THE FASTEST

High performance cars were meant for Europe’s alpine roads.

ALL ABOUT THE CURVES

by Glenn Robinson

Ihave always been into speed. Satellites, airplanes, motorcycles, cars, you name it. After an early career in the U.S. Air Force, I spent over a decade working with Daytona International Speedway. When I decided to make the move to banking, I needed to find an outlet for my obsession. So I bought a Porsche 944 and fixed it up.

Pre-pandemic, I used to drive the Porsche to work and take the long way home just to get in a few extra turns. That morphed into events at local race tracks, a second Porsche, and, if all goes as planned, I should qualify for my racing competition license this fall.

So, naturally, a driving holiday in Europe would be the ultimate getaway for me. I’d fly over with a small group of friends. We could all rent different exotics, take turns test driving each one, and compare notes over German food and regional wines.

Germany, Austria, Italy, France, and Switzerland are where high performance cars were meant to be driven. Taking a Ferrari Berlinetta through the Italian countryside and hitting some wineries along the way is very near perfection. Of course, Porsche has a factory in Stuttgart and I’d love to check out the Nürburg-Ring, which is known for being virtually impossible to master.

No driving tour of Europe would be complete without hitting Austria’s Grossglockner High Alpine Road. When you’re chasing peak adrenaline, it’s all about the curves. The Grossglockner climbs to an elevation of 8,215 feet with an impressive 36 turns, many of which are true hairpins.

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.

My cars are both Porsches but I’ve always wanted to drive an Audi R8. I’d have to try the Berlinetta too because … well, it’s a Ferrari; I’ve never driven a Ferrari. I’m not really a Lamborghini guy, but never say never, right?

We could stay in private chalets or chateaux off the tourist track. Better yet, soak up the attention at an imperial palace hotel or opulent chateau. 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 and one of his Porsche 944s

Glenn takes the lead in this competition

Autocar, an excellent source on the latest in performance cars and driving

Sustenpass (Switzerland) Known locally as Main Road 11, this Swiss Alp thriller climbs to an elevation of 7,428 feet. Beginning on the eastern slope in the village of Wassen, the ascent is 17.4 km long with an average grade of 7.5%.

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

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. 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.

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.”

"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 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.”