| Author | Message | ||
| ross koller (Ross)
Intermediate Member Username: Ross Post Number: 1215 Registered: 3-2002 |
well i've got sympathy for you hans. i just got back from a school reunion weekend in deepest darkest indiana. i drove from o'hare for about 2.5 hours, and have hardly ever been that bored in my life. i kept to the speed limits, or within 10 mph. mostly because i was driving a pos rental car, but also because the roads were absolutely crawling with cops pulling people over. but oh my god was it dull. i think accidents must happen in the states due to falling asleep at the wheel ! 65-75mph (and lower) are speeds that make driving long straight highways a complete waste of time. i concluded that if i lived in the usa, there would be no point in having a ferrari, unless i was very close to a track. (obviously i am not in the majority on that line of thought given the percentage sold there but...). anyway, my condolences guys, there is no (legal) fun driving in the usa apart from tracks. what a shame. | ||
| Ken (Allyn)
Member Username: Allyn Post Number: 890 Registered: 10-2001 |
It was the factory flow-through ventalation system. Or, when you were drinking beer, you didn't have to stop and get out to relieve yourself! | ||
| Hans E. Hansen (4re_gt4)
Intermediate Member Username: 4re_gt4 Post Number: 1285 Registered: 4-2002 |
Craig: Re - Not playing in your own sandbox. Years ago when I was single, this little burg that I live in was the safest place to misbehave. You see, cops have a terrible divorce rate, so they hang out with all the other single guys. I played poker with them, went on golf trips with them, and took them home after finding them passed out in the bars. At one point, a cop told me: "Don't worry. You CAN'T get a ticket in this town!" Unfortunately, many took early retirement, some moved, and a few are in jail. (oops) | ||
| Hans E. Hansen (4re_gt4)
Intermediate Member Username: 4re_gt4 Post Number: 1284 Registered: 4-2002 |
Yeah, I thought it was called the 850. And you're right - they achieved 'beater' status immediately after being driven off the showroom floor. Was the rust hole an option directly from the factory? | ||
| Ken (Allyn)
Member Username: Allyn Post Number: 889 Registered: 10-2001 |
I LOVE the 850! A High School friend had one and it was a beater then in 1978! But so cool; I remember I could see the road between my feet from a rust hole in the floor. | ||
| Hans E. Hansen (4re_gt4)
Intermediate Member Username: 4re_gt4 Post Number: 1282 Registered: 4-2002 |
Jeff: How about that other little Fiat sports car - the 850 spider, if I recall correctly. Haven't seen one of those in ages. | ||
| jeff ryerson (Atheyg)
Junior Member Username: Atheyg Post Number: 234 Registered: 8-2002 |
Hans, Get yourself an X19 Fiat in addition to your Ferrari, 0-60 in 19 seconds top speed 85 mph, you will feel like speed racer flooring it everywhere you go, Cops will leave you alone because they will feel sorry for you just trying to stay with traffic | ||
| jeff ryerson (Atheyg)
Junior Member Username: Atheyg Post Number: 233 Registered: 8-2002 |
> | ||
| Hans E. Hansen (4re_gt4)
Intermediate Member Username: 4re_gt4 Post Number: 1279 Registered: 4-2002 |
John: Thanks for the advice. FWIW, I just ordered a V1. Should have bought it a long time ago. I know for certain that it would have saved me from getting one of my recent tickets. (Another one of them would have been iffy, as it was laser. Zaap, you're done!) I'm starting a new thread about V1 mounting - could you fellow 308 guys, especially GT4 people, take a peek and offer suggestions? | ||
| Craig A (Milo)
Junior Member Username: Milo Post Number: 131 Registered: 4-2003 |
My number one rule: Don't drive like a madman in your own neighborhood. I live in a very small town and I expect I have the only Ferrari for miles. People (and cops) tend to never forget you or your Ferrari as you are the only one around. I try to get 20-30 miles away from the house before I open it up on public roads. I have a couple of roads where I can see for about a mile with no blind curves or side roads/intersections and very little traffic. This allows me to play it safe on public roads. | ||
| John_Miles (John_miles)
Junior Member Username: John_miles Post Number: 69 Registered: 7-2001 |
Hans, STOP PAYING THOSE TICKETS. Speeding tickets are strictly sucker bait. Regardless of what state you're in, there's almost certainly an attorney near you who makes his or her living by gaming the court system on behalf of minor traffic offenders. Try 1-800-SUMMONS -- it's a nationwide referral service that will, for a fee, hook you up with someone who can deal with the ticket in court with a reasonable probability of success. Also, if you're not already a member of the National Motorists' Association, now's a good time to sign up and have a look at their Legal Defense Kit. You need to make a clean driving record a personal priority. Once you allow even one ticket to appear on it, your odds of being let go during future traffic stops plummet to near zero. Start working on this goal now. You (probably) don't need to change the way you drive, but you absolutely do need to change the way you interact with the justice system. And get a V1!  | ||
| Hans E. Hansen (4re_gt4)
Intermediate Member Username: 4re_gt4 Post Number: 1278 Registered: 4-2002 |
Whart: It IS the car! Altho I tend to drive fast in most anything, the F-car just feels like it needs to run. These old manual steering cars drive sort of like a big go-kart, and who ever heard of driving a go-kart slow? The torque curve begs for revs. The car as a whole just eggs me on. As a side note, I took the car out today for the first time since my 'incident'. After several days of therapy watching 'Gilligan's Island', 'Hogan's Heroes', and 'Cheers', my brain is mush and the "Need for Speed" is diminished. I was a good boy, but did hit about 85 on the freeway trying to reach a gap in traffic before using the off-ramp. What was scary is that, while sitting at the stop lamp at the bottom of the off-ramp, a cop came off the freeway. However, he must have been some distance behind. Whew! | ||
| DES (Sickspeed)
Advanced Member Username: Sickspeed Post Number: 4095 Registered: 8-2002 |
Whart, if they have AA for speeder, please let me know... | ||
| wm hart (Whart)
Intermediate Member Username: Whart Post Number: 1075 Registered: 12-2001 |
You know, there are tickets and there are tickets. Getting whanged for 70 something on a 55 hi-way is usually more about revenue collection than reckless driving (although i'm not excusing the latter). However, i thought Hans was trying to come to grips with his innate need for speed, which has imperiled his license and may (i don't know how you drive, Hans, so i'm not intimating anything about you here), imperil the health and welfare of Hans and others. That's a tough one, cause the risks of really hi speed motoring on public roads are grave, as are the legal, financial and emotional consequences. I don't think its the car, since any modest shitbox can get you into real trouble these days. Do they have AA for speeders? | ||
| DJ Geck (Djgecko)
New member Username: Djgecko Post Number: 24 Registered: 4-2003 |
My first ticket in 20 years was this past January, doing 44 in a 35! Geez! How embarrassing! You'd think they'd have gotten me on the interstate doing 130 mph the previous week! LOL!! I think they were just out to get the blondes driving sports cars.....the girl they pulled over after me was in a convertible Mustang! The ticket was $44! | ||
| DES (Sickspeed)
Advanced Member Username: Sickspeed Post Number: 4092 Registered: 8-2002 |
Hans, i was just misinterpreted... i'm very mindful of other people, as well, however, we really don't have a goat problem here... | ||
| Branko Medenica (Branko)
Junior Member Username: Branko Post Number: 67 Registered: 3-2003 |
Something that helps me avoid tickets here in Alabama is become a member of the Fraternal Order of Police. For a contribution, you get a badge you can attach to your license plate. It helps a lot when I am stopped. | ||
| Charles Byrd (Vogel)
Junior Member Username: Vogel Post Number: 61 Registered: 6-2001 |
I agree with the safety ideas, and follow them, I do however get the 308 rolling pretty good sometimes, but I enjoy the North Georgia Mountain curves just as much as flat out speed. I do however have a problem with cops pulling me over just to harrass me when I am not doing anything wrong, like the other week, it was just to try to find something wrong and irritate me, and I hate that. I have never begrudged anyone anything, and I have worked hard so that I can own a Ferrari, so why can't cops just keep wasting taxpayers money by going to the donut shop too much and leave us alone? | ||
| Hans E. Hansen (4re_gt4)
Intermediate Member Username: 4re_gt4 Post Number: 1276 Registered: 4-2002 |
DES: I'm not necessarily high stressed. I think why you got ripped was because you indicated doing some dangerous things on public roads. Contrarily, I'm ultra careful about people, kids, tractors, goats, sheep, bicycles, etc. I don't need THAT kind of trouble. | ||
| Mike Clark (Vipersrt)
Junior Member Username: Vipersrt Post Number: 105 Registered: 10-2002 |
I don't get in trouble with the law, just in trouble with the girl when she finds out I was talking to all those ladies out there. | ||
| DES (Sickspeed)
Advanced Member Username: Sickspeed Post Number: 4077 Registered: 8-2002 |
Hans, are you high stressed...? You sound like you have the same problem i do... They ripped me a new one over in Off Topic for it, but still... i can definitely identify with a lot of the things you've said here... (except for that Gilligan's Island crap... i don't like Gilligan's Island... ) | ||
| Hans E. Hansen (4re_gt4)
Intermediate Member Username: 4re_gt4 Post Number: 1275 Registered: 4-2002 |
Dom: Hehe. Good question. Moving closer to a track still wouldn't solve the problem. Seems each of us are different - track driving doesn't satisfy any desire to drive fast for me, even temporarily. It's like sex. A little just serves to wet the appetite for a lot more. What slows me down is to just lock myself in the house and watch reruns of 'Gilligan's Island' for a few days. I come out nice and mellow. As long as Ginger and MaryAnn aren't wearing anything TOO revealing. | ||
| Dom Vitarella (Dom)
Junior Member Username: Dom Post Number: 176 Registered: 11-2002 |
Hans, Why didn't he just follow the oil trail? Maybe you could move someplace closer to a track? Dom | ||
| Hans E. Hansen (4re_gt4)
Intermediate Member Username: 4re_gt4 Post Number: 1274 Registered: 4-2002 |
I revisited the site of my most recent 'indescretion' - in a Pontiac, at legal speeds. From the cop's perspective, he could have seen my entire car over the concrete barrier, including the plate. I figure that it would have taken him about 30 seconds to turn around and get to the point where I was when he spotted me. That 30 seconds allowed me to get to a city street, after taking a somewhat hidden off-ramp. I conclude that: 1) He followed me but got caught in just enough traffic to allow me to 'disappear', or - more probable - 2) He continued on down the freeway and didn't take the same off-ramp that I did. RE: Racetrack. For reasons originally mentioned, it's not a terribly practical solution for me. | ||
| David Stoeppelwerth (Racerdj)
Junior Member Username: Racerdj Post Number: 170 Registered: 1-2003 |
Speed on a race track is an excellent idea. Back in 1991 I lost control of my ZR1 Corvette after hitting a piece of truck tire retread at 175 mph. It took me 1/2 mile to get stoppped when I put it thru a R/W fence. My need for speed was still alive so I did some driving schools (mostly BMW club events), enrolled in racing school and got a competition racing license. Then ran Formula Fords for a year and Formula Atlantics for 4 more years. Those 5 years satisfied my need for speed. On the track everyone is going the same way, with limited intereference and similar speeds and hopefully similar abilities. Keep the speed runs on the track and civilization will be better for it in the long run. | ||
| Mitch Alsup (Mitch_alsup)
Member Username: Mitch_alsup Post Number: 651 Registered: 4-2002 |
I used to drive the Ferrari real fast on country back roads. I would arrive frazzled and worried that I would stuff the car one day. Then, as if by magic, a friend invited me to a real road race track. After one day at the track driving the snot out of the car, the need to do serious speed on public roads vanished (for about 3-4 weeks at a time). So, about once a month, I take the F355 to the track, run the snot out of it. I haven't had the NEED to speed on pulbic roads since. Really! On my last trip to the track, I was passed by 6 cars at irregular intervals (it was ~9PM heading towards college station on Texas 21). All 6 cars that passed me that night got stopped and ticketed by the constabulatory forces. WHEW! I cruised right on by. In one little town, I was hit by at least 3 different kinds of radar/laser--result--I was within 1 MPH of the actual speed limit. This solution might work for a lot of us. | ||
| Faisal Khan (Tvrfreak)
Junior Member Username: Tvrfreak Post Number: 128 Registered: 3-2003 |
Art, what do you need to establish in order to prove malicious prosecution? What damages can one claim? Loss of joy? PTSD? Rgds, Faisal. | ||
| Faisal Khan (Tvrfreak)
Junior Member Username: Tvrfreak Post Number: 127 Registered: 3-2003 |
Mark, you should have sold your car to someone you knew, bought it back, and carried on driving in your regular style. If they tried to nail you, you could prove that you only just bought the car and sue them for malicious prosecution! | ||
| Faisal Khan (Tvrfreak)
Junior Member Username: Tvrfreak Post Number: 126 Registered: 3-2003 |
Find a good lawyer, and don't worry about anything. Drive carefully, but enjoy your car! Otherwise, unless it's a collectible and you're planning to speculate on it, sell it. Plenty of ways to enjoy your cash...no need to tie it up in something you don't get any pleasure out of. Rgds, Faisal. | ||
| DES (Sickspeed)
Advanced Member Username: Sickspeed Post Number: 4008 Registered: 8-2002 |
Go, Arthur...! @#$% THE SYSTEM...! | ||
| arthur chambers (Art355)
Intermediate Member Username: Art355 Post Number: 1583 Registered: 6-2001 |
Cops follow you, and wait for you to make a mistake. Sometimes they ticket you for no good reason: I got a ticket in San Ramon in January, cop claimed I made an unsafe turn. It was B/S. Went to court, Judge saw it my way, but I had to go back to the scene after the cop left, located a witnesses, and got a statement. If I hadn't done that, the cop would have won. This is what happens when you drive the Fcar, and it comes with the ownership. Even though I've been stopped a few times, I always try to be polite and see if reason will allow me to not get a ticket. I wasn't polite with the cop in San Ramon, because it was B/S, and I'm thinking about suing the county for malicious prosecution over it. Art | ||
| Mark Eberhardt (Me_k)
Member Username: Me_k Post Number: 503 Registered: 5-2002 |
I had the same problem last year. I came over a little hill at about 65 in a 45.....local police in an SUV....as I went by I saw the lights come on. Hmmm�..it could be a coincidence he turned on his lights.�.no way he can read the plate at that distance..... 10 miles of twist road to home�. I only need a 5-10 second lead to cleanly get down my street and be out of sight.....he's driving an SUV....I'm driving a supercharged Ferrari with track prep'd suspension...�hmmmm�� buh-bye now. The next day a friend at work whose wife works in the town hall mentioned that they had a map with �blue sports car� sightings marked on it trying to find it�s home and figured they were getting close because "the driver clearly knew that strech of road well". I had to drive right the whole rest of the year | ||
| Hans E. Hansen (4re_gt4)
Intermediate Member Username: 4re_gt4 Post Number: 1272 Registered: 4-2002 |
Dave: I had a Passport, but it crapped out. So, I plead "Guilty" to the offense of driving while unprotected. A V1 is on my short list of accessory purchases. | ||
| Steven R. Rochlin (Enjoythemusic)
Member Username: Enjoythemusic Post Number: 423 Registered: 4-2002 |
Dave, >>>..the V1. Don't leave home without it!<<< Truer words were never spoken :-) Enjoy the Drive, Steven R. Rochlin | ||
| Hans E. Hansen (4re_gt4)
Intermediate Member Username: 4re_gt4 Post Number: 1271 Registered: 4-2002 |
Whart: Citroen 2CV? | ||
| Dave328GTB (Hardtop)
Member Username: Hardtop Post Number: 545 Registered: 1-2002 |
Hans, Been dere, done dat! First thing you do is get a Valentine one. If the cop had his radar on, you would have known he was coming. If he didn't, you would know he didn't have you. A couple of years ago, I was giving a guy a ride in my 348 Challenge on a two lane. I took a seeping curve at 90-100 with a little rise in it. When I cleared the rise, there was a column of traffic coming the other way with a cop in it. I slammed the brakes and he hit the radar gun, but too late for him. He turned, followed and pulled me over. I figured he didn't have me, especially when he started laying the verbal traps to try and get me to fess up. After a while, he told me he wouldn't give me a ticket but wanted to know how fast I was going. I told him I didn't know which was the truth. A year later, I was out for a short drive in my 308, but left the V1 in another car. The very same cop nabbed me for 60 in a 45 and you better believe he remembered the other stop! That's the only ticket I have gotten since getting the V1. Don't leave home without it! Dave | ||
| wm hart (Whart)
Intermediate Member Username: Whart Post Number: 1071 Registered: 12-2001 |
Hans: I've been there, too. What you need to do is find a vehicle that gives you thrills at 45 mph. We were out a couple years ago in a pre-war Lagonda, at 45 mph the thing was leaning, and you had this sense of running on the edge. | ||
| Hans E. Hansen (4re_gt4)
Intermediate Member Username: 4re_gt4 Post Number: 1269 Registered: 4-2002 |
What is truly irritating is that I feel that I've done nothing wrong. I'm quite careful of others, go slow around blind corners (remember: farm equipment and livestock). But, hey, sometimes the valley opens up with a mile or so of naked road, perfect visibility of approach roads, etc. And freeway onramps. There are a few around here that are over 1/4 mile long. I hit the brakes before attempting to blend into traffic, but that doesn't prevent me from doing at least redline in 4th before needing the binders. | ||
| Kuzi (Kzma)
Junior Member Username: Kzma Post Number: 135 Registered: 3-2003 |
Tough situation!! But I completely understand......It is next to impossible not to put the foot to the metal when out driving a Ferrari. Their just so beautiful at speed, and the sound.....Oh that sound!! I had my 360 coupe about 2 days when I decided to take my buddy out for a spin after dinner. I had the Tubi exhaust and just wanted him to hear it at 6-8K rpm.....It was rather dark and we flew down a 35mph one way street at probably 85. Mind you their was no traffic in sight except parked autos......Well out of no where come 2 patrol cars. After pleading stupidity with the officers (thank god they were Ferrari nuts also, they wanted me to show them the engine) and getting the fine reduced to 16mph over the limit ......He told me that he heard me coming before he saw me! | ||
| Ken (Allyn)
Member Username: Allyn Post Number: 883 Registered: 10-2001 |
You and Kate sound like a perfect couple! You both need a chauffer! Don't worry about being caught from last time. The cop can't prove it was you even though he knows it was. | ||
| Hans E. Hansen (4re_gt4)
Intermediate Member Username: 4re_gt4 Post Number: 1267 Registered: 4-2002 |
I've been bummed the last couple of days. The 'Mighty GT4' is sitting in the garage, and the weather is absolutely perfect. I recently was driving down the freeway. Traffic in my lane was non-existent, and I decided to, uh, increase my cruising speed. However, a patrol car appeared going the other direction. My instinct was 'GAS IT!' He attempted to turn around, but..... I've had the car in hiding ever since. The problem is that I drive it too damn fast all the time. Now, I'm a reasonably safe driver, as I only go fast when traffic is low and visibility is excellent - lessons learned by living years in this rural area filled with farm equipment and livestock. I probably drive slower than most of you. However, when conditions permit - which is often in this area, I can't keep my foot out of it. I actually like cruising around town at legal speeds, but too much of this seems to carbon up the engine. Hence the need for an 'Italian tune-up.' More trouble. Track time? Nearest track is 200 miles away, and is seldom available. Also, I'd have to drive the car to the track. More trouble. And I hate to reserve the car just for this purpose. My driver's license is in peril; I've recently received one of those letters threatening suspension if I get one more ticket in the next 16 months. I'm afraid to drive the car, as surely the next time out will be the one that gets my license pulled. Crap. |