A few decades ago, I made regular trips from Sumpter to Lancaster. And there were a few different routes available. But my favorite was Highway 97 between Camden and Highway 200. Old 97 had wonderful curves that reminded me of driving into North Carolina and Tennessee mountains. Only a few people lived on the highway. And they were mostly clustered around Liberty Hill and Beaver Creek, so I can open the throttle a bit between those communities to get the thrill of racing or at least a taste of it. Because the forest came right up to the road with these enormous outcroppings of granite.

Plus at the end, it put me out on 200 right by the Old Nitro Lee Dam, that’s a hydroelectric dam on the Catawba River. And one of my favorite childhood memories.