Would you drive your Strat like these guys?

[Jeff Davison]

These guys are F*****G NUTTS but probably the best drivers in the whole world

http://www.randyzimmer.com/video/music_videos/wrc-high.wmv
http://www.randyzimmer.com/video/music_videos/wrc-2002.wmv
http://www.corc-rally.org/images/cars2001.wmv

By the way there 19MB 13MB & 11MB respectively, High bandwidth
So you either need a good connection or download them first.

[JohnB_SPY8808053]

Yes - except (hopefully) for the bits that involved collisions, rolls, fires or nasty mechanical failures. Well, I'd try anyway.

This makes me wonder - what is the most extreme thing you guys have ever done in a car?

John B.

[Jeff Davison]

"IN" a car or "WITH" a car?

;)



Jeff

[mogul_x]

Originally posted by JohnB_SPY8808053
This makes me wonder - what is the most extreme thing you guys have ever done in a car?

I don't know if this qualifies as extreme, but I'd classify it as "felony stupid":rolleyes:

Back in high school, my friends and I used to play what we called "road games". This was usually on Friday and Saturday nights, on public roads, between the hours of midnight and 3am. There'd be perhaps a dozen of us, in four or five cars, and we'd usually play one of two games - "the chase", or "breakneck"

"Breakneck" actually wasn't that bad. It was just a high speed run. We called it "breakneck", because we only did it on "Breakneck Road" which was a very hilly, mostly straight road that ran through some woods near where I lived. (By the way - the name of the road really is "Breakneck" - that's not a nickname) The object was just to see how fast you could go.

The speed limit was 50 mph. At about 65 mph, most cars started to get light over the crests of hills. At around 75, some were getting airborne. I regularly drove it at 90 mph. In fact, if you rode in my car, 90 mph was the minimum speed to be admitted into the "breakneck at 90" club. My '73 Chevy Nova (which I still own) would get a fair amount of "hang time" at that speed.

The fastest I ever drove on Breakneck Road was an indicated 120 mph. I don't know what the actual speed was, beacause I don't think the speedomenter was very accurate. I know it read low compared to my friends' newer cars. At any rate, it seemed like we were airborne for a couple of seconds over most of the hills. And the landings were really hard. Actually saw sparks trailing behind the car a couple of times, and thought I'd taken the oil pan off once.

"The chase" was by far the more dangerous of the two games. This was a derivative of "bumper tag" The object of the game depended on whether you were leading or following. The chasers' object was to trap the lead car in such a way that it could not continue moving. (i.e., corner it in a cul-de-sac, surround it with the chasing cars). The leader, of course, had only to evade capture. The game ended when the lead car was trapped, or managed to outrun the pursuers. This was especially stupid, bacause even though the speeds were rarely above 50 mph, we played this game in residential areas - after all, where else are you going to find cul-de-sacs and dead-end streets? :eek:

There were a couple of incidents I remember from "the chase", both when I was the lead car. One of them was a time when I almost rolled the car. I was trying to outrun my pursuers, and made a sharp, left hand turn up a side street. It was probably a 100 degree bend, and the street I turned onto was steeply uphill. I didn't think much of it at the time, but the guy sitting in the passenger seat (my "spotter") told me that all he could see out of the side of the car was tarmac. The driver of the car immediately behind me said that the two inside wheels of my car were completely off the ground, and though for sure I was going to end up on my roof.

The other incident wasn't as exciting. I was in the lead, and had accidentally gotten chased into a housing development I wasn't familiar with. I ended up going down a cul-de-sac, but realized it quickly enough to turn around and get out before I could get blocked in. I went down another street, and the same thing happened. This time, my pursuers were close enough that I passed them on the way out. On a third try - I picked another cul-de-sac. This time, the chasers were right behind me, and one of them started moving into the other lane to block my exit. To evade them, I hit the brakes, threw the car into reverse, and narrowly avoided sideswiping a parked car and one of the pursuers. I continued reversing into the intersection, swung the front of the car around, and took off running. My "spotter" told me that, in an attempt to follow, two of the chasing cars nearly hit each other. The third, trying to duplicate my maneuver, ended up driving onto somebody's front lawn, mowing down some bushes in the process.

Of course, we'd always arrange to meet at some pre-dermined place in the event that the lead car got away. Usually some "greasy spoon" diner that was open all night. If we had only 2 or 3 cars, we'd just play bumper tag. In case anyone hasn't heard of that, it's basically the same - except that the chasing car actually has to make contact with the lead car in order to win.

Sometimes, there is an advantage to those big, ugly chrome bumpers typical to '70's Detroit Iron :D

Believe me, I'm not making this up, or even embellishing. Bear in mind that I was 17 at the time, and as such felt I was both invulnerable, and a much more talented driver than I really was (or am). I'm lucky not to have gotten into a serious accident.

Of course, I'm sure these are pretty tame compared to some of the things the rest have done. I can't wait to hear other's stories.

[chris.richard]

Yes, if I didn't pick up the repair bill!

[squidix9]

Been there...done that

http://members.verizon.net/~vze4phja/images/stpr81_1.jpg

Also I have been crewing for Randy, we live quite near each other.

I should have the new rally car fixed by theis spring, and am going to be competing once again.

http://members.verizon.net/~vze4phja/images/blur.jpg

[Stratos]

Mark,

That is a fabulous picture. Really captures the essence of the sport.

What's the spec on the Audi?

[squidix9]

It's a car you would have seen over in your neck of the wood's a few years back. It's a works 90Q run by Gemini/Shell. It was driven by Andrew Wood,Chris Wagner, and also by Jimmy McRae. It came to the states a couple of years ago, and competed here, before I bought it.

For the most part it's an S1 with a 90 shell. It was one of 4 built, this one a non-turbo to meet GpA spec's at the time.

I've never had the opportunity to drive a Gp4 Stratos, but I can tell you this car is one heck of a ride!

There are a few pics located here.

Quattro Pictures (http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/users/33772.phtml)

[Matt No VAT]

I'm glad I'm not the only one who thought that "I am invincible" when 18 and behind the wheel. I'm a tad jealous of Scott though as the States has far more open space where you can have some fun in a car.

I once made a trip from Reading to Windsor (approx 20 miles) on a friday starting at 16:50 and we arrived in Windsor at 17:10 despite the rush hour.

What I didn't know at the time (but do now) is that its illegal to tailgate emergency vehicles while they are on a call with the "blues and two's" going.

I thought something may have up at the time as my passenger, who had a fair amount of trust in me and my driving, informed me that some of the fire crew on board the tender were hanging out of the windows gesticulating at me, and pointing to the front of my car.

General consensus inside my car was that they were trying to get my number plate so they could report me. No problem, just meant that I had to close the diustance between me and the truck, and drive approx 8 feet off the back of the firetruck so they couldn't see my number plate.......

We didn't jump any traffic lights or cut anyone up. OK I did break the speed limits more or less all the way home, but I was merely travelling in the wake of a very large fire engine.

I know it was a dangerous stunt to pull - but it was a buzz at the time!

Since then I've calmed down, (But that was something to do with the the two driving disqualifications for speeding though!!)

[Matt No VAT]

I've just downloaded the three movies, my favorite is the fire in the navigators footwell, :~) Canada 2001. Still carries on reading the pace notes though... 10/10 Top man !

[chris.richard]

A good few years ago, my RS2000 was sponsored by one of Edinburgh's transport & delivery companies. I happened to be in their office with the car when they got a call to deliver a parcel from an industrial estate in West Lothian, to Edinburgh Airport in a very tight timescale. And it was Friday rushhour. I also happened to have my doctors green beacon in the car, so we set off through the traffic, headlights and green light blazing. And the horn too, when needed. The police even waved us across red lights, and up the wrong side of the road. The parcel arrived at the freight terminal with minutes to spare, and we didn't pick up an unwanted escort! Somehow, things could be more fun before you became old and sensible!