I suppose it was always going to happen…
I suppose it was always going to happen…
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Discussion

FlyingPanda

Original Poster:

672 posts

120 months

Sunday 12th March 2023
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Had a very unusual experience yesterday, that I don’t think has happened to me since 1979 when I had L-plates on.

There I was, making progress on a nice stretch of NSL road, when - and I can scarcely believe I am writing this - someone overtook me. Nothing wild and reckless, smartly done in a newish Golf GTI, but it rattled me. I was ALWAYS the fastest guy on the road, they must be really cracking on, and then I looked down and realised I was doing about 50mph.

When did that happen? When did I reach the age when I stopped driving everywhere like my hair’s on fire? When did I become one of those annoying old pootlers that sit at 50 on a perfectly good stretch of NSL?

Proper shook me up it did.

Cliftonite

8,749 posts

168 months

Sunday 12th March 2023
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Welcome to the autumn of your years!

It is worse when the overtaker is in a nondescript car!

Or a truck!

(I have seen, but not experienced, the latter)!

The spinner of plates

18,084 posts

230 months

Sunday 12th March 2023
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Ha, happens to us all.

I recently took the backroads early Sunday morning to pick someone up from the airport. Was in the daily driver, so happy to just amble along with the radio on. Twice I was over taken.

Firstly by a very clean looking 2001 Subaru Impreza and then by a gaggle of bikers. Both time I took pleasure in backing off a bit to wave them pass at the next overtaking spot, both times getting a gesture of thanks.

Cold

16,729 posts

120 months

Sunday 12th March 2023
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I hope you flashed your headlights and shook your fist at the young hooligan.

Giantt

957 posts

66 months

Sunday 12th March 2023
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ALWAYS the fastest guy on the road? Stirling Moss posting from beyond the grave?

Riley Blue

23,205 posts

256 months

Sunday 12th March 2023
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Sorry I startled you, I was on my way to collect my pension.

jet_noise

6,099 posts

212 months

Sunday 12th March 2023
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Cliftonite said:
Welcome to the autumn of your years!

It is worse when the overtaker is in a nondescript car!

Or a truck!

(I have seen, but not experienced, the latter)!
I was once overtaken by a pushbike!
Hairpin bendy road in Spain, think Bealach na Ba but with sunshine, sheddy Seat Marbella hire car, tourist bimbling. And downhill. smile

Mouse Rat

2,104 posts

122 months

Sunday 12th March 2023
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I remember getting overtaken once. It was an Audi v8 but shook me up, like the time I realised I was listened to Radio 2.

brillomaster

1,883 posts

200 months

Sunday 12th March 2023
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Nope, still young, still the fastest thing on the road. Just been out for a spirited drive, enjoying the upper reaches of my flat 6 engine.

Tried radio 2 a while back... good for a while, then something ancient from the 70s came on and i was like, no. Back to radio 1.

911Spanker

3,708 posts

46 months

Sunday 12th March 2023
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I am getting to be an old bugger but still drive the doorhandles off anything I can.

Snow and Rocks

3,444 posts

57 months

Sunday 12th March 2023
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Those proclaiming to always be the fastest car on the road obviously haven't spent much time driving around rural Northern Scotland.

Even when you think you're absolutely flying along, a local nutcase, usually driving something completely inappropriate, will carry some extra speed through a series of corners and waft past before casually disappearing into the distance.

Best one I can remember was a friend taking me out in his new 996 4s and making pretty decent progress out towards the Lecht pass in Aberdeenshire. Out of nowhere came a ratty looking Transit connect - we obviously easily kept up on the straights but, to my entertainment, through the corners he quickly disappeared.

Panamax

9,921 posts

64 months

Sunday 12th March 2023
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The reality of modern motoring is people who have a driving licence that's not full of points are the ones who've slowed down.

You may have noticed the rozzers do their nicking in "easy" places. They simply don't need to nick drivers in dangerous places - give the drivers a few points at the easy places and most of them will soon get the message. 38 in a 30 on an empty dual carriageway? You're a sitting duck.

donkmeister

13,014 posts

130 months

Sunday 12th March 2023
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Snow and Rocks said:
Those proclaiming to always be the fastest car on the road obviously haven't spent much time driving around rural Northern Scotland.
I read it as a tongue in cheek statement rather than a proclamation that he scared some Italians after hitching a lift then being asked to drive their car biggrin Anyway, isn't every road in Scotland covered by speed cameras with the promise of a solid pegging off Sturgeon if you go 0.000001mph over?

OP, no shame in it if you are facilitating overtakes. The worst thing is when followed by a tailgater who absolutely will not overtake you despite clearly wanting to go faster and being waved past on every clear straight.

PastelNata

4,419 posts

230 months

Sunday 12th March 2023
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jet_noise said:
I was once overtaken by a pushbike!
Hairpin bendy road in Spain, think Bealach na Ba but with sunshine, sheddy Seat Marbella hire car, tourist bimbling. And downhill. smile
I've done over 100km/h on my road bike many times in Majorca downhill. Long winding descents are lovely on a bicycle.

motco

17,649 posts

276 months

Sunday 12th March 2023
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Try driving a 24kWh Nissan Leaf! You drive as sedately as possible in order than you will have enough charge left to get home again!

jet_noise

6,099 posts

212 months

Sunday 12th March 2023
quotequote all
Snow and Rocks said:
Those proclaiming to always be the fastest car on the road obviously haven't spent much time driving around rural Northern Scotland.

Even when you think you're absolutely flying along, a local nutcase, usually driving something completely inappropriate, will carry some extra speed through a series of corners and waft past before casually disappearing into the distance.

Best one I can remember was a friend taking me out in his new 996 4s and making pretty decent progress out towards the Lecht pass in Aberdeenshire. Out of nowhere came a ratty looking Transit connect - we obviously easily kept up on the straights but, to my entertainment, through the corners he quickly disappeared.
Red van man. Or posties as they're otherwise known smile

B'stard Child

31,146 posts

276 months

Sunday 12th March 2023
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Riley Blue said:
Sorry I startled you, I was on my way to collect my pension.
hehe

Randy Winkman

22,617 posts

219 months

Sunday 12th March 2023
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The thing I used to do that I wouldn't now is overtaking people going straight on at roundabouts. When we are both going straight on I mean. And I don't mean in a jam or on a great big M-way junction roundabout. I mean in the suburbs on a B-road when I'd calculated there was just about an opportunity to get one car further ahead. "Why bother?" is my attitude to that now?

littleredrooster

6,412 posts

226 months

Sunday 12th March 2023
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Whilst in Italy spectating on the Mille Miglia, I was overtaken on the Raticosa (sp?) Pass by an impatient Italian housewife in a Panda. Although, in my defence, I only had 248bhp under my right foot...

Short Grain

3,435 posts

250 months

Sunday 12th March 2023
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[quote= FlyingGoundedPanda]Had a very unusual experience yesterday, that I don’t think has happened to me since 1979 when I had L-plates on.

There I was, making progress on a nice stretch of NSL road, when - and I can scarcely believe I am writing this - someone overtook me. Nothing wild and reckless, smartly done in a newish Golf GTI, but it rattled me. I was ALWAYS the fastest guy on the road, they must be really cracking on, and then I looked down and realised I was doing about 50mph.

When did that happen? When did I reach the age when I stopped driving everywhere like my hair’s on fire? When did I become one of those annoying old pootlers that sit at 50 on a perfectly good stretch of NSL?

Proper shook me up it did.
[/quote]

You might want to think of a name change! wink