across the country in 32 hours?
01-08-2013, 07:09 PM
#31
Addict
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
Have you ever been to America, or driven a car here? Once you leave the cities, there are 100's of miles of nothing but vacant land with the interstate running through it. California crushes cars for racing. The hard part is not getting caught. Running at 100 is easy in a modern car today.
01-08-2013, 10:12 PM
#32
Rennlist Member
I drove my 90 GT from OKC to Rolla MO on I-44 and back over a 4th of July weekend. It's 400 miles door to door. Averaged 100 mph each way, including stopping for gas and getting something to eat. Only went over 80mph when in the gaps between groups of cars, then hit speeds of 140 to 150. Two or three times each way I would run into trucker opened highway. The truckers would block traffic and let me through with open highway with no traffic for several miles. Valentine only went of twice.
One time the Valentine went off, I was on the way back just west of Joplin. It was 4 in the afternoon on Sunday and not a car in sight as far as I could see both directions. I was doing 165 when the Valentine chirped and[ went silent. I immediately lifted slowing to just below 120 without hitting the brakes when the valentine came on in force. I let it coast down to the speed limit. The time between the first chirp and the steady on in force was about the time to cycle the power on a radar gun. I don't think the officer believed he saw that first 165.
Didn't ever see his car. In fact didn't see any official cars for the rest of the trip. After passing the next turnpike access point and seeing no patrol cars waiting, fearing radio ahead, I resumed speed and made my 100mph average home. Think he was satisfied that I slowed to the speed limit.
The real trick to averaging 100 mph is the car slowing quickly without using the brakes. My 90 GT and fantastic engine braking. You could come up behind a group of cars within about 10 car lengths doing 140, lift, and slow enough to match their speed of 80 by the time you reached them. It's the only car I've owned that did this so well including my GTS. First, you are not hitting the brakes lighting up your tail lights bringing attention to yourself. Second, it is a LOT less tiring when you don't have to move your foot from the accelerator to brake when you slow to work through traffic for the next go fast spot.
It helps when you drive politely through traffic. Don't tailgate, and don't cut people off. And remember that guy in the last car that just pulled out in front of you as you started to pass was mentally sound asleep and you woke him from his daydream approaching in his rear view mirror. Just relax and leisurely work your way through the group of cars not going very much faster waiting to open it up when you are through the group. If they don't get pissed off, they don't get on their cell phones and report that crazy sports car going really fast. I've had highway patrol pursuit cars follow me for 50 miles doing the polite thing in traffic, then punching it up to 140 in the gaps to the next car or cars, then slowly and politely passing for the next speed run.
One time the Valentine went off, I was on the way back just west of Joplin. It was 4 in the afternoon on Sunday and not a car in sight as far as I could see both directions. I was doing 165 when the Valentine chirped and[ went silent. I immediately lifted slowing to just below 120 without hitting the brakes when the valentine came on in force. I let it coast down to the speed limit. The time between the first chirp and the steady on in force was about the time to cycle the power on a radar gun. I don't think the officer believed he saw that first 165.
Didn't ever see his car. In fact didn't see any official cars for the rest of the trip. After passing the next turnpike access point and seeing no patrol cars waiting, fearing radio ahead, I resumed speed and made my 100mph average home. Think he was satisfied that I slowed to the speed limit.
The real trick to averaging 100 mph is the car slowing quickly without using the brakes. My 90 GT and fantastic engine braking. You could come up behind a group of cars within about 10 car lengths doing 140, lift, and slow enough to match their speed of 80 by the time you reached them. It's the only car I've owned that did this so well including my GTS. First, you are not hitting the brakes lighting up your tail lights bringing attention to yourself. Second, it is a LOT less tiring when you don't have to move your foot from the accelerator to brake when you slow to work through traffic for the next go fast spot.
It helps when you drive politely through traffic. Don't tailgate, and don't cut people off. And remember that guy in the last car that just pulled out in front of you as you started to pass was mentally sound asleep and you woke him from his daydream approaching in his rear view mirror. Just relax and leisurely work your way through the group of cars not going very much faster waiting to open it up when you are through the group. If they don't get pissed off, they don't get on their cell phones and report that crazy sports car going really fast. I've had highway patrol pursuit cars follow me for 50 miles doing the polite thing in traffic, then punching it up to 140 in the gaps to the next car or cars, then slowly and politely passing for the next speed run.
Last edited by RKD in OKC; 01-08-2013 at 10:31 PM. Reason: 656565
01-08-2013, 11:17 PM
#33
Instructor
I think that today it would be next to impossible to run at the speed necessary to take less than 30 hours to cross the country. Like someone above mentioned, the technology of modern cars has improved to make it possible, but so has the tech that is available to law enforcement. VASCAR (ground or air based), LIDAR/LADAR, RADAR and worst of all for speeders is the * numbers for cell phones so that citizens can call State Patrol. That would make it next to impossible to run at high speeds in a semi-populated area for very long (cell phones and the video they can record = bad news for speeders, trust me, I've seen it submitted as evidence in trials). CSP dispatch often contacts my agency on reports of speeders or dangerous drivers and asks for us to respond since CSP has to cover thousands of road miles in Colorado and can't do it themselves.
Get caught at triple-digit speeds and you can be arrested and not just issued a citation. I'd recommend you REALLY learn the laws before trying out a high speed run anywhere in the US. I'd hate to hear of any Rennlister losing everything they own by having fun and opening it up in public. With the way people sue over the littlest thing, imagine a claim against you for causing an accident and/or felony eluding, and it could ruin you (and your family's) life. Look at the definitions below, and you can see how easy it is for the police officer and prosecutor to go from simple speeding to reckless driving. Sorry to get on my soapbox, but track days are more fun, cheaper and a lot safer than running high speed in public. Most people are too busy texting or putting on makeup instead of paying attention and driving their car. I'm against a nanny state, but let's face it, we don't bury our dead in America, instead we put them in a car, set the cruise control to 50 mph, and put them in the fast lane on the interstate!
-Doesn't it sound like this could apply to 130+ mph on a public highway:
§ 42-4-1401. Reckless driving - penalty
(1) A person who drives a motor vehicle in such a manner as to indicate either a wanton or a willful disregard for the safety of persons or property is guilty of reckless driving.
(2) Any person who violates any provision of this section commits a class 2 misdemeanor traffic offense. 2nd offense: Such person shall be punished by a fine of not less than fifty dollars nor more than one thousand dollars or by imprisonment in the county jail for not less than ten days nor more than six months, or by both such fine and imprisonment.
One may be said to be guilty of wanton behavior when, although the defendant may not have deliberately intended to injure anyone, he consciously chooses a dangerous course of action which to a reasonable mind creates a strong probability that injury to others will result.
Get caught at triple-digit speeds and you can be arrested and not just issued a citation. I'd recommend you REALLY learn the laws before trying out a high speed run anywhere in the US. I'd hate to hear of any Rennlister losing everything they own by having fun and opening it up in public. With the way people sue over the littlest thing, imagine a claim against you for causing an accident and/or felony eluding, and it could ruin you (and your family's) life. Look at the definitions below, and you can see how easy it is for the police officer and prosecutor to go from simple speeding to reckless driving. Sorry to get on my soapbox, but track days are more fun, cheaper and a lot safer than running high speed in public. Most people are too busy texting or putting on makeup instead of paying attention and driving their car. I'm against a nanny state, but let's face it, we don't bury our dead in America, instead we put them in a car, set the cruise control to 50 mph, and put them in the fast lane on the interstate!
-Doesn't it sound like this could apply to 130+ mph on a public highway:
§ 42-4-1401. Reckless driving - penalty
(1) A person who drives a motor vehicle in such a manner as to indicate either a wanton or a willful disregard for the safety of persons or property is guilty of reckless driving.
(2) Any person who violates any provision of this section commits a class 2 misdemeanor traffic offense. 2nd offense: Such person shall be punished by a fine of not less than fifty dollars nor more than one thousand dollars or by imprisonment in the county jail for not less than ten days nor more than six months, or by both such fine and imprisonment.
One may be said to be guilty of wanton behavior when, although the defendant may not have deliberately intended to injure anyone, he consciously chooses a dangerous course of action which to a reasonable mind creates a strong probability that injury to others will result.
01-09-2013, 12:45 AM
#34
Rennlist Member
It is hard to imagine how vast and empty the spaces are in the American West until you've driven them. What looks like a short distance on a map is an endless trek across an endless expanse. The only thing to keep you sane is speed, and more speed!
I'd love to do a cannonball run across the country. I think I could give the record a run for the money. Read Alex Roy's book, the Driver, for a good primer on what is really involved in trying to break the record, however. Like everything else these days, it is more technology driven.
So Joe, shall we commission a new race? This one just for sharks?
That would be fun.
01-09-2013, 01:06 AM
#35
Been selling Twinkies on Ebay,
have some extra cash right now.
Rennlist Member
have some extra cash right now.
Rennlist Member
I think that today it would be next to impossible to run at the speed necessary to take less than 30 hours to cross the country. Like someone above mentioned, the technology of modern cars has improved to make it possible, but so has the tech that is available to law enforcement. VASCAR (ground or air based), LIDAR/LADAR, RADAR and worst of all for speeders is the * numbers for cell phones so that citizens can call State Patrol. That would make it next to impossible to run at high speeds in a semi-populated area for very long (cell phones and the video they can record = bad news for speeders, trust me, I've seen it submitted as evidence in trials). CSP dispatch often contacts my agency on reports of speeders or dangerous drivers and asks for us to respond since CSP has to cover thousands of road miles in Colorado and can't do it themselves.
Get caught at triple-digit speeds and you can be arrested and not just issued a citation. I'd recommend you REALLY learn the laws before trying out a high speed run anywhere in the US. I'd hate to hear of any Rennlister losing everything they own by having fun and opening it up in public. With the way people sue over the littlest thing, imagine a claim against you for causing an accident and/or felony eluding, and it could ruin you (and your family's) life. Look at the definitions below, and you can see how easy it is for the police officer and prosecutor to go from simple speeding to reckless driving. Sorry to get on my soapbox, but track days are more fun, cheaper and a lot safer than running high speed in public. Most people are too busy texting or putting on makeup instead of paying attention and driving their car. I'm against a nanny state, but let's face it, we don't bury our dead in America, instead we put them in a car, set the cruise control to 50 mph, and put them in the fast lane on the interstate!
-Doesn't it sound like this could apply to 130+ mph on a public highway:
§ 42-4-1401. Reckless driving - penalty
(1) A person who drives a motor vehicle in such a manner as to indicate either a wanton or a willful disregard for the safety of persons or property is guilty of reckless driving.
(2) Any person who violates any provision of this section commits a class 2 misdemeanor traffic offense. 2nd offense: Such person shall be punished by a fine of not less than fifty dollars nor more than one thousand dollars or by imprisonment in the county jail for not less than ten days nor more than six months, or by both such fine and imprisonment.
One may be said to be guilty of wanton behavior when, although the defendant may not have deliberately intended to injure anyone, he consciously chooses a dangerous course of action which to a reasonable mind creates a strong probability that injury to others will result.
Get caught at triple-digit speeds and you can be arrested and not just issued a citation. I'd recommend you REALLY learn the laws before trying out a high speed run anywhere in the US. I'd hate to hear of any Rennlister losing everything they own by having fun and opening it up in public. With the way people sue over the littlest thing, imagine a claim against you for causing an accident and/or felony eluding, and it could ruin you (and your family's) life. Look at the definitions below, and you can see how easy it is for the police officer and prosecutor to go from simple speeding to reckless driving. Sorry to get on my soapbox, but track days are more fun, cheaper and a lot safer than running high speed in public. Most people are too busy texting or putting on makeup instead of paying attention and driving their car. I'm against a nanny state, but let's face it, we don't bury our dead in America, instead we put them in a car, set the cruise control to 50 mph, and put them in the fast lane on the interstate!
-Doesn't it sound like this could apply to 130+ mph on a public highway:
§ 42-4-1401. Reckless driving - penalty
(1) A person who drives a motor vehicle in such a manner as to indicate either a wanton or a willful disregard for the safety of persons or property is guilty of reckless driving.
(2) Any person who violates any provision of this section commits a class 2 misdemeanor traffic offense. 2nd offense: Such person shall be punished by a fine of not less than fifty dollars nor more than one thousand dollars or by imprisonment in the county jail for not less than ten days nor more than six months, or by both such fine and imprisonment.
One may be said to be guilty of wanton behavior when, although the defendant may not have deliberately intended to injure anyone, he consciously chooses a dangerous course of action which to a reasonable mind creates a strong probability that injury to others will result.
OK, deleted the pic and adjusted my times. My gut said that was a bad idea anyway.
01-09-2013, 02:59 AM
#36
Nordschleife Master
Way dangerous, fun to watch.
All things considered, its good to have video of when people try really dumb things. I just rewatched the Hayabusa Stockholm to Uppsala run, crazy how fast bikes are these days.
All things considered, its good to have video of when people try really dumb things. I just rewatched the Hayabusa Stockholm to Uppsala run, crazy how fast bikes are these days.
01-09-2013, 09:59 AM
#37
Instructor
Hi Erik,
If you revised it and it really took 60 hours from El Paso to the Springs, you must of been on rollerblades! LOL.
I'm not trying to be a buzzkill, because believe me, I've driven across the empty western states and high speeds are necessary to get anywhere in a reasonable amount of time. I remember driving through Montana in the 90s and hitting some pretty good speeds. At the time, the speed limit during the day was "reasonable and prudent" (they did have a limit at night) and if you did get pulled over, it was a small fine - about $5 to $20 - for wasting natural resources and an imprudent use of fuel. People up there were used to the speeds and showed good lane discipline, so there weren't a lot of problems. When I talked about the reckless driving laws I meant more in metro areas where people are zombies behind the wheel and don't pay attention. It's just that I've had to make death notifications, and it really sucks. I've also seen good people do something a little stupid and end up causing them a lot of headaches both legally and financially. If we only had a REAL standard to get a license that included proper vehicle control and vehicle dynamics, we could easily open up the road speeds like they have in parts of Germany. I remember watching kids in Japan trying to get a motorcycle license, and these kids were great riders but it still took them numerous tries to get approved to ride a bike over 250cc/two stroke or 400cc/4 stroke. Over here, all you have to do is be able to fog a mirror and you can ride or drive whatever you want on a public road, even if you can't handle it. Hell, most of the youunger deputies I train have never parallel parked a car because they took it out of the required skills during licensing tests because the complaint was it was "too hard" and made too many people fail! Talk about lowest common denominator training "standards"!
If you revised it and it really took 60 hours from El Paso to the Springs, you must of been on rollerblades! LOL.
I'm not trying to be a buzzkill, because believe me, I've driven across the empty western states and high speeds are necessary to get anywhere in a reasonable amount of time. I remember driving through Montana in the 90s and hitting some pretty good speeds. At the time, the speed limit during the day was "reasonable and prudent" (they did have a limit at night) and if you did get pulled over, it was a small fine - about $5 to $20 - for wasting natural resources and an imprudent use of fuel. People up there were used to the speeds and showed good lane discipline, so there weren't a lot of problems. When I talked about the reckless driving laws I meant more in metro areas where people are zombies behind the wheel and don't pay attention. It's just that I've had to make death notifications, and it really sucks. I've also seen good people do something a little stupid and end up causing them a lot of headaches both legally and financially. If we only had a REAL standard to get a license that included proper vehicle control and vehicle dynamics, we could easily open up the road speeds like they have in parts of Germany. I remember watching kids in Japan trying to get a motorcycle license, and these kids were great riders but it still took them numerous tries to get approved to ride a bike over 250cc/two stroke or 400cc/4 stroke. Over here, all you have to do is be able to fog a mirror and you can ride or drive whatever you want on a public road, even if you can't handle it. Hell, most of the youunger deputies I train have never parallel parked a car because they took it out of the required skills during licensing tests because the complaint was it was "too hard" and made too many people fail! Talk about lowest common denominator training "standards"!
01-09-2013, 10:04 AM
#38
Addict
Rennlist Member
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I'd love to do a cannonball run across the country. I think I could give the record a run for the money. Read Alex Roy's book, the Driver, for a good primer on what is really involved in trying to break the record, however. Like everything else these days, it is more technology driven.
Correct equipment, exactly right time to do it, lots of luck and record can be just about broken but its not easy. Driver is weakest link nowdays. Most people seem to have inbuild speed limit which prevents them from keeping up near 100 mph average speed. Group of Finnish Porsche owners go to Nurburgring every year. They take ferry from Finland to Germany. This means 400 or 500 miles drive in Germany depending on which ferry is used. Driving is usually done late in evening. Out of 20-30 drivers every year most keep 100 mph average for first 100 miles. So far AFAIK no one has managed much above 80 mph average all the way due to both drivers internal long distance comfort zone and traffic situation. For large part of the way there isn't even need to worry about cops as maybe third or quarter of the distance do not have speed limit at all.
Keeping 100+ speeds up for over 30h straight is totally different level than doing it for one or max two fillups. Even in US it means some urban areas are along the way unless start and destination aren't deliberatly selected for emptyness. We have done Stockholm to Nurburgring with four Porsches in around 14h during daytime taking ferry both Sweden to Denmark and Denmark to Germany meaning over hour was spend on boats. Much of the driving was done between 80 and 100 and almost entire distance is motorways. At times we were doing 120+ mph for miles and yet average is really low due to frequent fuel stops etc. I'm only one who wasn't half dead by the time we arrived and thats only third of the distance needed for trans continent drive. Add 100 mph average requirement for 2800 miles and I will have to disqualify myself from the list. 80 mph maybe in NY to LA but not much above that. And I would need one out of two specific guys to do it with. None other of several dozen fast drivers I know would be good for the job in one go regardless of speed its done.
01-09-2013, 10:25 AM
#39
Rennlist Member
Good points Erkka. I don't think a 100 mph average is doable, even in a Bugatti Veyron. Too many places where you would have to stop or slow down when near urban centers, plus gas stops, etc. I do think the current record is breakable, but only incrementally so. That's how these things go. The first one is set, then that record gets crushed by someone, then it falls away in smaller and smaller increments. Eventually, it can't be broken, but wjo knows where the limit is. Also, technology is the key.
01-09-2013, 10:55 AM
#40
Addict
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Veyron is useless for long distance driving. It has way too small fuel tank and high consumtion in 100+ speeds. Any 928 with 2.20:1 rear would kill it. If and when someone breaks Roy's record its going to be with just 1-2 mpg faster average and much less publicity. I'll put my money on it being diesel sedan. I expect US market to get all fast stuff from Audi, BMW and MB in few years due to high fuel costs. Bad quality diesel isn't limiting factor anymore I think. Even without added fuel cell those high hp diesels have longer legs than just about any driver. Its still better to have long fillup range and just do quick driver change than stop for fuel every 3-4 hours. It can even be done in speed.
In Europe we don't really have similar ultra long distance drive icon like US sea to shining sea thing. Though Nordkapp in Norway to Tarifa in Spain would be even longer at 3500 miles and large part of it is in middle of nowhere and over two thirds in motorways. AFAIK no one has done it at much more than 80 mph and barely under 40h. In early eighties when Cannonball and its derivatives were big thing in US there was at least one Arhus in Denmark to Malaga in Spain race held in Europe. Some interesting Cannonball type stories on encounters with cops and weather in it also. Nowdays most people who have enough $ to spare are much more interested in those 800 miles per day and drink until you pass out in luxury hotels type of things.
In Europe we don't really have similar ultra long distance drive icon like US sea to shining sea thing. Though Nordkapp in Norway to Tarifa in Spain would be even longer at 3500 miles and large part of it is in middle of nowhere and over two thirds in motorways. AFAIK no one has done it at much more than 80 mph and barely under 40h. In early eighties when Cannonball and its derivatives were big thing in US there was at least one Arhus in Denmark to Malaga in Spain race held in Europe. Some interesting Cannonball type stories on encounters with cops and weather in it also. Nowdays most people who have enough $ to spare are much more interested in those 800 miles per day and drink until you pass out in luxury hotels type of things.
01-09-2013, 12:08 PM
#41
Drifting
The faster 928's are more than capable of smashing the record with ease and gas tank size is no problem. I don't think mapping out a route to avoid traffic would be too tough if you started at midnight from the dense east coast. Driver fatigue would not even be too bad, the 928 being one of the easiest cars to drive fast over long distances. The only problem is the law. If you had a James Bond-like license to speed you could take hours off the record. There are twice as many cops in the US today as there were in 1976.
01-09-2013, 09:36 PM
#42
Vegas, Baby!
Rennlist Member
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Ha, I recently lived 4 years in Montana, which is nearly 2000 miles from Pittsburgh, PA which is where I am from and where I live again. I drove (among other things) two different 928s across the country, and a Shelby Mustang. I also drove a Mustang GT from Lubbock TX to Bozeman Mt. That trip too was about 2000 miles. I made each of these trips in two days. Heading west, once past Chicago and southern Wisconsin, anything less than 100 mph+ for hours on end is standing still. Go as fast as you want thru MN, ND, SD, and MT outside of the population centers. They all have speed limits, but there is no one there. The radar detector will never beep. Same with the empty spaces of Texas and the eastern edge of the Rockies.
It is hard to imagine how vast and empty the spaces are in the American West until you've driven them. What looks like a short distance on a map is an endless trek across an endless expanse. The only thing to keep you sane is speed, and more speed!
I'd love to do a cannonball run across the country. I think I could give the record a run for the money. Read Alex Roy's book, the Driver, for a good primer on what is really involved in trying to break the record, however. Like everything else these days, it is more technology driven.
So Joe, shall we commission a new race? This one just for sharks?
That would be fun.
It is hard to imagine how vast and empty the spaces are in the American West until you've driven them. What looks like a short distance on a map is an endless trek across an endless expanse. The only thing to keep you sane is speed, and more speed!
I'd love to do a cannonball run across the country. I think I could give the record a run for the money. Read Alex Roy's book, the Driver, for a good primer on what is really involved in trying to break the record, however. Like everything else these days, it is more technology driven.
So Joe, shall we commission a new race? This one just for sharks?
That would be fun.
It is something to ponder. And it would be great for increasing the value of a 928. What say all of you out there?
01-10-2013, 12:04 AM
#43
The discrepancy is in the routes, because the 550 team used an older known route and alex used his own shorter route - alex points out there where no set routes in the original races they just had to get from NY to LA
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/17/sp...pagewanted=all
01-10-2013, 11:08 AM
#44
Rennlist Member
1982 Essex Fells NJ to San Diego CA in 32 hours in a 1971 911E ( personal record no evidence other than my friend to corroborate the story). We lost AC about 1 hour into the drive and sweltered the entire way. Only got pulled over once and lied through our teeth to the state trouper who gave us a ticket for 10MPH over. Killed a cat driving through Phoenix and almost hit a pipe in the fast lane in the middle of the desert at 1AM in the dark doing 130. The H1's with dual 100 watt bulbs and Hella hood lights helped but we were in the middle of nowhere if anything happened.
I think I slept for 3 days after and I don't see how you can attempt this today. We had clear roads especially out west. At full speed the mountains never got any closer and by the end of the trip we had to switch drivers every 20 minutes or so. By the end of the trip the meatloaf sandwiches were getting pretty disgusting and you couldn't buy bottled water but we only stopped when we had to.
Almost as much fun as the drive from St Gallen Switzerland to Rotterdam Holland in 7 hours.
I think I slept for 3 days after and I don't see how you can attempt this today. We had clear roads especially out west. At full speed the mountains never got any closer and by the end of the trip we had to switch drivers every 20 minutes or so. By the end of the trip the meatloaf sandwiches were getting pretty disgusting and you couldn't buy bottled water but we only stopped when we had to.
Almost as much fun as the drive from St Gallen Switzerland to Rotterdam Holland in 7 hours.
01-10-2013, 12:05 PM
#45
Drifting
I have no idea what route any of these other people took, but just for the heck of it I did this yesterday if we lived in an alternate universe where the US had an autobahn style speed enforcement system where capable cars could run faster. I have driven from the A on the east coast to B and can say that once past Philadelphia it is clear sailing traffic-wise.
In this alternate universe if one left NYC or NE at midnight they could avoid traffic there and most likely get thru Knoxville before morning rush. Then it is just a straight shot west. A very comfortable speed in a nice 928 is 125 that is easy on the driver, car, and maneuverable.
had to stitch pics together, route uses actual interstates
In this alternate universe if one left NYC or NE at midnight they could avoid traffic there and most likely get thru Knoxville before morning rush. Then it is just a straight shot west. A very comfortable speed in a nice 928 is 125 that is easy on the driver, car, and maneuverable.
had to stitch pics together, route uses actual interstates
Last edited by tv; 07-31-2013 at 12:36 PM.