This has always been my exact thought process. Cars should have assigned speed limits based on the limits of the car. One size fits all just isn't working.

I also agree about I 5 in central valley. Such an open road. Same with most parts of I 40 on the way from San Diego to Lake Havasu. I "accidentally" got my old modified Passat 1.8T up to about 150 on that road a few years ago... I didn't see a car--in either direction--for about an hour, and the road was just too nice. 75 mph speed limit too.

I don't speed much these days because:
#1 - I'm in New Jersey for the time being. The police here generally sit around in their small suburban towns and clock people because they have nothing better to do. It's not like this in California.
#2 Both of the cars I drive are cop bait.

That said, how much trouble you get into for doing 100+ varies greatly by state. I'm pretty sure in California if you get caught doing 100+ on the freeway, you're going to jail for at least one night and getting some heavy fines. NJ I don't know but I imagine the punishment is worse than Cali's.

A guy I know in Arizona recently got clocked doing just over 160 in his Evo VIII. Some of you who live there might have seen him in the paper. I think they're sending him straight to hell. Not a good situation...

-H

 

Harry, I've got some great memories of the I-40 up to Lake Havasu, after seeing the London bridge we went to a place all in black and red where I had the best steak of my life, can't remember the name of the place but I know that f you were able to eat their large steak you would get it for free. Great area, need to go back there asap.

 

Yes, of course neither Rennlist nor John D. condone speeding or any other illegal or dangerous activity. The views expressed earlier were my own, however.

I would suggest 170 km/h (100 mph for those countries who have not caught up yet ) is pushing the limit on a public highway and 225 mh/h (140 mph) or more is just foolish.

I have every confidence in my own driving ability and in that of the average Porsche driver as well as the engineering abilities of a p-car. I worry about those other driver's swerving across the road as they apply lipstick and chat on their cellular 'phone while driving. Is there a kid crossing the street ahead? Is there a bag of cement lying on the road that fell off a truck ahead? Where is my corner worker?

I feel safer driving at the track than driving to the track as I know that everyone at the track is paying attention to their driving.

If you are having too many "moments" at the track and feel unsafe, I suggest you need to slow down, work on your line, and perhaps get to the track more often.

Anyone can go 160 mph or more in a straight line -- turning a corner at half that speed sometimes takes some skill.

Marc

 

The average speed on the Autobahn is not much higher, perhaps even lower. The thing is: on a highway everybody is going in the same direction, nobody is crossing the road, no slow traffic (...), so the conditions are very, very safe. Almost every accident on the highway is due to plain and simple not paying attention on the road or other traffic.

When it is crowded on the road speeding can be less safe. But if it isn't crowded...

 

"Is there a bag of cement lying on the road that fell off a truck ahead? Where is my corner worker?"
The big brother of my buddy in high school had a hopped up 67 Camaro , the best car at my high school . He was driving way to fast in the dark along pch in san clemente and ran into and over a bolder that had fallen from the cliff . What a

 

Clear road ahead, straight on? No way. What do you thing might happen. Driving along at normal speed on secundairy roads is much unsafer than flat out on a straight road with no of barely any traffic. Highways are the safest roads.

Even Michael Schumacher has "moments" on the track. If you push your limits, you're bound to have a "moment" ones or twice.

And this is why going flat out on a straight highway is not unsafe, let alone "foolish".

 

In Australia it is unlimited speed in the Northern Territory, outback desert conditions and straight roads that go forever.And many many thousands of km from civilisation as we know it.

Ferraris and no doubt P Cars etc get out their regularly have their owners killed.

They hit kangaroos, wildlife, pottholes, fall asleep etc etc.

In other states its loss of licence and possible jail time if you are consdered a dangerous driver.

BUt there are always windy roads nearby to all our home towns if you are keen to exposre late at night/early morning early-mid week. It's a risk but more fun.

I think the track is logically more appealing, and I am very close to just doing that - ie just have a track car. The cameras, radars, risks are getting out of control IMHO.But there is a cost and time factor for track work that that has to be considered.

Sea Eagle

 

In april I will visit the Northern Territory, but I have rented a slow vehicle... Maybe I should reconsider?

Falling asleep while going flat out? Strange... As far as wildlife/pottholes/etc.: this is not common on the highways in Europe.

I know many people that have had serious accidents on the track. Don't know a single soul that ever was involved in an accident on the highway...

I just don't believe the track is a safe place. It is fun though...

 

heat, flatness, unchanging scenery all merge into one, whether your going 110km or 220km, the mind drifts after a few hours and then .....

It sounds strange but one of the most common cause of accident down here is people falling asleep, wiping themselves and others on the road out in the process. Not necessarily speed per se.

The authorities prefer to blame speed becuase its good press and raises revenue.

I believe (although yet to be tested) that up to 30mins (say) on the track and full cocnetration has to be a better buzz. Yes there is a risk but its legal, and as long as you drive hard but fair its should in theory be an acceptable risk. But that's my view which has no real statistical support at all.

 

For me it’s the complete opposite… Once my grey haired head hits the pillow it’s bye-bye. But when driving I actually enter into another world or dimension… It’s the DRIVE itself that stimulates me, it’s like caffeine or nicotine, but it’s natural, it’s me... I get off on driving... Be it slow bumper to bumper or flat out cruising, I become one, joined to whatever it is that I’m holding in my hands at that moment. Be it a car, boat or bike that something special prevents me from getting bored and falling away into a state of defiant concentration…The passing world captures my attention… The incoming data keeps my brain awake…

And how I love to drive my Porsche 911/964!!..

From here,
Marc...

 

I have run my car up to 135 a couple times, for a couple seconds. I will admit here that I do not believe my reflexes are good enough, nor my skills at that speed. I just don't do it, worked hard for a long time to enjoy this stage of my game, I want to continue enjoying it.

 

Not surprising, many cops are just power-trippers with little brainpower. However, I was stopped for 107 in a 70 zone last New Year's Day (when most cops are giving tickets out like candy), and he just asked me to slow it down. Cool guy. All depends on the cop.

 

Snowbird...
I think that’s exactly the problem... It’s that tunnelled concentration of thought when driving, be it fast or slow that separates the slow lane drivers from those that drive faster. It’s not being braver or more stupid at faster speed driving that dictates the drive. Its how much your brain can take in at once, how to calculate all the criteria, and work together as one with your car and with the road’s environments leaving always a margin of error or way out for the unexpected obstacle or driver/car error...
It’s impossible to know how to drive faster if you’re not allowed to. Like so many things, practise makes perfect. If the legal speed limits are not there it will be very difficult to develop that extra something you learn while only experiencing it... Maybe it’s like sex...
I only hope that some of you guys one day make it to Europe with your Porsches, you owe it to yourself... The tracks are a damn good compromise, but the open road driving of Europe in a Porsche 911/964 offers the scenery, the discovery, and the romance of the road which is slowly disappearing... However, you still can find it today it’s still here!!.....
You’re all invited!!..
From here,
Marc...

PS. I just had dinner and was thinking...
Actually isn’t that point one of the ironies of sorts of driving a Porsche 911/964...
The Germans (Porsche,M.B.,Audi,BMW,VW) insist on maintaining their unlimited speed limits on the Autobahns to maintain their technicial and road ability advantages which of course can only work to the advantages of the driver given this freedom to profit from this fast driving/teaching experience. And because we can drive at 100-170 mph the vast majority of Porsche 911/964 drivers remain very close to the original factory specification. The Car is at its best then...And so is the driver... Porsche has proved, guaranteed, and protected many of us against misconception. God bless them!! They also need us for their future.
The American/Canadian speed limits are very restricted. The general North American automobile production is geared to these restricted speed limits as is then the driver’s capabilities. But for some reason to compensate for these restrictions, the average Porsche 911/964 and other Sports car drivers over modify to over compensate for the lack of actual driving skills. A sort of instead of thing... It’s the numbers that count, and the manufacturer’s names on the products that have more meaning then the actual drivers finesse and abilities. I hope the unlimited/ faster speed limits never change, but they will in time, the European laws will lower and enforced speed limits will be the norm. Everyone blames fast driving for the fatalities on our roads... Not so!!.. It’s the drivers who lack experience in driving, they’re not allowed to learn from this fast driving/teaching experience.... The speed limits are killing us... The cars of today are faster and safer then ever, but the driver's skills are not up to the same standards... Something is wrong... But isn’t that often the case when all was going well, especially in the early 1990’s... The changes were not for the better since then. Maybe that's why Porsche has invested in Volkswagon...

The writing’s on the wall or, rather on the speed limit signs world-wide...

This is my opinion,
Marc...

 

One of my cloesest friends just turned 50, as a gift his salesmanager & i Bought him (and ourselves) a ticket for the 40 mile super speedway school. Really looking forward to it, that ougtta get it out of my system for a while!
http://nascar.about.com/gi/dynamic/o...77stockcar.com