oops. forgot the link. A great Top Gear episode!  :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eh-S2aEdSk0

http://www.fogonazos.es/2007/08/stelvio-pass-road-48-hairpin-turns-to.html

Thanks for this! I was trying to work out where we were driving this time last year. Turns out that it was here! I knew we were pretty high as it was above the treeline. But a really great drive :) Enjoy

A real car? I'd prefer to conquer the road in a 1984 VW Golf with bald tires, rust holes in the floorboard, and no heat.  In the winter.

But that's just me...

I agree!  that would indeed be a helluva lot of fun too :). just a different experience  (and likely safer).  We can do that in the winter. I'm in.

cool. I was looking for someone who had done this before. Did you happen to stay in Stelvio?  Was just curious about places to stay. Or did you only pass through coming from somewhere else? any advice appreciated.

Thanks for that :) I now know to stay away when i hear Stelvio pass. I get car-sick very easily

lol.   to be honest, I'm not sure how well i would even tolerate it as a passenger. It's different when you are driving..probably the same in a plane I guess. I don't think I've ever been a passenger on a road like this before.  I guess I'll find out when we swap drivers :).

need to remember where I put that air sickness bag I stole from the plane...

It's absolutely fantastic! Challenging though - not for the faint-hearted.

After reading your thread I contemplated being a passenger in my BF's performance vehicle and thought I would check out a few more links before mentioning it to him ( I know he would love to do it). But after watchingthe link below ( I spent 9.10 minutes, saying OMG and sitting onthe edge of my seat!!!!) I think he will be doing it alone at some point in the future , maybe when I'm in another country!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aI-Q6lqTMMA&feature=related

Enjoy the link

Doesn't it look like fun?!?!?  :)

why do I have the feeling I will have to pay someone to ride shotgun now? :)

If you get the chance drive the Route Napoleon down to Cannes, it is a real driver's road but be careful not to cook your brakes. You can then drive up to le Camp d'Argent/Turini which, I think, Top Gear decided was the best driver's road in Europe, or was it the Stelvio?

Fun , is NOT the word I would have used.

That looks amazing; will definitely go there sometime. 

My favorite driving experience was Applecross mountain pass in Northern Scotland (see photo). SIngle-track road with 'passing lanes', no road marking, so quite an experience.

so I take it you will NOT be going with us on this first round?  :) :)

I have been wanting to do this for some time. Apparently, it is also very popluar with cyclists! So moderation is called for. 

That said I am up for it. My can has a manual transmission, and is one of Clarkson's favourites (not the Dacia Sandero!)

cool!  looks like we might get to turn this into a group event afterall. I got another message from somone interested in driving with us.  what car do you have if I may ask? I'm a big TG fan  (you can send me a PM if you prefer...just curious).

I may be up for Stelvio late September, as well, in a manual MX-5, no aircon (but who needs the extra weight..)   Can take one passenger.

Cyclists! Let's divide the spoils. You take Alpe d'Huez - we, the cars and motorcycles, take Stelvio :D 

nice ride. I still regret getting rid of my NB MX-5.  Great car. beautiful handling, bulletproof motor. I had a harddog roll bar, FM springs and JR sways.  Miss that car...

and your MX-5 actually has the largest air conditioning system you can possible get :). Just two latches....

No rollbars. As they say.. "[snip] crash* through the pearly gates, upside down, backwards, on fire."

*dont'drinkdrive,driveresponsibly, **aftergoingtroughtherailing,notethatdecelerationmaykillyouorinjureothers,***alwaysbefriendswithyourgaragiste
Thismessagewasnotsponsoredbyanybody.

I've driven the Stelvio a couple of times. East to west is defintely the preferred option - it's steeper, has more hairpins and is much more dramatic. Alternatively, drive up the west side then drop down the Umbrailpass (left at the top of the Stelvio and back into Switzerland), turn right at the bottom and follow the road back across the border to Prato and then do it again from the East!

Wish I could join you guys but, sadly, I'm currently carless... 

Wish I could join you guys but, sadly, I'm currently carless...

Do you know, for one tiny moment I read it as "careless"!!

Many thanks for the advice Julian!! Much appreciated.  You can always take a look on here for a ride :) :)

http://www.eliterent.com/

I only got the rollbar for autocrossing. it was required on our track...

I brought my bike over to do the Stelvio ... yep would be memorable. Haven't had a chance to ride so far from Zurich yet, but have done Grimsel, Susten, Furka and Klausen passes .... I'd suggest Furka (near Andermatt) as a taster because its the most challenging, with no margin for error near the top ... at least Stelvio has crash barriers.

But good luck, post some photos and let us know how the adventure went.

Stelvio Pass has been on my must-drive roads for ages as well.  Top Gear has sort of immortalized this road, and as a result, there's a LOT of traffic on weekends.  

Regardless, it looks amazing, and I'm in!  I will drive up from Geneva to join the car(e)ful insanity!