I’ve often wondered who comes up with the “ten best” lists and articles we all share, again and again. How did driving the Nurburgring become a thing all car enthusiasts need to do, but driving Spa isn’t? Now that I’ve mentioned Spa, you instantly want to add it to your bucket list…but until I planted the seed, finding out how daring you are through Eau Rouge was just a fleeting thought you had a few years ago. In the same way, I wonder who came up with the original “ten best driving roads of North America”, and why we keep rehashing the same list over, and over. Pacific Coast Highway, Tail of the Dragon, etc. etc. In many ways, the list is flawed…and the first day of the Classic Car Adventures Hagerty Fall Classic worked to prove the point.
What makes the perfect driving road? While the obvious answers is “twisty”, its certainly more than that. The combination of twists and turns, the elevation changes, the scenery, the traffic levels, the pavement quality, and many more factors all need to be considered. The best driving road in a 1964 Buick, is not likely the best driving road in a 1964 Porsche. And yet, there are certain qualities and combinations that make a road exceptional, regardless of the vehicle chosen. Certainly only these particular roads should be considered as “best”.
Our morning began with a clearing mist of rain, after a heavy deluge overnight. We were in Clackamas Oregon, basically “Portland South-East”, for those of us from out of town, and the driver’s meeting was oddly delayed. We hung around in the parking lot for almost a full 45 minutes of socializing before the meeting finally began. A route of remote road choices, little fuel options, and a miniscule selection of just two food options all day lay ahead. Our delayed meeting was simply to accommodate the lunch timing!
At first we headed south-east, through the Mount Hood National Forest, before heading south west into the town of Detroit Oregon. In Detroit we enjoyed one of the two dining establishments, and a rare occasion (for CCA) where an entire event meets up to have lunch and swap stories together. I arrived a touch late for lunch, having stopped for breakfast on the road after the driver’s meeting, so it was a quick southern-style barbecue before I jumped in the car to try and keep pace with the early part of the group. Our route continued south, down to highway 20, where my 1958 Beetle just couldn’t hang onto the group through the mountain climbs. Soon I was solo behind some locals, and I missed an important turn onto perhaps the best road I’ve ever driven.
By luck or chance, Warwick had also missed the turn, I had seen him zip in from the other direction thinking he was doing a side trip…but quickly put two and two together, and reversed course.
Coming around the corner, on the correct route for today, I was surprised to find all the cars I had left lunch with waiting for me. A certain camaraderie forms when you’re on a classic car adventure, and they didn’t want to start down what appeared to be a narrow twisty road without our “whole group”. We were four Minis, a Citroen, an RX-7, a Pontiac, the Camaro and my VW Beetle. After the first section of twisty hill climbs, we found a straight section, adjusted our running order, and began the best hour and forty-five minutes of my year. So far in 2019 I have driven the top six roads listed in Southern California, three of the top six listed in Colorado (did the others last year), the top roads listed in the Smokey Mountains, and the top roads listed in both Alberta and British Columbia. Nothing could top todays drive.
The curves never ended, the trees formed a tunnel for roughly 70% of the route. Occasionally we’d be river-side, and the break offered by the water would open up vast mountain views. The road, while paved, is used so little it’s growing moss in the centre. For the most part the dips, yumps and crests formed by years of road movement added to the enjoyment. Where they were car damaging, the route book either gave warning, or the road was painted to call attention to the issues. We weren’t moving at a particularly fast pace, but the road kept you working the entire time. The Minis would dart ahead in the tightest corners, and we would catch up and ride behind in the others. Up, down, left, right, the road never stopped challenging for its entire length. We passed towering dams, vast lakes, and forest so thick we almost needed headlights. The entire time you couldn’t wipe the smile off my face, and you could feel the smiles coming from the other cars in the group. With so many corners, it felt like the Nurburgring. It was as tight and twisty as the tail of the dragon, with a speed limit that says “remote and unused”. When we stretched at the end of the road, everyone was talking about how it might be the best thing they’ve ever driven. Over drinks, later in the hotel parking lot, we were discussing how we’d love to share the route with friends…but hope it stays a secret to be enjoyed.
Perhaps the worst thing to happen to the great driving roads is their inclusion on a “ten best” list. Everyone with a rental car heads to them, adding traffic and congestion to routes which were once someones secret route. In each region where “the best” road is featured, I’ve found similar roads which I think are far better for the driving enthusiasts. Today’s road doesn’t show up on any best list of driving roads in Oregon, and I found it mostly by accident, hoping to extend a route by an hour or so. It was so good, however, that I will plan an entire future Hagerty Fall Classic around this one road, perhaps driving it in the other direction next time.
A road that good? I must have been one incredible driving day…
Special thanks to Andrew Holliday for his phenomenal photos of the day, a preview of which are available below:
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