The Great Smoky Mountains are home to some of America’s most beautiful roads. Total 911 explores ten routes through the Tennessee side of these southern hills in a 997

Written and photographed by Anthony Coyne and Renée Logsdon

The 997’s optional folding buckets give great support while maintaining easy access to the rear

“These roads are rarely closed, leaving you to fill in your own risk assessment”

Tennessee. Famous for its bourbon whisky and a rich musical heritage including Elvis Presley, Dolly Parton and Justin Timberlake. But the people of this part of America have more than roadside bars to look forward to once they’ve finished their ‘9 to 5’. Deep in this part of the Bible Belt lies the Great Smoky Mountains, the most visited of all the US national parks. 12 million people visit every year. Disneyland in Orlando gets more footfall at 20 million, but hidden in the tree-covered hills of the Smokies are roads to rival any theme park ride.

Myself, my wife Renée (and our dog!) have spent a lot of time just outside Knoxville this year. We’re no strangers to Tennessee, and have previous experience driving our 993 Carrera S on the mountain roads we are talking about. Fast forward to 2021 and it’s an ’09 997 Carrera S we are driving currently. There is no temptation to compare them; they are different, and they are the same. What we are interested in is what driving these roads feels like from the more modern car’s perspective, and to impart where the best roads can be found as part of this magazine’s special section dedicated to all things Porsche and the USA. Maybe they will inspire you to come visit, or if you are local to these fine sections of asphalt, you can either grimace as I uncover your secrets or shake your head in disbelief that I’ve missed your own personal favourite. It must also be pointed out that the Smokies crisscross the border of North Carolina, and some of these routes pass over the state line. With that said (a sort of disclaimer, if you will), hopefully nobody will get upset.

All 911s are good. Each variant has something special, but the nuances specific to them are not always known when a model is launched. The 997 was pretty when it broke cover, and time has been kind to it, much like it was to the 993, however it is the car’s size and steering feel which set it apart today, qualities that may have been overlooked while production continued. This car is a mid-life facelift – the 997.2. The differences are some interior and exterior cosmetic tweaks, a significantly redesigned engine, and the optional PDK gearbox – the first time the double clutch shifter appeared in a 911. The car you see here is our own Carrera and the gearbox the primary reason for choosing it. The ongoing debate between manual and automatic (or automated manual as the PDK isn’t strictly an auto) is a divisive subject for some and since we got this car I’ve began to notice just how passionate people can be towards their personal preference if they are a manual fan. I like both, but PDK was what we needed from this particular 911; a daily driver that can cover huge distances, and palatable to both me who enjoys an analogue car and Renée who prefers automatic (she is an American, and as far as I can tell there are many like this). It has been a great decision; we have been using the car to navigate the length of America from our home in Florida where the car is registered, to Tennessee and Minnesota, adding 10,000 miles in six months. It has passed the test of being a 12-hour-aday distance muncher, but would I be missing some involvement up in the mountains as the purpose of this car changed to driving purely for the hell of it? There really is no better place to find out.