Locations for "cough" spirited "cough" driving

[Damn True]

Not that I condone extra-legal speeds on public roadways, I don't...honest.....stop laughing. But I stumbled upon this nifty guide for those of us in the Golden State who might be looking for something more interesting than the 4-lane.

http://www.lateralg.org/roads.htm

[RobM]

to bad its only for california... im sure this thread will be frowned apon

[Damn True]

From the site:

STREET RACING

Lateral G does not condone street racing. We like to drive fast but not race each other on the streets. We don't participate in competitive driving. Racing each other on the freeway, or even worse on surface streets, is just plain stupid and often ends in a crash. If you are caught street racing, this is what can happen to you (first occurance) according to the CHP.
- Minimum county jail sentence of 24 hours and maximum of 90 days.
- Vehicle probably impounded for at least 30 days.
- Owner responsible for vehicle's towing and storage charges ($1,000 or more).
- If owner fails to pay, vehicle could be sold at a lien sale.
- Anyone who aids or abets a street race also faces a maximum 90-day jail sentence.

[MrQuick]

Punishment depends on the cops...in Oakland if you are caught your car wil be scrapped...no questions.

[TonyL]

Im sure this thread will be frowned apon
As a Moderator of this site I will say this:

WE TOTALY FROWN UPON STREET RACING, PERIOD.

However. This link doesn’t lead to, or endorse street racing. It leads to roads that one with a car like ours could be “spiritedly” driven on. Ones with "Technical difficulty" I.E. "twisties". Roads that are out of the way and less traveled. Roads that make a pro-touring car worth building in the first place.

By all means, if you wish to push your car to its limits, do it on a track where you, and everyone else, knows you are running on the ragged edge and could lose control or break something at any moment.

Now, our cars are about driving passionately on roads as well. Driving your car down a twisty mountain road is what put the touring in pro-touring. All we are going to say is drive responsibly and love every minute of it.

[SatisTraction]

Now, our cars are about driving passionately on roads as well. Driving your car down a twisty mountain road is what put the touring in pro-touring. All we are going to say is drive responsibly and love every minute of it.

and hope that family of four on vacation is not killed when you cant drive as well as you thought you could

[Bill Howell]

I know a couple such road near my house that, while I would never do such a thing :angel: , have been known to be used for "spirited driving". One very famous one is "the dragon", used mostly by crotch rockets. There are fatalities from time to time, but always the idiot that could not drive his scooter as good as he thought he could.
People are going to test the limits of both their cars and personal ability. Of course tracks are the optimum place for this, but in the real world, we all know better. There is a very big difference in street racing and driving close to the limit by yourself. If you are going to do either one, do it somewhere that you are unlikely to kill others. Oh, and leave a note, so we will know were to look for your dumb butt. :lmao:

[Damn True]

MMmmmmm, Deal's Gap.

[vintageracer]

Spirited Driving? There are ALL SORTS of county and state roads on the Cumberland Plateau in Tennessee for "spirited driving". Between Pikeville, Crossville and Falls Creek Falls Park there are all sorts or fun roads. The same up toward Jamestown and down towards Grundy County, Moore County (Jack Daniels) and other locations.

Remember, "Drive fast, turn heads and break hearts"!

[indyjps]

the entire state of arkansas would be great for spirited driving, i tried to cut across it on two lanes and i dont think one road in the state is straight.

[vanzuuk1]

In new york, rt.22 to 301 to bear mountain. Not a place to push it but a twisty, scenic stretch of roads in upstate new york.
In a month or so we will do another northeast cruise and I will try and include this as part of the day. Fall foliage as a bonus!

[wantahertzdonut]

We have only a couple that are worth driving here in Ohio, but I also haven't gone out exploring too much. Only ones I can think of are roads I've found on my way to my sister's place, friend's houses, etc. Unfortunately most roads are laid out on the boring grid pattern, doesn't make for very many fun turns. I'll find something soon!

Maybe I should make a website like this for Ohio...

[JLM]

In Northern colorado you can head up then back down the Thompson canyon. The great thing about this is some of the twists and turns will chew you up even at the posted speed limit. So you can drive pretty spiritedly while still being legal.

That doesn't however mean you can be complacent about it though. There's often a decent amount of traffic unless it very early or late at night. Though hurling yourself down a dark canyon carved 300 feet between mountain walls probably isn't safe either.

[Rick Piras]

Damn true: Since you're like me and in the S.J. area, check out www.pashnit.com
It's a fantastic site put together by a guy who's very passionate (hence the name) about motorcycling. It basically lists almost every great sport bike (twistie) in the state, by area. I use it for planning tours with other sport bike riders.

[Bill Howell]

the entire state of arkansas would be great for spirited driving, i tried to cut across it on two lanes and i dont think one road in the state is straight.

And from what I have seen of that state, they already have the cones set up for autocrossing. LOL
More orange cones and swapping down to one lane on the interstate than any where I have been with the exception of Atlanta when they were widing I-75.

[Travis B]

the entire state of arkansas would be great for spirited driving, i tried to cut across it on two lanes and i dont think one road in the state is straight.


Ya thats pretty much the truth......

[Travis B]

And from what I have seen of that state, they already have the cones set up for autocrossing. LOL
More orange cones and swapping down to one lane on the interstate than any where I have been with the exception of Atlanta when they were widing I-75.


Bill,

I'm pretty sure we have the slowest road dept in the U.S. every road is either under construction or closed due to construction! Then about the time they do finish it it isn't wide enough and they start over!

[JLM]

Bill,

I'm pretty sure we have the slowest road dept in the U.S. every road is either under construction or closed due to construction! Then about the time they do finish it it isn't wide enough and they start over!

Hmm that sounds really familiar.

"You know your a Coloradoan when you know the seasons by heart"

Fall
Winter
Still Winter
Construction

[DJW32]

For those of you that live in OC/LA.
CHP patrols ortega hwy/Cooks corner as if it is going out of style. CHP brings out the chopper on the weekends, plus they hate motorcycles!

[DarkBuddha]

I apologize in advance for the rant that is to follow:

I understand the the whole "politically correct" position of "responsible driving" that prevades most sites, including this one, but there also seems to be a wink-wink subtext of acknowledging the reality of spirited driving on real world public streets. So, just for a damn minute, lets not be so wink-wink, nudge-nudge about it, and lets talk straight.

We all drive on public streets, and the majority of us are likely to have broken at least the speed limit (not to mention possibly "California stopping" or running very late yellow lights) in our daily drivers. So this we know this isn't about legality or you wouldn't violate the law ever. And don't say it isn't about "street racing", because again, I suspect the majority have sat at a light and gunned it to get over a lane in front of some other driver, or sped up to cut off someone trying to cutting in front of us in traffic. Sounds like a speed contest to me, even if the other person didn't know it was a "race" (though they probably might have).

Oh, and lighten up on the high and mighty "street racing kills" thing... lots of accidents happen every day without street racing involved. Most are all equally tragic and unecessary as a street racing. Also, plenty of accidents are caused by drivers driving beyond their ability, even just plain old 80 year old grandpa types crossing the center line or a minivan trying to cross 3 lanes in 30 yards at 60mph to make an exit, and they weren't even trying to drive "spiritedly".

So, we're left with matters of degree of violation of our moral high ground about legality and street racing. So, lets just acknowledge it and move on. Straight up, there are simply proper times and circumstances where some driving behavior is more tolerable than other times and circumstances. As long as all you want is some "spirited" driveing, all you need is some common sense to figure out when and where.

My common sense rules:
1. Never drive beyond 8/10 of your limit. Find your limits at a track first, whether it's road race, autocross, etc.

2. Don't do anything on a crowded public street ever, and never never never never never ever ever ever ever ever ever in or near a neighborhood. This pretty much makes all of Seattle off limits for spirited driving, except maybe some shipping dock and business park areas on the weekends.

3. Use isolated areas when you can and do good recon before driving. Like shippin dock or business park areas on the weekends.

4. Stay in your own damn lane. Always. Period. Even at the shipping docks and business parks.

5. Skip racing on the street entirely, 'cause it won't really prove anything, and it'll just compromise your judgement and tempt you past your 8/10 limit.

6. When in doubt, don't. Simple.

7. Be prepared to pay the price for any mistake, but if you followed the first 6 rules, especially 1 & 4 & 6, then you'll be less likely to be in that position very much.

It seems apropos that SCC magazine has a column by one of the editors about the same kind of thing in this month's issue.

Anyway, as others have said... cars are meant to be driven, especially on the street. Do it responsibly and it's all good.

[bnickel]

here's my view of it.
don't be stupid
don't get caught
don't be stupid.
did i mention don't be stupid?