How to safely hit top speed?
12-05-2017, 12:28 PM
#76
Race Director
The unrestricted areas have dwindled in a big way and there are rare stretches where traffic is light enough to be able to even attempt 200mph. The number of fully straight stretches with entirely smooth pavement in which you'd want to attempt such things are even more rare.
While it does happen, lets not act like its a regular occurrence.
12-05-2017, 12:31 PM
#77
Race Director
12-05-2017, 12:43 PM
#78
Rennlist Member
Look up Silver State Challenge. Great opportunity safely experience high speed driving your Turbo. Each year you can, with proper safety equipment increase you speed. 110mph novice year one.
Any driver can push their cars to top speed. What often happens to Novice drivers is they simply dont appreciate how quickly things change as speed increases. The smallest driver input can make a huge difference. 80MPH driving on the freeway is not the same as 160mph. Track time helps as a safe learning environment.
Reaction time exponentially increases with speed. This is where error occur; late to react or overreact (to little or to much input) all from a lack of experience. You need to work your way up to high speed driving.
I have raced motorcycle before I was able to drive a car (legally) and raced cars since 18. My reactions at my current retirement age are good but not as good as they were.
Have fun. We only live once and for me adrenalin is one of the things that keep me alive.
Recognise the risk, prepare, be smart and have fun.
Any driver can push their cars to top speed. What often happens to Novice drivers is they simply dont appreciate how quickly things change as speed increases. The smallest driver input can make a huge difference. 80MPH driving on the freeway is not the same as 160mph. Track time helps as a safe learning environment.
Reaction time exponentially increases with speed. This is where error occur; late to react or overreact (to little or to much input) all from a lack of experience. You need to work your way up to high speed driving.
I have raced motorcycle before I was able to drive a car (legally) and raced cars since 18. My reactions at my current retirement age are good but not as good as they were.
Have fun. We only live once and for me adrenalin is one of the things that keep me alive.
Recognise the risk, prepare, be smart and have fun.
12-05-2017, 12:53 PM
#79
Originally Posted by Quadcammer
at that speed the chances your speedo is even remotely accurate is very small.
But it is pretty accurate as it’s only 8-10 mph off and that’s pretty good considering that most cars tend to show less accuracy the faster you go.
12-05-2017, 02:36 PM
#81
RL Community Team
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
Haven't been to germany in a while huh?
The unrestricted areas have dwindled in a big way and there are rare stretches where traffic is light enough to be able to even attempt 200mph. The number of fully straight stretches with entirely smooth pavement in which you'd want to attempt such things are even more rare.
While it does happen, lets not act like its a regular occurrence.
The unrestricted areas have dwindled in a big way and there are rare stretches where traffic is light enough to be able to even attempt 200mph. The number of fully straight stretches with entirely smooth pavement in which you'd want to attempt such things are even more rare.
While it does happen, lets not act like its a regular occurrence.
I was also in Italy a while back and though the Autostrada has "speed limits" there were quite cars traveling flat out there too.
Last edited by Carlo_Carrera; 12-05-2017 at 02:51 PM.
12-07-2017, 07:58 AM
#84
12-11-2017, 06:06 PM
#85
RL Community Team
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
01-01-2018, 06:10 AM
#86
Burning Brakes
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: London UK
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I didn’t read all of the replies as I’ve immediately seen some scaremongering but hitting top speed in a 996 turbo? Walk in the park. Done it 20 times. I’ve stopped doing it because it is a bit pointless now having done it so many times. Simply ensure you have newish damage free tyres, check pressures, ensure road conditions are clear (cars free, difficult to find even on German autobahn nowadays) and away you go. I crack 327km/h (203mph) speedo indicated within 34 seconds form a standstill at which point limiter gently interferes. That’s it. I even held this speed through a slight bend on the German autobahn as car is totally planted. I do have PSS10s fitted though. On stock suspension car felt a bit floaty but made it to top speed on stock setup too without any problems. These cars feel rock solid at top speed the only other consideration would be knowing and trusting the mechanical condition of the car. I got mine new and is meticulously maintained and checked every year. So I trust it. I just wouldn’t take an unknown history car up to the top end as someone rightly said if something goes wrong it is most likely over. So it’s mind over mater really. How brave is your head, car will most probably hold.
01-01-2018, 06:28 AM
#87
Burning Brakes
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It does, but pretty much everything we do is dangerous. There is a greater possibility that some drunk driver hits you than getting yourself killed by driving at 200 mph for a few seconds.
I €™ve been at 200 mph 40-50 times, probably more. It €™s fun and it €™s done rather quick with a good car. The 996 Turbo is one of those perfectly suited ones.
General FYI, a stock manual X50 does 200+ mph tacho speed with no problem at all. I felt that there is more to give but gearing/rev limiter puts an end to it.
I €™ve been at 200 mph 40-50 times, probably more. It €™s fun and it €™s done rather quick with a good car. The 996 Turbo is one of those perfectly suited ones.
General FYI, a stock manual X50 does 200+ mph tacho speed with no problem at all. I felt that there is more to give but gearing/rev limiter puts an end to it.
01-01-2018, 10:27 AM
#88
+1^
car moves along nicely at 7100
Happy New Year everyone !
car moves along nicely at 7100
Happy New Year everyone !
01-01-2018, 10:54 AM
#89
if you think the car is fast enough theres a 1/2 mile event in indiana just a few hrs away from cincy every yr. wont be able to hit top speed but you will see just how slow the car is compared to some very fast cars in the area
01-01-2018, 09:35 PM
#90
Rennlist Member
Been doing high performance driving in one form or another for 60+ years and have learned that it's the unexpected you need to contend with. A serious crosswind on the back straight at VIR can move your car over a couple of feet. Had a fellow instructor friend of mine blown right off the track and he slid in the grass all the way into the concrete barriers. Best advice I can give the OP is that "You can't eat an elephant in one bite. Take little bites, one at a time." Basically, get experience and work your way up to "terminal velocity".
