The unexpected but brilliant hoon

[Ekona]

So last night I had an amazing, but completely unexpected hoon in a car and conditions that really weren't compatible.

Long story short I had to transport my 84 year old nan across half the county to drop her off at my aunt's for a family emergency. From Braintree to Newmarket, to be specific. Due to having to put her wheelchair and walking devices in, I had to borrow my Mum's Jag XJ, 3.2L of X308 vintage as the boot is bigger than my 911 by some margin.

Anyhoo, the roads were soaking, and the satnav took me the back way via every single country road. It should've been awful: Greasy country lanes, constant rain, a wafting barge and on OAP as a passenger. Instead, it was utterly invigorating.

I was bang-on in the zone concentration wise, and it took masses of effort to keep up a good pace on those roads in that car, whilst trying to keep it smooth to not upset me nan. I loved it, and whilst there were a couple of odd bum clenching moments (mainly through deep puddles!), it was so exhilarating and unexpected that it was one of the best driving experiences I've ever had.


Anyone else ever had an odd combination of car/conditions/roads that led to a superb blat?

[JQ]

Yep. 5am in the Scottish Highlands in my wife's BMW 118d SE. Sat Nav was saying we were 70 mins from the ferry terminal, with the ferry leaving in 40 mins, and it was the only ferry that day. Totally changed my opinion of her car, I had the back drifting out doing stupid speeds and managed to make her cry on more than one occasion. We made it in time, just. Great fun.

[jebus]

Making your wife cry, drifting the crap out of her car to make a ferry and your still alive to tell us about it?

[MC Bodge]

Ekona said:

Anyhoo, the roads were soaking, and the satnav took me the back way via every single country road. It should've been awful: Greasy country lanes, constant rain, a wafting barge and on OAP as a passenger. Instead, it was utterly invigorating.

I was bang-on in the zone concentration wise, and it took masses of effort to keep up a good pace on those roads in that car, whilst trying to keep it smooth to not upset me nan. I loved it, and whilst there were a couple of odd bum clenching moments (mainly through deep puddles!), it was so exhilarating and unexpected that it was one of the best driving experiences I've ever had.

Things that need to be worked at can be more satisfying.

I've discussed it before here

[DKS]

I had a storming session in the GTE the other week, along the Morestead Road from Whickham to Winchester a few months back. It was quite good weather and fairly early on a Saturday. For some reason I was in a silly mood, and decided too see just how much abuse it could take. Given it's been round Castle Combe a lot, I wasn't worried. I think I overtook 6 cars overall, including a sporty looking BMW and an Audi TT with a fancy red badge on the back. I don't think the revs dropped below 4k along the whole road as I know it very well and knew when the overtaking spots were coming up. No-one got arsey, either. No flashing or gesticulating, people seemed to accept I was easily the quicker car that morning, and I was on a mission.
Left me with the adrenalin shakes and a massive grin. Car absolutely loved it, too. I will be sad when it's not possible to do this any more.

[Ray Luxury-Yacht]

DKS said:

I had a storming session in the GTE the other week, along the Morestead Road from Whickham to Winchester a few months back. It was quite good weather and fairly early on a Saturday. For some reason I was in a silly mood, and decided too see just how much abuse it could take. Given it's been round Castle Combe a lot, I wasn't worried. I think I overtook 6 cars overall, including a sporty looking BMW and an Audi TT with a fancy red badge on the back. I don't think the revs dropped below 4k along the whole road as I know it very well and knew when the overtaking spots were coming up. No-one got arsey, either. No flashing or gesticulating, people seemed to accept I was easily the quicker car that morning, and I was on a mission.
Left me with the adrenalin shakes and a massive grin. Car absolutely loved it, too. I will be sad when it's not possible to do this any more.

One of my local routes too

You did well to overtake 6 cars on that road though - there are only a few very small straights that facilitate a clean pass - and sod's law dictates that I usually fly up behind a slow vehicle right in the middle of the twisties...also, as you say, it's difficult to make a nice clean pass, without having to pull back in quickly and / or shower the overtaken car behind with gravel and NOT get the high beams / coffee shake


Back on topic:

I had one of these unexpected / brilliant hoons in similar circumstances a while ago.

I had to go from my place up to the North of Wales to collect some car bits I had bought on ebay. I also took my 80 year old Mum for the ride.

I had budgeted on a particular amount of time to do the journey there and back - however, upon coming across the brilliant, empty and amazingly well-sighted mountain roads of Wales, the whole trip took rather less time than I expected and Mum loved it too, heheheh!

[DKS]

Well to be fair I think 3 where on the long straight uphill section just after the 40 limit stretch that I dubbed 'Win Straight' as it's normally possible to bag a few dawdlers there (it's on my commute to work, too).

[Ray Luxury-Yacht]

DKS said:

Well to be fair I think 3 where on the long straight uphill section just after the 40 limit stretch that I dubbed 'Win Straight' as it's normally possible to bag a few dawdlers there (it's on my commute to work, too).

Tee-hee-hee...which bit is that? The straight that goes down and up the valley just after the Cheriton crossroads?

Am well jealous that this is your commuting road!

[rowanxx]

I'm assuming you're talking about the bit just past the bus stop, where a scameraman likes to hide!

[Leins]

Another one here running badly behind for a ferry a few years ago, driving the living hell out of a fully-laden 335d from Chester down to Fishguard. Bit stressful but great fun all the same, and somehow I managed to make the boat

[CB2152]

Some of the roads on the way to Abbott Racing were fantastic, and was good fun making considerable progress down them after a 200 mile journey in my previous 9-3 Aero. It was even more fun in the courtesy car they gave me, which was a GM900 2.0 non turbo with a sports exhaust and smaller wheels.
It sounded great, I was able to use more throttle more of the time, and the ride was considerably smoother.

It's also better when they're not your tyres...