

One of the sweetest roads I will ever get the opportunity to drive is I-89 in Az. I found it by chance on my drive back to SoCal from Texas with my new MCS. My original plan was to spend night number 2 in Flagstaff but I was ahead of schedule and did not want to stop yet. So I headed south towards Sedona, Jerome and ended up in Prescott for the night.

This road is amazing. It is filled with switchbacks posted 15-20mph and after 2 days of I-40 it was a welcome relief and just to make things more interesting on day three leaving Prescott headed south to catch I-10 into L.A. I hit 1200mi and got to open her up a bit (126mph).

Check it out you will not be disappointed.

 

Are there no MINI owners here in SoCal that enjoy spirited driving? Or, is it as I suspect, you just don’t want to share your favorite roads for fear of attracting more traffic?

 

>>Are there no MINI owners here in SoCal that enjoy spirited driving? Or, is it as I suspect, you just don’t want to share your favorite roads for fear of attracting more traffic?

oh no... i for one love a good drive... but as far as traffic: pretty much... cops have been cracking down

http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/show...hreadid=534505

if you're willing to make a drive out... come to the village coffee roaster in woodland hills sometime: http://www.villagecoffeeroaster.com/ you could talk to us in TMMZ about some roads... unless you're a cop haha

 

At least 500 miles away

 

Thanks for the link and the invite Nardo - I’ll most likely show up in Woodland Hills one of these Sundays.

The immature attitude in many of the posts on your link is one of the reasons I’ve been looking for better places to fill my driving needs. Strict law enforcement, many side roads, and slow traffic are enough to discourage me, but when there is a good chance of meeting an oncoming car that’s half sideways going through a curve is more than I want to deal with. I guess that my years in the Sierra spoiled me.

 

Nick,Saturday 6am at the bottom of Angel Crest Highway (2) off 210 there is a Shell station. That's where we start. Road condition is not the best but great fun and lots of fast bikes to run with. I am there pretty much every week.

 

"Are there no MINI owners here in SoCal that enjoy spirited driving? Or, is it as I suspect, you just don’t want to share your favorite roads for fear of attracting more traffic?"

You got it. Finding a good road is sort of like finding a good restaurant. As soon as word gets out, it's ruined!

Just get some county maps from ACSC and explore! All I can tell you is that there are several roads which are a LOT better than some of those mentioned so far...

 

911Fan - -
Tell me your secrets and I promise not to tell anybody else! I have found one stretch of road with 241 curves in 12 miles, zero side roads, excellent surface, very little traffic, and no law enforcement observed yet. I parked on one of the pull offs for over an hour one day enjoying the solitude and only two motorcycles and one car passed by. PM me with your best secret road and I’ll give you mine in return.

 

"Tell me your secrets and I promise not to tell anybody else! ... PM me with your best secret road and I’ll give you mine in return."

Not a chance!

 

>>"Tell me your secrets and I promise not to tell anybody else! ... PM me with your best secret road and I’ll give you mine in return."
>>
>>Not a chance!
>>

 

Living in Ontario, I'm sure you've noticed those rather large geological formations nearby. Bound to be some good twisties in there. Alot that would be good, except there are way too many people on them. You've probably found those already. Wish my stepdad was still alive, he knew those mountain roads inside out. Some of the best roads are the ones that start fathest away from the freeways ( and take some time to get to).
I expect to reacquaint myself with some once my MINI is here. I wouldn't bother with most of Orange Co., just too congested these days. If you really want to see Ortega Hwy, it is fun, but you want to hit it really early in the a.m. and watch out for the bike riders, not all of them keep control.
Palm Springs to Idlywyle (sp?) there's a road we called Seven Level Hill, and then down the other side into Hemet are some nice turns.
San Diego county has some interesting roads, I'm still exploring here... I love taking my Thomas Guide and just discovering stuff. One incredible road that drops down into Anza Borego. Good time of year to visit right now.
Most of the above mentioned are scenic as well, do 'em at least once to take in the view, and go early if you want to tackle twisties without running across sightseerers. Many are far enough away to fit into the 'day trip' catagory. Some of the roads are also very beautiful during a full moon drive.

Have fun exploring,
Shelly


_________________
Born 04/08/04 sailing on Jingu Maru
! MCS PW/PW, Lapis Blue, Alloy Patina, Premium Pkg w/3 spoke, HK, DSC, front fogs, auto sensing wipers & dimming mirrors.

 

Thanks for the heads-up on the road from Idyllwild to Palms Springs. I’ve been running the 27 miles from San Gorgonio to Mountain center, and next time I go there I’ll give going down Hwy 74 on the east side to Palm Springs a try.

I guess that I’ll just have to go out and explore since nobody except you wants to share their secrets.

 

It can be hard to share out here in SoCA. Lots of great roads, but so clogged with the mildly clueless to the down right ought-to-be-shot dangerous. It's not folk like you I mind sharing with, thats a pleasure.

Bsides, most of those roads are far enough out (for me) I won't be using them on a regular basis. Might pass you sometime on an Idyllwild (thx for the spelling) run, got grandparents in Hemet. I may drop in for a visit more often!

Shelly

 

My job allows me a Spring Break and summers off, thus the time to hit some fairly good roads on less-traveled days.

Glendora Ridge Road is okay. Since you're in Ontario, you can head on up Mt. Baldy Road and start there. Take GRR west toward East Fork Road & Hwy 39. Don't expect hairpins or off-cambers though.

 

sea_me - -
If you see a CR/W MCS with a black grill around Idyllwild flash your lights wildly and pull over at the first wide spot - I’ll do a U and we can chat for a bit.

I can easily understand why people are reluctant to share info about their favorite driving spot - - I hesitate to identify the one really good road that I have found.

 

blacknblue
Thank you for actually identifying a good spirited driving road for me.

 

Watch out for cyclists on Glendora Ridge Road on the weekends. It's a popular spot for them in the morning.

 

If you've got a flexible schedule, even the "crowded" fun roads have periods where traffic is minimal.

Hwy 18 from San Bernardino toward Lake Arrowhead is a fun drive. Starts out as a four lane with lots of fast sweepers and a few slower curves. Narrows to a two lane, 2nd-3rd gear type road. Take it as far as Arrowhead turn off (1 mile to the village, nice place for lunch) or stay on the 18 to Running Springs and take the 330 back down the mountain. It's no secret, but again, it's not crowded all day long.

 

Thanks Grimace - - I'll check it out on Monday or Tuesday!