Driving at Speeds

[whestworld]

without getting anyone in trouble.....
I like overtaking in the 43 especially going uphill! The C43 will easily do 100+ from 50mph uphill in a very short distance.
Am I the only one out there that actually doesn't like REALLY high speeds?
Now I mean 110 plus! To be honest, it scares the life out of me.
I've driven on track days in 911s sideways but feel safer there than doing high speeds on a 3 lane motorway with nothing around me doing 110!

 

[Pietre]

On a track you tend to trust those around you at least know what they are doing. A very different story on the m/way. The lack of mirrors and signals gives me the jitters every day on the three m/ways I use to get to work.

 

[R2D2]

Interesting subject. Let me put what I'm about to say in a context so that you understand. I have driven a Maserati at 151mph on a track, and driven quickly in Ferrari's and so on. I have done laps of lots of the circuits with race instructors and even lap record holders in some outragiously quick cars. I always though I'd want to go quicker and quicker BUT last year I had an opportunity to be taken for a drive by Gabrielle Tarquini (sp) so I jumped at it and reminded him of a his days with Alfa Romeo when they won the touring cars.

To cut a long story short he took my enthusiasm and polite knowledge of his successes as "this guy is a fan" so lets show him 10/10th instead of what I'm used to on these occasions, 7/10ths. I'm not ashamed to say he terrified me. His skill and coordination were breath taking but he drove like a man possessed and when another car got in our way at very high speed he took to the grass to avoid the crash but didnt slow at all. I asked him to slow down and he either enjoyed seeing my fear or thought I was joking so he did another lap. I wasnt actually sick when I got out the car but he cured my need for extreme speed.

I enjoy being able to overtake quickly and accelarate hard but at extreme speeds 120mph+ I feel very aware of my own limitations and the cars inability to stop or protect you at that sort of speed. Call me a wimp but having cracked 150mph and having been scared so badly, quite quick is fine for me.

The fastest car that I actually like driving is Gravs modified E55 AMG with about 500bhp. Whilst Gravs car is very quick it is also very stable and secure. I feel happy to drive it fast whereas all these supedup hatchbacks and nervous sports cars are twitchy and unstable and give me no pleasure at all.

 

[GrahamC230K]

Wow- what has Grav done to his E55?!

I don't like speed because I am afraid of being caught. Acceleration is the way to go as a replacement.

Where I was happy it was not illegal (Autobahn) I was happy to max my car out.

 

[whestworld]

to much quickly

I totally understand. I was in a 993 GT2 going around a bend doing about 110 (not a race track). The driver (friend of mine) suddenly braked hard. It's a feeling designed for very few people!! This feeling stayed with me for years. I also own a 911 and to tell the truth I really feel that quick 'domestic' cars aren't cutout for high speed driving. I've driven a 2005 E55 and 2003 Brabus E55 and although ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT cars I couldn't help thinking that 'i wasn't quite secure'.

 

[pammy]

The fastest car that I actually like driving is Gravs modified E55 AMG with about 500bhp. Whilst Gravs car is very quick it is also very stable and secure. I feel happy to drive it fast whereas all these supedup hatchbacks and nervous sports cars are twitchy and unstable and give me no pleasure at all.

I agree entirely - Grav's car feels rock solid - a truly amazing drive.

I too enjoy being able to overtake quickly and accelerate hard as the prevailing conditions permit of course and always with safety in mind. I get just as much a thrill from a well executed manouevre at slower speed than driving very very fast. On a track is one thing, the ability to be able to really floor it is amazing but also being able to hone your track skills at slower speeds is equally satisfying. But driving at silly speeds on the roads does not do it for me. It might be fun - but also potentially very dangerous

 

[SportsCoupeRich]

i know what you mean. I had 265kmh out of a 997 c2s and have no intention of ever going there again. Not that much fun, though you'd think otherwise.

i very rarely go above 90 tbh - and even then it needs to be a totally clear strtch of m'way. Hovering around 80 is dandy thank you v much.

 

[R2D2]

Wow- what has Grav done to his E55?!

I don't like speed because I am afraid of being caught. Acceleration is the way to go as a replacement.

Where I was happy it was not illegal (Autobahn) I was happy to max my car out.

I think he had his boring old 350 ish bhp increased a tad by having race cams and other proper engine mods done. The car now sounds trully wonderful and goes like stink but without losing its Mercedes appeal.

 

[kensalriser]

I've driven in excess of 120 on the autobahn and quite liked it but only for short periods, it's just too stressful when there are other road users to consider. Driving way in excess of the legal speed limit is WAY too stress ful when you factor in the fear of getting caught - as I was reminded only yesterday on the M11, after allowing my speed to drift up I suddenly found a police vehicle right up my **** with lights flashing and siren howling. To my amazement he flew straight past without flagging me. I found out why a few miles later - he was attending an RTA. I am taking the let-off as due warning!

 

[BTB 500]

driving at silly speeds on the roads does not do it for me. It might be fun - but also potentially very dangerous

Plus of course you're looking at an automatic ban if caught at high speeds ... not just a few penalty points.

 

[R2D2]

Plus of course you're looking at an automatic ban if caught at high speeds ... not just a few penalty points.

In Kent I think they have been dishing out short prison sentences to those going really fast. I'll try and find an example.

 

[stats007]

I think he had his boring old 350 ish bhp increased a tad by having race cams and other proper engine mods done. The car now sounds trully wonderful and goes like stink but without losing its Mercedes appeal.

Can't see how he has 500bhp without forced induction or Nitrous.

 

[R2D2]

351bhp would do, my point was that the car is quite fast enough whatever its actual bhp.

 

[Vips]

I really do not see the need of excessive speeds and why an earth would any one want to do 110 up a hill is plain silly, and I really don't have the patience for these boy racer drivers.

On top of this, it is wholly irresponsible to be racing around on public roads and just asking for trouble as well as endangering the public and other road users. I have a alot of customers who own body shops and I see wrecked cars every week. Having seen and heard what happens to drivers with trigger happy right feet, in these situations, I frankly feel they deserved it.

 

[R2D2]

My "mate" Tarquini cornering as usual.....

 

[BonzoDog]

I really do not see the need of excessive speeds and why an earth would any one want to do 110 up a hill is plain silly, and I really don't have the patience for these boy racer drivers.
QUOTE]
I am with you. Many years ago I did some racing and rallying and cringe now at the thought of what I got away with.
A couple of yeras ago my father in law took me aorund the Nurburgring in his racing Porsche and that cured me of any further desire for speed. It sounds a bit like the ride with Tarquini. No way am I in that class.
I also remember seeing some statistics that show that, at 100 mph, if something starts to go wrong, on a normal road where there are obstructions e.g. other road users, you do not have the time to react to prevent an accident.
It would be a good thing when we develop the same sort of attitude to speed as we do towards smoking. My view.

 

[219]

To cut a long story short he took my enthusiasm and polite knowledge of his successes as "this guy is a fan" so lets show him 10/10th instead of what I'm used to on these occasions, 7/10ths. I'm not ashamed to say he terrified me. His skill and coordination were breath taking but he drove like a man possessed and when another car got in our way at very high speed he took to the grass to avoid the crash but didnt slow at all. I asked him to slow down and he either enjoyed seeing my fear or thought I was joking so he did another lap. I wasnt actually sick when I got out the car but he cured my need for extreme speed. QUOTE]


Reminds me of a tale I read in 'Car' magazine many years ago ...

Reporter goes to Ferrarri factory for drive in new car , is taken out on track by Ferrarri works driver who speaks no English ; reporter has no Italian .

Speed builds up as above , reporter gets scared , his one word of Italian : Basta = enough , he uses " Basta ! Basta ! "

Driver thinks he is saying " Fasta , Fasta " ... and duly obliges

Reporter needs new set of pants

 

[DieselE]

IMHO on a Motorway it is speed differentials that cause problems not absolute speed.

Every few weeks I drive to London on the M40. When it is flowing freely, it is a very fast motorway. Middle lane traffic goes at around 80 and Lane 3 traffic around 10 mph faster. I'm regularly overtaken by cars that must be travelling in excess of 100 mile/h. Rather like the autobahns in Germany, this does not cause too much trouble because most users of the M40 seem to be expecting it. There is far greater chaos when a car driver insists on travelling in Lane 1 at 50 mph forcing the trucks into the middle lane and creating a mobile traffic jam.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to say these high speeds are right but, on that road at least, they happen and they're not all boy racers by any means.

 

[Shude]

There is far greater chaos when a car driver insists on travelling in Lane 1 at 50 mph forcing the trucks into the middle lane and creating a mobile traffic jam.

That's sometimes me when I'm on one of my economy trips! *proud*

In most cases it's trucks overtaking trucks rather than trucks overtaking cars, at least if the car is doing 50mph the truck is going ~6mph faster, with truck/truck passing you get ~1mph differential and it takes hours to complete!

I found the autobahn to be an interesting road, when it's 2-lanes only you get 50mph on lane 1 and 150 on lane 2, makes for some tricky overtaking.

 

[DieselE]

That's sometimes me when I'm on one of my economy trips! *proud*

In most cases it's trucks overtaking trucks rather than trucks overtaking cars, at least if the car is doing 50mph the truck is going ~6mph faster, with truck/truck passing you get ~1mph differential and it takes hours to complete!

I found the autobahn to be an interesting road, when it's 2-lanes only you get 50mph on lane 1 and 150 on lane 2, makes for some tricky overtaking.

I don't get annoyed with trucks because they're doing the best they can. Though I must admit I wish they had a basic understanding of the laws of physics and didn't start an overtaking attempt at the start of a rising gradient. Also, I don't understand when one truck is overtaking another on a falling gradient why the inside guy can't ease off.

The car in lane 1 is going at 50 mph because they choose to go at that speed when going with the flow would benefit everyone.

How much more fuel will your car burn at 56 compared to 50? Of course that question comes from a driver whose favourite perfume is "Gas Oil No 5" and breaks the speed limit at 2000 rpm.