RE: Road Racing
Monday 21st October 2002
Road Racing
Road racing is like masturbation says Robert Farago
Discussion
Whilst I'll quite happily confess that to me, practically by definition, making progress means passing other motorists, but I'd not call that racing.
I like to get away from the lights quickly, but that's because I want to make progress and that means avoiding any potential for getting stuck behind the car that is next to me at the red light. That's not racing either.. if the other guy gets ahead of me, I'm only disappointed if he then proceeds to hold me up or drive inconsiderately whilst in front of me. But if he has got ahead of me at the lights, then he's unlikely to be below my preferred pace for the driving conditions.
I don't want to beat anybody - I just want my journey to be as unfettered as possible by people who want to drive more slowly than I. And if I've someone behind me who wants to go faster, I'll let them past.
It's all at being able to drive at my own pace. Which is faster than average, for sure.
I like to get away from the lights quickly, but that's because I want to make progress and that means avoiding any potential for getting stuck behind the car that is next to me at the red light. That's not racing either.. if the other guy gets ahead of me, I'm only disappointed if he then proceeds to hold me up or drive inconsiderately whilst in front of me. But if he has got ahead of me at the lights, then he's unlikely to be below my preferred pace for the driving conditions.
I don't want to beat anybody - I just want my journey to be as unfettered as possible by people who want to drive more slowly than I. And if I've someone behind me who wants to go faster, I'll let them past.
It's all at being able to drive at my own pace. Which is faster than average, for sure.
I can see this one ruffling quite a few feathers.
So Robert try this one on me I gave up my TVR because my kart racing was taking over. I driver a kart on the track and didnt want to drive one to and from.
The karts I drive hit 60mph in 3.5 seconds and go on to 80mph. On the track I race with 28 other drivers, when I get on the road afterwards im tired having vented all my testostorone on the track so I stick the touring into drive (auto) and just waft home on a blanket of soft suspension and sound deadening.
If someone wants to get by me then fine, let the get caught by the speed traps. I have had a fun day out, not only exceeding the speed limit (on track) but racing people as well.
Paul
ps people in glass houses should'nt throw stones
So Robert try this one on me I gave up my TVR because my kart racing was taking over. I driver a kart on the track and didnt want to drive one to and from.
The karts I drive hit 60mph in 3.5 seconds and go on to 80mph. On the track I race with 28 other drivers, when I get on the road afterwards im tired having vented all my testostorone on the track so I stick the touring into drive (auto) and just waft home on a blanket of soft suspension and sound deadening.
If someone wants to get by me then fine, let the get caught by the speed traps. I have had a fun day out, not only exceeding the speed limit (on track) but racing people as well.
Paul
ps people in glass houses should'nt throw stones
I can see this one ruffling quite a few feathers.
So Robert try this one on me I gave up my TVR because my kart racing was taking over. I driver a kart on the track and didnt want to drive one to and from.
The karts I drive hit 60mph in 3.5 seconds and go on to 80mph. On the track I race with 28 other drivers, when I get on the road afterwards im tired having vented all my testostorone on the track so I stick the touring into drive (auto) and just waft home on a blanket of soft suspension and sound deadening.
If someone wants to get by me then fine, let the get caught by the speed traps. I have had a fun day out, not only exceeding the speed limit (on track) but racing people as well.
Paul
ps people in glass houses should'nt throw stones
So Robert try this one on me I gave up my TVR because my kart racing was taking over. I driver a kart on the track and didnt want to drive one to and from.
The karts I drive hit 60mph in 3.5 seconds and go on to 80mph. On the track I race with 28 other drivers, when I get on the road afterwards im tired having vented all my testostorone on the track so I stick the touring into drive (auto) and just waft home on a blanket of soft suspension and sound deadening.
If someone wants to get by me then fine, let the get caught by the speed traps. I have had a fun day out, not only exceeding the speed limit (on track) but racing people as well.
Paul
ps people in glass houses should'nt throw stones
Well, another intentionally provocative article from Mr Farago, but I'll rise to the bait.
Pile of b*llox!
I get a kick out of driving fast. Just me, the car & the road. (Yes this still happens up here in Scotland)
I don't need to overtake anyone to get this pleasure - in fact the less people around the better. When I am driving from A -> B, yes I want to overtake cars that hold me up, but there's no element of racing there. I am happy to let the occasional faster car go by - they can act as police bait if nothing more
Pile of b*llox!
I get a kick out of driving fast. Just me, the car & the road. (Yes this still happens up here in Scotland)
I don't need to overtake anyone to get this pleasure - in fact the less people around the better. When I am driving from A -> B, yes I want to overtake cars that hold me up, but there's no element of racing there. I am happy to let the occasional faster car go by - they can act as police bait if nothing more
His thrust was about road racing, not driving fast. I think the 2 are completely separate things. Sure they're for driving fast, but thats not the same as road racing. I mean how many cars could genuinely race a Tamora for example? - over 99% of cars on the road would get blown away in seconds, so it's not exactly a race, more of an overtaking manouver
spnracing said:
Robert is right of course - cars like TVR's are marketed, designed and sold as fast ROAD cars.
So if you don't want to drive fast on the road - why buy one?
Going back about 20 years ago I had a Pontiac Firebird Trans-Am - 7.4 litres of balanced, blueprinted, V8, straight line swiftness. Nothing was allowed to overtake me (except on corners, where even bicycles could corner faster).
Coming back along the M4 from a trip out one summer day, a 7 series beemer overtakes me. Well I can't have that, can I? So I chased him for miles and miles. I don't know how fast we were going but my petrol consumption went from its normal 7 mpg to about 3 mpg and the speedo went off the clock. She was geared to do 155 mph, which was a bit crazy as it had drum brakes at the back - but I was young and foolish. Anyway, before I could catch him, we ran out of M4 - it used to finish at Port Talbot and you had to go down the off ramp and tootle aroung the town and then pick up the rest of the M4 to Swansea. Slamming the anchors on all the way down the offramp, I could hear about a gallon of fuel pumping into each cylinder. Came to stop at the roundabout with the engine stalled and all cylinders flooded. She wouldn't start again. So I get out and lift the bonnet, and have a delve around. I'm blocking one lane of the exit and every car that I've overtaken on the M4 for the last 30 miles or so is slowly going by in the other lane. God, did I take some abuse! To cap it all I got my girlfried, (now wife), in her white dress, to help push it half way round the roundabout into a lay by. She's never let me forget that.
Road racing; what fun!!!!
>> Edited by ant_f on Monday 21st October 23:22
>> Edited by ant_f on Monday 21st October 23:24
Coming back along the M4 from a trip out one summer day, a 7 series beemer overtakes me. Well I can't have that, can I? So I chased him for miles and miles. I don't know how fast we were going but my petrol consumption went from its normal 7 mpg to about 3 mpg and the speedo went off the clock. She was geared to do 155 mph, which was a bit crazy as it had drum brakes at the back - but I was young and foolish. Anyway, before I could catch him, we ran out of M4 - it used to finish at Port Talbot and you had to go down the off ramp and tootle aroung the town and then pick up the rest of the M4 to Swansea. Slamming the anchors on all the way down the offramp, I could hear about a gallon of fuel pumping into each cylinder. Came to stop at the roundabout with the engine stalled and all cylinders flooded. She wouldn't start again. So I get out and lift the bonnet, and have a delve around. I'm blocking one lane of the exit and every car that I've overtaken on the M4 for the last 30 miles or so is slowly going by in the other lane. God, did I take some abuse! To cap it all I got my girlfried, (now wife), in her white dress, to help push it half way round the roundabout into a lay by. She's never let me forget that.
Road racing; what fun!!!!
>> Edited by ant_f on Monday 21st October 23:22
>> Edited by ant_f on Monday 21st October 23:24
Oh god... please don't hate me ...I'm sooooo sorry..
But I just gotta do it ... Traffic lights go green and...BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARPPPPPPP.
There is nothing better than ghosting down the outside into a roundabout (A505 at Royston will do)dropping down the box, a touch of brake, left, right, left... and NAILING the gas on the way out.....
I am ashamed, I'll go and shave my palms now ...
P
But I just gotta do it ... Traffic lights go green and...BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARPPPPPPP.
There is nothing better than ghosting down the outside into a roundabout (A505 at Royston will do)dropping down the box, a touch of brake, left, right, left... and NAILING the gas on the way out.....
I am ashamed, I'll go and shave my palms now ...
P 
Christ, were you on your way to your wedding then ? Way to go.
Cotty said: I can see this one ruffling quite a few feathers.
So Robert try this one on me I gave up my TVR because my kart racing was taking over. I driver a kart on the track and didnt want to drive one to and from.
The karts I drive hit 60mph in 3.5 seconds and go on to 80mph. On the track I race with 28 other drivers, when I get on the road afterwards im tired having vented all my testostorone on the track so I stick the touring into drive (auto) and just waft home on a blanket of soft suspension and sound deadening.
If someone wants to get by me then fine, let the get caught by the speed traps. I have had a fun day out, not only exceeding the speed limit (on track) but racing people as well.
Paul
ps people in glass houses should'nt throw stones
each to there own then isnt it. i would be bored sh*tless driving around in an automatic estate all week - regardless of kart driving at the weekends.
moleamol said: I don't race, I just drive faster than everyone else, whether that's from the lights or not
Only when conditions permit and it'
Excellent! mine is a modification of that - I go faster, and when I see something that looks like it can go fast, I'll bait 'em a bit to see if they can use it...
The article is about oneupmanship. Who can say they are never tempted?
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