Minnesota Twisties

[n8marx]

Greetings,

About a month ago I purchased my first Porsche, a 1986 Carrera Coupe. Everything is great with the car. It runs, drives and looks like a dream.

My problem is I can't find a decent twisty road to save my life. I have been lurking for quite some time and have been nearly driven to tears with all the pictures of the canyon roads on the west coast. Here in fly-over country there is nothing of the sort.

My question to all of the Minnesota Pelicans is what do you do to cope with the lack of twisties around here. High speed runs on arrow straight roads and the occasional clover-leaf freeway ramp can only satisfy a guy for so long. Where do you guys drive?

[wckrause]

Try Hwy 1 from Ely to the North Shore, but watch for moose. I know what you mean though, Twin Cities driving is dull. Some nice roads around Lake Minnetonka, but the traffic is too heavy to enjoy them.

[n8marx]

Hwy 1 would be good. However, the last time I was on it ( in a 4WD Toyota Tundra with two canoes and a bed full of Duluth packs ) we saw 9 moose between the North Shore and Ely. Encountering a moose in one of these little cars scares the bejeezus out of me. I imagine the moose would win.

[85eurocarrera]

Hey n8marx,
I think I know you....Do we have a mutual aquaintance from Colder Products?

You might give 101 a try from down in chanhassen at intersection of 212 and go north. Not very long but twisty. Sahra on this board did a drive along the St. Croix, Wisconsin side I think, she might have posted the route.

If I remember right I recall there is a 3 mile 10 turn route up near Brainerd.. :-) a lot safer and no chance of tickets! Mater of fact Club race is this weekend. I didnt sign up fo D.E. but am going to try and make it up there for the day maybe tomarrow or sunday..

Sounds like you got yourself a nice car.. post some pics!

Joe

[911boost]

Ok its been a little bit of time since I did this drive, but I had the same problem you are having when I first sorted out a new suspension for another type of car a couple of years ago.

I found a great road in Wisconsin right over the border. I will look on a map for you and get the road number and directions, I could still get there if I drove it, but living in Colorado now that might be tough. I will post again on this. its a great road with lots a twists and hills.

Bill

[n8marx]

Yep - We do both know a guy from Colder. I have been giving 101 a try but I ALWAYS manage to get stuck behind a blue hair in an Olds Alero everytime I try that road. Short of making illegal passes I cannot get to any of the curves without traffic.

I saw that there was a club race up there this weekend and thought about going to observe but it looks like I'm heading to Phoenix to viist with the monster-in-law. Whoo-hoo!

[wckrause]

I imagine the moose would win.

I saw the results of a collision between a pickup and a large moose. The moose was able to walk a few steps away before it keeled over. The driver of the truck was killed and needed to be cut out of the cab.

OK, maybe Hwy 1 isn't such a good idea. Is the Gunflint Trail paved? I'm headed that way for the first time next week.

[n8marx]

wckrause,

The last time I drove it the Gunflint Trail was paved for about the first 8 miles or so out of Grand Marais. Then it turned to rutted loose gravel. Going paddling? Where are you putting in?

Bsiple,

Thanks for the info. I will anxiously await your reply.

[wckrause]

We'll be staying at the Bearskin Lodge, and fishing in East Bear Skin. Probably we will take a few day trips into the BWCAW, and do some hiking.

[n8marx]

Bill,

I'm sorry but I gave you some incorrect information. The Gunflint Trail should be a paved road in it's entirety. I was thinking of the Sawbill Trail. Sorry.

Nate

[spyderman]

The best for twisty roads is skyline Parkway in Duluth, and Seven Bridges road in Duluth's Lake side. Skyline Parkway is well paved, and the twisties will scare the peepee out of you. Seven Bridges it the twistiest road I've ever been on, and best part is that the only people you run into are kids parking on a Friday night. Born and raised in Duluth, took mine out there, and have whated to get back ever since. Other good places are around the mine Pits up on the Range. Hope that helps.

[RoninLB]

..the Gunflint Trail is slow but incredable on where it takes you..slept in the "Trails End" CG..there is a woodsman type restaurant and bar on the trail/good food/open late...that area is one of the most pristine in the whole US, IMHO...and Grand Marais has a town pool that is small/super clean/sauna/steam and inexpensive..definately recommended..the girls at the GM visitor center love 911's......Ron

[911boost]

Nate,

I checked my car and I don't have my trusty Wisconsin map with anymore, and the resources on the web are not being kind to me right now. I wanted to post a reply though you could go for drive this weekend so here goes...

I was heading to cumberland and meant to go to up through the taylors Falls area on Route 8, but for some reason was being a dumba$$ and headed through Woodbury and out towards Wisconsin through the Apple River area, well anyways I was trying to get to Cumberland Wisconsin and stopped and bought a map. I know I ended up on Route 8 right outside Turtle Lake Wisconsin. I think the fun road might have been County Road K, but I am not 100% positive. If you don't mind spending some time driving, I am pretty sure this is it. If you go out past Taylors falls you will turn right (south) not long before you get to Turtle lake on 8. If I remember correctly it does not look that curvy on the map and it runs through farmland and by some small lakes. It is well worth finding.

I'm sorry I can't be any more help, it is a real fun road the strech is about 15 miles long and I'd drive it first to become familiar with it, there were some really nasty hairpin curves and lots of hills that you came over with sharp turns at the bottom. I hope that helps, if I can find my map at home I will post more on it.

Bill

you could also take 494 to South Robert Trail (3). Go south through Eagan, they had redone that road not too long before I moved and the stretch south of Hwy 55 has also got some real nice turns its just not as long.

[n8marx]

Thanks Bill,

I appreciate the information. I plan to take your advice and search for that road in Wisconsin at my earliest convenience.

I also plan to check out South Robert Trail, today in fact, since I work about 1.5 miles from 55 and S. Robert Trail.

Thanks again.

[911boost]

Not a problem, good luck!

[jmohn]

Congrats on the Carrera. What color? I'll have to keep my eyes open for it when I go through Savage. If you see a silver SC coming through, give me a wave. No point in trying 101 from Chan. to 212, I drive it almost everyday and, while it COULD be a grand drive, there's too much traffic and no-one has any lane discipline, you really have to watch out for on-coming traffic drifting into YOUR lane in those blind curves (BTW, in the winter, when it snows, every curve has a vehicle off - you'd think they'd learn). We don't have many great, twisty roads nearby, but, consider this, you're still driving a Porsche, so you're having more fun than 90% of the other drivers anyway.

Good luck,

Jerry M
'78 SC

[wckrause]

Drive Minnesota roads in the winter.... every road becomes a twisty!!!

[dmac]

101 from 212 north used to be a blast about 25 years ago, but the city has grown up around it and the traffic really slows you down.

I was told that driving southwest along the Minnesota river is nice and somewhat twisty - and it's right out your back door.

[PeterK]

On the way to Duluth, take Highway 23 which is East of 35W but parallels it. Nice highway, good scenery and not many cars as most are on the interstate.

North Shore is also a nice drive but at night there are too many deer. Try to make it up during the late fall and the road will be fairly free of traffic as well.

Good luck with the car

[hermzz911]

guys,

watch for our friendly state patrol on 101. the traffic congestion you mentioned has saved me a couple of times.