Hi All,
Was at the Grampians over the last few days and drove on one of the best stretches of road I've been on. It goes from Hall's Gap to Horsham. At least 30 km's of tight, very well cambered corners. I first drove on it with my girlfriend and she was a little aprehensive about cornering at speed. So I did a solo run of about 20 km's out and 20 km's back - What a KICK- A$$ buzz!!! The road just keeps goin'! I pushed pretty hard and while the understeer was givin' me the ***** I even worked out how to get a little bit of oversteer (inconsistently) engine braking hard into the corners. The speed limit is 100 kph from the start so you don't even need to put your license at risk (not for breaking the speed limit anyway) to enjoy it. Pretty much all of the corners are 2nd or third gear - 60 - 100 kph. You could get up to 160 or maybe 180 on the (very short) straits but there's no real need for flat out speed to enjoy the drive.

Mid day on Thurs I only had to overtake 2 cars in a 40 km stretch! - and was very easy and safe to do so.

Anyway, if you're ever out that way it's well worth a detour or even a trip out there to drive it. I noticed one of the members was from Ararat - I'm sure they will vouch for what I'm sayin'.

Happy holidays!

LK

 

I hope your not talking about the Western Hwy? If so then Jeezarse-H on a stick! How did you get away with that?? The Horsham TOG are absolutely rabid on that stretch of road, they lurve it because of all the corners they can hide in, all the corners you love for different reasons.

Another good stretch is the Princes Hwy through the Otways, past Port Campbell. No chance of the boys in blue hiding there, it's too tight. I almost made my wife ralf throwing my car around those turns. I had to pull back so she wouldn't stain the seats, thoughtful guy that I am

Jim

 

Nah, not the Western Highway. It's the Grampians Rd that starts/finishes right in halls Gap and cuts through the mountains to Horsham.

 

This is where I love to blow out the cobwebs - I'm assuming you mean the strech of road from Halls Gap to McKenzie Falls and through Zummsteins? It's only about a 1/2 hour drive for me from Ararat. The posted limit for the entire strech is 100km/h, the road is too tight in most of the fun places for Mr. Plod to hide - though I once saw a camera car in one of the few straight streches. The main thing you have to watch out for is kangaroos - place is riddled with them.

 

There's a few nice winding roads in the Grampians - great place for a weekend of exploring. Lots of wineries (though the wine-tasting and the driving should be combined with due care), great scenery and plenty of B&B's in the area if you want to make a weekend of it.

 

Hey Provo,
Yeah, thats' the road. Did see one kangaroo on the road the day before and I was quite wary of them. Never really got much over 100 and figured I could shut down pretty quick from that speed.

Had a great couple of days there. Stayed in one of the spa cabins with girlfriend - bit of bushwaking, swimming at fish falls, eating, drinking and .......

Anyone else care to post their favorite stretches of road???

 

Winton :-)

ps. Sounds like you had fun and there's a lot of nice stretches between Mt. Bullar and Melbourne (ie. Black spur). Then there's Kew Blv in Melbourne as well as the Great Dandenong Tourist road. Oh, and the piece of 'indistrial estate' that I do my 'handling testing' around Moorabin airport :-)

 

Mountain Hwy on Mt Dandenong is WAY better than the Tourist rd. There's much less traffic and very little access - i.e. side rds or driveways. It goes from The Basin to Sassafrass.

I had another great drive to Walhalla and to Thompsons reservoir a few months ago. The Walhalla rd is pretty tight and can be slimy, but fun if you keep an eye out for wet spots. The Reservoir rd is a bit faster with big sweepers. Did pass a Police patrol 4x4 on the way out there though but petty sure he didn't have a radar. Also took the unsealed rd up to Mt St Gwinear from the reservoir. It's about 20 km or so of rally style fun for those who aren't too afraid of a little bit of dirt.

Will have to catch up with you one day David to find out more about this "handling testing" area.

 

Mountain Hwy on Mt Dandenong is WAY better than the Tourist rd. There's much less traffic and very little access - i.e. side rds or driveways. It goes from The Basin to Sassafrass.

Yep, you're right about that ... the traffic sux so you have yto pick your times. Something like Kew Blv is more 'traffic friendly'.

Will have to catch up with you one day David to find out more about this "handling testing" area.

Sure thing ... I'm sure we can sort something out sometimes ...the area is a reasonably new industrial estate and after hours there's no traffic at all. PM me sometimes when you have time and we'll organize something.