ALL ABOUT THE CURVES

by Glenn Robinson

For adrenaline junkies, there's nothing like a driving vacation

Taking a tight turn at 45 mph is as exciting as going 145 mph in a straight line. The trick is to get all your braking done before the turn, so when you enter it, all the tires’ traction is dedicated to turning. Smooth and easy does it.

Grossglockner High Alpine Road (Austria)

In September 2012, the Grossglockner Grand Prix, last held in 1939, was revived as a classic car event, featuring vintage cars from BMW, MG, Alfa Romeo, Mercedes-Benz, and Bugatti "climbing into the clouds."

Passo di Giau (Italy)

An immensely pleasing early morning drive, this angular and elevated mountain pass – included in The Dolomites UNESCO World Heritage Site – connects Cortina d’Ampezzo and Colle Santa Lucia.

N85 Route Napoleon (France)

If Provence and the Cote d’Azur are more your fancy, this relatively wide driving road between Grasse and Castellane allows for high corner speeds and is touted by experts as being “curve nirvana.”

M2.3 Highway (Montenegro)

Resurfaced in 2018, “the backbone of the Montenegrin road network” curves and tunnels its way from coastal Budva over stunning Skadar Lake National Park to the capital city of Podgorica.

Adriatic Magistral North (Croatia)

The Adriatic Sea is the star of the show as this serpentine highway twists and turns its way from Rijeka to Split. Experienced drivers say get there before May, when tourist traffic spoils all the fun.

SS 125 Orientale Sarda (Sardinia / Italy)

This Italian island rager is held up by many as the best driving road in Europe. Experts say its surface is pool table smooth and the curves and straights have a tempo that is “heaven for the active driver.”

"When you’re driving a high performance car, the oohs, aahs, and “Who is that?” whispers are all part of the experience. Kind of makes you feel like a rock star." — Glenn Robinson