Its form changes locally from long sweeping high-speed, 4-lane divided highway to twisty, intricate, unfenced 2-lane, and dense, commercialized sections with lots of traffic lights and stop signs.
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Pacific Coast Hwy (PCH) | CA Hwy 1 runs along much of the California Coastline through Southern and Central parts of the state. Its form changes locally from long sweeping high-speed, 4-lane divided highway to twisty, intricate, unfenced 2-lane, and dense, commercialized sections with lots of traffic lights and stop signs. |
It's famous for a lot of reasons. [To be expanded.] | ||||
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Angeles Crest Hwy (ACH) | CA Hwy 2 is nominally a 66-mile twisty, 2-lane, mountain road with few - or no - passing zones. It runs through the San Gabriel Mountains from La Canada Flintridge to the Pearblossom Hwy (CA 138). Unfortunately, western sections are closed between the (closed) landmark, Newcomb's Ranch restaurant and Islip Saddle, where CA39 (San Gabriel Canyon Road)intersects, and beyond to a few miles west of Big Pines. |
It's LA's unofficial test track for car manufacturers, automotive publications, and amatuer enthusiasts. | ||||
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Ojai Freeway / West Side Hwy / Maricopa Hwy | CA Hwy 33, is a 290-mile run north from the 101 in Ventura to the 5 near Tracy. Portions follow a meandering river. |
The southern section near Ojai is nice and twisty with very little traffic. | ||||
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Azusa Cyn Rd / San Gabriel Cyn Rd | This section of Hwy 39 starts in Azusa, North of the North end of the 605, and runs as a tight twisty 2-lane up to Islip Saddle, where it used to intersect with Angeles Crest Hwy (CA2) before landslides closed off the tunnel section of ACH.
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It's a fun twisty road that's about 22 miles long. Due to the current closure of sections of CA2, Angeles Crest Hwy, you need to run back the same way you came, but downhill.. | ||||
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Rossi's Driveway | CA Hwy 229, near San Luis Obispo, connects CA 58 to CA 41. A 9-mile road with no centerline in the southern, 5-mile long twisty part. That part, near the junction with 58, is a very tight, narrow, twisty dream for well-handling vehicles. The map doesn't do it justice, but it is SO much fun in a well-handling car! |
It's a secret gem, known mostly to motorcyclists, and drivers of Porsches, Lotuses, Miatas, and MINI Coopers. Travelling South on parts of this section gets rhythmic, and reminded me of doing moguls on skis. The northern portion is nothing to write home about: just typical straight-line, rural, 2-lane among farms and ranches. There's supposed to be a great BBQ restaurant near the north end, but I've never stopped there, just turned around and redrove 229 in the other direction... | ||||
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Angeles Forest Loop | An approximately 50-mile run in the Angeles Forest, starting in La Canada Flintridge on the Angeles Crest Hwy (ACH), then North on Angeles Forest Hwy, then South on Upper Big Tujunga Cyn Rd, back to ACH. From there, on ACH farther East out to the (closed) Newcomb'ds Ranch, where enthusiasts gather with their cars even though it's not in business, and finally, back West to La Canada Flintridge on ACH.(See entry on ACH.) |
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PV Drive East Switchbacks | A short, but fun run near the Southern end of I110 and Zamperini Airfield in Torrance, CA. Next to San Pedro and the Port of LA. | My local Twisty Run! I've done it hundreds of times, including almost daily when I was living in San Pedro. About 5 miles of challenging hilly neighborhood roads. local traffic is always an issue. Both ends feature really interesting curves that are worth giving yourself some space to work with. The switchbacks at the southern end have pullouts, and there are some useful broad intersections near the north end to give yourself some room from slower traffic. | ||||
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Turnbull Canyon Twisties! | Another short, but fun run, this time in Whittier, CA. | Another 5 miles of challenging hilly neighborhood roads. This time in Whittier, just East of the 605. This is a nice side run, when I'm travelling North on 605 to get to CA39/Azusa Canyon Rd.
| GMR & GRR |
A 22 mile run from Glendora to Mt. Baldy. Currently closed. Glendora Mountain Road continues North, away from Glendora Ridge Road at their juncture.
| I did this run with SCMM (SoCal MINI Maniacs) about 20 years ago. It was a very memorable driving experience. I had to get my windshield replaced due to stones getting kicked up by the car ahead of me. Beatiful views and breathtaking curves!
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