What is your relationship with "Speed"?
Discussion
Every since I was young I have wanted to go fast. As a young child I spent most of my first six years with my legs strapped to metal calipers to help straighten out my knees which at the time pointed in the wrong direction. Within six weeks of them coming off I was the fastest kid in school. I then went on to compete at the highest level in national 100m and 200m events, I have going fast every since.
In my teens, I became a speed skater and I still carry today the scars of many a high-speed crash. As a 56-year-old now I am still regarded as the fastest snowboarder in my peer group.
Over the years I have driven many a fast car, from a dragster capable of running in the eights to various supercars and track based cars. Each experience of speed has left me with the kind of high that I suspect you could only normally get from hard drugs. Each environment be it a kart track, race track or road brings its own nuances to the experience, even watching things go fast elicits an excitement in me that I can't find anywhere else. To me, speed matters and I cant see that feeling going away anytime soon.
So what is your relationship with speed and how would you define it?
In my teens, I became a speed skater and I still carry today the scars of many a high-speed crash. As a 56-year-old now I am still regarded as the fastest snowboarder in my peer group.
Over the years I have driven many a fast car, from a dragster capable of running in the eights to various supercars and track based cars. Each experience of speed has left me with the kind of high that I suspect you could only normally get from hard drugs. Each environment be it a kart track, race track or road brings its own nuances to the experience, even watching things go fast elicits an excitement in me that I can't find anywhere else. To me, speed matters and I cant see that feeling going away anytime soon.
So what is your relationship with speed and how would you define it?
I just love a good adrenaline rush.
When I was younger, I had quad bikes and spent time on MX tracks jumping them and everything.
That then transitioned onto downhill mountain biking.
Always give a car I'm in a little test to see how it goes and to get that fuzzy feeling.
Now living in London, so access to mountains is limited and I don't own a car, so started playing rugby again just for the rush,
I love it!
When I was younger, I had quad bikes and spent time on MX tracks jumping them and everything.
That then transitioned onto downhill mountain biking.
Always give a car I'm in a little test to see how it goes and to get that fuzzy feeling.
Now living in London, so access to mountains is limited and I don't own a car, so started playing rugby again just for the rush,
I love it!
Quite happy to hit high speeds on a motorbike but not so keen on it in cars.
Overall, I get a bigger buzz from acceleration than outright speed.
Having said that, a hobby I enjoy immensely is 4WD trials which generally take place at less than walking pace; so... the answer is I suppose, it depends.
Overall, I get a bigger buzz from acceleration than outright speed.
Having said that, a hobby I enjoy immensely is 4WD trials which generally take place at less than walking pace; so... the answer is I suppose, it depends.
kambites said:
Rawwr said:
I just see speed as a byproduct to enjoyable driving and riding. .
Same for me, and an unfortunate byproduct at that. For me he holy grail sports car is one which feels very fast but actually goes slowly. Toltec said:
kambites said:
Rawwr said:
I just see speed as a byproduct to enjoyable driving and riding. .
Same for me, and an unfortunate byproduct at that. For me he holy grail sports car is one which feels very fast but actually goes slowly. Having to jump between an MGF and a 4x4, I do notice a difference in the sensation of speed. Crashing along at 25mph in the MGF (perhaps I need to pay more council tax?) feels crazily fast with your arse about 6 inches off the ground (knackered hydragas) compared to the relative ease of drifting along at 35mph in the 4x4.
I used to think absolute speed was great, now I see it largely as risk and the inverse of time (i.e. driving faster = getting there quicker).
Speed by itself isn't exciting, acceleration (hence force on the body) and the sensation of being on the edge of control is exciting. Somewhat inherent to the concept of being on the edge is the likelyhood of crossing that edge at some point and the consequences of doing so define whether I enjoy it or not. At serious speed in cars that means death, life changing injury and/or massive expense, consequently I never push it near the edge hence it's never that exciting.
I get more speed thrills from sailing dinghies in a bit of a blow (reaching <20mph) than I do driving a powerboat at 40mph, a car at 100mph or being in a plane at 600mph. Doing that you're always on the ragged edge of control, skimming the surface of the water, testing both brain and body, half a second and a single mistake from flipping over. Also skiing, I'm fairly rubbish so it's often possible for me to push right to the limits of my ability with the consequences being an embarrasing tumble rather than immediate death or hospitalisation, this makes it more exhilarating than a car would ever be.
Basically if the consequences are relatively benign when you do lose control then you can push it harder and closer to the edge which is inherently more exciting, i.e. often going slow is more exciting than going fast.
Speed by itself isn't exciting, acceleration (hence force on the body) and the sensation of being on the edge of control is exciting. Somewhat inherent to the concept of being on the edge is the likelyhood of crossing that edge at some point and the consequences of doing so define whether I enjoy it or not. At serious speed in cars that means death, life changing injury and/or massive expense, consequently I never push it near the edge hence it's never that exciting.
I get more speed thrills from sailing dinghies in a bit of a blow (reaching <20mph) than I do driving a powerboat at 40mph, a car at 100mph or being in a plane at 600mph. Doing that you're always on the ragged edge of control, skimming the surface of the water, testing both brain and body, half a second and a single mistake from flipping over. Also skiing, I'm fairly rubbish so it's often possible for me to push right to the limits of my ability with the consequences being an embarrasing tumble rather than immediate death or hospitalisation, this makes it more exhilarating than a car would ever be.
Basically if the consequences are relatively benign when you do lose control then you can push it harder and closer to the edge which is inherently more exciting, i.e. often going slow is more exciting than going fast.
I do like speed and the rush of it, especially when I was a new driver and going fast for the first time was a new thing, it was exciting and back then lots of effort to do. I often say that's the best part of your driving career when it's all new and exciting and it's almost easy and accessible once you get experience and with new cars being so capable. If I had told 17 year old me in my 60bhp 1.4 Astra that I'd be driving something turbocharged and over 280bhp I'd never have believed it. Going quickly in a slow car can be just as fun. You need to learn how to make a slow car go fast before you move on to more powerful cars. It's a step some miss which is a shame as feeling the benefit of the performance increase is great.
These days I still drive quickly and still enjoy going point to point as quickly as I can. I'll still go out for a spin if I have time to or take the long route home. Have done track days in the past but work and life generally gets in the way so haven't for a few years. Need to get back into it
These days I still drive quickly and still enjoy going point to point as quickly as I can. I'll still go out for a spin if I have time to or take the long route home. Have done track days in the past but work and life generally gets in the way so haven't for a few years. Need to get back into it
The explosive energy you get from a car excelarating quickly has always been a buzz for me which is why I got into drag racing at an early age.
On the road, the ability to string a series of corners together at high speed is what I try to aim for now. Most likely this will be in mainland Europe on the less densely populated A roads you tend to get over there
On the road, the ability to string a series of corners together at high speed is what I try to aim for now. Most likely this will be in mainland Europe on the less densely populated A roads you tend to get over there
Gad-Westy said:
Toltec said:
kambites said:
Rawwr said:
I just see speed as a byproduct to enjoyable driving and riding. .
Same for me, and an unfortunate byproduct at that. For me he holy grail sports car is one which feels very fast but actually goes slowly. Speed on it's own is a bit boring, it needs to be closely related to the environment for fun. 60mph on a twisty A/B road is far more fun than 100mph on a straight motorway. As a biker I'm firmly of the belief that if you can do more than 80mph or so you're on the wrong road.
15mph on a mountain bike on a twisty woodland track is more exciting than any speed I'm likely to achieve cycling on the road.
15mph on a mountain bike on a twisty woodland track is more exciting than any speed I'm likely to achieve cycling on the road.
Gad-Westy said:
Yeah, I kind of fall into that camp though I have to say I hate speed if it's not me in control. Can't stand being a passenger in a car driven quickly. Dislike flying. Not likely to be found in a queue for Alton Towers. But I love driving fast, be it cars, karts, boats, whatever. Rarely drive quickly on the road nowadays though.
I feel exactly the same way as you! As a child I found roller coasters absolutely terrifying - I wouldn't go on them. Too fast, too scary...didn't understand how people found them exciting. I thought I was a bit of a wuss. Still not massively keen on them if I'm honest, although I will go on them. However, years later when I did my first trackday, I discovered that the sensation of going incredibly fast whilst being in control of that speed was the most amazing feeling of all. It wasn't the speed itself that I hated, it was the lack of control...having those pedals and steering wheels in front of me made all the difference.
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