This installment of Porsche Roads is about a short cut. Have you ever found yourself stuck in a massive traffic jam on 205? Heading east, past Altamont Pass on 580, the highway goes from 4 lanes to 2 in a matter of a mile. And going west, Interstate 5 jams in Lathrop, long before the exit towards Livermore and Pleasanton. Twenty years ago, Tracy was a two-cow town that hardly ever featured any traffic. Today, it seems that almost every day 205 slows to a crawl, and week-ends are even worse. Fortunately, there is a better way: a good Porsche short cut.  

Before we get on the road, we need to discuss the nature of a short cut. As the name implies, it is presumed to cut something short, but what? The most basic short cut will cut the distance between two points. That's good, but a better short cut will cut the time between the same two points, and sometimes this may mean driving a few extra miles. The best short cuts though will cut the driver's stress and add enjoyment. When you find one of these, time and distance may not matter any more. And the best of the best short cuts reduce distance and time, and add fun. Vasco Road and Highway 4 run between Livermore and Stockton; when 580 and 205 are a mess, it is definitely a faster and a lot more enjoyable way to go.

East of Livermore on Highway 580, take Exit 55 and turn left at the top of the ramp onto Vasco Road . The first one-mile section has four lanes, so it might be a good idea to pass the slower traffic before reaching the two-lane section. At the end of town, Vasco Road goes past an unmarked US Government facility identifiable only by its Marine Corps and American flags. Good thing there are no conspiracy theorists among the readership of The Nugget. The hills are not quite the Swiss Alps, but the road goes up about 500 feet and twists and turns to get around Brushy Peak on the east side. The hills are covered with electricity generating wind mills that spin gently in the breeze. I personally think the esthetics of these things is questionable, but it is a good cause, as it lets us keep petroleum for a higher purpose, namely, driving Porsches. On week-ends, Vasco Road is popular with power boaters who are traveling to the Delta. If you get behind one, do not despair, there are several long passing zones.  

At mile 15, turn right at the light onto Camino Diablo, and follow it into the town of Byron, home of the now abandoned Byron Hot Springs, which were prized by movie stars and athletes in the early 1900s. Drive across the Southern Pacific tracks, then make an immediate left onto Byron Highway. A mile and a half later, turn right onto Highway 4 towards Stockton.  

From now on, with the exception of a couple of bridges over tributaries of the Sacramento River , the road is straight as an arrow. As you look ahead, it is tempting to imagine that a Boxster could easily hit 140 mph. Caltrans, however, in its infinite wisdom, did not want anyone to start dreaming of Nardo, so they built really bad pavement. They must have a special machine to add bumps, gashes and dimples automatically. In some places, 55 mph is an ambition, not a limit.   

As you drive past Discovery Bay on one side of the road, and the wide open pastures of the Sacramento River Delta on the other, the contrast between modern development and California 's past could not be greater. After crossing the bridge over the Middle River, you'll see the Union Point Marina Bar and Grill,  the only food and rest establishment on this trip until you get to Stockton, another 10 miles down Highway 4.

Once in Stockton, you can get back on I-5 or continue to Highway 99, depending on where you travels take you. And on the way back, the same short cut works as well. And if you really want to know, it is 2.6 miles longer than the 5/205/580 route.