OT: drive across the US in less than 28 hours

[bthornt]

Here's the link: https://www.roadandtrack.com/car-cul...rs-25-minutes/

[DrewK]

Big brass ones!

[robin3mj]

Originally Posted by DrewK

Big brass ones!

And a massive lack of regard for other people’s safety.

[AngryScientist]

i only skimmed the article, but those average speeds and max speeds are crazy.

i guess i sound like someone's boring dad, but 160mph on US highways is out of control stupid.

also, how on earth do you get away with doing something so totally illegal, bragging about it on the internet, along with GPS verified proof and not face legal consequences?

[DeBike]

Will not even bother looking at that.

[R3awak3n]

/\ you missing out. Its a pretty great article.

And although I see peoples point about putting people in danger, I see people putting others in danger every week and they are going the speed limit so this does not bother me a lot, these guys are good drivers and that AMG can go safely at that speed... it was built for that. I don't think people should do this but I am not mad at it.

[sipmeister]

Originally Posted by R3awak3n

/\ you missing out. Its a pretty great article.

And although I see peoples point about putting people in danger, I see people putting others in danger every week and they are going the speed limit so this does not bother me a lot, these guys are good drivers and that AMG can go safely at that speed... it was built for that. I don't think people should do this but I am not mad at it.

Completely agree. These guys know how the drive and the majority of population doesn’t. Real danger is from clueless folks who shouldn’t be behind a wheel in the first place. Love how they disguised that AMG to look like a trusty Honda at first glance.

[C40_guy]

Originally Posted by sipmeister

Completely agree. These guys know how the drive and the majority of population doesn’t. Real danger is from clueless folks who shouldn’t be behind a wheel in the first place. Love how they disguised that AMG to look like a trusty Honda at first glance.

I've spent some time on auto racetracks (HPDE, not competition), and a really curious thing happens when you leave to go home.

Driving down the highway, with traffic, you are highly conscious of the fact that everyone around you is clueless, not paying attention, not watching out for your safety...or theirs.

It's a weird contrast to driving hard on a track, yet feeling safe.

[GregL]

Originally Posted by C40_guy

I've spent some time on auto racetracks (HPDE, not competition), and a really curious thing happens when you leave to go home.

Driving down the highway, with traffic, you are highly conscious of the fact that everyone around you is clueless, not paying attention, not watching out for your safety...or theirs.

It's a weird contrast to driving hard on a track, yet feeling safe.

I had similar experiences during my amateur auto racing days. After driving to my limits on the track, I had no need or desire to drive fast on the street. I think auto racing made me a much safer driver by substantially raising my situational awareness. I looked at every other road user as someone who would unexpectedly put my life and safety at risk. When the unexpected did happen, I nearly always had an escape plan in mind and the skills to execute the plan.

Greg

[C40_guy]

Originally Posted by GregL

I had similar experiences during my amateur auto racing days. After driving to my limits on the track, I had no need or desire to drive fast on the street. I think auto racing made me a much safer driver by substantially raising my situational awareness. I looked at every other road user as someone who would unexpectedly put my life and safety at risk. When the unexpected did happen, I nearly always had an escape plan in mind and the skills to execute the plan.

Greg

Agreed. Those skills are quite useful on the bike too...and I think I (we) probably cultivated them first on our two wheelers.

One of my favorite tracks, by the way, is not far from you.

[GregL]

Originally Posted by C40_guy

One of my favorite tracks, by the way, is not far from you.

Watkins Glen is a blast, on four wheels or two. There was a bike race held there for years. It was my favorite road race of the year, held annually around the summer solstice so that we could race until nearly 9PM. I could usually ride the boot faster than anyone else in my pack based on my auto racing experience. Hit turn 6 just right and you could coast halfway through turn 7 without turning a pedal. I'm the knucklehead on the right, dragging the masters pack down the main straight.

Greg

[72gmc]

^^^ thread drift, but how did you feel about the track surface when you were on a bike? I used to race at SIR (now Pacific Raceway, outside of Seattle). I really enjoyed the twisty parts and the uphill stretches as I was a skinny kid, but it was a downright tire-marble-and-car-fluid-enhanced skating rink in the rain. Of course, the main straight was also a drag strip.

[GregL]

Originally Posted by 72gmc

^^^ thread drift, but how did you feel about the track surface when you were on a bike? I used to race at SIR (now Pacific Raceway, outside of Seattle). I really enjoyed the twisty parts and the uphill stretches as I was a skinny kid, but it was a downright tire-marble-and-car-fluid-enhanced skating rink in the rain. Of course, the main straight was also a drag strip.

Watkins Glen is/was generally smooth for a bike race course. Prior to repaving in 2015-2016, there were a few areas where pavement joints were a bit sketchy. The toe of the boot was the worst since you went in to it at speed and then climbed steeply for a short distance. I had a rear wheel slide out enough in that corner to require some quick bike handling to stay upright. After the new pavement, it was an absolute joy to ride. Smooth, wide, no dogs and no cars!

As you noted, rain was an entirely different experience. The 2015 race was held under intermittent rain showers. The rain stopped around the same time as the first races finished. The first round of races had so many crashes that the second round was delayed 30 minutes to allow all the ambulances to return from the local hospital. When my field was on the start grid, the rain started again. Having driven cars on wet tracks, I warned my teammates to stay on the front and be very careful holding their lines. As we finished lap one, I heard that terrible combination of sounds that meant a big crash behind me. A lap later, I found out one of my teammates had hit the deck hard and was on his way to the hospital. Fortunately, he was not seriously injured - just the "usual" broken collarbone. We all ended up at the hospital checking on our injured friend. Nearly every bed in the emergency room was occupied by a bike racer...

Greg

[Ken Robb]

Originally Posted by c40_guy

i've spent some time on auto racetracks (hpde, not competition), and a really curious thing happens when you leave to go home.

Driving down the highway, with traffic, you are highly conscious of the fact that everyone around you is clueless, not paying attention, not watching out for your safety...or theirs.

It's a weird contrast to driving hard on a track, yet feeling safe.

amen!

[gasman]

Okay it's really dumb but the first "race " was when I was in H.S. in '71 and a buddy and I poured over Car and Driver every month. Brock Yates wrote for the magazine and he was very entertaining.

He's his article from a later race:

https://www.cottonowens.com/archives/Cannonball_Run.php

Yates knew it was dumb and pulled the plug on it when when it was gaining popularity before something bad happened, like dying.

I'm amazed these guys made such a fast time. Lots of inside info, luck and planning. Plus, one heck of a car.