What is or how do you 'hoon'?
Discussion
There is a road near me called the Coombes Road and it runs from the A27 in West Sussex to a small village/town called Steyning..... Is a country road with tight spots, long sweeping bends, it rises and falls, is heavily tree lined in sections, and allows glorious view in others, it has on and off camber bends and is (i guess) about 4 miles long......
Anyway, the other day I went to Steyning in my SAAB 9-5 Aero, had the kids in the back and it was raining, and whilst there was not another car in sight, is was just a mundane drive that served no other purpose than getting my car bloody filthy (grrrhhh) and i managed to book my daughter into some gymnastics lessons.
However, reminded of just how much fun that road can be (hadn’t used it for ages) I decided later that evening to jump into my wife’s Renault Sport Clio 172 and drive to Steyning turn round and head back... That was 'A HOON' lift off oversteer, engine screaming in second gear in some of the tighter stuff, blips on my down changes, using all the road (hoping that anything coming the other way had its lights on) returned home and gave the car a little pat on her roof for being such an epic little hatchback.
Anyway, the other day I went to Steyning in my SAAB 9-5 Aero, had the kids in the back and it was raining, and whilst there was not another car in sight, is was just a mundane drive that served no other purpose than getting my car bloody filthy (grrrhhh) and i managed to book my daughter into some gymnastics lessons.
However, reminded of just how much fun that road can be (hadn’t used it for ages) I decided later that evening to jump into my wife’s Renault Sport Clio 172 and drive to Steyning turn round and head back... That was 'A HOON' lift off oversteer, engine screaming in second gear in some of the tighter stuff, blips on my down changes, using all the road (hoping that anything coming the other way had its lights on) returned home and gave the car a little pat on her roof for being such an epic little hatchback.
inman999 said:
A hoon is a drive for the pleasure of driving.
Thats my definition. I see a lot of people saying things along the lines of "The drive serves no purpose other than the drive itself" I disagree with this. Lets say I'm heading to Manchester to pick up some new car seats, I can head down to Sheff and following the A57 across, I would call this a hoon. The purpose is picking up some seats, still hooning
Codswallop said:
This sums it up for me 
A hoon is never the same for me - sometimes I go out just for the sake of a drive. Sometimes I feel like cruising. Other times I feel like driving as though my pants were on fire, but however I drive I enjoy the process, feel and sensations of the car/ bike on the road.
This. But only with the car. A hoon is never the same for me - sometimes I go out just for the sake of a drive. Sometimes I feel like cruising. Other times I feel like driving as though my pants were on fire, but however I drive I enjoy the process, feel and sensations of the car/ bike on the road.
Edited by Codswallop on Wednesday 1st August 21:36
StottyZr said:
I see a lot of people saying things along the lines of "The drive serves no purpose other than the drive itself" I disagree with this. Lets say I'm heading to Manchester to pick up some new car seats, I can head down to Sheff and following the A57 across, I would call this a hoon. The purpose is picking up some seats, still hooning
Exactly. Working an enjoyable drive into normal life, when opportunities for doing things 'for the sake of it' are limited.NotDave said:
Pretty much spot on.
200SX with 320+ BHP wasn't fun, adrenaline rush yes, fun no.
The Mondeo, at 1am in summer on a desserted B road is epically fun. Even if it's previous OAP owners never used it do roughly
That's the spirit. One of my most memorably hoons was driving my citroen xantia down the a57 snake pass in the middle of the day and deciding to overtake - 11 cars later in one single pass (without nipping back into lane) and passing 12, a tractor at the front. Adrenaline pumping and always prepared to nip back into the driving lane but so much fun feeling the suspension bottom out and working super hard beneath the car. Doesn't quite feel the same in something with 6 times the power!200SX with 320+ BHP wasn't fun, adrenaline rush yes, fun no.
The Mondeo, at 1am in summer on a desserted B road is epically fun. Even if it's previous OAP owners never used it do roughly
I repeated the same journey over 5 years later in a fiesta zetec s hire car choosing to use the same pass to reach my business meeting - reminded me of what it's all about.
richard300 said:
...using all the road (hoping that anything coming the other way had its lights on)...
Imagine how you'd feel if another PHer was doing exactly the same coming the other way, on the wrong side of the road? What do you do then? Or there's a vehicle broken down round the corner with its lights off? I have no objection to using all the road if it's clearly safe to do so, 'hoping' it is safe doesn't quite cut it IMO. 99 times out of 100 you'll be alright, but it only takes one occasion to be different to change/end your life. Always be able to stop in the distance you can see to be clear. Please don't take this as a direct personal criticism, but more of a wide-ranging point. I'm all for spirited driving, but I draw the line at endangering other people by being reckless and inconsiderate. (This is where you reply saying you had excellent visibility, and I humbly step off my soapbox).muthaducka said:
That's the spirit. One of my most memorably hoons was driving my citroen xantia down the a57 snake pass in the middle of the day and deciding to overtake - 11 cars later in one single pass (without nipping back into lane) and passing 12, a tractor at the front. Adrenaline pumping and always prepared to nip back into the driving lane but so much fun feeling the suspension bottom out and working super hard beneath the car. Doesn't quite feel the same in something with 6 times the power!
I repeated the same journey over 5 years later in a fiesta zetec s hire car choosing to use the same pass to reach my business meeting - reminded me of what it's all about.
I had a 115bhp diesel pool car focus down wood head pass twice last Thursday I repeated the same journey over 5 years later in a fiesta zetec s hire car choosing to use the same pass to reach my business meeting - reminded me of what it's all about.
Nothing like a spirited overtake in a 125bhp 1350kg Mondeo with 90,000 miles under its wheels to make you really start to concentrate.
The 2006 Saab. 9-3 SS is just full, despite having far more grunt and an extra gear
richard300 said:
There is a road near me called the Coombes Road and it runs from the A27 in West Sussex to a small village/town called Steyning..... Is a country road with tight spots, long sweeping bends, it rises and falls, is heavily tree lined in sections, and allows glorious view in others, it has on and off camber bends and is (i guess) about 4 miles long......
Anyway, the other day I went to Steyning in my SAAB 9-5 Aero, had the kids in the back and it was raining, and whilst there was not another car in sight, is was just a mundane drive that served no other purpose than getting my car bloody filthy (grrrhhh) and i managed to book my daughter into some gymnastics lessons.
However, reminded of just how much fun that road can be (hadn’t used it for ages) I decided later that evening to jump into my wife’s Renault Sport Clio 172 and drive to Steyning turn round and head back... That was 'A HOON' lift off oversteer, engine screaming in second gear in some of the tighter stuff, blips on my down changes, using all the road (hoping that anything coming the other way had its lights on) returned home and gave the car a little pat on her roof for being such an epic little hatchback.
I'm not quite sure about this one myself, that roads to bumpy for sportier cars - It's nice, and can be good fun, but in my opinion a little bit edgy for a proper hoon, I used to study at Northbrook College at Shoreham airport and would often take that route home in my E30 BMW 320i coupe or Civic (back when it was a 1.4) and had some good times, but gets a bit sketchy with ANY traffic. Prefer the primary roads myself, a bit more opportunity to overtake, but the best bits around there are the A2037, Edburton road and the A281 in a triangle between, Poynings, Henfield and Upper beeding (extended to Devils Dyke / top of Brighton)Anyway, the other day I went to Steyning in my SAAB 9-5 Aero, had the kids in the back and it was raining, and whilst there was not another car in sight, is was just a mundane drive that served no other purpose than getting my car bloody filthy (grrrhhh) and i managed to book my daughter into some gymnastics lessons.
However, reminded of just how much fun that road can be (hadn’t used it for ages) I decided later that evening to jump into my wife’s Renault Sport Clio 172 and drive to Steyning turn round and head back... That was 'A HOON' lift off oversteer, engine screaming in second gear in some of the tighter stuff, blips on my down changes, using all the road (hoping that anything coming the other way had its lights on) returned home and gave the car a little pat on her roof for being such an epic little hatchback.
Bone Rat said:
First came across the term on holiday in Australia in 05. Lots of news items about the problems with 'Hoons' - seemed to apply to the acne ridden yoof with a barried up car driving like a prat.
A rare case of the world b
dising an Aussie term as opposed to the complete opposite.RenesisEvo said:
richard300 said:
...using all the road (hoping that anything coming the other way had its lights on)...
Imagine how you'd feel if another PHer was doing exactly the same coming the other way, on the wrong side of the road? What do you do then? Or there's a vehicle broken down round the corner with its lights off? I have no objection to using all the road if it's clearly safe to do so, 'hoping' it is safe doesn't quite cut it IMO. 99 times out of 100 you'll be alright, but it only takes one occasion to be different to change/end your life. Always be able to stop in the distance you can see to be clear. Please don't take this as a direct personal criticism, but more of a wide-ranging point. I'm all for spirited driving, but I draw the line at endangering other people by being reckless and inconsiderate. (This is where you reply saying you had excellent visibility, and I humbly step off my soapbox).But i guess if I were to elaborate further on what i would describe as using all the road, it would be:
And remember this is an un-lit road its pitch black, and i actually find it safer to drive it at night, due to the fact that you can tell if something’s coming the other way or is in front of you on the next bend, because all you can see is the glow of the lights in the air.
I was on full beam, where there is clear sight I’m definitely in the weeds on the other side of the road if that’s my interpretation of the quickest line. On the tighter/blinder stuff, well even though i have never seen a pedestrian on that stretch of road, I’d still not want to meet one head on. But you never know if a cyclist might be out late at night and so on those corners i'd describe it as me being over the white lines (not that there are any) but nowhere near the hedgerow on the other side of the road.
Of course, my logic may still be deemed as dangerous or Knob’ish, but knowing the road I can only say that whilst hooning that night, there are certain sections of it, where you just know you need to take it a little easier (because you are aware that there happens to be a solitary house/driveway, or another lane happens to merge etc.
It is a way for PH users to justify the kind of behaviour that they would otherwise decry, especially if it happened to be a bunch of young guys in modified cars.
Let's look at it this way:
PH'ers in 'sports cars' driving rapidly along country roads - Hooning.
Teenagers in modified hatchbacks driving rapidly along country roads - Dangerous driving.
Let's look at it this way:
PH'ers in 'sports cars' driving rapidly along country roads - Hooning.
Teenagers in modified hatchbacks driving rapidly along country roads - Dangerous driving.
Dave200 said:
It is a way for PH users to justify the kind of behaviour that they would otherwise decry, especially if it happened to be a bunch of young guys in modified cars.
Let's look at it this way:
PH'ers in 'sports cars' driving rapidly along country roads - Hooning.
Teenagers in modified hatchbacks driving rapidly along country roads - Dangerous driving.
lol thisLet's look at it this way:
PH'ers in 'sports cars' driving rapidly along country roads - Hooning.
Teenagers in modified hatchbacks driving rapidly along country roads - Dangerous driving.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoon
In summary it is derived from an Aussie slang term, broadly meaning yob but typically meaning car yob. I guess the term has been accepted in recent years as other derogatory terms for proper neds/chavs and their cars have been adopted. I've heard bikers saying they're "going for a hoon" for a lot of years but only the last few years I've heard car drivers using the term.
I'd say if someone was driving spiritedly/quickly but not unsafely or irresponsibly then they were going for a hoon. If someone was driving in a relaxed manner then they are not hooning. If someone is driving quickly and dangerously then that's just stupidity.
In summary it is derived from an Aussie slang term, broadly meaning yob but typically meaning car yob. I guess the term has been accepted in recent years as other derogatory terms for proper neds/chavs and their cars have been adopted. I've heard bikers saying they're "going for a hoon" for a lot of years but only the last few years I've heard car drivers using the term.
I'd say if someone was driving spiritedly/quickly but not unsafely or irresponsibly then they were going for a hoon. If someone was driving in a relaxed manner then they are not hooning. If someone is driving quickly and dangerously then that's just stupidity.
NotDave said:
Far from it. It's how you drive, time and place.
Absolutely. Discretion plays a big part.NotDave said:
At 17 I hooned.
My peers knobbed through town centres and busy roads... I was in the sticks learning what a car will do
...when it lost traction/bumped into solid objects in my case My peers knobbed through town centres and busy roads... I was in the sticks learning what a car will do
At the time I thought I "hooned" or was some sort of young gentleman sporting motorist, but with hindsight I probably wasn't. Okay, I wasn't.
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