What is the crookedest street you've driven? Some favorite mountain road? Lombard? How about Vermont Street at 20th in San Francisco? I first learned about the street from my friend, Fireball Tim, when he was in town to film a couple segments for MyRide.com. His video segment is hilarious: view the link here. Everyone knows Lombard, but did you know it has an evil, lessor known twin in Potrero Hill? Vermont Street is the wild, untamed, little known version. It is not as scenic, not manicured, not cobble stoned, not tarted up for tourists and the homes along it aren't palaces. But, it is quiet, with no waiting lines as you approach and you can generally drive it without a single car in sight. Not bad...

Vermont Street is also the new favorite site for the annual Bring Your Own Big Wheels race and contest. It is a wacky competition that will make you laugh and it happens to use this very same crooked street in San Francisco. Here is a pretty funny link to a video that captures some of the zaniness that occurs. The madness of BYOBW itself mirrors the oddity of Vermont Street. A match made in heaven.

So last weekend I had the diamond black Bentley Continental GT while friends were in town from Los Angeles and on a whim I sought out this mysterious and little known street. We had brunch in Potrero Hill at Slow Club and were on our way to a Giants vs Padres game with time to kill. What to do for 30 minutes? Then it hit me, let's look for Vermont Street and find the curvy block that Fireball Tim talked about. The Bentley was a funny choice for a crooked bohemian street with some seven wild turns, but it worked well.

Since it isn't busy there, I was easily able to get out and snap a few photos at several points on the hill. Imagine trying to do this on Lombard. You'd have 200 drivers having road rage! I found Vermont Street to be charismatic and full of character. Lombard is commercial and mainstream by comparison, making the new find refreshing. I recommend when you are in the area, drive down and see what you think.

Did you know about this street? Have you driven it before?

Labels: Bentley Continental GT, Club Sportiva, Crookedest street, Driving experience, exotic car share club, Lombard Street, San Francisco, Vermont Street