Idea for a segment - American roads

[ESPNSTI]

In the area around where I live, there are a number of roads just like this:


But not too far away, around the Mississippi river, you also find roads like this:

I know, not nearly as spectacular as the Alps, but still, not bad.


When I went on vacation to Yellowstone, there were a few great roads along the way, I just don't remember exactly where.

[Litning]

Originally Posted by janstett

I've given up on Top Gear ever saying anything good about America.

he did say something good about America in the US special... We gave them right turns on reds

[thedguy]

Might as well take "Tail of the Dragon" off the list. The cops have waged a war on tourists there, you can't speed (or apparently follow the speed limit of 35), and in general its got to much (bike) traffic.

The Black Hills in South Dakota and surrounding areas can be added. The Ozarks (Southern Missouri, Arkansas) have HUGE amounts of Rural roads that are great fun. Pikes Peak is getting paved so that will be an interesting one once it's done in 2010.

Pretty much any 2-lane road going through the Santa Monica Mountains and also Angels Crest.

[edkwon]

Originally Posted by Red_Bull

Yeah, just like there was for Africa, Australia, Sth America...

exactly, whiners need to remove their blinders and realize that N america isnt the only one being excluded. its like the ppl who started threads why TG makes fun of america so much when they mocked their european neighbors much much more.

the endless childish attitude makes me embarassed to be an american.

what next complain that BBC news isnt covering enough american local news events? or that japanese game shows are exlcuding white ppl as contestants?

i think a lot of viewers lose sight and perspective that their watching a foreign show, and that when american programs touch upon foreign matters, they come off as a lot more ignorant and make equally tasteless jokes.

[nannocrob]

Originally Posted by Donington

It's actually because the only cars you are allowed to drive there have leaf springs and are automatic, everyone is extremely fat and will murder you, and every road looks like this.

Do you have a ticker running across your screen of just JC quotes?

Why don't you try this one for a change -> Independent thought

[Tobias]

American roads are terrible. The surface of the moon is smoother than some major roads I've traveled. What little maintenance is done is poor. Potholes lay untouched for years and then are sloppily filled in and become bumps.

[Steve Levin]

I can't speak much to the eastern roads, but I can say I've driven much of the American West and many of the roads are indeed spectacular. But I wouldn't mind checking out the roads they had in the show...might have to take European delivery of a C63 next year

Steve

[MattD1zzl3]

Originally Posted by janstett

It's a nice idea. Personally I'd throw the roads that ring the island of Maui in there (not just the famous Road to Hana, but some other gems in there too).

However, it will never happen. I've given up on Top Gear ever saying anything good about America. It's a swampland/desert with straight roads and backwards cars. Cause Clarkson says so. He has no interest in portraying anything remotely positive about America. We don't have any good roads, any good drivers, or any good cars. Cause he says so. All we'll ever see is the slums of Detroit and Miami and the wreckage in New Orleans. Cause that's all there is. Nothing to see here.

We'll have to wait for someone on this side of the pond to wake the hell up and do it.

I've said it before and i'll say it again:

If you own an F-body, you are better than everyone else, good post!

[edkwon]

Originally Posted by Tobias

American roads are terrible. The surface of the moon is smoother than some major roads I've traveled. What little maintenance is done is poor. Potholes lay untouched for years and then are sloppily filled in and become bumps.

Youre making a point for the wrong argument, the discussion is not about road quality, with bumps and potholes, but wether america has 'fun' roads to drive on, and there are plenty in the moutain and valley areas. its just in the vast stretches of agricultural areas (central eastern, midwest, grainbelt) where everything is flat and the roads are straight and boring....because city planners have no reason to make them twisty, that would just be retarded from a civil enginnering and urban planning POV.

City roads are city roads, they're full of too many cars, have smooth areas and horribly rough areas, plus areas with 4 seasons experience the constant T changes leading to pavement expansion, shrinking, cracking, potholes, etc. These crappy roads can be found in any city on any continent.

[Donington]

Originally Posted by nannocrob

Why don't you try this one for a change -> Independent thought

please, PLEASE tell me you don't think I was being serious

THAT WAS THE DAMN POINT! FOR GOD'S SAKE SOMEONE HERE PLEEEEAAASE

[zenkidori]

Any state in the US that has mountains and a population has good driving roads, here are some pics from just one road hat I posted in another thread long ago:

This is the road on Mt. Evans, 14 miles of twisties rising above 14k ft in elevation, the highest paved road in north america:

Here's a little collection of pics from a road that I like to run during the summer. On the weekdays it's pretty clear because it's back in the hills a ways and costs $10 for a 3 day pass(and there are actually rangers there to fine you several hundred dollars for not paying) so I've never seen a single ricer on it. I think it's too far for most of them to drive anyway, haha.

the view is staggering, sometimes you'll get near the top and look down on the tops of clouds, otherwise you can see forever. very cool.

bad things tho, some people prone to altitude sickness should stay away, since it climbs to 14+ ft above sea level. There are also no guardrails to keep you from plummeting down the very steep and very long dropoffs. scary good fun. Most of these pics were taken with a POS point and shoot from a moving car, so no photography criticism prease!

To get to this road you need to actually take another twisty mountain road just to get to the base, haha.





The sign at the base of Mt. Evans.


In the forest


Looking out from the Tundra


Tundra


What I call the "Low Machine Gauntlet". the road has been made very "wavy" but the thaw and freeze of water coming from summit lake


Summit lake


past where things grow, mostly it's just rocks and steep dropoffs up here, not even many lichens












the Summit



Here are a few pics my buddy has taken up there.

The "touge to the touge"


Entrance to evans






I actually have a few more, so lemme know if you'd like to see em and I'll resize them and throw em up here.

if you're ever in the area, definately worth visiting.

This road is definitely my favorite, since it's literally 10 minutes away from me. Also, I've seen many a car company at the base doing high altitude testing, and you don't actually have to pay for a pass if you are just going to drive the road, only if you plan to stop, neat huh?

we also have trail ridge road
the san juan skyway(all 236 miles of it)
Guanella Pass

Independance pass












east side of mt elbert. it's actually to the left not pictured.

Pikes Peak


(well you all know PPHC)
and some other roads that will remain nameless because they aren't very well known to even locals.

another good road I can remember are going to the sun road in montana.

I also found some site that lists their top ten scenic mountain drives and the list is as follows:

• Mount Baker Scenic Byway, WA
• Icefields Parkway, Alberta
• Going-to-the-Sun Road, MT
• Beartooth Highway, MT/WY
• Snowy Range Road, WY
• Trail Ridge Road, CO
• San Juan Skyway, CO
• Arkansas Scenic 7
• Skyline Drive, VA
• Kancamagus Highway, NH

Originally Posted by Tobias

American roads are terrible. The surface of the moon is smoother than some major roads I've traveled. What little maintenance is done is poor. Potholes lay untouched for years and then are sloppily filled in and become bumps.

I'll forgive you because your location says new york, and the roads out there are truly horrible, but you clearly have no clue WTF you are talking about. most roads here are smooth and well maintained, unless of course, you live in the ghetto, but those aren't the roads we are talking about anyway, are they? The mountain roads here are fixed or resurfaced pretty much every year in part or whole.

[BigDaveDogg]

I've been noticing more and more threads the more I view this forum about people offering suggestions to the show, as well as hypotheticals. Does anyone really think this forum has a great deal of say in the future of Top Gear? Is there anyone checking these forums from the Top Gear crew giving feedback from fans? I highly doubt it, but someone correct me if I'm wrong. It's fun to think about though, I guess.

I'm in agreement to everyone wondering why the fock after every other scene or clip TG makes someone has to post about why the US was excluded or wasn't considered, etc. Stop being so conceited and think about the market they're filming for. I'm sure every continent has a great road worthy of a trip for driving. Also, to the guy who was talking about driving fast down a straight road being exciting...sure that gets your adrenaline rushing, but the point of the film they made was to find an extraordinary, exciting road to drive with a great mixture of curves, scenery, and other aspects. You can find a straight road anywhere. While blasting down a road at speed can be fun, it can't compare to carving corners and hitting apexes. Anyone can argue there's a road in their hometown or near them that is equally good or better, but I think we can all be in agreement the roads they drove were great.

Edit: ^^Beautiful roads above. I always knew your username was in relation to Nissan. You on any 240 enthusiast forums?

[zenkidori]

Originally Posted by BigDaveDogg

Edit: ^^Beautiful roads above. I always knew your username was in relation to Nissan. You on any 240 enthusiast forums?

not anymore. I did start my RWD habit with a zenki S14, but now I have a zenki FC3S, which is broken for the time being

[BigDaveDogg]

Rotary? I'm on Rx7club.com too. If those roads are in close relation to where you live, you're a lucky MFr.

[Donington]

Astonishing roads...although attempting to read the blurry sign may cause altitude sickness

[Silverstar]

I lived in Montana for 5 years, and they sure do have great roads.

Highway 89 between Highway 87 and White Sulphur Springs through L&C Forest is a nice highway speed road with good turns in it. My dad was a missile cop and drove the backroads of the L&C National Forest to the facilities out there, very scenic.

The best one I ever took was Craig River Road, that used to be US Highway 91. From the Hardy Creek (exit 247) to south of Wolf Creek (exit 219). It's a beautiful route through the mountains that follows the Missouri River/Interstate 15 about 20 miles worth, then another 10 miles of recreational road that follows the mountain side.

[Steve Levin]

I've driven the Mt. Evans road itself...it is indeed brilliant. Cold, though, even in August with the top down!

Steve