M25 Fastest Lap
Discussion
jammy_basturd said:
Again, could be hearsay but I'm sure I've read somewhere that they have to be type approved for one speed i.e. if the gantry sign says 50 but the camera behind it is only set up for 40, then it will not be active?
No, that is also not true. The camera on the rear of the gantry is behind the speed limit sign at the front of the gantry and is therefore measuring speed within the variable speed limit. If you go under a sign that says 40 and you are doing 50 then you can expect a ticket...simonrockman said:
There was a radio4 programme about doing the M25 in under an hour. I don't think it came to a conclusion.
I remember hearing that broadcast too. Vaguely remember that the "race" started at South Mimms service station and some people were able to do laps around the 50 minute mark.ETA. James May was presenting it I think.
ETA (again) It was called "Speed, Greed and the M25" and was broadcast in Feb 2008.
bbc website said:
James May uncovers the secret history of the M25 Road Race and looks back at the greed of the late 1980s as Porsche-driving city traders indulged in illegal contests of speed.
Edited by Snoggledog on Friday 12th September 12:14
john_r said:
jammy_basturd said:
Exactly.
1. A friend of mine, a traffic cop in South London, confirmed to me that the cameras are only on when the gantry signs are lit up. They also kindly informed me when the M20 variable speed limit cameras went live.
2. Another 'friend' of mine, who often drives my cars should have received several tickets in the past few years.
This is just heresay, but I'm sure I've read that the type approval for those camera systems only allows them to be on when the gantry signs are on. Just like the average speed cameras on motorways type approval only allows them to monitor one lane at a time, so you can switch lanes between pairs of cameras...
As I said, my friend project managed the communications links for the new digital cameras that are now active all the time. So I think you're friend the 'traffic cop' is either very misinformed, or wants you to get caught?. 1. A friend of mine, a traffic cop in South London, confirmed to me that the cameras are only on when the gantry signs are lit up. They also kindly informed me when the M20 variable speed limit cameras went live.
2. Another 'friend' of mine, who often drives my cars should have received several tickets in the past few years.
This is just heresay, but I'm sure I've read that the type approval for those camera systems only allows them to be on when the gantry signs are on. Just like the average speed cameras on motorways type approval only allows them to monitor one lane at a time, so you can switch lanes between pairs of cameras...
Motor Lawyers Blog:
http://www.blog.motorlawyers.co.uk/2008/02/07/m25-...
What Car:
http://www.whatcar.co.uk/news-article.aspx?NA=2308...
MSN:
http://cars.uk.msn.com/News/car_news_article.aspx?...
I could go on with another 100 or so links, but you get the idea!
I did it in 1 hour 9 minutes, clockwise, in an XR3i in the early nineties (dont remember exactly when). I was seriously p***ed off that I didnt average 100 mph. This was in the days before any cameras.
Of course, the above could be BS as I wouldnt dream of speeding
Of course, the above could be BS as I wouldnt dream of speeding
Edited by Slikk on Friday 12th September 12:39
Snoggledog said:
bbc website said:
James May uncovers the secret history of the M25 Road Race and looks back at the greed of the late 1980s as Porsche-driving city traders indulged in illegal contests of speed.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MidNight_Club
109 Bob said:
eharding said:
LittleBro said:
Markh said:
Rocket Pepper said:
Was gassing with a friend today and we somehow got around to mentioning the quickest lap of the M25. It seems like a distant memory and I couldn't remember any numbers of course. Just curious. People still don't try for it do they? Surely not?
could be wrong but somewhere at the back of my brain I thought it was done in 1hr 6mins, could just be b
ks thoughmickken said:
Speaking to Maxamillion, who runs Gumball (and is a prick) he reckoned that several Gumballers did the 2004 Paris to Marbella leg of the rally in under 10 hours. 1150 miles. Kim Schmitz and Lonman did it in 8.5 hours. We questioned it at the time, but apparently it is a fact, 135mph average speed over 1150 miles!
Hardly credible in Germany, never mind France and Spain.Do the math.
Factor in 15 minutes every two hours for fuel / food / etc
and the rest of the world getting in your way while
you are cruising at 150 mph or more in a 80 mph or
a 75 mph country.
dcb said:
Hardly credible in Germany, never mind France and Spain.
Do the math.
Factor in 15 minutes every two hours for fuel / food / etc
and the rest of the world getting in your way while
you are cruising at 150 mph or more in a 80 mph or
a 75 mph country.
At first glance I'd be inclined to agree but you have to remember that Lonman is crazy. I've cruised at over 100mph for several hundred miles across France with very little interruption from traffic. My average speed, including stops, was 85ish. Do the math.
Factor in 15 minutes every two hours for fuel / food / etc
and the rest of the world getting in your way while
you are cruising at 150 mph or more in a 80 mph or
a 75 mph country.
If I had been in a 200mph+ capable car like his old GT2 and wasn't afraid of crashing I have no doubt that I could have maintained a 150mph cruising speed. I'm not sure I could do it for 8.5 hours straight but he might well have.
eharding said:
Indeed. An enlightened government would take the spirit of the TT to heart, and designate 5 days a year when the motorway was closed for civil transport, and to be used purely for road racing - the first four days open to public participation - culminating with a 24 endurance race around the M25. Yes, it might be a bit of a pain in the arse for commuters, but said enlightened government would see to it all five days were bank holidays.
Has anyone pointed out how boring that would be? Flat out around a near constant curve. They'd love it in the the States, I'm sure.
Anyway, every time i get on the M25 it's a race, who needs to have it shut down. Lots more fun with traffic.
dcb said:
mickken said:
Speaking to Maxamillion, who runs Gumball (and is a prick) he reckoned that several Gumballers did the 2004 Paris to Marbella leg of the rally in under 10 hours. 1150 miles. Kim Schmitz and Lonman did it in 8.5 hours. We questioned it at the time, but apparently it is a fact, 135mph average speed over 1150 miles!
Hardly credible in Germany, never mind France and Spain.Do the math.
Factor in 15 minutes every two hours for fuel / food / etc
and the rest of the world getting in your way while
you are cruising at 150 mph or more in a 80 mph or
a 75 mph country.
It was very intense, always over 100mph, mostly 130mph and in places over 160mph
an average of 135mph is rubbish, over that distance.
Nowadays I can cover distance in my Audi faster than my Porsche over distance just due to fuel stops, although France is NOT the place to do this now!
john_r said:
im said:
john_r said:
jammy_basturd said:
john_r said:
Baby Huey said:
dugt said:
you know theres lots of speed cameras
but i suppose 3 in the mornign you could do most of it at 70
not sure what that works out as
whats the current record?
doug
The speed cameras only operate if the display above the gantry is showing less than 70mph.but i suppose 3 in the mornign you could do most of it at 70
not sure what that works out as
whats the current record?
doug
but would you take the chance???
doug
dugt said:
john_r said:
im said:
john_r said:
jammy_basturd said:
john_r said:
Baby Huey said:
dugt said:
you know theres lots of speed cameras
but i suppose 3 in the mornign you could do most of it at 70
not sure what that works out as
whats the current record?
doug
The speed cameras only operate if the display above the gantry is showing less than 70mph.but i suppose 3 in the mornign you could do most of it at 70
not sure what that works out as
whats the current record?
doug
but would you take the chance???
doug
hairykrishna said:
At first glance I'd be inclined to agree but you have to remember that Lonman is crazy. I've cruised at over 100mph for several hundred miles across France with very little interruption from traffic. My average speed, including stops, was 85ish.
That's credible.I do the Aachen-Alps run a lot in speed limit free Germany, and my average for
the whole run [ running at anything up to 150 mph] is usually
something similar.
hairykrishna said:
If I had been in a 200mph+ capable car like his old GT2 and wasn't afraid of crashing I have no doubt that I could have maintained a 150mph cruising speed. I'm not sure I could do it for 8.5 hours straight but he might well have.
Leaving aside the illegality of cruising at 150 mph in a 75 mph country,I bet the other road users where surprised by his speed. It can't have been
a lot of laughs for them to be suddenly taking part in Formula One speeds.
Add in that any car capable of cruising at 150 mph, like the GT2,
will be stopping every 200 miles or so for more petrol, that's a stop
every one hour twenty minutes or so.
Lonman may be crazy, but his claims still don't look all that
credible to me, unless his GT2 can do 150 mph all day *and* 40 mpg
or so.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff