Organised drive outs/hoons
Discussion
10p short - your thread is here!!!
I've been on many hoons over the years, and on the whole, most have been fairly uneventful in that respect, mishaps usually just involve a puncture or other self inflicted damage to cars, or people simply getting lost.
Three events stand out for me.
1. I was once following a PHer who was driving a VX220, when we went through the aftermath of a burst water main, which caused his car to go into a spin, straight off the road into some bushes. He was OK, the car wasn't too good.
2. On a briskoda meet, someone went rather too fast over a "hump" and this resulted in a broken sump = oil all over road = car got trailered off.
3. I was in a convoy of 3 cars, I was the middle car, following a PHer in a Caterham, and another PHer following me in a Golf GTI. We were all "making progress", unfortunately we went past a police van at a fairly high speed. We were unaware that he followed us and eventually caught us up. We were all issued with 3 points and a £60 fine, and given S59 seizure warnings. A bit harsh, I thought, given the circumstances, but plod clearly didn't agree.
I've been on many hoons over the years, and on the whole, most have been fairly uneventful in that respect, mishaps usually just involve a puncture or other self inflicted damage to cars, or people simply getting lost.
Three events stand out for me.
1. I was once following a PHer who was driving a VX220, when we went through the aftermath of a burst water main, which caused his car to go into a spin, straight off the road into some bushes. He was OK, the car wasn't too good.
2. On a briskoda meet, someone went rather too fast over a "hump" and this resulted in a broken sump = oil all over road = car got trailered off.
3. I was in a convoy of 3 cars, I was the middle car, following a PHer in a Caterham, and another PHer following me in a Golf GTI. We were all "making progress", unfortunately we went past a police van at a fairly high speed. We were unaware that he followed us and eventually caught us up. We were all issued with 3 points and a £60 fine, and given S59 seizure warnings. A bit harsh, I thought, given the circumstances, but plod clearly didn't agree.
I don't like them - they seem dangerous to me, in some circumstances.
E.g. if you don't know the route then you have to follow the guy in front. But you're all in different cars with different abilities as a driver and different attitudes to risk. As such it can sometimes put you out of your comfort zone to keep up. There's too much added pressure in this respect IMO as the guy behind is following you too.
This can be mitigated in several ways, all which mean you don't have to worry about keeping up with the guy in front:
1 A route map
2 Stops/catch ups at each junction
3 Only go with one other car (i.e. a pair of you) and the one in front waits for the one behind
4 Do it on a track
I prefer driving alone or in a pair when out on country roads as the couple of organised drives I've been on didn't feel safe to me. I'm sure there are plenty of fine ones, but they're not for me in my experience.
E.g. if you don't know the route then you have to follow the guy in front. But you're all in different cars with different abilities as a driver and different attitudes to risk. As such it can sometimes put you out of your comfort zone to keep up. There's too much added pressure in this respect IMO as the guy behind is following you too.
This can be mitigated in several ways, all which mean you don't have to worry about keeping up with the guy in front:
1 A route map
2 Stops/catch ups at each junction
3 Only go with one other car (i.e. a pair of you) and the one in front waits for the one behind
4 Do it on a track
I prefer driving alone or in a pair when out on country roads as the couple of organised drives I've been on didn't feel safe to me. I'm sure there are plenty of fine ones, but they're not for me in my experience.
In my incident, there was a Clio meet not too far away from where I live. When we arrived, there must have been 30 or so Clios. On the back of this meet, there were 5 or 6 Honda people in Civics, and another in an Integra the same shape and colour as mine.
I watched the Clios leaving the rendezvous point and told the Honda guys I would be waiting for the Clio lads to disappear before moving on, as it looked like a recipe for disaster.
There was another stop along the way, so when I and the other Honda people arrived there, I told them I wouldn't be joining the rest of the group on the rest of their journey, as the Clio lads had been Kamakahze overtakes, the lot on the way there. Being a fantastic day, and in Penrith, right by the A686, I did offer to take the Honda guys on a run up to Hartside and back. Obviously I lived to regret that one.
I recently took delivery of the full evidence file from the accident, which brought back some memories. What stands out now, is how the witness evidence from the other drivers, groups you all together. At least one of the witnesses describes how a white Integra overtook her badly, that it was R reg and the one in the crash. The other Integra was R reg, not mine.
Another witness describes how she arrived at the accident scene, and told the other Honda drivers they were as much to blame for it as I was (she hadn't even witnessed my accident).
Ironically, my accident was nothing to do with being in a group. I was out of sight of the other drivers with me and had nothing at all to prove. Just them being there though was enough to seriously turn the witness evidence. On that basis alone, I would not want to join a group for a drive again, particularly if it was on a single marque basis.
I watched the Clios leaving the rendezvous point and told the Honda guys I would be waiting for the Clio lads to disappear before moving on, as it looked like a recipe for disaster.
There was another stop along the way, so when I and the other Honda people arrived there, I told them I wouldn't be joining the rest of the group on the rest of their journey, as the Clio lads had been Kamakahze overtakes, the lot on the way there. Being a fantastic day, and in Penrith, right by the A686, I did offer to take the Honda guys on a run up to Hartside and back. Obviously I lived to regret that one.
I recently took delivery of the full evidence file from the accident, which brought back some memories. What stands out now, is how the witness evidence from the other drivers, groups you all together. At least one of the witnesses describes how a white Integra overtook her badly, that it was R reg and the one in the crash. The other Integra was R reg, not mine.
Another witness describes how she arrived at the accident scene, and told the other Honda drivers they were as much to blame for it as I was (she hadn't even witnessed my accident).
Ironically, my accident was nothing to do with being in a group. I was out of sight of the other drivers with me and had nothing at all to prove. Just them being there though was enough to seriously turn the witness evidence. On that basis alone, I would not want to join a group for a drive again, particularly if it was on a single marque basis.
General Madness said:
I assume this was a while ago?
Do I understand correctly that there was nobody else involved? Any injuries?
Thank you for sharing.
10PS had a whole thread on his experience. Biker injured. Time inside. You'll find it if you search back through 10ps's posts.Do I understand correctly that there was nobody else involved? Any injuries?
Thank you for sharing.
Horrible situation for him.
Scrambled said:
General Madness said:
I assume this was a while ago?
Do I understand correctly that there was nobody else involved? Any injuries?
Thank you for sharing.
10PS had a whole thread on his experience. Biker injured. Time inside. You'll find it if you search back through 10ps's posts.Do I understand correctly that there was nobody else involved? Any injuries?
Thank you for sharing.
Horrible situation for him.
Thanks for informing me and 10PS, I am sorry to hear about your situation and I hope all is well now.
Cheers
Dave
Scrambled said:
10PS had a whole thread on his experience. Biker injured. Time inside. You'll find it if you search back through 10ps's posts.
Horrible situation for him.
I remember that thread well. I'm very reluctant to drive in convoy or a group, espeacially with people I don't know. Likewise after an incident on the bikes a couple of years ago (another group of lads asked if they could tag on with our group) which resulted in some very angry car drivers and pos involvement of plod because they were apparently doing some insane overtakes to keep up. Horrible situation for him.
I've organised a number of runs out in the North East, and there are certain ground rules I will always add in. I always discourage PHers from overtaking each other in case it turns in to a pissing contest. I encourage people at the front to wait for people who may be slowed down by other road users, villages, traffic lights etc, and strangers will be vetted to avoid any undesirables tagging along.
It doesn't always work out of course, but most of the time, the runs I've arranged have been succesful and everyone had a good time. They attract families and more mature members and as such, I have no time for boy racers or the like.
I always make sure the route is planned well in advance, and the details given to everyone on the run. Where large numbers are involved, we try to keep the faster drivers at the front and let those who want to drive slower, do so out their own pace.
They absolutely do NOT have to be dangerous, but occasionally you will always get one.
It doesn't always work out of course, but most of the time, the runs I've arranged have been succesful and everyone had a good time. They attract families and more mature members and as such, I have no time for boy racers or the like.
I always make sure the route is planned well in advance, and the details given to everyone on the run. Where large numbers are involved, we try to keep the faster drivers at the front and let those who want to drive slower, do so out their own pace.
They absolutely do NOT have to be dangerous, but occasionally you will always get one.
As part of the local bike group, we do this a few times a year. The difference is that its much more controlled, defined route and with a method of handling junctions etc. It takes a massive load off having to ride to catch up and overall it works really well.
That said, last one I did had someone slip on a corner and another chap fall off at a junction. All OK and a few scratches, but it does remind you that things can happen and its not about hooning around.
Clearly some people have faster and more powerful bikes and will ride quicker, but they certainly dont do it dangerously and its more about arriving at the destination and having a natter as it is riding around.
Car groups and ride outs? I am afraid I wouldnt. Far too many people who dont consider the risks and dangers. Seen it too many times and not worth it. The single car / manufacturer web sites and forums are full of accidents and crashes.
That said, last one I did had someone slip on a corner and another chap fall off at a junction. All OK and a few scratches, but it does remind you that things can happen and its not about hooning around.
Clearly some people have faster and more powerful bikes and will ride quicker, but they certainly dont do it dangerously and its more about arriving at the destination and having a natter as it is riding around.
Car groups and ride outs? I am afraid I wouldnt. Far too many people who dont consider the risks and dangers. Seen it too many times and not worth it. The single car / manufacturer web sites and forums are full of accidents and crashes.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff