| Author | Message | ||
| Timothy Guay (Timguay)
New member Username: Timguay Post Number: 13 Registered: 2-2003 |
One more thing, you have got to be sober! I've been clean for five years and my gift to myself was this F-car. It's the only thing that come close to getting high! | ||
| Timothy Guay (Timguay)
New member Username: Timguay Post Number: 11 Registered: 2-2003 |
Screw it man, redline the pig 'till it bleeds 50 weight, and let God sort out the rest. You must represent your marque, even if it means running the other guy off the road, if you don't win you lose, get it. If your passenger doesn't like it, you have the wrong passenger. Watch out for the pedestrians in Honda's. If your gonna' go out, it wight as well be in pole position, remember the great races in Europe where people were killed on the side of the road and the car just backed up and continued the race? Except for Count Umberto. That's the way Enzo wanted it. We all have to go sometime. | ||
| Sunny Garofalo (Jaguarxj6)
Junior Member Username: Jaguarxj6 Post Number: 188 Registered: 2-2003 |
In response to the original message, I would personally save it for when its you and you alone on the road with no one else (track, autocross). No matter how experienced we are or believe we are, we can never control or predict what another driver may do if an "emergency" situation ever happened. Getting from point A to B five minutes late or swallowing our bravado is better then being five feet under the topsoil or five years behind bars. We may be able to stop on a dime or turn to avoid an accident, but maybe the person tailing us can't. Or watch the showoff we tease who wanted to race and "let go" after we hit the speed limit or accelerated normally wreck their car, hit a pedestrian, or worse. I'm as guilty, no doubt about it. It took an aggressive twisty mountain drive with some NSX's March 23rd 2003 this last Sunday to realize this. I forced one to pull over so I could pass and then caught up to the rest of the group half a mile ahead before it truly sunk in, what am I doing? The icing on the cake was the driver of the last (and newest) car 5 minutes behind us arrived at the top of Mt Palomar and then post to the forum later in the day, "I surprised me how well my bone stock NSX handled going up and down those twisty roads. I could just imagine how much better it would be with suspension mods, and stickier tires!!" And I find myself taking a hard look at what I'm driving, how I'm driving it, and why I'm driving that way. I didn't squeal my tires, I didn't get a ticket, I never lost control, I was closer to the edge of what my car could do, and I ask myself after reading that post, was it worth it. It may not be this run, or the next, or at all, that I find out the hard way. If we don't start choosing a time and place, someone else might do it for us, hurt ourselves, or our loved ones. | ||
| Bart Duesler (The_bart)
New member Username: The_bart Post Number: 26 Registered: 1-2003 |
Gee, my wife thought I was trying to catch up to another car. The Mercedes waved to me after I slowed. Heck, I was not over 70 or 75 mph. Ok, maybe 90. I am not a crazy driver. There were no kids around or others walkers. I live in the center of unincorporated Orange County, California. We are nuts about cars and now most auto companies have their designers here. Knock on wood; I have NOT had any problems with the law in years. I am too old to play games. Only German cars cause me to put the medal gas petal to the floor. Corvettes are not to be raced. They are what I always wanted until I could finally get me the fastest car of the 20th Century. Bonzi. Never drive less than a Ferrari!!! | ||
| Dr Tommy Cosgrove (Vwalfa4re)
Member Username: Vwalfa4re Post Number: 898 Registered: 5-2001 |
Dave, I share your top 4 but I have a 5th: Never speed (really speed) with someone else in the car with me. | ||
| EFWUN (Efwun)
Member Username: Efwun Post Number: 296 Registered: 2-2003 |
You know, Alsup, I have to say that it's you who missed the point. You may believe you were paying attention enough to see, and react to, anything that might have occurred. You may even be a perfectly competent, even talented, driver; I've no evidence to the contrary. However, your comments leave the reader with the impression that, like the idiot who started this thread, you were speeding down a residential street; not doing "less than" 40 in a 35! If you were, for all intents and purposes, obeying the speed limit, then what was the point of regaling us with your tale of steely nerve and reflexes? Did you note that the goof ball who started this thread was topping out a 550 in 3rd gear when his (long suffering) wife started to scream in fear?? What I'm saying is that most of us have worked hard for the privilege of owning and using these cars; it doesn't take too many idiots like the one who started this thread to give us all a black eye! | ||
| David S (Djs308)
Junior Member Username: Djs308 Post Number: 109 Registered: 9-2002 |
Just want to add a few footnotes and a minor correction to the Lamborghini drag race incident brought up by EFWUN. The race happened on a VERY busy street in Oceanside, NY. I've been on it so I know first hand. It also took place in broad daylight with plenty of traffic. The moron in the Lambo was warned by his wife not to race the Vette and he didn't listen. The moron in the Lambo also went over the yellow lines to pass someone at very high speed. It was at that point he collided head-on with the gentleman in the Volvo, who had no chance to even utter a prayer. Both drivers (Volvo and Lambo) were killed instantly. The Vette went off the road to avoid the carnage. HE survived and is now rotting in jail where he belongs. There was very little left of the Diablo after the fact. If you saw the photo of the wreck you would never be able to figure out what it was. Also, the moron in the Lambo left behind a small collection of Ferraris in his garage. Don't know what became of them. | ||
| Byron (Bmyth)
Member Username: Bmyth Post Number: 469 Registered: 10-2002 |
Dave, good summary. I'm sure we all love to "open up" our cars every now and then. I agree that all "racing" should only be done on the track. That's what these cars were made for anyhow. However, to EFWUN's point (and yours)... if you're gonna let your rip, it's always good practice to do it on a non-congested road, and preferrably not during a busy traffic hour. In retrospect, I probably shouldn't have run up next to that SL, but it was ~2am... and no other cars were around... no matter, guilty as charged - not my proudest moment (not to mention the wear and tear on the clutch, ouch!) It's true that we all earned the privilege to drive our cars... and hopefully, we don't suffer the same ill fate as the individual who abused that privilege in his Lamborghini. Tragic and unnecessary. | ||
| Dave328GTB (Hardtop)
Member Username: Hardtop Post Number: 474 Registered: 1-2002 |
I have to weigh in with the conservative crowd here. I have a few rules I live by on the road. 1. Never speed in a congested/residential area. 2. Never speed on unfamiliar roads. 3. Never street race. 4. Always pay attention. It amazes me how often I get behind someone doing 45 in a 55 on an open road, then they do the same speed where the limit is 25 in a school zone! Undoubtedly they think they are very safe drivers. I have been known to blip the motor at lights when some kid is challenging me. Then I just let him go. If he brags how he dusted an Fcar, so what? I get my best jollies at tracks. I would hate to have someone killed or injured because I couldn't control my testosterone! Dave | ||
| Mitch Alsup (Mitch_alsup)
Member Username: Mitch_alsup Post Number: 419 Registered: 4-2002 |
EFWUN (Efwun): at the time, I was doing less than 40 MPH in a 35 zone (hardly bravado). The point was (which you missed) was that I was paying enough attention to see, react, and control at the speed I was driving (something that most drivers do not). "Do yourself a favor, deflate your ego a few notches and realize that it isn't fair to put someone else's life at risk based on your assessment of your own prowess. " I was not in any way showing my prowess, nor was I particularly speeding, nor do I inflate my ego anywhere that there is the slightest amount of traffic or unpredictable events/kids. | ||
| EFWUN (Efwun)
Member Username: Efwun Post Number: 292 Registered: 2-2003 |
You're right; when I was 17, I was as bad as they come. When I look back on those days now, I'm horrified and grateful that I lived, and more importantly, never killed anyone!! Of course, I don't always drive my 550 slowly, but when I let it rip, it is on the LIE late at night, or out near Riverhead with no traffic on a restricted access highway. Perhaps labels are wrong, but this stuff makes me angry. Our cars are a privilege we've all earned; guys who trust their reflexes to save others from their foolishness jeopardize our hobby and our passion. | ||
| arthur chambers (Art355)
Intermediate Member Username: Art355 Post Number: 1118 Registered: 6-2001 |
Rather than label him, it might be better to direct him to a more appropriate type of behavior. Street racing is dumb, but if I had to bet, almost every one here has done it at some point in their life. As we get older, we learn (at least most of us do). Art | ||
| EFWUN (Efwun)
Member Username: Efwun Post Number: 290 Registered: 2-2003 |
Arthur, a man in your position of responsibility can do better than that, no? This stuff is just plain ridiculous. Suburban streets, jackasses topping out in 3rd gear on Newport Avenue?? Stronger words are necessary, counselor. | ||
| arthur chambers (Art355)
Intermediate Member Username: Art355 Post Number: 1117 Registered: 6-2001 |
Brian: Simple solution: sell the car or the wife. You either have the wrong wife or car. Have you thought about joining a club that has regular track events, and then, if you have enough talent, you can go fast? Art | ||
| EFWUN (Efwun)
Member Username: Efwun Post Number: 289 Registered: 2-2003 |
PJM, it isn't just the passengers. Why isn't the stupidity of these guys registering? "What if a kid comes out from behind that car?" Okay, we're on a suburban street with HOUSES and PEOPLE. What the f*** are you thinking?? "I hit my brakes and stopped before she could complete her sentence." (paraprhase). What kind of pompous fool says that? Is it really okay for this guy to drive that way on a residential street?? Dude, if it was my kid, and your marvelous reflexes failed you, you'd get shot dead, and I'd have a reasonable argument to a jury about the rich fool in the Ferrari who killed my child!! What an idiot. Alsup, we've tussled before about driving; I can guarantee I'm a thousand times more experienced than you, as well as a former rookie of the year in formula atlantic, and I don't risk other people's lives on my reflexes. Why should you? Leave it on the track. | ||
| peter james moran (Pjm)
New member Username: Pjm Post Number: 20 Registered: 3-2002 |
Martin, "she did have a SORE neck for a few days..." Are you actually proud of that?! What do you do for an encore - backhand her?! I'm I alone here - How many of you think it is acceptable to treat your passengers/quests so poorly? | ||
| DES (Sickspeed)
Advanced Member Username: Sickspeed Post Number: 2955 Registered: 8-2002 |
Someone on here, somewhere quoted Raul Julia from Gumball Rally as saying (pardon if i inadvertantly paraphrase): "First rule of Italian driving- don't worry about what's behind you...!" | ||
| Hubert Otlik (Hugh)
Member Username: Hugh Post Number: 640 Registered: 1-2002 |
Bart- "I did not like to be passed by a cheap German car. Therefore, I began to move thru the gears. As I was about to moved into fourth my wife said.." Don't race your mirrors, man. This past friday at buttonwillow an E46M3 owner wouldn't allow his ego to let a honda pass him, so, he blew his brakes into the grapevine off the backstraight (130+ backstraight, no bus stop just the dog leg), and had a pretty fantatstic off; front bumper damage and all, not to mention he could have collected a couple cars that would have crested as he was coming back on track. What have you got to prove? Especially on the street? | ||
| EFWUN (Efwun)
Member Username: Efwun Post Number: 288 Registered: 2-2003 |
I don't know where you live, Alsup, but if you lived on Long Island, you'd understand that the public only reads that it was some crazy dude in a Lamborghini that killed 3 people, and you can't imagine the outcry that was raised. Do yourself a favor, deflate your ego a few notches and realize that it isn't fair to put someone else's life at risk based on your assessment of your own prowess. | ||
| EFWUN (Efwun)
Member Username: Efwun Post Number: 287 Registered: 2-2003 |
That's just bullshit bravado. I'm sure the jackass that killed those people in his Diablo said the same things. What is the point of using a $200,000 car to "show" someone anything on the road? If you're going that fast on a street where kids might be playing, you're not too smart. If you're risking other people's lives on the "speed" of your reflexes, that's really not smart. You give all of us a bad reputation. | ||
| Mitch Alsup (Mitch_alsup)
Member Username: Mitch_alsup Post Number: 416 Registered: 4-2002 |
I got one of those "What would happen if a kid runs out from behind that car" one time. I nailed the brakes before her sentance ended, and stopped 15 ft before the end of the car in question. She never said anything of similar kind again, although she did have a sore neck for a few days. | ||
| wm hart (Whart)
Member Username: Whart Post Number: 828 Registered: 12-2001 |
Although i generally agree with the sentiments expressed here, i have found a sure way for my wife to deal with speed; occasionally, Liz will take the wheel, and when somebody starts behaving badly, or is exhibiting poor driving skills, i say to my wife, "Dust that wanker, my dear," in a calm, polite tone of voice. | ||
| peter james moran (Pjm)
New member Username: Pjm Post Number: 19 Registered: 3-2002 |
Street racing is not acceptable EVER! If someone catches up to you and wants to pass -LET THEM! People who cruse along in he passing lane drive me nuts. Show people what a great driver you are by moving the hell out of the way. Sure, I drive fast sometimes, but always in control with a large safety margin for error and the comfort of my guests is primary. There is ALWAYS someone faster and way too often willing to take a lot more chances. I have news for you there are some very talented drivers driving even older cheaper cars that can drive circles around you - it's not just the car. Show some respect for yourself, passengers and the marquee. Save racing for the track. | ||
| EFWUN (Efwun)
Member Username: Efwun Post Number: 286 Registered: 2-2003 |
I guess whatever I was trying to say about stupid car tricks is wasted. Martin, you surely are a sharp-tongued devil. | ||
| Dave (Maranelloman)
Member Username: Maranelloman Post Number: 923 Registered: 1-2002 |
Now, now, Martin, be nice. You never know when one of those young fellas--having just had his ego crushed by a withering comment like that--will pull out a gat on ya... Better to be nice & all smiles, IMO...  | ||
| Martin - Cavallino Motors (Miami348ts)
Advanced Member Username: Miami348ts Post Number: 4092 Registered: 5-2001 |
BTW much more fun to rev up the engine and get them hot and when the light jumps to watch them hit the gas, lay some rubber and burn their clutches. On the next light you pull up to them and say: "so you just waisted $ 300 bucks in tires, clutch and increased maintenance cost, that way you will never have enough money left to buy a real sports car." | ||
| Martin - Cavallino Motors (Miami348ts)
Advanced Member Username: Miami348ts Post Number: 4091 Registered: 5-2001 |
 That is why Enzo liked the Formula One program so much: one seat only! | ||
| Modified348ts (Modman)
Member Username: Modman Post Number: 516 Registered: 11-2001 |
It's very true that it feels different when you're the passenger vs the driver as you being the driver you have something to hold onto and know you next move with the car, the passenger doesn't. An experience was while I was at an auto cross track I went for a ride through the course with an experienced driver and it was intense and when I went solo while only 1 sec. apart from his time my driving alone didn't seem nearly as intense and it goes the same when I let some people drive my car it seems that most of them can't drive properly and seems to make me nervous sometimes so I can see how women can react to your driving and you have to show them confidence in your driving and teach them the do's and don't's but challenging the unknown or another car is not showing the proper rules of street driving, something you learn in racing school. The best thing I could recommend is taking your wives or girlfriends to a racing class or should I say high performance driving course and they will know the discipline. | ||
| EFWUN (Efwun)
Member Username: Efwun Post Number: 281 Registered: 2-2003 |
Dave is spot on. Within 9-10 seconds of deciding to "show" someone that you won't be passed by a "cheap" (??) car, you can be going 120+mph in the 550 if starting from a roll. At that point, you can emulate the guy here on Long Island who used a brand new Diablo to "show" an '88 Corvette who was boss. When he was done, his wife was dead, the vette driver was dead, and a gentleman in a Volvo bringing bagels home to his family was dead. The "boss" is now in prison, and will be until we have Ferrari hovercraft. I have a background in serious formula cars, but I don't use my 550 to show anyone who's "boss." And, I don't frown on "cheap" German cars!! Lighten up, dude, your wife is trying to save your foolish life. | ||
| Robert Callahan (Rcallahan)
Junior Member Username: Rcallahan Post Number: 139 Registered: 7-2002 |
PSK, wife IS actually more important than a Ferrari? THAT is hard to believe | ||
| Marq J Ruben (Qferrari)
Member Username: Qferrari Post Number: 266 Registered: 2-2002 |
Well said, Psk. I can't agree more. When you're alone in the car, that's one thing; when you have a passenger, ya gotta respect their wishes. Even though my wife enjoys it when we run 'spiritedly', I too save most of it for when I'm solo. (that way, I can hide the tickets!) | ||
| Dave (Maranelloman)
Member Username: Maranelloman Post Number: 919 Registered: 1-2002 |
Bart, what can you do to please her? Well, finally say yes to a divirce! JUST KIDDING!!!!! Seriously: I cannot be more emphatic about this, by STRONGLY discouraging street racing. Your wife is right. I also have a 550, and get challenged all the time by (a) ricers; (b) kids in Mustangs & Camaros; (c) rednecks in F250's; and (d) other guys in quasi-sports cars. I always let them go by, with a wave & a smile. Why? Because (a) it is Darwinism at work, and (b) they make GREAT cop-bait as they speed by to prove to me that they know where the gas pedal is and that their weenies are not as small as their actions would indicate. I get my speed thrills on the wide-open road, or on the track. Just $0.02 of advice from a friend. | ||
| Brian Jackett (Brian_jackett)
New member Username: Brian_jackett Post Number: 23 Registered: 12-2002 |
I went out with my wife in the F355 at the weekend. It was awful for both of us. I could not drive the car how it should be driven because my wife did not like it. I did not like driving it like she wanted me to because basically the 355 is not fun to drive like that. You notice things like the droan of the engine, the heavy clutch. It is not a cruising car. regards | ||
| Byron (Bmyth)
Member Username: Bmyth Post Number: 467 Registered: 10-2002 |
Bart, I feel you about the little German cars... a funny story... I was going west on sunset blvd one night, when 2 guys pulled up next to me in a brand new 2003 SL500. The guys roll down their window and said that they will "smoke me... that I think my ferrari is fast, but they will kick my A$$" ... I said, "Yes, you are probably faster. Yes, you will probably win." Well, I SMOKED him... gave him a jump and pulled away in 3rd!! Funny... somehow, he felt compelled to turn and not meet me at another red light! Btw, where are you in OC? I cruise out through Newport Beach all the time on the weekends and can't say that I've ever seen a 550 on the roads. Are you coming to the drive on the 6th? Oh and about the wife question... I think what you can do to please her is to just get her behind the wheel of her own FCar... once she experiences first hand what tight handling, strong acceleration, and good brakes is all about, she will say no more. Until then... just love her for being your co-pilot in the car and in life. | ||
| Ronald Vallejo (Ron328)
New member Username: Ron328 Post Number: 25 Registered: 3-2003 |
Bart, I guess just think of it this way...you are still one of the luckiest to own a 550! ;). Ron | ||
| Michael Yip (Mightyslash)
Junior Member Username: Mightyslash Post Number: 157 Registered: 4-2002 |
Just give it up, there's a bunch of things women can never understand when it comes to cars | ||
| Andrew (Mrrou)
Member Username: Mrrou Post Number: 503 Registered: 3-2002 |
bart your wife probably appreciates your 550 but doesnt appreciate you driving it at high speeds. She does love you after all andrew | ||
| PSk (Psk)
Member Username: Psk Post Number: 284 Registered: 11-2002 |
Bart, Try sitting in the passenger seat and seeing what it feels like . I hate it (even on the race track it takes a lap in the passenger seat before I can relax), thus I only drive fast when I am alone in the car and respect my passengers wishes to have a comfortable safe trip. You are in a lose lose situation, so I would save it for another day ... when your wife is not in the car. Good luck, and remember your wife IS actually more important than a car ...  Pete | ||
| Bart Duesler (The_bart)
New member Username: The_bart Post Number: 23 Registered: 1-2003 |
This Sunday my wife & I went for a drive in my car. After coming home from Newport Beach, I turned onto Newport Ave. from 17th Street. A little 2 seater Mercedes which had AMG on the back was following me. I knew he wanted to pass me on Newport ave. I did not like to be passed by a cheap German car. Therefore, I began to move thru the gears. As I was about to moved into fourth my wife said in a very loud voice, �I do not want to die�. Crap. My car has very good brakes. I showed them to her. She then b*itch that I stopped too fast. What can I do to please her? |