Speed Deserts or not ? | FerrariChat
Buy

Speed Deserts or not ?

Discussion in 'Ferrari Discussion (not model specific)' started by Johnny Prezemullo, Aug 23, 2006.

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

  1. Johnny Prezemullo

    Johnny Prezemullo Karting

    Apr 24, 2006
    153
    #1 Johnny Prezemullo, Aug 23, 2006
    This early evening, being still sunny at 24 C, I decided to take my 575 to make a ride around the Lake Luzern/Switzerland.

    While cruising and enjoying the conversation between my car and myself I was thinking how much I regret the speed limits of 80 km/h on roads respectively of 120 km/h on the Autobahn in Switzerland. However Germany, speedwise the only surviving country in the world, is not far, I started questioning myself how you Ferrari guys survive in the "Speed Deserts" of the States or where complete speed limits restrict your needs or your enthusiasm to enjoy the speed of your Ferrari they have been build for originally.
    So how are you feeding your needs for a civilized speed or how do you train yourself and your Ferrari ?

    Regards

    Johnny
     
  2. mw575

    mw575 F1 Rookie

    May 30, 2001
    2,924
    Lake Oswego,Or
    Full Name:
    Martin J Weiner,M.D.
    #2 mw575, Aug 23, 2006
    Short high speed sprints on off highway/thruway roads and track time.
     
  3. F40

    F40 F1 Rookie

    Apr 16, 2003
    3,230
    AZ
    #3 F40, Aug 23, 2006
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  4. Fastviper

    Fastviper F1 Rookie

    Nov 20, 2003
    4,525
    Texas
    Full Name:
    Dash
    #4 Fastviper, Aug 23, 2006
    I usually go as fast as I can through school zones. It seems like I am going fast when I am really only going 80! Cause the sign is blinking 20 20 20!
     
  5. Johnny Prezemullo

    Johnny Prezemullo Karting

    Apr 24, 2006
    153
    #5 Johnny Prezemullo, Aug 23, 2006
    What about the risk to be catched by the Police. In Switzerland, where radar detectors are strictly forbidden, you have to face terrible high fines if you are caught. In the worst case the authorities take your car away and will destroy it. This is if you killed somebody with your car caused by overspeeding and only if you own the car !
     
  6. djui5

    djui5 F1 Veteran

    Aug 9, 2006
    5,418
    Phoenix, Arizona
    #6 djui5, Aug 24, 2006

    Ahhh, the 202!! Rubber roads are the best :D You're right about the cops too. I think they spend most of their time on the 87.
     
  7. BT

    BT F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa

    Mar 21, 2005
    15,291
    FL / GA
    Full Name:
    Bill Tracy
    #7 BT, Aug 24, 2006
    The 202 seems pretty safe, but the 101 is the worst with those camera speed traps.
    BT
     
  8. wetpet

    wetpet F1 World Champ
    BANNED

    May 3, 2006
    10,210
    #8 wetpet, Aug 24, 2006
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  9. Johnny Prezemullo

    Johnny Prezemullo Karting

    Apr 24, 2006
    153
    #9 Johnny Prezemullo, Aug 24, 2006
    Oh, its good to see that the Ferrari community seems not to be really "thirsty" in the "Speed Deserts"
     
  10. Evan.Fiorentino

    Evan.Fiorentino F1 Rookie

    Aug 23, 2005
    2,854
    South East Florida
    Full Name:
    Evan
    #10 Evan.Fiorentino, Aug 24, 2006
    Take it too the track...
     
  11. italiafan

    italiafan F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Jul 19, 2006
    16,121
    Full Name:
    Stickbones Swagglesmith
    #11 italiafan, Aug 24, 2006
    according to clarkson on topgear switzerland is place devoid of lust for cars, is that true?
     
  12. djui5

    djui5 F1 Veteran

    Aug 9, 2006
    5,418
    Phoenix, Arizona
    #12 djui5, Aug 25, 2006

    right...damm government :)
     
  13. DGS

    DGS Seven Time F1 World Champ
    Rossa Subscribed

    May 27, 2003
    72,655
    MidTN
    Full Name:
    DGS
    #13 DGS, Aug 25, 2006
    In the US, speed limits are "revenue enhancement" -- they're frequently set below traffic flow speed so the town can send a cop with a radar gun out to balance the budget.

    What makes the US a "speed desert" is traffic -- the children of "car crazy" americans don't find muscle cars in the showrooms; they find regulation loophole SUVs, "politically correct" hybrids, and other rolling appliances. And states pass laws against working on your own engine, for fear you might find some performance hidden in the "politician engineered" "clean" controls.

    Driving like a snail on valium is considered "good". "Everyone knows" that anything you enjoy is "bad". Too many yanks today use "egalitarianism" to excuse hiding out in the middle of the herd. As long as people can think that there's someone worse off, then they're okay -- being at either extreme is "bad".

    Success is prima facie evidence of "cheating" (look at the rage against Schumi and FA). "Competence is elitist". With no "rite of passage" to convince children that they can rely on their own abilities, they become adults cowering in fear of a real challenge, substituting "metrics" for "results", and relying on Big Brother. Being "average" is mandatory. Being "good" means not being too good at anything.

    The traffic patterns encourage this. Virtually nobody ever enforces laws against sitting in the left lane in formation, blocking both travel lanes --- unless it's a cop you're in the way of. More and more traffic lights create funnels where two lanes are fighting to merge into one lane across the intersection.

    I think this is referred to as "divide and conquer" -- getting drivers to fight each other, instead of worrying about the town governments' waste of funds.

    And many americans don't even bother to vote. (So they get the "damn government" they deserve.)

    US roads are becoming a form of population control, with drivers chatting on cell phones instead of staying in their own lane or watching other traffic, or noticing how many blind merges and hazardous intersections are cropping up. Sometimes I think these traffic patterns are set by people heavily invested in auto body repair shops.

    The only realistic option for giving a Ferrari proper exercise are track days.

    And liability lawsuits are making those harder to find. SCCA has dropped rally, "reality tv" features contests to get a chance to drive a NAStruck on an oval, reinforcing the message that speed is "not for you". Any wonder the ricer crowd goes out on the streets with no respect for the law?

    It wasn't like this a generation ago.

    Miss America? Yes, I do. Anyone know where the Land of the Free and Home of the Brave got off to?

    I'm embarrassed for our generation -- we raised our children to be cattle.

    Okay, rant complete. Curmudgeon over and out. ;)
     
  14. wetpet

    wetpet F1 World Champ
    BANNED

    May 3, 2006
    10,210
    #14 wetpet, Aug 25, 2006
    it's called the New World Order my freind. ask the Bushes or check the back of your dollar bill. their motto " work all day, and send in the money. stay in your house and watch tv, it's far too dangerous outside. we will take care of everything(for a small fee)"
     
  15. naparsei

    naparsei Formula Junior

    Oct 11, 2005
    299
    Land of Enchantment
    Full Name:
    Alex
    #15 naparsei, Aug 25, 2006

    I'd recommend reading Vonnegut, but it sounds like you wrote it - in particular, Harrison Bergeron: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harrison_Bergeron

    FWIW - take a look at this news story as well - http://www.thedenverchannel.com/traffic/4026206/detail.html

    But, generally, I agree with you.
     

Share This Page