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Light on the Drive All Galleries
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Light on the Drive 148 images Created 27 Oct 2018

In addition to photography, I have an interest, well an enthusiasm, actually a passion, alright truth be known, an addiction, for "the drive". Whether behind the wheel of a Porsche 997 Carrera 4S or in the saddle of a classic BMW R90S motorcycle, perfecting the process of smoothly accelerating, shifting, braking, steering, and choosing the most efficient line through a challenging set of curves is as rewarding an experience as anything I've ever done.

From touring the Alps on a BMW R100GS motorcycle to exploring the unpaved backroads of the Southwest in a Porsche Cayenne, we document the best of what we find in photos - if I can pull myself away from the drive for a few minutes...
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  • Porsche 911 Carrera 4S on a desert highway in the Anza Borrego State Park, Southern California.
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  • Western North Carolina is laced with remote and beautiful roads.  This is a section of Old Fort Road, south of Asheville.
    Old Fort Road
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  • Ford GT curbside in Rancho Santa Fe
    Nice Old Ford
  • Classic 356 Porsche being admired in Rancho Santa Fe, California.
    Yep, 356
  • This scene is a common one in the mountains of western Virginia on the East Coast of the USA.  Smooth ribbons of asphalt winding endlessly through farms and forests.
    Take_Me_Home..._c2c7.jpeg
  • It is for good reason this image was chosen for the cover of John Hermann's book, Motorcycle Journeys Through the Alps and Corsica, Third Edition.  Shot in the Swiss Alps, where the passes Furka and Grimsel meet this image illustrates the lure of motorcycling in the Alps.
    Motorcycle Journeys Through the Alps..tion
  • Two riders enjoy the view from a typical road in the Bavarian Alps of Germany.
    Bavarian View
  • While in Carmel, California my brother and his wife joined us for a for a few days of driving.  Here, their Boxter and our Carrera 4S are parked at a winery in Carmel Valley.
    Family Cars
  • On a drive north from San Diego to Carmel, California, we explored some backroads above Santa Barbara.  This is is West Camino Cielo, Camino Cielo meaning "Sky Road".
    On_West_Camino_Cielo_c0f6.jpeg
  • Where else beyond Europe can one stop for lunch in a medieval village?  Here in the South of France we enjoyed a lunch of savory crepes and an elegant dessert, this time in Trigance,  east of the Gorges du Verdon.
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  • Motorcycle builder Magni from Italy displayed these beautiful examples of MV Agusta motorcycles.  The number 3 seen here is what is known as a retro design.  While this bike looks like an MV from the early 1970s, it is actually a 2019 model.
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  • Very rare Honda RC45 race bikes on display at the "Sunday Ride" event at Circuit Paul Ricard.
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  • The road leading to the village of Carces in the South of France, runs through vineyards for several kilometers.  Here it is lined with plane trees (sycamore) so common in France.  The plane trees were planted by Napoleon so his troops would have shade as they marched.
    The_Road_to_Carces_82e9.1.jpeg
  • North of Toulon in southern France is a landscape of parasol pines, vineyards, and olive groves.  For obvious reasons, I've titled this image, "Ruban de Lumière" which translates from French to, "Ribbon of Light" in English.
    Ruban_de_Lumière_8091.jpeg
  • A typical road in rural France.  This one is the region of the Var in Provence.
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  • While having lunch at the Circuit Paul Ricard racetrack in southern France, we found a very nice classic Renault Alpina parked in front of the Pit Stop cafe.
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  • Tuscan Road
  • The French Alps are absolutely beautiful and the roads there are both challenging and rewarding.  Here a Kawasaki rider enjoys the curves of the Col d'Cayole.
    On_the_Col_d'Cayole_7f35.jpeg
  • This red Porsche Boxster was caught enjoying a pass road in the French Alps.  This is the Col de la Cayolle on the Route des Grandes Alpes.
    On_the_Col_de_la_Cayolle_7d11.jpeg
  • The Southern Alps of France are remote and beautiful - and laced with interesting and challenging roads.  This is the Col d'Alos.
    Light_on_the_Col_d'Alos_7bfe.jpeg
  • "Col" is the French term for a mountain pass.  One of my favorite driving roads in the world is the Col d'Champs in the southern Alps of France.  It is challenging and remote and not to be missed.
    Col d'Champs
  • Southern France is likely best known for the regions of Provence and the Cote d'Azure.  But there is much more to the South of France than this however.  These are the mountains of the Cevens, wild and remote, west of Provence.
    The_Cevens,_Wild_and_Remote_bf96.jpeg
  • My motorcycle was first sold new the year I graduated high school, 1974.  While I've owned and ridden, both on the road and the race track, bikes with far more power and technology, I enjoy the simple analog design of this bike.  The satisfaction I get from riding and maintaining this bike is is wonderful.
    Classic Bikes, Vintage Riders
  • At a classic car meeting in the village of Cotignac in the South of France, we found this 50's vintage Dyna by French manufacturer Panhard.
    Beautiful Blue
  • Weekends in Provence are for driving.  We caught this Morgan outside the village of Cotignac.  The South of France is laced with interesting roads, great fun for drivers and bikers alike.
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  • A classic BMW motorcycle parked in the village of Sospel in the Alps Maritimes of southern France.
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  • The Dolomites of the Italian Alps are unique and beautiful - and laced with interesting and challenging roads.  This is Passo Giao.
    Light_on_Passo_Giao_7c55.jpeg
  • As afternoon turned to evening on Passo Giao in the Dolomite mountains of the Italian Alps, the light became beautifully dramatic.  We were able to capture several images that tell the story of this unique and amazing location.  Here, a pair of motorcyclists approach the top of the pass.
    Evening On Passo Giao
  • A favorite European riding destination is the Dolomites of the Italian Alps.  The roads are interesting, the mountains beautiful, food fantastic and people warm and welcoming.
    Ride the Dolomites
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  • Porsche 911 Cabriolet in the late afternoon on Passo Giao in the Dolomites of the Italian Alps.
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  • Exploring the Dolomites
  • A rare Lancia Stratos rally car is driven over Passo Giao in the Dolomites of the Italian Alps.
    Stratos!
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  • Those who choose to travel by motorcycle are a special breed.  No manufacture has so capably and enthusiastically addressed their needs as has BMW Motorrad.  Pictured here is our 1991 BMW R100GS, one of the original "Adventure Touring" motorcycles.  It has taken us for many years on adventures throughout the Alps and beyond.  Dressed in contemporary riding attire, the GS Dry Suit from BMW, this rider returns to her bike with picnic supplies.
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  • The R Nine T from BMW Motorrad is one of their most popular models in Europe.  Designed to recall the Cafe Racers of the 1960s and 70s yet still provide all of the leading edge technology BMW is known for, we found this one in Rome.
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  • This Mercedes Benz 300SL Coupe was parked in front of the owner's restaurant in Rome.  Unlike every other sample of this model I'd seen before, this one was dirty and looked as if it was driven daily and not babied in the garage.
    When in Rome
  • Street scene in Florence, Italy.
    I'd Rather Walk
  • We caught this fellow in the town of Uzes, France, just west of Avignon.
    Coming_Through!_.jpeg
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  • The Carmague region of southern France is famous for among other things, black bulls.  Coincidentally, the symbol of the Italian automobile maker Lamborghini is also a bull.  We found this Lamborghini while exploring the Carmague.
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  • Shot at the open practice day held for the FIA World Endurance Championship Series at Circuit Paul Ricard in Le Castellete, France, this car is reflected in the Pit Suite windows as it leaves the pits to enter the track.
    Reflections of Speed
  • Track Temp
  • Spare wheels and tires wait in the pits on the open practice day for the World Endurance Championship at Circuit Paul Ricard.
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  • The GS has been a best seller for BMW since it was first introduced in the mid-1980s.  The design opened a new genre for motorcycles - the Adventure Touring Motorcycle.  BMW has continued to develop this design until this day and this example is from 1991.  It is at home on any road in Europe, paved or not.
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  • Walking through Aix-en-Provence one morning, we came upon this vintage Indian motorcycle parked in the town square.  As I admired the bike, the owner arrived and was on his way.
    Indian in Aix-en-Provence
  • One Sunday morning Carces France welcomed one of the local classic car clubs.  While there were many interesting cars on hand, the one that caught my camera's lens was this Ferrari Dino from the early 1970's.
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  • What a pleasure to explore roads like this one in the Massif Central region of central France.  It was early autumn when we found this road in the mountains of the Massif Central.
    Light in the Forest
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  • We found this castle ruin outside of the village of Chateauneuf-Les-Bains in central France.  Of course, with a road like this one, we almost missed it!
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  • BMW Motorrad continues to provide the best motorcycles and equipment for touring riders, as they have for nearly a century.  Always on the leading edge of technology, BMW's motto is "freude am fahren" or "Driving Pleasure".  Every BMW motorcycle is designed with both dynamic performance and travel in mind.  For BMW Motorrad, the two are not mutually exclusive.  Pictured here are the BMW R100GS motorcycle and BMW Women's GS Dry Suit.
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  • This beautiful road is in a rural part of the Dordogne region of central France.
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  • Touring the Burgundy region of France on our BMW motorcycle we stopped in the village of Donzy for lunch.  Not only was our meal outstanding, the village was full of photographic possibilities.
    Donzy, France
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  • This rural road in central France went on and on through fields and forests.
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  • Highway 12 from Panguitch to Torrey in southern Utah, is a beautiful road through an amazing landscape, despite being called, "The Devil's Backbone".  This part of the American Southwest is full of interesting roads through a diversity of landscapes.
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  • The town of Rancho Santa Fe in northern San Diego, California is a community of wealth.  Classic and exotic cars are commonly seen parked around the village center.  On certain weekends though, Rancho Santa Fe's Secret Car Club meets to share their rolling stock.  This Mercedes Benz from late 1950s is one of my favorite cars.
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  • Two favorites - BMW's HP Sport motorcycle and the 300SL Gull Wing automobile from Mercedes Benz.
    Two Favorites
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  • This Mercedes Benz from the late 1950's was decades ahead of its time.  To this day it it one of my favorite automobile designs.
    Gullwing
  • One of the most recognizable landmarks on California's Big Sur coast is this one, Bixby Creek Bridge.  Here it glows in the warm light of a a Spring afternoon.
    Big_Sur_Afternoon.jpg
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  • The Ducati motorcycle dealer in Escondido, California is of Swiss nationality.  His father in Italy has an extensive collection of antique and vintage motorcycles a few of which he'd sent  over to be sold at auction in Las Vegas.  For a few days however, they were stored in a private area of the shop.  And I was there with my camera.
    The Old Indian
  • The "Woody" station wagon of the 1940's and 50's became the "Surf Wagon" of southern California in the 1960's.  Well-to-do collectors with a sense of nostalgia, find restoring good examples a worthy project.  We found this one on a Sunday morning in the San Diego community of Rancho Santa Fe.
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  • This convertible Jaguar XKE was parked in Ranch Santa Fe, California.  The title of this image is a play on how the British pronounce the name of the manufacturer, Jaguar.  While Americans say, "Jag-war", the British say, "Jag-u-ar".
    Jag-You-Are
  • Our Porsche Cayenne, in addition to being a daily driver, is used as Porsche intended.  We explore dirt roads of the back county and camp in remote locations.  Here, we are in the Canyonlands National Park of southern Utah and Carol is directing a couple of hikers back to their campsite.
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  • The French Alps are a wild and remote range of mountains.  The roads of the Alps are unique in the world and offer more to the driving enthusiast than words or photos can describe.  North of the town of Briancon is this road, the Col du Galibier.
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  • The Cevennes region of southern France is remote.  This image of the col d'Rousette pass road illustrates this very well.  It is just this sort of road through just this sort of landscape that makes motorcycle touring in mountain regions of Europe so spectacular and rewarding.
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  • Two Track in the French Alps
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  • This is a typical scene in the French Alps.  The Col des Champs twists and winds through these rugged mountain landscapes.
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  • Aperture Practice
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  • In the remote mountains of the Var, north of the Cote d'Azure in southern France is this wonderful road - the Col de Vence.
    Le_Col_de_Vence_bcbf.jpeg
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  • San Diego, California is best known for its beaches, yet the backcountry of San Diego County is wild and laced with over 400 miles of roads to challenge and satisfy even the most demanding driver.  This is Couser Canyon Road in the area of Valley Center and Pauma Valley.
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  • At an Abbey in Burgundy
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  • This beautiful classic Corvette was parked near a cafe we frequent in Solana Beach, California.  What I found irresistible as an artist were the soft shadows and beautiful curves of the classic design.
    Soft Shadows and Classic Curves
  • Waiting to cross the street in Paris one afternoon I heard the approach of an Italian, sports car that is.  This mat black Lamborghini swept by gracefully.
    Green Light Go!
  • Just beyond that distant hill is the Mediterranean Sea of the Cote d'Azure.  Getting there from the north, from say, Aix-en-Provence, includes the col de l'Espigoulier.  The coastal hills and mountains are laced with this type of road and are relatively unknown outside of the region.
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  • At the Abbey du Thoronet in the Var/Provence region of southern France, the local Porsche club found a good destination for a drive.  The area is full of interesting roads winding through forests and vineyards.
    Porsches_at_the_Abbey54df.jpeg
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