Closing speed differentials create danger and our awareness of it. On the track, accompanied by cars going 165 mph, 165 doesn't seem too fast (until the corner markers come up). On the highway, closing speeds over 30 mph seem really fast, and are shocking to the car getting passed.
When I got my drivers license in 1964, the highways in the midwest had speed limits of 70, and everybody went 80. 90 and even 100 didn't seem fast. One problem on a trip to Madison, on the tollway was that the timed toll slips could have been used to prove average speeds of 100mph.
When the speed limits dropped to 55 (thank you Nixon)the perception of "too fast" also changed.
On a recent trip thru Michigan, 115 didn't seem fast on clear roads, but the danger of a lost license makes it seem too fast. It would have been too fast however if there were other cars around going 70. AS

 

[quote] During my youth, I could not make cars go fast enough to suit me <hr></blockquote>

It's nice to see that the majority of us understand the implications of overspeeding, and the disasterous consequences that can result, but as Ohsixx's quote depicts, youths (both then and now) continue to be bitten by the speed bug.

The situation today is exacerbated by the fact that it is easy to get your hands on a standard street car (Eclipse, Civic, etc.) for a reasonable-price that is well-afforded by teenagers, and which can be souped up with nitrous, super-chargers, etc. to generate incredible amounts of horsepower and speed.

I see youths in Chicago trying to race me all the time in their little souped-up turbochargers, and although I don't indulge them, I know there are other (youths) that do, often at the expense of the rest of us.

I'm certainly not one to pretend to be "holier than thou" as I enjoy the acceleration of my own baby once in a while. Neither is this any reflection of Ohsixx, who's quote was used just as an illustration of my point (we are all guilty of the same). It merely depicts that while we all appreciate the need to drive with controlled excitement, we need to make sure that the youth of this nation understands it as well. As a very wise man once told me:

"Never, ever forget, no matter how skillful a driver you believe you are, you have a weapon in your hands. Drive with respect, integrity and regard."

Regards.

 

The speed does not scare me, but the other drivers do. I generally drive at the limit or with traffic. Too many idiots out there trying to kill you. These include, but are not limited to:

Riding in the left lane with the cell phone

Passing on the right

Weaving in and out of traffic

Changing lanes to get one car length

etc., etc., etc.


If I lived in Europe I would feel more comfortable, but here in the states, the general rule of thumb is that most drivers just don't have the skill or experience to drive fast.

 

John Kuhn,

It isnt that the folks in the states are that much worse in terms of skill level. But, the mind set which is more disturbing. My all time personal favorite is:

Driving on the left lane and they see you approaching them. Instead of moving over to let you pass they decide to play traffic police and tap on their brakes. NOW THIS IS THE MIND SET OF TYPICALY AMERICAN DRIVERS.

 

I personally can't stand that either Bloke. On occasion, I have been on 2 lane highways where the two cars in front of me stayed next to each other for a few miles. My philosophy which has always worked is to make a play to go up the middle when this occurs. One of the drivers will think you are nuts and finally move in fear for their life.

 

I've experienced that alot too,.. funny,.

 

I hate those two lane blockers too. Here's something funny, though. I always drive fast, regardless of what vehicle I'm driving. If I'm driving our Swedish Buick (Volvo S80 T6), or our family bus (minivan), most, and I mean almost ALL the left lane self-designated "Keepers of the Speed Limit" do NOT move over. When I'm in the C4S, almost ALL WILL move over. Funny, that. I guess in the C4S, they expect to be passed, especially if they see my avatar in their sideview mirror. In anything else, it's like "What? You?!!! Pass me?!!! Bwahahhahhahhaaaaa...."

 

The speed that scared me over the weekend was 95 mph. Not mine but an 18 wheeler that passed me doing 95 on I-85 in Alabama Sunday morning. (I was doing 75-80 in a rented mini-van)

Yeeoowww.

 

LOL Mike, only 95mph?? On my most recent cross country jaunt, in the mountains of Tennessee in a rain storm, having just fueled up, whilst arguing over something trivial with my girlfriend... I passed an 18 wheeler rig. I was probably around 85mph myself. I remember kind of being distracted and glancing in the mirror cause it was around 2 am and I wasn't pulling away from a certain set of headlights. My girlfriend (ex now) cuts herself off mid sentence and asks what's wrong, what am I looking at? I look ahead and verify that I'm heading uphill, that I'm doing around 90mph, and that I've not passed anything else in the last 5 minutes except that 18 wheeler. I increase my speed to an even 100mph, pretty much the limit of my tires in that kind of rain. The headlights behind me DO NOT drop back, they are gaining and I am still going uphill!! Now she's looking back too and under my breath I say, 'holy ****'. So we enter into a slight left handed bend and I can see the entire profile of the rig, I'd thought for a minute maybe it was just the truck cab, but no, this was an entire rig. I managed to stay ahead of him for maybe 3 or 4 more minutes and then he just barrelled right by me....at over 100mph.

Now I know this was dangerous but I'd done a lot of dumber stuff in my youth so what I did next was tame in comparison and I wasn't at all uncomfortable. I fell in behind him but that got tough cause of the sheer amount of water he was throwing up. I simply couldn't see regardless of lane choice and started to back off but then my fun and excitement loving Russian Ex girlfriend asked what I was doing.."keep up with him" she said. I looked at the situation, we were over 105mph and I was at the hydroplaning limit of my tires, and the truck is throwing up too much water to see anything in either lane. So I got right in his tracks which took care of the hydroplaning since his tires were parting the waters like Moses himself, and I pulled up close enough that I had a clear look at his metal bumper. It was like being in the eye of a hurricane as most of the water was getting thrown up around us. We ran this way for the next 15 or so minutes.

Uphill, downhill it didn't matter, I have no way of knowing whether this rig was empty or full but it. was. hauling. ***. Because of the draft I only had to feather the throttle and sometimes tap the brake to stay in the sweet spot. Then...he took it up to 120mph, "oh my freakin God" my ex said, "good googly moogly" was all I could manage and my car was once again at the hydroplaning limit even in his tracks and I simply had to back it down.

It was like something out of an Ian Banks sci fi novel where you have superlifters that bring smaller, weaker space ships up to speed with General Systems Vehicles and then back down to speeds their smaller engines can handle when leaving said GSV ships. As I backed down, I lifted my foot off the throttle, with a loose grip on the wheel letting the car wander around a bit as it slowly dropped back, through the huge typhoon he was throwing up and then back down past 100mph, to around 80mph. That truck just kept on going and I never saw it again.

Oh, when it went by me the first time I managed to look at its door. It was out of Roanoke Virginia.

 

Last

WOW.

I used to do ads for International. I thought most of them had governors on them. Plus the fuel costs would kill the guy if he was an Owner/Operator.

But that's a great story.

We should turn it into a Country & Western Song... call it Ghost Rig

M

 

Mike, I don't know what the story was but it was definately an older style rig, and customized. I don't know what brand it was but that's not the only time I've seen rigs moving that fast. Rt 80 in Pennsylvania is another place where they move out when the sun drops.

 

[quote]Originally posted by Mike in Chi:
<strong>Last

WOW.

But that's a great story.

We should turn it into a Country & Western Song... call it Ghost Rig

M</strong><hr></blockquote>

Mr. Sloves???


I've been up to about 140 on isolated highways, that's when the fear factor kicks in for me.

 

Hi guys. Interesting topic.

I dont think speed's the thing..... its the FEEL of the car. I get a kick out of handling a Porsche at 20 mph or 140 mph (my personal best!).

And on the subject of Europe, dont believe you've got a monopoly on idiots. We have our own do-gooders. But the Italians are the best.... I came up behind a police car doing about 100 mph in a Turbo... AND HE WAVED ME PAST AND TOOTED HIS HORN!

 

Just 2 cents or øre where I originally come from - I would be quite happy to sit at 120mph all day if it was permitted. I have had an indicated 146mph for 2 minutes or so and although I wouldn't want to take my hands off the wheel at that speed, it wasn't a fearful experience.

Don't get me wrong, I am not saying that I am an excellent or brave (read stupid) driver. I am trying to say that the fear we feel once we get past the testosterone age is more to do with loss of licence etc. but also to what COULD happen. For example who hasn't gone around a sweeping corner at 80mph when we all know the car can do it at 120mph - but the thought that if someonehas stopped in the road ahead for some reason makes us fearful? That is just sensible. It's different on the track - at leastthen you only have to worry about traffic in front and behind - not stuff coming the other way...well at least most of the time

It sounds as if the US is even worse than the Uk for getting caught with your loud pedal down!

 

You want to go fast in a fairly safe way. Sign up for the next silver state challenge. See you there.

<a href="http://www.silverstateclassic.com/" target="_blank">http://www.silverstateclassic.com/</a>