Million Dollar Highway - scary as hell!!!

**Gershwin** · #1 08-09-2010, 01:49 PM

Just finished a 3000 mile trip to Colorado. Thanks to those here on the forum that suggested places to go - I hit them all and Ouray was a great town.

But I have to ask WTF w/ the Red Mountain Pass or "Million Dollar Highway." That is a white knuckle road like nothing I've ever seen. I couldn't believe there were folks riding bicycles on the edge of death w/ vacationers driving by peering over the abyss. Where are the guard rails? I heard there are none so snow plows can push the snow off - certainly that doesn't take precedence. So gorgeous but scary at the same time -really gets the adreneline going.

Loved it all - What a state!!!!!!

greg · #2 08-09-2010, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gershwin

Just finished a 3000 mile trip to Colorado. Thanks to those here on the forum that suggested places to go - I hit them all and Ouray was a great town.

But I have to ask WTF w/ the Red Mountain Pass or "Million Dollar Highway." That is a white knuckle road like nothing I've ever seen. I couldn't believe there were folks riding bicycles on the edge of death w/ vacationers driving by peering over the abyss. Where are the guard rails? I heard there are none so snow plows can push the snow off - certainly that doesn't take precedence. So gorgeous but scary at the same time -really gets the adreneline going.

Loved it all - What a state!!!!!!

I have known many passengers to lay down in the back seat while on that road.

**camchain** · #3 08-09-2010, 04:28 PM

Glad that you had a good time. Were you in the 512TR? Now that would have made the road feel a bit narrow.

ddemuro · #4 08-09-2010, 06:40 PM

There are some other roads in Colorado far more scary than the Million Dollar Highway!! But it's a pretty cool place to be - Red Mountain is a neat sight.

The worst part about that stretch of 550 is that, the way most tourists drive it, you're leaving Ouray. And say what you will about everything to the south and west, but it's just not as exciting as Ouray...

**05011994** · #5 08-09-2010, 07:32 PM

We had a great time on this road last fall during the FFFT 09!

**hardtop** · #6 08-09-2010, 07:37 PM

You get used to roads like that. There are less well known roads that make that look like I70 accross Kansas!

Dave

**camchain** · #7 08-09-2010, 07:51 PM

Million Dollar Highway - scary as hell!!!

I am with you Gershwin. I have lived in Colorado for 59 years and Red Mountain Pass still captures all of my attention. It is even scarier in the snow in an eighty year old car! Yep, this was on Red Mountain on the 2005 Colorado Grand.

pch90265 · #8 08-09-2010, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 05011994

We had a great time on this road last fall during the FFFT 09!

That was one of the best drives of the FFFT'09, for sure! In fact, I think that may be me and my blushing bride in the red 360 in your second picture!

I would have to say it's really just one of those drives that proves whether your a Ferrari driver, or a Ford driver. ;-)

spiderseeker · #9 08-12-2010, 08:10 PM

Try Mt. Evans road to the top sometime, that can be exciting too.

YellowS2KVTEC · #10 08-13-2010, 01:09 AM

Love Million dollar. Such a fun flowing road.

Glad you had fun!

**davehelms** · #11 08-19-2010, 07:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by camchain

Million Dollar Highway - scary as hell!!!

I am with you Gershwin. I have lived in Colorado for 59 years and Red Mountain Pass still captures all of my attention. It is even scarier in the snow in an eighty year old car! Yep, this was on Red Mountain on the 2005 Colorado Grand.

Or.... pulling a 26 ft support trailer behind the dulley on the Grand. Spooled up turbo trying to maintain speeds high enough to not hold up event cars. Kris laid the seat back and just gave up when headed South Bound.

**PhilNotHill** · #12 08-19-2010, 10:44 AM

I bought a tee shirt that says:

"Independence Pass- Real Men Don't Need Guard Rails"

I guess after living here awhile you just get used to it.

Independence Pass is closed in the winter. I would not venture forth in the winter here w/o proper tires and equipment.

GrndLkNatv · #13 08-19-2010, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davehelms

Or.... pulling a 26 ft support trailer behind the dulley on the Grand. Spooled up turbo trying to maintain speeds high enough to not hold up event cars. Kris laid the seat back and just gave up when headed South Bound.

Try some 4 wheeling around there, like Hurricane or California Pass which feed off of the million dollar highway... You'll really be scared!

**davehelms** · #14 08-20-2010, 06:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PhilNotHill

I bought a tee shirt that says:

"Independence Pass- Real Men Don't Need Guard Rails"

I guess after living here awhile you just get used to it.

Independence Pass is closed in the winter. I would not venture forth in the winter here w/o proper tires and equipment.

We had to go over Independence Pass in the dark with three trailer rigs (illegal by a long shot) once on the Grand. We were running late due to repairing broken event cars along the way and our State Patrol escort gave up waiting on us and moved to the Snowmass evening stop.

A SERIOUS pucker up as we had the passangers stand on each corner with a flashlight spoting how much the forward trailer tires would go over the edge by. Even jack knifing the trailers, we would have free air under trailer tires on the corners while loaded with 8 figure red cars. Once.... only once! Guard rails would have made the trip impossible. I had brown hair at the start of that crossing. Never been a fan of heights, these types of trips cemented that felling solidly in place.

Think of the lunitic's running Pikes Peak in the Unlimited Class... a different breed all together.