The magic 'ton up'
Discussion
Makes me feel really old, the first time I saw 100mph on a speedo. Riding my Honda 250ss motorbike wring it neck and chin on the tank the needle flickered onto the magic ton. Of course in reality it was more like 85/90mph, but back in 1968 it felt quick enough. Nowadays it's a everyday norm, not on public roads of course but every car and bike apart from real tiddlers can easily make a ton plus.
When was the first time you saw a ton up and on/in what?
When was the first time you saw a ton up and on/in what?
In my boss's Mazda RX3 Estate sometime in the early 1970s. My company car was the similarly styled 818 estate but his had the rotary engine and was much nippier. I remember it had a buzzer to tell you when you hit the red line as it revved so readily - I can still hear that buzzer, even now... 
Late 70s, my cross country coaches Mk2, well over a ton and I just remember gently purrrring past all the slower moving traffic on the M4.
With me behind the wheel? In my Dolly chasing back across Belgium trying to make the early ferry. I just remember the car being quite happy and still accelerating well past the supposed top speed and the rev counter indicating that the speedo wasn't totally out to lunch.
With me behind the wheel? In my Dolly chasing back across Belgium trying to make the early ferry. I just remember the car being quite happy and still accelerating well past the supposed top speed and the rev counter indicating that the speedo wasn't totally out to lunch.
In my friend Guy's dad's BMW 525, mid 70s so e12. On the long if bumpy straight road between Gillingham and Harewood for this that know it.
He went everywhere flat out (even if only reversing 80yds from his drive to the shop to get cigars) so every trip was eagerly anticipated by the 6/7 yr old me.
Had a soft spot for 6 cyl Bimmers ever since.
He went everywhere flat out (even if only reversing 80yds from his drive to the shop to get cigars) so every trip was eagerly anticipated by the 6/7 yr old me.
Had a soft spot for 6 cyl Bimmers ever since.
My dad's Citroen BX GTi, so probably around 89. He got it up to 115 on a duel carriageway to "show" a BMW driver who had long since turned off down a side road. The thing was shaking all over the place.
With me driving it would be on the ride back after I bought my Triumph Thruxton. Can't get a cafe racer without joining the ton-up club, now, can you?
I don't think I ever went above 100 when I had my Porsche.
With me driving it would be on the ride back after I bought my Triumph Thruxton. Can't get a cafe racer without joining the ton-up club, now, can you?
I don't think I ever went above 100 when I had my Porsche.
Elva Courier coupe on the Halnaker straight not far from Goodwood. I would have thought it would be about 1964 or so. I was stuffed in the back of the car, my brother was in the front with his friend Colin who was driving. Colin used to be loaned cars by Richard Wrottesley I think this was one of them. I drove along the same road on the way back from the Goodwood Supercar breakfast meeting the other day and couldn't believe that we could possibly have done 100mph on it. It has, I think, very much become overgrown. On my own? I suspect when I was testing cars for Autosport in the seventies; maybe a Samuri SuperSam (before it broke a front disc) or even a Triumph Dolly Sprint. It wasn't such a milestone and maybe not so memorable.
1980 in a 1970 Vauxhall Victor. It was my mate's Dad's car, he borrowed it for a wee trip and he got it up to around 80mph on the local 'fast straight' with me and another 3 mates egging him on to go faster. He got annoyed with us and challenged me to have a go if I thought I could do any better. I accepted the challenge and after a few wobbles and what seemed to be a lifetime of acceleration we saw the speedo creep up to and hit the magic 100. I still remember the unshakeable grin on my face caused by a mix of joy, fear and excitement.
Edited by brrapp on Tuesday 6th June 23:00
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