In April 1985 I crossed the Delaware Memorial Bridge and got on the N.J. Turnpike. I was riding my 1984 Honda V45 Sabre. Water-cooled V-4, six-speed, shaft-drive, LCD gauges, etc. Traffic was light and the weather was great. I figured, "what the hell". I pulled over and removed the rear-view mirrors and stuck'em in the "glove box". I kicked out the passenger's foot-pegs and got going. Full throttle, sixth gear, feet back, and laying on the tank. I got her up to 140 MPH and held on for the ride. I ran wide open for about ten minutes, then decided I'd had enough fun. I pulled over and put the mirrors back on. I gave the bike a quick look-over for leaks and had a smoke. As I was putting my helmet back on I saw the flashing lights coming my way . A New Jersey State Trooper pulled up behind me and got out of the car. Great, just what I need.

After checking my documents he asked me if I knew how fast I was going. I said I didn't know, but I figured I'd be straight with him and told him it was maxxed out. Then he said something that totally blew me away. He told me that he just bought a bike like mine, and was wondering what it could do!!! Apparently, he was just getting set up fifteen miles back, and hadn't yet turned on the radar when I came by. He gave me a written warning for "excessive acceleration" and told me to slow down a little.


August 1991. My girlfriend (now wife) and I were cruising up I-75 just north of Tampa, Florida in my almost new VW Jetta. The little lady was totally engrossed in her Stephen King paperback. The weather was perfect and the road was nearly empty. I turned the volume up on my Escort radar detector and eased her up to 110 MPH. I was enjoying the ride for a while when suddenly, it felt like a gust of wind hit us. When I looked in the rear-view mirror my eyes almost popped out of my head. A two-tone brown Mustang with a cherry on the roof was on my rear bumper . Great, a close encounter with the Florida Highway Patrol. Just what I need.

It turned out that the cop was an ex-Jersey guy. After informing me that the state of Florida is the last place in the world you'd want to get a big-time speeding ticket he let me off with a warning.


There's a few more, but these are definitely the top two!