Vixen

Just thought I'd start this after reading Rahula's comments on another thread. .. As he said there are an increasing number of threads cropping up on racing/speeding etc. (presumably because the suns out and the roads are dry ))

I really enjoy driving the S and I don't drive slowly although I do not like to drive over 100 on the motorway (partly because of the possibility of ban and partly because I feel like the S is going to take off when you start getting to 130).

I can understand the competitive bit coming out when you see other high performance cars on the road, I've been there myself but I'm not comfortable when I get carried away with it. If you are driving like this you can't be concentrating properly on the road, you're concentrating on keeping in front/overtaking another car on the road - how can you be fully aware of what else is going on. Are you really going to have time to react when the tw*t in the corsa just pulls out in front of you

I have to say I've been put off coming to the drive meets from the 2nd week of having the car when we had a race up to Coventry, and all these threads just compound the fact that I don't want to do it .

Anyone else feel like me about the speed thing or am I the only one??
(apologies I've probably not been very articulate with what's in my head!)

<flamesuitonandrunningforcover>

GSi

I like to drive quickly and occasionally I'll have a play with another fast car to see how the S compares. But it's only ever on very quiet roads and the speeds don't get too silly.

I'm concerned that it is putting you off of coming to a driving meet though as that is not a good thing for the S2k community.

At a driving meet the emphasis is on standing around the car park (hopefully in the sun) chatting. The drive is usually fairly spirited, but should never be too fast as a large number of cars the same always catches peoples attention and we are the 'public face of S2KI in the UK'. We don't need bad publicity otherwise we will eventually be unable to have fun for fear of the police.

I am sure the Mods and other potential members of the S2KUK club can see this and would agree.

Don't let tales of 'street encounters' (as they call it on the US board) put you off coming to a meet, you should only be driving within your own limits and with due care and attention to the road conditions and with others in mind at all times. The main idea of the drive is to find some other fun to drive roads and meet some more nutters in the process.

Fletch

<foottapping> <potcallibkettleetc> <butjustkiddingreally>

As a rule I never go over 90 on a motorway.

The only "racing" I ever enter into is like away from the lights or roundabout, where you know the chav is going to try and be a big guy. But as soon as I have made my point I tend to return to the speed limit and let them go.

EddandSam

Vixen,

I wouldn't be put off attending a meet. The drive is only part of the fun. There is a great social side to this club as well.

The meets are well organised and normally split into 3 groups. A fast group, medium group and a scenery viewing group! People tend to drive to their own abilities and most people are sensible enough to know their own limits or if they are driving above their ability.

The fast group normally consists of skilled drivers with lots of track experience (or those who maybe able to afford to bend their car!!LOL)

The medium group is where both myself and my wife drive. We are fairly quick but not race drivers! (we share the driving weeeeeeeell it is her car!! LOL)

The 3rd group is for newbies and people who like to take in the scenery. I have to stress they are NOT slow by any means of the word.

I would hate you to blow out a meet because of some posts on here. Trust me you will have a great time.

Like all forms of writing and journalism I think this site suffers from some overembelishment and high testosterone (probably spelt wrong!) levels.

Try it ............you will enjoy it!!

Just my 5 euros!

Edd

bigfecker

I find if I drive the S all the time I get use to the acceleration, therefore I make a point of using the beater (1.1 Corsa) a couple of times a week as 70 in that feels like bits are going to start dropping off.

However I fnd it harder to stick to 30 in the beater than the S, dunno why, perhaps the big speedo of the S helps.

MarkB

As I said on another thread, I think a certain degree of the heroics posted here are people, erm....overstating their experiences.
However it's sad that you've been put off coming to driving meets due to this, though I can understand - I have been to less meets in the last year or so simply because I have seen some absolutely rotten driving and am worried that at some point (a la SM3) there will be an off, God forbid anyone gets injured. Some people simply don't understand what happens to a tonne of metal at high speed, but think that they have the capability to control the car, when it's obvious by their driving, they don't - all they have is attitude.

I have to stress that this is a tiny minority - most of the people I have met through this board are excellent drivers and have good road-sense. I went on the first three Supermeets and had a great time, also the Oxford meets are usually fun, and Bournemouth last summer will stick in my mind for years to come.
But it only takes one prat and the proliferation of 'Tried racing this that and the other last night', and the 'will my S beat X, Y and Z' threads seems to indicate that people are getting more and more blase about street racing. I don't see any defence in the claim 'I only do it on country roads I know well and where no-one is coming' as particularly valid, since we never know what is round the corner - as a horse rider I am acutely aware that the blat down a country road can throw up all manner of 4 legged obstacles....

I sincerely hope we never have the thread telling us that someone was seriously injured or died as a result of doing something stupid in their car, but sometimes I wonder when, not if, it will happen.

Man, I really am turning into an old fart these days......

joper90

k.. 2 pence.. i drive 65 miles a day.. 15 miles on fast is (old roman roads, very flat and straight) b roads and 15 miles on teh m4 at around 70 -85 depending on traffic.. if its quiet and im in a convoy i may go up to 100.. but mainly say around 80ish.. for saftey and petrol costs

However, i work in Swindon which is just full of stright dual carriways and roundabouts, may vtec down a stright or two.. but being 100% aware what cars are where.. and what car may pull out to overtake the lorry etc etc etc.

i just about being senisable.. I hate overtaking on a/b roads unless 120% sure.. based on a near miss i had when i was 17 with a hidden dip.. (you live (just) and learn...)

GSi

There are some wise words about what goes on at a meet and what you can expect on the MM website (see Ades sig).

I am sure you and James would appreciate the social side of things (seemed to at XM1) and if you make it to a longer meet you can be assured of some heavy socialising in the evening

rahula

I agree with most on this thread. We all love driving by the sounds of it and we all love our cars but it is sometimes a minority of people who want to be racing drivers on public roads. Sometimes it is just people like myself who are having fun and get carried away but people like me realise this very quickly and slow down. Idiots who want to race no matter what wont stop at any cost.

Having said that I do love a bit of fun but when it is safe and for simple fun. I don't race people who just want a race but rather against other car owners who also want a little excitement and friendly fun. I keep the serious stuff for the tracks where we can enjoy the thrill of speed without plod, injuring/killing someone or damaging the car.

This is an emotive subject and we all want to believe that we are great drivers but not until we compare ourselves to others do we realise that this is merely a misconception. I like to think of myself as a considerate driver and an aware one too yet I have been caught out by things which I didn't anticipate or couldn't anticipate. That is why we call them accidents and not crashes caused on purpose.

Anyway lets all have fun, no one is saying to drive like a nun but some posts recently did make me think about the outcomes which might follow and it is for that reason that I posted my views earlier. Also when I drive fast my wife tells me to slow down, because she is afraid of losing me in a car crash and not because she is trying to spoil the fun.

I also did watch a program recently where someone one was killed and the police had to go see the wife and tell her. It really brought it home to a large extent for me. It is easy to dismiss such things and pretend they will never happen to you but thousands of motorists each year die or get seriously injured. Not because of speed but because the accidents are severe. Anyway I leave you with my thoughts but we are all grown ups and can decide for ourselves what is right and wrong for us.

euan

I wouldn't consider myself a speed monster, although I do like a spirited drive, and for me this is the appeal of meets.

I tend to drive faster on meets (unless leading them) than when on my own - not because I am showing off, but because I am trying to keep up.

I do like to think I always drive within my abilities however, although it is difficult when you get left behind in place you don't know to stick to this.

In all the meets I've been to, I can only think of one incidence of what I thought was dangerous driving - someone in front of me taking blind corners in the middle of the road, in a way that they would never be able to avoid a car coming the opposite way.

I always say to myself, and newbies, that if things are getting too quick, just back off and drive at your own pace - everyone else should slow down for you or wait. If I was ever in a position where other drivers were being reckless or even careless, I wouldn't hesitate to back out and go home. Not felt like this yet, but I have spoken to other members who have.