What are your favourite driving roads?

Interstate 10/8 from El Paso, TX to the California border with Arizona. High speed runs are possible here . . . when no one else is on the road. That possiblity seems easy to encounter. There have been times when I've seen NO ONE for 8-10 miles ... in either direction. Check out my picture from 2007. Another great pair of drives: 1) Palomar Mountain Access Road. Just be careful during the day; there are no headlights to warn you of oncoming traffic. Lots of second-gear stuff there; 2) the Pacific Coast Highway NORTHBOUND from San Luis Obispo to Salinas. Many of you know this road. The scenery IS distracting, but the curvy nature of the (often wooded) highway is great for 2nd-4th gear stuff. Take a friend!!

Another vote for New Zealand from me. There are plenty of spectacular touring routes in both islands, with the South Island in particular offering lower traffic density. For anyone visiting NZ, the drive from Christchurch to Arthurs Pass, and on to Greymouth on the west coast of the South Island is great. There are some great roads in the central North Island as well - both times I've been driving north from Wellington I've been cursed to be in Toyota Camry rental cars (Sportivo? I think not) and not able to enjoy the winding roads around National Park to their fullest. Also have to agree with andrewmorton on the 100-110kmh timetrials - I do that myself. The challenge is to avoid getting stuck for too long behind mobile chicanes (elderly sunday-drivers, minivans, rural locals cruising home at 80, campervans or even worse...housetrucks) while not being monstered into speeding-ticket territory by the tailgaters (the Falcon or Commodore driving Lead-footed Middle-Aged Man In Hurry, turbodiesel 4WD wagons that have clawed their way up to 115 and will not be stopped, the invitable jerk in crap Nissan Bluebird or similar that drives like the throttle is stuck on full). They have the same sort of thing in Australia. Last year when I was driving to the Bathurst 1000 from Sydney(a nice drive through the mountains, but more about the destination than the journey) you'd end up attempting to move as swiftly as possible while avoiding the ever-present traffic police. Of course if you're talking gravel roads, I'd be happy to recommend some after Rally NZ is finished this weekend!