North of Las Vegas, the highway quickly narrows to one lane in each direction, and you share the road to Reno with Semi trucks and Harleys. But shortly we diverged and descended to the lowest point in North America - Death Valley, at 269 feet below sea level. We stopped there for lunch, and then began the long climb, glancing anxiously at the fuel gauge every few miles. If you had to stop to refuel, you'd break the seal the IMSA officials had placed on the filler and you'd be disqualified. Drafting the big Semis (which were now few and far between) was the order of the day.
We reached Mammoth in the deepening twilight, skirting the beautiful yet lifeless Mono Lake - a relic of the region's volcanic past, Mono is too salty and alkaline to support visible marine life. But a fine dinner and a comfortable bed waited for us, and provided enough rest for the giant bobsled run that awaited us.
Mammoth is almost at the crest of the Sierra Nevada mountains. We began the following morning by climbing the rest of the way to Tuolomne Meadows at the summit, and then entered Yosemite National Park. Yosemite is among the most spectacular places on Earth, with volcanic and glacier-formed rock faces unlike any others. We dropped from 11,000 to 4,000 feet on the valley floor and were treated to lunch at the exclusive Ahwahnee Hotel, with the park's famed Mule Deer grazing right outside the classic lodge.
Then the competition for fuel economy took hold. The route from the valley floor to the great Central Valley of California is a roller coaster ride - up and down, but trending downwards all the time. For those who weren't afraid to use the Audi's legendary handling, it was a bobsled run that stretched for 50 miles. Building speed on the downhills, and coasting up over the gentle rises, the A4 made it down to Manteca (yes, a City named "Lard" in Spanish) using almost no fuel at all.
Getting across the great California Basin was an exercise in drafting the big produce trucks and coasting up to stop lights. But eventually we had to climb and crest the coastal hills and drop on into Monterey. We were rewarded with our first sight of the Pacific Ocean - a notable goal for those who last looked on open water from the tidal basin in Washington D.C.
In Monterey, we lodged at The Clement, a 5-star hotel located on the town's famed Cannery Row shopping district. Yet we barely found time to shower and change before we boarded the shuttle to take us up above the city to Tehama, a gated resort overlooking Monterey and the bay.
Tehama is a sprawling Californio-style building, with a Spanish-style central atrium surrounded by the main house. Red tile roof and stucco walls completed the picture. There we sat, sipping the finest regional wines and enjoying the sunset into the Pacific, when there was a small commotion near the door. Turning, it was easy to recognize the tall figure who joined us for dinner - it was Clint Eastwood, former Mayor of Carmel and part-owner of Tehama. He welcomed us to town and invited us in to dine on the local seafood and Salinas valley beef.
As if all this wasn't enough, the next day provided a new and different highlight. We took a break from driving and instead traveled just a few miles to Laguna Seca raceway, where the final round of the American Le Mans Series was scheduled. Of course, Audi provided hats, flags, and all necessaries for us to properly cheer on the team: a pair of Audi R10 prototype racers. The same cars and teams won this year's 24 Hours of Le Mans back in June, and to seal the year, came in 1-2 after 4 hours of racing on the historic California circuit.
One more night on Cannery Row and we were ready for the last leg. By the way, I won the competition for fuel economy across California. On the big bobsled run, I averaged 41.3 MPG, arriving in Monterey having used only 6.8 gallons since Mammoth.
The final day was both predictable and a fitting capstone to the journey - straight down California's astounding Pacific Coast Highway. Well, straight isn't the right term. It's a winding, climbing, falling route with stone on your left and a sheer plunge into the ocean on your right. The coastal hills of Big Sur fall straight into the sea, while Sea Lions and Elephant Seals cavort on the rocks below.
After lunch at a working winery in San Luis Obispo, we skirted Santa Barbara and settled in for the run through Malibu to our destination: the pier in Santa Monica. You've seen it a million times in movies and on TV, with its signature roller coaster and amusement park built out over the water.
When we had gathered at the pier, we proceeded in formation - with LAPD escort, no less ¬- to a street party in the heart of Santa Monica. One more dinner party, this one less restrained than the others, and one more night in a fine hotel, and the winners were announced at a bleary-eyed breakfast. I'm sorry to say I didn't win the overall mileage competition. That honor went to my friend Jaime Gabaldoni, who won Day 1 and Day 3, but I finished a strong second.
I wouldn't want to leave you thinking this trip was all about posh hotels and grand vistas and great food. I mean, it was, but it was also about making the case for diesel, and that required Audi to make a big - really big - statement with this road trip.
We reached Mammoth in the deepening twilight, skirting the beautiful yet lifeless Mono Lake - a relic of the region's volcanic past, Mono is too salty and alkaline to support visible marine life. But a fine dinner and a comfortable bed waited for us, and provided enough rest for the giant bobsled run that awaited us.
Mammoth is almost at the crest of the Sierra Nevada mountains. We began the following morning by climbing the rest of the way to Tuolomne Meadows at the summit, and then entered Yosemite National Park. Yosemite is among the most spectacular places on Earth, with volcanic and glacier-formed rock faces unlike any others. We dropped from 11,000 to 4,000 feet on the valley floor and were treated to lunch at the exclusive Ahwahnee Hotel, with the park's famed Mule Deer grazing right outside the classic lodge.
Then the competition for fuel economy took hold. The route from the valley floor to the great Central Valley of California is a roller coaster ride - up and down, but trending downwards all the time. For those who weren't afraid to use the Audi's legendary handling, it was a bobsled run that stretched for 50 miles. Building speed on the downhills, and coasting up over the gentle rises, the A4 made it down to Manteca (yes, a City named "Lard" in Spanish) using almost no fuel at all.
Getting across the great California Basin was an exercise in drafting the big produce trucks and coasting up to stop lights. But eventually we had to climb and crest the coastal hills and drop on into Monterey. We were rewarded with our first sight of the Pacific Ocean - a notable goal for those who last looked on open water from the tidal basin in Washington D.C.
In Monterey, we lodged at The Clement, a 5-star hotel located on the town's famed Cannery Row shopping district. Yet we barely found time to shower and change before we boarded the shuttle to take us up above the city to Tehama, a gated resort overlooking Monterey and the bay.
Tehama is a sprawling Californio-style building, with a Spanish-style central atrium surrounded by the main house. Red tile roof and stucco walls completed the picture. There we sat, sipping the finest regional wines and enjoying the sunset into the Pacific, when there was a small commotion near the door. Turning, it was easy to recognize the tall figure who joined us for dinner - it was Clint Eastwood, former Mayor of Carmel and part-owner of Tehama. He welcomed us to town and invited us in to dine on the local seafood and Salinas valley beef.
As if all this wasn't enough, the next day provided a new and different highlight. We took a break from driving and instead traveled just a few miles to Laguna Seca raceway, where the final round of the American Le Mans Series was scheduled. Of course, Audi provided hats, flags, and all necessaries for us to properly cheer on the team: a pair of Audi R10 prototype racers. The same cars and teams won this year's 24 Hours of Le Mans back in June, and to seal the year, came in 1-2 after 4 hours of racing on the historic California circuit.
One more night on Cannery Row and we were ready for the last leg. By the way, I won the competition for fuel economy across California. On the big bobsled run, I averaged 41.3 MPG, arriving in Monterey having used only 6.8 gallons since Mammoth.
The final day was both predictable and a fitting capstone to the journey - straight down California's astounding Pacific Coast Highway. Well, straight isn't the right term. It's a winding, climbing, falling route with stone on your left and a sheer plunge into the ocean on your right. The coastal hills of Big Sur fall straight into the sea, while Sea Lions and Elephant Seals cavort on the rocks below.
After lunch at a working winery in San Luis Obispo, we skirted Santa Barbara and settled in for the run through Malibu to our destination: the pier in Santa Monica. You've seen it a million times in movies and on TV, with its signature roller coaster and amusement park built out over the water.
When we had gathered at the pier, we proceeded in formation - with LAPD escort, no less ¬- to a street party in the heart of Santa Monica. One more dinner party, this one less restrained than the others, and one more night in a fine hotel, and the winners were announced at a bleary-eyed breakfast. I'm sorry to say I didn't win the overall mileage competition. That honor went to my friend Jaime Gabaldoni, who won Day 1 and Day 3, but I finished a strong second.
I wouldn't want to leave you thinking this trip was all about posh hotels and grand vistas and great food. I mean, it was, but it was also about making the case for diesel, and that required Audi to make a big - really big - statement with this road trip.
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