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      03-31-2007, 10:34 PM   #1
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An absolutely spectacular drive.

So...

The GF and I went on a drive this saturday, and boy oh boy was it good.

I posted the directions in the DC Chat forum but i will add them here again:

1) Take I-66 West to US-15 South (Exit 40, I think), near Haymarket, VA.
2) Immediate right onto VA-55. Many miles.
3) After passing US-17, go 1/2 mile and turn left onto Free State Rd.
4) Go straight, eventually it will turn into Ada Rd. Keep going straight (5-7 miles) and you'll eventually hit VA-647. Make a left onto it.

Freestate Road and Ada road are very fun, gives you a good warm up for the rest of the drive, nice elvation changes, a couple of really nice tigh turns, but mostly things you can be very comfortable driving agressively.

5) After about 15-20 miles, you'll hit US-522. Make a left onto it (South).
6) Right onto US-211. Pass through the mountains.

This road was also VERY fun, its so wide, and i had little to no traffic so on the uphill drive when my side of the road gets two lanes, i could apex turns, etc. On the way down, its only 1 lane, but again with the lack of traffic, i was able to pass most people (they werent happy about it).

7) Exit onto US-340, go South (make a left at the exit).
8) Make your first right onto Mechanic St, near the bridge. It becomes Bixlers Ferry Rd.
9) Stay on Bixlers Ferry Rd (not straight onto Old Forge Rd). When the road comes to a T, left onto N Egypt Bend Rd.
10) Immediate right onto Fort Valley Rd. (VA-675)

This is a twisty with about 3-5 hairpins that are SO fun, one of them which is on the downhill half of this section, you can see if anyone is coming up the hill, so you can really give you car the beans around it, safely. (stupid "xi" refused to loose traction ) I actually drove the hairpin twice, it was that fun.

11) It becomes Camp Roosevelt Rd. Stay on it til you see Fort Valley Rd fork off to the right... (VA-678)

Instead of taking 678 imidiately, go on to Edens Gap road for about 5 miles or so each way, it is also a very very good run, tight blind corners that really test you. Then when you get twoards the town, turn around and DO IT AGAIN!


12) Back on to VA-678 Enjoy the next 15 miles which are tremendous, every type of scenario is there, open shoulders with 40 ft drops, tight 20mph curves, long 65mph+ sweeps, elevation, a river or two on the side...Absolutely incredible. The traffic was pretty light on the road, and im not sure if that was just my luck, or a specific reason, but i was able to pass a couple of people aswell with some precision timing....

13) Right onto VA-55 (East) to I-66 Or turn around and go back the same way! ...which i didnt do, i got out of the car and let my GF drive home, she deserved it for trusting me in a couple of those turns....


The route was great, decent scenery, but oh the roads! Sweeping long turns, great hairpins, elevation changes, everything you could think of. I was sweating by the end of the VA-678 run.

I've attaches some pictures, plus a map of the run in the exact order as described above......
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      03-31-2007, 10:37 PM   #2
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Here are the pictures of the actual drive/road.

Yeah. BMW loaner for kicking ass.

Pictures 1-3 are from the the VA-675 Section.
Picture 1 is actually at the top hairpin where you can get out and take a picture. This hairpin is actually the "loosest" of them all.
Picture 2 and 3 are on the way down towards the GREAT hairpin i spoke about in post 1.

Pics 4-6 are on the 678 route.
The saying "A picture is worth a thousand words" DOES NOT apply here. I trieed to captivate it the best i could, but driving is believing.
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      03-31-2007, 10:49 PM   #3
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Looks like fun. Thanks for posting your route and photos. I will try it soon.
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      04-01-2007, 06:26 AM   #4
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Yeah! I agree looks like fun... I need to get there one of the coming warm days.

thks for sharing
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      04-01-2007, 11:04 AM   #5
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Cheers mate! When I lived in Oregon, I used to go on long weekend drives regularly and have been looking for decent drives here in these parts. I've got your directions printed and will head out soon.
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      04-01-2007, 11:06 AM   #6
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How long is the drive? I just want to try out US 675.
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      04-01-2007, 12:57 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by shimshimhada View Post
How long is the drive? I just want to try out US 675.
The drive there/back is only about 45 min or so...

I assume by driving 675 you will also drive 678 which, you definately should....

The length of that specific route will only take about and hour or so...maybe a little more....
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      04-01-2007, 12:58 PM   #8
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It never ceases to amaze me how far out of their way some folks will go to share things with others on this forum. From ED to PCD to......well, Saturday morning drives!

Thanks for the great, and detailed, effort. I am holding onto this link and praying the weather is good late next December as I will finally have my car back here at home. I am sure a nice long drive will be obligatory as I will want to selfishly reacquaint myself with the car. Now I have one more experience to add to my master plan. Thanks for doing all the homework for me. Looks like an awesome drive. I can't wait. How long did it take you?

-Mr. F1

Edit: Scratch the time question...obviouly already asked and answered. Thanks.
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      04-01-2007, 12:59 PM   #9
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How many miles was covered, I'd like to know too
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      04-01-2007, 12:59 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by liverpool View Post
Cheers mate! When I lived in Oregon, I used to go on long weekend drives regularly and have been looking for decent drives here in these parts. I've got your directions printed and will head out soon.
Yeah, let me know if you need a parter in "crime", i want to hit that route again soon aswell.....

Im also thinking about taking a drive out to cumberland, MD this weekend and going on Route 40 up to unionsville, PA, and back...should be about a 4-5hour adventure.
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      04-01-2007, 01:03 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ase2dais View Post
How many miles was covered, I'd like to know too
Well, we left Alexandria around 1030-11, and got to route 55 about 1145ish i believe, the thing is though we went a little past the machine rd, 675/678 section all the way to route 11 and had lunch, then back, and couldnt find the road for a while b/c i forgot the map at home, so all we had was the written directions.
I remeber getting back on 55 after the 675/678 section around 430.

So in reality the drive is only 5 hours long or so, from Alexandira and back.

But my memory is a little hazy.
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      04-01-2007, 01:04 PM   #12
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Oh, as for the miles...i did trip the odometer when we were on the way there on 66 and after getting back i think i remeber seeing somewhere around 250-300, but again we went to other places aswell that werent covered on the route, so i think 200-250 is more accurate.
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      04-01-2007, 01:05 PM   #13
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I used to hit up Leeds Manor/Blue Ridge Mountain Road like every weekend, I knew there were some more intense roads if I drove a bit more out west, like 33. I'll prolly take your route on the Friday or Sunday two weeks from now.

LM/BRM:


List of roads: http://www.motorcycleroads.us/va.html
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      04-01-2007, 01:24 PM   #14
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4-5 hrs of drive should be abot 200miles, I think I'll do that run with a steptronic... I know, I know its ez.

David, nice vid! I remember you did that Lee Manor drive too. Awesome...

let me know when you guys are doing it again, I'd like to hookup
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      04-01-2007, 01:39 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by shimshimhada View Post
I used to hit up Leeds Manor/Blue Ridge Mountain Road like every weekend, I knew there were some more intense roads if I drove a bit more out west, like 33. I'll prolly take your route on the Friday or Sunday two weeks from now.

LM/BRM:


List of roads: http://www.motorcycleroads.us/va.html

Yeah, i watched the video, its looks sweet, especially the beginning road, but in comparison, the 675/678 is much more intense, at least in my opinion....

I actually cant wait to drive it again.
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      04-01-2007, 08:42 PM   #16
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Looks great!

Shim, when are you heading a troupe out?

Another summer run like last year's leeds manor? Great, I'd have my eibachs installed by then
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      04-01-2007, 08:55 PM   #17
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Quote:
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Looks great!

Shim, when are you heading a troupe out?

Another summer run like last year's leeds manor? Great, I'd have my eibachs installed by then
I am planning a smaller group of pros, so we can hit 100+ at Blue Ridge.

I've been practicing daily on an unnamed local road.

I might be in Europe this summer, so I'm not sure when, but I'll definitely come up with something.
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      04-01-2007, 11:04 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sstarch1 View Post
Yeah, let me know if you need a parter in "crime", i want to hit that route again soon aswell.....

Im also thinking about taking a drive out to cumberland, MD this weekend and going on Route 40 up to unionsville, PA, and back...should be about a 4-5hour adventure.
I'll definitely let you know when I can head out. This month's out as World Cup Cricket takes precedence over all else. May is the soonest and I shall be waiting eagerly. Hope your drive this coming weekend is equally lovely.
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      04-02-2007, 10:08 AM   #19
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Can we drive on the snake part or is it a waterway?

I will try this once my car is delivered, it looks awesome!
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      04-02-2007, 10:42 AM   #20
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Can we drive on the snake part or is it a waterway?

I will try this once my car is delivered, it looks awesome!


Hahahaha...no thats a river....

Im doing another drive this weekend in NorthWest MD, i should be getting my V1 in the mail soon, and will have a detailed review for everyone after the weekend!!!!

PS. I think we need a sticky at the top for DC Area Drives....
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      04-02-2007, 10:54 AM   #21
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hehe, I thought so b/c of the field looking patches around it, but I was just hoping that it was a road....

Yes, a sticky with carving roads would be nice!
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      04-02-2007, 10:56 AM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sstarch1 View Post
Hahahaha...no thats a river....

Im doing another drive this weekend in NorthWest MD, i should be getting my V1 in the mail soon, and will have a detailed review for everyone after the weekend!!!!

PS. I think we need a sticky at the top for DC Area Drives....
+1 on the sticky! It would be great to have them all laid out and labeled.

I look forward to hearing about the run to Cumberland. I have family up there and it might get me up there more often if I take the "scenic" route.
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