Best places in Vic for driving

[Chief]

Hi guys!

Had the most incredible drive yesterday. A friend of mine and myself went up past Warburton to reefton spur; if any of you guys read Speed Magazine you may remember an article in April/May edition involing a run with a mini cooper S through the back way to Lake mountain just past Mt Donna Buang, youll know what Im talking about. After reading the article, I was really keen to try it out.

I was driving my car and my friend has an MX5, and together we had what was both for me and my friend the best experience we have ever had in a car, period.

For you guys who havent been there, this is one scenic, challenging stretch of road. It consists of a whole series of blind corners and very few straights. The best thing about it though is that you dont have to exeed the speed limit at all to really enjoy yourself. There are few places where you will hit the 100kph limit, and then only briefly as you gear down and break into the next set of seemingly never ending corners. Guys if you like your corners, the Spur is a must. Its amazing.

Like I said, my friend that came with me had an MX5 and I think he had it much easier than me; those things handle like go-carts, it was really in its territory, there was no way coming down the spur I was gonna keep up with him, but regardless for me it was simply brilliant.

A word of caution though, this is a serious piece of bitumen. While in good condition, the road is narrow, it drops off with dense canopy, and with the blind corners, you cant afford to drive like a crazy, always assume your gonna pass someone round the corners and make sure your brakes are up to scratch.

Now this drive has left me wanting to experience more. Just wanted to hear from others if they know any other of our local roads that are a real joy to drive on.

[predator]

Lets seee.. i tend to quickly forget as everything blobs into one for me.. I've been too many places (although that is probably a good thing )

Black spur from healsville. Or is that the one you are talking about?

GOR (of course), and i think the road back thru the Ottways is right up there with the best.

Lysterfield and some of the back areas around there.

Other areas that rate a good mention..

Mount dandy back roads - most people just go up the usual route up Mt Dandy Rd, there are better bits if you choose the right bits.

Wilsons Prom - ok, its short, but there are some nice little bits on the way to the camping ground there.

Lake Hume and Lake Eildon - some good runs around there and some nice twisties.

Out of the state, the ones that stick with me are:

East Coast of Tassie... As good as GOR in parts, and some forest runs in between.

Adelaide Hills - some of the roads up to Mount Lofty, etc. Again, the back bits are nice and entertaining.

Fleurieu Peninsula - running from Victor Harbour down there and back is an awesome run. Barossa is a pretty good area too just for crusiing around.

[Chief]

Fantastic, thats heaps of places for me to try, this is gonna keep me busy for sometime methinks. Thanks Predator. Tassie is something I really want to do sometime soon, take the car down via ferry and cruise the whole island. Studied in Adelaide for 3 years and lived right on the hills, and yep, that was terrific too (had a pintara back then that handled like a boat, so didnt really do it for me.

Ive been meaning to go down to the GOR for some time know. The only thing that worries me bout it is all the 'Sunday' casual drivers there kinda slowing things down and diluting the experience. How bout cops? do you get issues with them patroling the highway down there or is it pretty quiet. That was another good thing bout reefton spur, very quiet, only went past 3-4 cars each way when I was going.

Incidently, black spur and Reefton spur are two diff roads, heard that black spur is good too, but I think you get lots more traffic there.

Anyone else have suggestions?

[Mick Trainer]

There are literally hundreds of very good roads that hold very little traffic and are great driving roads. Due to the hilly nature of Victoria we have so many areas that all entail great corners. I will not go into specifics as I don't want to ruin them for me . I will often now go out at 10pm on a week night so that the roads are quiet etc.

I agree that the Dandenongs are a great area once off the main roads. The black spur is awsome but so hard to get a good run on it due to traffic and as you are going so quick to make it truly fun you risk your licence. The Reefton Spur is fantastic but once again gets screwed up by traffic. Especially bikes who just love it but they can hold you up something feirce. Usually to get a run at Reefton you have to be there real early. We usually leave home at around 5-6 am which gets us there when there is very little traffic.

All the roads that lead to the moutains that hold snow usually are pretty nice. But like Dandenongs you want a map to have a look at to find the back way up. One mountain near melbourne has a 24 and then a 16 KM twisting road that is almost unused. In about 8-10 trips up and back we have come across 2 cars total.

Roads around and beyond the King Lake area are also well worth a drive.

There are many roads also down around the Mornington Penisula. Obviously Authers Seat is the pinicle but it has been about 10 years since I have had a clear run at that without it being the Historic. BUt there are others around the area. Some of the HILLS around there are RED hot.

Obviously we also have the Otways etc down the other side. Also if you are prepared to travel to get to them there are a huge amount of roads from the far east coast up into the northern border. Also further down sth east off the Princes Hwy heading too the cost there are some very seriously good roads.

Well that should give people enough to keep looking at for a while.

Mick.

[Chief]

LOL , thanks for the advice Mick!

I think my next step is to buy a more detailed directory of all of Victoria and not just Melbourne Metro area and look for potential cool driving sites. Anyone know of any really good detailed directories covering Victoria, in particular the Greatdividing/Alpine regions.

[slow_r31]

i believe the black spur is actually closed half-way up atm due to road-works

[dAVE]

im a bit of a local to mornington peninsula, so know a fair few roads out there.

I have a good rally track that I used to take my dads WRX out on, til I spun it 540 degrees and shat my self, never to try again.

other than that, I like coming from out the back of balnaring, through flinders down to macrae, then up arthurs seat. Lots of corners and straights, but more cops out in force in the last few years, so have to watch your speed... a bit.. or you'll end up like me and get 11 points in go

[predator]

There is nothing better than taking your car out of the city and having a good run and getting to actually see the state you live in There is so many great areas, its just getting out there and exploring it. I know many people in melbourne have vary rarely set foot outside the immediate melbourne surrounds. Once you do there are so many beautiful areas to explore, it seems such a waste to be stuck in the city where everybody congregates.

Driving a nice car in the city is more of a chore than anything else. You have to watch out for so many things: trams, stupid pedestrians, braking and gearing every second, people that are too busy talking on their mobile phone to see where they are going, people who cut you off 'cause they just HAVE to get into that lane that second, and of course cops and cameras every step of the way. It gets to me so much.

Just the other week Jamezilla, Wardest, and myself took a nice route to portsea around the back way and then up arthurs seat. Was the greatest day for it. Its days that truly make you feel its truly worth putting up with some of the negatives of owning a nice car. Those that missed out truly missed out, but there will be much more member trips like that over summer which SAU will try and organise - so keep an ear out!