Australia has killed my desire for fast cars

[custardtart]

Colonial said:

suthol said:

The bloke I saw getting a BJ whilst driving about 12 months ago was probably breaking a law of some sort.

In the afternoon peak hour on Homebush Bay Drive near the Flemington Markets for those who know Sydney.

Hmmm... that's Google[bot] stamping ground..

Lucky b*gger

[Jim Campbell]

Couldn't agree more about this country and sport cars. Five years in Scotland taught me how bad we have it here.
I imagine most PH'ers are like me in that they are keen on anything with an engine, so i suggest you give up on road cars and take up boating and flying. It's a pretty ideal spot for it.

Edited by Jim Campbell on Thursday 1st May 13:59

Edited by Jim Campbell on Thursday 1st May 14:02

Edited by Jim Campbell on Thursday 1st May 14:05

[Bibbs]

Jim Campbell said:

i suggest you give up on road cars and take up boating and flying. It's a pretty ideal spot for it.

I was told at an early age, "if it flys, floats or f**ks, rent it by the hour".

But I agree.

[Jim Campbell]

Bibbs said:

I was told at an early age, "if it flys, floats or f**ks, rent it by the hour".

But I agree.

I went against my own advice this morning and took a trip up the old pacific highway. The result of which is i am now $248 poorer. I am now completely done with road cars, waste of time in this bloody country.

[PomBstard]

Jim Campbell said:

I went against my own advice this morning and took a trip up the old pacific highway. The result of which is i am now $248 poorer. I am now completely done with road cars, waste of time in this bloody country.

Ouch! Which bit of OPH, and what time? Don't usually see them around at start or end of the day unless it's Bonus Points weekend

[Jim Campbell]

PomBstard said:

Ouch! Which bit of OPH, and what time? Don't usually see them around at start or end of the day unless it's Bonus Points weekend

The bit where the north and southbound come together by the weigh station, so if i go there again i shall be waiting for the proper twisty bit before i put the hammer down. I say hammer down but i was booked for more than 10 over but less than 20, hardly a massive danger to the guard rail on the left and the rock face on the right. Didn't stop the copper talking to me like i just put his first born in a blender though.

I was surprised to see them as well. I was there accidentally there on the Bonus point weekend before last and saw none of them. My recent midweek trips have resulted in zero sightings of plod. It was at 1030.

[custardtart]

Jim Campbell said:

PomBstard said:

Ouch! Which bit of OPH, and what time? Don't usually see them around at start or end of the day unless it's Bonus Points weekend

The bit where the north and southbound come together by the weigh station, so if i go there again i shall be waiting for the proper twisty bit before i put the hammer down. I say hammer down but i was booked for more than 10 over but less than 20, hardly a massive danger to the guard rail on the left and the rock face on the right. Didn't stop the copper talking to me like i just put his first born in a blender though.

I was surprised to see them as well. I was there accidentally there on the Bonus point weekend before last and saw none of them. My recent midweek trips have resulted in zero sightings of plod. It was at 1030.

This stuff really sts me! Sorry to hear that.

[PomBstard]

Jim Campbell said:

PomBstard said:

Ouch! Which bit of OPH, and what time? Don't usually see them around at start or end of the day unless it's Bonus Points weekend

The bit where the north and southbound come together by the weigh station, so if i go there again i shall be waiting for the proper twisty bit before i put the hammer down. I say hammer down but i was booked for more than 10 over but less than 20, hardly a massive danger to the guard rail on the left and the rock face on the right. Didn't stop the copper talking to me like i just put his first born in a blender though.

I was surprised to see them as well. I was there accidentally there on the Bonus point weekend before last and saw none of them. My recent midweek trips have resulted in zero sightings of plod. It was at 1030.

Arse. Have never seen the there before, and I usually do the trip midweek, but a few hours earlier. Have seen them around Pie in the Sky though and am always careful on the approach, esp if coming up the hill - easy to get caught up in the fun of twisty bits.

Imagine Plod's attitude if it had been Bonus Points time...

[Mc F]

Does anyone know anybody that risks a life sentence here & uses a speed gun / radar detector?

Im sure you don't, but you might have heard of a friend that does?

If so details please, Make Model Nr, where to buy & if any good.

I have a friend who was talking about getting one optimised for use in Queensland.

I told him to forget it......

[200bhp]

A former neighbour - A genuine one, not a hypothetical one - had an MR2 turbo fitted with a couple of grands worth of camera jamming gear. He diddnt drive like a hoon but did have a few points and wanted to protect his licence. He must have driven through a few cameras in the 2 years I knew him and appeared to have escaped the long arm of the law and further points. However I'm not sure I'd be up for trying it - Surely the cameras register images of vehicles that have caused errors?

A few colleagues have tried various detectors and they all seem to work, most of the time, but unless you're only just over the limit and have the reactions of an F1 driver, the consensus seems to be that they dont give you enough warning - By the time it's "seen" the laser you're already in the danger zone.

[Bibbs]

200bhp said:

A former neighbour - A genuine one, not a hypothetical one - had an MR2 turbo fitted with a couple of grands worth of camera jamming gear.

It always used to be sold as an auto garage door remote. I don't know anyone who actually ran one though.

I think a detector is fine to use in WA. I had one in the UK, was good for radar as the beam scatters, but laser used to go off only once you were 'hit'. My old one used to get set off by servo automatic doors and the like. Very annoying.

Did save me about 2/3 times in 10 years.

Edited by Bibbs on Monday 5th May 07:19

[robm3]

Jim Campbell said:

PomBstard said:

Ouch! Which bit of OPH, and what time? Don't usually see them around at start or end of the day unless it's Bonus Points weekend

The bit where the north and southbound come together by the weigh station, so if i go there again i shall be waiting for the proper twisty bit before i put the hammer down. I say hammer down but i was booked for more than 10 over but less than 20, hardly a massive danger to the guard rail on the left and the rock face on the right. Didn't stop the copper talking to me like i just put his first born in a blender though.

I was surprised to see them as well. I was there accidentally there on the Bonus point weekend before last and saw none of them. My recent midweek trips have resulted in zero sightings of plod. It was at 1030.

Yep I got done big time on OPH on a double demerit weekend about two years back. Total of 18 points in one hit plus court summons. Managed to extract myself from that situation with a one point 12 month good behaviour license.

[robm3]

Mc F said:

Does anyone know anybody that risks a life sentence here & uses a speed gun / radar detector?

My friend has a SC Elise (actually up for sale at the moment). He has one mounted behind the grille with head unit in dash. It's a 'stealth' one he got from the US.
I'm no expert but apparently it shuts down after reading a radar and has some lead casing around it.

Anyhow he's had for two years and swears it's saved him helped him identify notorious black spots.

[Mc F]

robm3 said:

Anyhow he's had for two years and swears it's saved him helped him identify notorious black spots.

Thats the real beauty of them.

A company in WA do them although certainly not legal in Qld.

[PomBstard]

robm3 said:

Yep I got done big time on OPH on a double demerit weekend about two years back. Total of 18 points in one hit plus court summons. Managed to extract myself from that situation with a one point 12 month good behaviour license.

Anything to share re getting from 18 pts to the result??? Never know when it might be handy...

[robm3]

PomBstard said:

robm3 said:

Yep I got done big time on OPH on a double demerit weekend about two years back. Total of 18 points in one hit plus court summons. Managed to extract myself from that situation with a one point 12 month good behaviour license.

Anything to share re getting from 18 pts to the result??? Never know when it might be handy...

It's a long story. Starting with the incident.
I was on a motorbike heading South on the Old Road with a friend on similiar behind, I overtook a Ute on the bridge over the Hawkesbury as did my friend. The Ute had moved over to facilitate this. Coming towards me was an unmarked Highway Patrol (HP) but some way off. HP did a u-turn and followed us for about 5kms.
The stretch of road up to Pie in the Sky is a great piece of double lane fun on a bike so we particpated in this.
HP followed closely behind but no lights. At the top the lights went on. We pulled over.
From memory fines were:
103 kph on bridge (60kph limit)
Crossing unbroken lines
Changing lanes without indicating
Failing to produce valid license(I had presented my UK one instead of my Australian one)
Something about eratic or reckless driving

My friend received the same but for the last one. He showed an Australian license. He received fines, paid them and was suspended for 6 months due to accrued points. He could have taken the 1 point sudden death from memory but didn't, more on that silly mistake later.

I received a court summons.

I went to view the HP's in car camera of the incident at Hornsby HP headquarters (it's your right to do so). It was unclear if I actually crossed the unbroken lines on the bridge due to the distance.
Further to that, heading up the hill I did not cross any lanes but stayed in my own. e.g. I didn't 'straight line' any corners, my friend however, did.
I watched the reply with a HP motorbike cop whom I engaged in friendly banter. He commented that my riding was neat, tidy and not unsafe. A casual observation at the time but I used it later in the court.

In court, I received the testamony of the HP officer, there were discrepancies which I challenged.
I presented character references, medical history of my wife (requirement for a license to help her), requirement from work to drive, I undertook a Traffic Offenders Education Program (recommend this step, in fact this service requires it's own thread as lots to say about it: http://www.pcycnsw.org/toip ), obtained a copy of my UK driving history (clean) and sold my two motorbikes. All this was well received by the judge, who was actually very tough on every person prior to me.

So in summary:

103 kph on bridge (60kph limit) - stood due to radar evidence however could have been corrupted with bike behind.
Crossing unbroken lines - removed due to lack of clear evidence
Changing lanes without indicating - removed
Failing to produce valid license - challenged and removed, I had indeed produced a valid license.
Eratic or reckless driving - removed (quoted HP motorbike officer).

I should also point out I had two previous fines 10-20kph range. All within 3 months of returning to Oz.

It was pointed out during this process that my friend did not cross the unbroken lines nor hit 103, he had paid and admitted this prematurely but ultimately decided the reversal process to clear these were too hard/risky.
Also, he has now had all his insurances go up substantially by having a cancelled or suspended license.

Edited by robm3 on Tuesday 6th May 05:01

[PomBstard]

robm3 said:

PomBstard said:

robm3 said:

Yep I got done big time on OPH on a double demerit weekend about two years back. Total of 18 points in one hit plus court summons. Managed to extract myself from that situation with a one point 12 month good behaviour license.

Anything to share re getting from 18 pts to the result??? Never know when it might be handy...

It's a long story. Starting with the incident.
I was on a motorbike heading South on the Old Road with a friend on similiar behind, I overtook a Ute on the bridge over the Hawkesbury as did my friend. The Ute had moved over to facilitate this. Coming towards me was an unmarked Highway Patrol (HP) but some way off. HP did a u-turn and followed us for about 5kms.
The stretch of road up to Pie in the Sky is a great piece of double lane fun on a bike so we particpated in this.
HP followed closely behind but no lights. At the top the lights went on. We pulled over.
From memory fines were:
103 kph on bridge (60kph limit)
Crossing unbroken lines
Changing lanes without indicating
Failing to produce valid license(I had presented my UK one instead of my Australian one)
Something about eratic or reckless driving

My friend received the same but for the last one. He showed an Australian license. He received fines, paid them and was suspended for 6 months due to accrued points. He could have taken the 1 point sudden death from memory but didn't, more on that silly mistake later.

I received a court summons.

I went to view the HP's in car camera of the incident at Hornsby HP headquarters (it's your right to do so). It was unclear if I actually crossed the unbroken lines on the bridge due to the distance.
Further to that, heading up the hill I did not cross any lanes but stayed in my own. e.g. I didn't 'straight line' any corners, my friend however, did.
I watched the reply with a HP motorbike cop whom I engaged in friendly banter. He commented that my riding was neat, tidy and not unsafe. A casual observation at the time but I used it later in the court.

In court, I received the testamony of the HP officer, there were discrepancies which I challenged.
I presented character references, medical history of my wife (requirement for a license to help her), requirement from work to drive, I undertook a Traffic Offenders Education Program (recommend this step, in fact this service requires it's own thread as lots to say about it: http://www.pcycnsw.org/toip ), obtained a copy of my UK driving history (clean) and sold my two motorbikes. All this was well received by the judge, who was actually very tough on every person prior to me.

So in summary:

103 kph on bridge (60kph limit) - stood due to radar evidence however could have been corrupted with bike behind.
Crossing unbroken lines - removed due to lack of clear evidence
Changing lanes without indicating - removed
Failing to produce valid license - challenged and removed, I had indeed produced a valid license.
Eratic or reckless driving - removed (quoted HP motorbike officer).

I should also point out I had two previous fines 10-20kph range. All within 3 months of returning to Oz.

It was pointed out during this process that my friend did not cross the unbroken lines nor hit 103, he had paid and admitted this prematurely but ultimately decided the reversal process to clear these were too hard/risky.
Also, he has now had all his insurances go up substantially by having a cancelled or suspended license.

Edited by robm3 on Tuesday 6th May 05:01

Right. That's a bit more than I expected, but thanks for putting it all there. Good to hear that taking the sudden death one-pointer can be preferable - I think that's what I'd go for - but it must've been hell of a phaff getting to that point. Anyway, it is a noice bit of road, going up to PitS, and part of the challenge is to not straight-line any of the corners.

[Hasbeen]

robm3 please accept my thanks for your donation to our politicians retirement fund.

Actually I am finding a reasonably fast, or at least fast accelerating car is required more than ever in my area.

We are getting more retiree/tree change types these days, & a satellite city is going in very rapidly just a bit over a dozen kilometers or so away.

We are getting more residents, & many of them are slow drivers. Our local farmers are having a harder time making a quid than they used to, so their utes & trucks get older & slower. All this adds up to more slow cars on the road between wherever I am, & where I want to go.

Where I could once drive into town, [25 kilometers or so, depending on which town], at anything between 90 & 110Km/H, without catching, or being caught by more than a couple of vehicles, today I will have to do a fair bit of overtaking to travel at the same speeds.

There is no point in even trying this in my little Ozzie Ford Capri, it does require quite a distance to gather much speed, but the S2000, & the TR8 can still make progress if asked.

I find I have to be careful, as most of our retirees have no idea they are about to be overtaken, & can get quite a shock when a 9000RPM vtec engine or a bellowing 4.6L V8 suddenly appears beside them. I don't want to give any of them a heart attack. So where high speed handling is not much use today, acceleration is even more useful than the past. I like to have my low gear acceleration over, & be back in top & cruising as I pass the drivers window.

[Hasbeen]

Wow! 70 Km/H, you are lucky in the west.

Every little no name tin pot village, with ideas of grandeur, in NSW has a 50 Km/H limit.

[randomwalk]

I do a bit of country driving and find the warning of an impending 50 or 60kph zone on entering a town inadequate, usually it requires foot on the brake to slow in time for the 50 or 60kph zone, a bit more warning would avoid having to hit the brakes at all and reduce chances of being done by some police car hidden in the bushes. I have also had a number of experiences overtaking where speed can get up to 160kph or more, I pull in and let car drop back to 100kph only to have an oncoming police car around the next corner, not so sure what would have happened if the police car had been there just after my overtake and my speed still on the high side of 100kph.