New FORUM?

Hey Lee , do you think you can use your board member powers (with respect to the website) and start a new forum where we just go and gloat about our stop light drags and 155 mph passes down the highway?

Just a thought, Jman

[CaptAlex300e]

I would absolutely love sucha forum. It would be "phat".

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300E
Soon To be E55
27 foot Grady White Offshore Sportfish.

Jman,

Law Enforcement may not appreciate that! I only say that because up here in this cop infested state of Washington, I have received 3 tickets in the last two years!!!

I mean give me break, whats the deal with the 55 mhp anyway? Are we still in the 60's when it may have been needed, or what?

Cars today are capable of much more, safely. We should toughen up the driving tests and up the speed limits on the Highways at the same time.

If one day this Country can swing these changes, then Jman I'll be trying to keep up with you in the Fast lane!

Any thoughts?

Ross

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96 C280

[This message has been edited by roas (edited 06-16-2000).]

You guys are right on -- cars HAVE changed a lot (speed, handling, safety), but people who drive them HAVEN'T changed. They're still as stupid as ever , worse than that, there's more of 'em We enthusiasts are a rare breed. But, no matter how many *dummies* pervade our roads, we'll be dodgin' 'em (and the cops, hopefully) with BIG smiles on our faces enjoying the ride all the way .

Brian

Isn't that what a Benz is for? If a dummy hits you...

It seems that by using a decent radar detector and following all the "rules" (e.g., watch for cops in your blindspots, coming from the onramps, beware of headlights catching up with you at night, etc.), you can keep tickets to a reasonable minimum. But then again, I'm not going 155 mi/h in either of the cars that I drive. And in California, they can't get you by the x=vt method from a helicopter either, which really simplifies things.

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Dean
Santa Barbara, CA
ICQ #300030
1974 280C
1984 300SD

Hey had one lucky break today, was doing 78mph/130kph and decided to drop it down to 72mph/120kph. Just as i did so i passed a bridge. Guess what, under the bridge were 2 coppers. Thank god they had already stopped some speeders or else i would have been nabbed.

On a side note i think it's just sure bliss to be doing that kind of speed with the windows rolled down and the wind is in the hair. I feel like a cowboy heading off into the sunset with no worries or cares....

Keep the flame alive and drive like they were meant to me!

[Lee Scheeler]

Going that quickly is a rare treat most of the time here in ATL. Traffic is usually so bad you don't get TO the speed limit half the time. Perhaps that contributes to the "making up of lost time/speed" when the roads are clear? j/k As far as G-Tech type testing goes, just find a spot that is seldom (hate to use the word never) patrolled where you have great lookout in both directions. Pretty much a 1/3 to 1/2 mile stretch that is dead straight and flat as possible. A flat and well lit parking lot that has minimal light poles and zero curbs can also be a hoot! You also have to exclude intersections of any kind. Usual suspects are rural areas, "access" roads near major interstates (especially where you have high brush/trees on both sides of you), and stretches of highway LATE at night. If you always test on the same spot you can keep variables to a minimum. You have a outside temp gauge in your car...I can't be the only rabid to have a 0-60 and 1/4 mile time log that also list temp. Doing so gives you a pretty clear picture as to how much temp affects performance.

I'll agree that cars have become much improved vs years ago. However, this just lets more inept people drive faster. (only sort of kidding...)

If you want to make some time via high speed touring one helpful trick I've used on a few occasions is to "provoke" another vehicle into becoming a "hero" or "rabbit". By coming up, passing, challenging, etc another car (pony crowd and NOPI's are great for this) they take off. You let them get a fair distace ahead of you but keep them well in sight. They run ahead soaking up all the radar/laser and you get to haul ass largely on someone else's risk. Just remember one of the ways to tell if your "automotively insane" (sort of like the Jeff Foxworthy style jokes) "you know you are automotively insane when driving is an activity more than a means to a destination" Also "you judge malls, grocery stores, etc on the fun factor of the roads leading to/from."

Automotively insane and proud of it...Lee

Yes...going fast...the problem here in the US
is driver training and courtesy. I have spend some time on the Autostratas in Italy, the twisties in the hills of Tuscany and the streets of Rome.Drivers by and large are better and more alert.Europe also has much more stringent driver training as well. They also know how and when to pass and to check their six before they do.One can cruise at over 200 km/h with reasonable confidence.

How many of you wish you had a stinger on your bow for those idiots going 50 in the left lane on the turnpike???
Or these jerks that go the same speed regardless of condition....60 clear and dry no traffic...60 in a thunderstorm hydoplaning in traffic with 50' visibility???

My 430 in just getting broken in and I want to let it fly but I never know what these other drivers are going to do. It's a shame, I feel the car just begins to settle in over 90, but I just don't trust blowing by these unpredictable drivers 30 or 40 or 50 over so usually save it for open road...oh well...Having been through Skip Barber's School I wish everyone would.
The road would be safer and more fun...at least on the track everyone has been properly trained and are there to go fast.

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2000 CLK 430 Silver/Charcoal
2001 CLK 55 On order

[This message has been edited by jco (edited 06-17-2000).]

[This message has been edited by jco (edited 06-17-2000).]

Hi Lee,

That's actually not a bad idea. I have been using that method for quite sometime now and actually had people shouted at me after they got caught by photoradar. Just make sure that they don't follow u home.

Happy motoring,

ET