Ferraris and Speed Limits: A Rant

I drove 70-75mph on freeway most of time except occasionally in need to get somewhere quickly or to pass a pack of cars. I agree with you, most of us don't need to speed but do it for the thrill. Often, too many people drive too fast and aggressively beyond their capability. Other cars can't react as fast as a sports car and that poses issues by itself.

I still don't think highly of CHP or local police. I think they definitely need to work on their people skills. I recall police on bikes and toy drive at charity events as effort to improve public image and improve community. It shouldn't be a cilivilan vs police thing. Police needs to interact more with community. Here in Bay Area, we don't have that many serious crimes as NY/LA/NJ so instead of issuing tickets, they can reach out more. I think community will appreciate their services if they do more than pull people over for going 10mph over. They can certainly educate public more about the ill effect of speeding, reading, calling on phone, lack of sleep, on driving.

 

You try it. Go 65 on the 280, I dare you. You'll be in an accident in a second.

And, yes, your dick WILL fall off!

I'm also a CHP-1199 member. Know why I got it? So they'd leave me the f--- alone when they're doing 110mph back to the station during shift change.

Don't get me wrong, a number of CHP officers I count amoungst my good friends. They both agree they have better things to do than collect speeding tickets (ie catch drunks, those with arreast warants, etc.) but the state wants it's money.

IT IS ALL ABOUT MONEY!!! WAKE THE F--- UP!

 

Skyline at the posted speed limit..................Gimme a break

 

If people could afford to by a Ferrari, they can afford to pay the fine and consequences. If I had a Ferrari I assure I would not go 65mph all the time...heck I do 85-90mph from Sacramento to Redwood City. Speed does not cause accidents, people that are not responsible do. Just because i go 85-90mpg from Sac-RWC doesnt mean that I do not slow down for traffic, nor do I cut people off. And the people skills that you speak of comes years of seeing dead bodies due to drunk drivers and irresponsible drivers. But maybe YOU should go the speed limit because you are not responsible, do no feel comofrtable, or do not have the skill to drive a Ferrari, or any car. Although I agree that if your going to go over 100-110, take it to the track...

 

OK numnuts, I'll take it one at a time.

I am not paranoid. Someday I am going to get tagged for speeding. What I will not get tagged for is following too closely, running a red light, an unsafe lane change, or anything else unsafe. When I do get a ticket I will accept it with a smile, for if I was doing anything over the posted speed limit I certainly had it coming. Trying to avoid this inevitable circumstance isn't paranoia, it is common sense.

I have owned 3 M5's amongst other BMW's. I tracked all three, and I think I could drive them well. I DO NOT race on public highways- that is what the race track is for. To imply that exceeding the speed limit is a tacit endorsement of racing is inane. If I choose to enjoy the performance of any particular car I own it is purely for my own pleasure. The pleasure of knowing that I can drive the car to a certain performance level safely, and can do it well. Stereotyping any class of driver is stupid, and is unworthy of this forum.

The size of my jocky shorts, (Or what they contain.) has absolutely nothing to do with driving my car. The fact that you cannot understand that someone could own a Ferrari and do it solely for their own pleasure is sort of sad. (Surely many do own them purely as a status symbol, but if I was one of them I would wear a Rolex on my wrist instead of a Breguet.) When I take a corner at the limit, knowing that I nailed it, I am the only person to bear witness. Likewise when I blow it.

So let me get this straight: All those idiots following me 10 feet off my bumper (At the speed limit of course!!) while talking on their cellphone- they are setting a good example?? What blather. Speed has absolutely nothing to do with safety. An Expedition at 75 is a train wreck waiting to happen, my 328 at 135 is perfectly happy and safe, given sufficient room to run.

I am not trying to "beat" the CHP, rather I am trying to drive safely at all times, environment, road conditions, and traffic all factoring into the safety equation. I am also not driving a red Ferrari, exactly for the reason that I do not wish to call undue attention to myself. I do my own thing, I do it safely, and I do it alone. Someday I will most likely get a ticket as a result of my driving style, I accept this reality. But I'm not going to call 911 and tell them: "Hey- I'm doing 135 down 280- just passed Page Mill, come and get me!!'

Don't preach to me about the "Tough thankless job." that the CHP have. I was a paramedic in the South Bronx in 1986, and spent 5 years as a firefighter in NY. I absolutely respect and admire anyone willing to do the job of the CHP. You don't know anything about me, or any other Ferrari driver, and confusing a desire to avoid a ticket with loathing of the CHP is also inane.

I am not fearful or paranoid, and my detector is hard wired directly into my overhead light. You can't even see it from outside the car, and most importantly it DOES NOT interfere with my forward vision. (Which I for some strange reason think is really important when driving!!??)(Unless you are a low flying plane!!??) Stop making assumptions about which you know nothing.

I would not drive the Virginia City Hilclimb for the very reason that I could kill myself. Again- you confuse speed with safety. I drive 280 twice every day. I know every nook, cranny, pothole, and anything else that will compromise the handling of my car. I only drive it at speed when it is safe to do so. To take my car to a hillclimb, where I am in a hurry to get to the top, and where there is little room for error, would be preposterous. (And stupid.)

Skyline is a ****ing nightmare, with blind corners, opposite traffic, and nowhere to go when someone coming towards you looses it. Motorcycles routinely try to join the "Century Club", and basically you are at the whim of oncoming traffic, speed limit or no. The thought that you would use this piece of scenic, yet highly dangerous road as your posterchild for speed safety is emblematic of your entire argument. (As in: Empty to the core. You don't know any more about safety, road dynamics, physics, or probability, than my 13 year old son.)

We've got to live together here on FerrariChat, but please stop pontificating about that which you know nothing.

As always,
Cheers,
dce

 

I live within 5 minutes of the hillclimb and drive it twice a week. Its no different than any other road really - you are in control of your vehicle, you control the gas, the brake, the wheel just like any other road. Drive it within your limits. The advantage of the hillclimb event is that it is one-way traffic, so no danger of oncoming vehicles. So it is a safer event than some (although I will admit there has been fatalities from those that attempted to ignore what I just said).

 

Wonkazoo, superb post. Only thing I disagree with is your assumption that maquino could know as much as your 13 year old son...highly unlikely!

 

I tried cruise control... when you are going south after San Bruno it's basically a slow downhill most of the way and the thorttle gets all confused in cruise. About 5% of the traffic actually goes the limit on 280 between SF and SJ, unless there is a CHIP visable on the road.

I agree it is a beautiful drive - if you are a passenger.

 

I highly support 11-99, CHP and their families!

 

CHP are nothing more than rolling meter maids with guns. And more than not the people that go into those jobs as well as many other law enforcement jobs enjoy the power trip way too much.

 

11-99 is a scam that should be exposed one day.

Yes, I know it's for a "good cause." If it's so good then I am sure many of you who are members would continue to contribute if you didn't get frames and ID cards. If not, it's nothing more than a glorified bribe.

As for speeding, most limits are way too low and arbitrary. The History channel is running a great piece on the Autobahn. They know how to do it in Germany.

The speed limits here are nothing but a money mill for local and state governments.

 

maquino, what you don't seem to understand is that we are not coming from a "top speed at all costs" attitude. Rather, we find 65 to be stultifying. At 85-90, it's still a relaxed pace on 280 most of the time. Today's cars can handle it. Those tactile feelings you mention...they are all there at 90. The engine sound is there. So is the view. And the sunshine. All enjoyable. All easy to take in at 90. And you have to go faster than the speed limit to enjoy those tactile feelings on backroads. Modern cars can easily manage 55-80 on Skyline. They can easily corner at 45 in the tighter sections. So, how do you propose enjoying them while going so slow that you have to pull over to let others pass? At least you are courteous enough to do that.

You don't have to tear along at 160, and you don't have to ooze down the road at 40. There's a happy medium. For you, it might be 43. But for most people, it's at 80-90 on 280 on a clear day. And that's the speed you will find them traveling at. Should this really be a crime?

You also don't have to be a rocket scientist to figure out that if you are complying with the letter of the law, you are not breaking it, and therefore you don't need to worry about getting caught and having to pay the penalty. Rather, if you elevate your thinking beyond the sheer myopia that your post reeks of, you will realize that there are other considerations--the intent of the law, for instance. Reasonableness for another. How current is it? Is it approriate? Fair? Etc., etc. How does the speed limit stack up against these standards? How does its enforcement? I know the answer. Do you?

Apart from the stipulation of 55mph, which was derived in the 70's (and upgraded to 65 later, whoop de doo), other traffic laws don't seem to be enforced with anywhere near the same level of intensity. So, is the concern really about safety, or has it become a route to easy revenue generation? Cars today are safer and more capable. Roads are better. We should be able to go faster and still maintain the same level of safety. Why choke progress (literally and figuratively)?

Try upping your pace sometime--you will live.

And yeah, 11-99 is a scam to get out of tickets. I am a member too.

 

maquino- you didn't offend me personally, I just happen to find your entire argument to be specious, and since it basically popped up as a result of my previous thread I responded as I did. What your argument misses among other things, is that speed and safety are related, but in a non-linear fashion. Additionally there are so many factors that contribute to safety- and speed is hardly the most significant.

Yes Ferrari's are tactile machines, and it is exactly that exploration of the feedback the car is giving to you; the lateral acceleration and balance of the car, the feathering of the throttle and brake, the feel as your foot rolls over to blip the throttle on downshifts while still maintaining proper braking pressure- these are the things that make driving the car enjoyable. It is not speed I am after, it is efficiency and energy management. If I have been driving the same corner ever day at 15mph and I suddenly discover a way to exit at 17mph then I have learned something about the car, the corner, my skills, or all three.

As to 11-99- I am not a member. I do not believe that joining a club should exempt me from getting a ticket. It is a personal choice, but 11-99 is there for a reason, and I'm pretty sure the reason it was created wasn't to allow wealthy individuals to escape the consequences of breaking the law. Since I'm not wealthy...Or wait- since I don't break the law... (This is just a personal choice!! I have no issues with anyone else doing as they please.) Although I do find it puzzling that maquino offers that he in effect always obeys the speed limit yet joined 11-99 "just in case."

Again- I didn't take it personally, but offering the idea that I was paranoid or upset because I couldn't go as fast as I wished was a gross over-simplification and frankly it missed the point entirely. I'm not sure you get the point even now, (And if I understand your point correctly it is summed up in the idea that if you obey the speed limit we will all be happier drivers.) but that's what the forum is for I guess??!!

Cheers,
dce

 

I am in law enforcement and do not have a power trip. It depends on the officer. Of course there are officeres that are on power trips, but dont assume they all are. But i do agree that the CHP are glorified meter maids that make damn good money.

 

I'd agree that most of todays cars, including Ferraris, take only basic skills to drive well above the speed limit safely on most public roads. In other words, the world's auto engineers have made it really easy to go quite fast, reasonably safely.

It certainly would be great if the state would hand out "speed ratings" to drivers/cars. Better drivers and cars would be allowed to go a little faster. But I'll end the speculation there, because I know it will never happen.

 

WRITE ME UP FOR ONE TWENTY FIVE! POST MY FACE WANTED DEAD OF ALIVE!

 

I dont think most Ferrari owners/drivers, drive their cars fast because they are trying to prove ANYTHING!!! I have found it is a car that just drives FAST, that is you could be on the freeway cruising at what feels like 65mph and you look down at the speedo and your doing 95. Its the truth, I dont know about other Ferraris but, my CS does not have Cruise control, so with your foot as your only guide it can be difficult, the cars just go like heck!! and it is so easy to go above the posted limit.

 

Hey Ben,

You doing ok?

 

Is he ever?

He V, you doing OK? I still have somethin' for ya!

JK Ben...

You need to come to the semi south bay soon!

 

I've got an 11-99 tag also, and I actually sort of agree with Maquino, but with an important qualification, where he says 'don't exceed the speed limit' I would replace with 'don't exceed the prevailing speed and conditions'.

You really can't drive 65 on 280 unless it's rush hour. Traffic is going 75-85 if it's light and going 65 will only cause problems. I don't think I have to be the fastest of the crowd or the slowest either - if I go as fast as anyone else, that's good enough. If the road is really empty (2AM-6AM), I don't mind putting it up to 100+, however, racing at any speed never.

The key here is that I don't think most CHP really want to issue tickets for breaking an arbitrary speed (unless there's a "fund drive" on). They want to issue tickets if someone's doing something really stupid that will get someone else hurt. Like weaving in and out of traffic at 55 when it's going 25, or going 95 when the traffic is going 75, etc.

So rather than Maquino's 'set the example by following the speed limit', I would say 'set the example by not being the standout'. You've got a car that could clearly go 150+, but if YOU don't do that when traffic's going 75, then perhaps the Mustang GT gawking at you won't do it either.

It used to be there were plenty of times I would put it up to 80, 90 or more. And even though I left most cars behind, there were usually one or two cars (often a Porsche, BMW, or Corvette) that would start speeding up behind me. Not racing, but just thinking "if he's going fast, I want to go fast too". Now you've got a bunch of cars going fast and eventually someone starts cutting a slower car off and then **** happens and the CHP have a mess to clean up.

 

I’m not necessarily advocating excessive speed, and I can appreciate the thankless job the CHP, or any law enforcement community faces every day, however, to state that all one has to do is abide by the speed limit to ensure their safety is, well, ignorant.

Speed does not kill. Differentiation in speed kills. Many fatal accidents occur when one or more vehicle is traveling at, or below posted speeds.

To think of suggesting that all the planets will align and you don’t have to worry about your mortality as your safe arrival will be guaranteed if you travel at the posted limit is flawed. Every time you get in your vehicle, no matter how fast or slow you drive, you are risking your life. It doesn’t matter if you’re driving a Ferrari or a Yugo, it is a risk.

I’ve driven a vehicle (Mondial t cab) with a GPS device where I had agreed to maintain legal limits. I couldn’t do it. I felt like a sitting duck traveling at 55 mph while being passed by vehicles traveling at up to 30 mph faster than I was. My life flashed in front of me several times, horns blaring, near misses. It was not pleasant.