The 9 minute club (Broch to Bloo toon)
Discussion
Back in the day, I'm talking mid to late 80's? It was the 9 min club,
I was still at school back then but all the talk was of those 'legends' who could do it. The XR3i's. Cossies etc.
Never met anyone who actualy claimed to have done it, but school boys being school boys, plenty of my peers claimed to have known an older mate with his fisheries paid for Cossie who actually did it.
Average speed would need to be about a ton to do it that time. That's an effort even today i reccon.
Urban myth? Anyone ever managed it? Did you even hear about it?
These days, last time I drove the A90 it had a few speed cameras (no surprise).
Just curiious, was chatting to an old mate and that topic came up. I'm still sceptical even today!
I was still at school back then but all the talk was of those 'legends' who could do it. The XR3i's. Cossies etc.
Never met anyone who actualy claimed to have done it, but school boys being school boys, plenty of my peers claimed to have known an older mate with his fisheries paid for Cossie who actually did it.
Average speed would need to be about a ton to do it that time. That's an effort even today i reccon.
Urban myth? Anyone ever managed it? Did you even hear about it?
These days, last time I drove the A90 it had a few speed cameras (no surprise).
Just curiious, was chatting to an old mate and that topic came up. I'm still sceptical even today!
I used to drive a lot on business back then & I used to do a lot of business in the North-East & very much remember tales of this. There was a lot of conspicuous wealth from the fisherfolk who were earning a lot of money but spent a lot of time at sea & there was all sorts of high value cars (much more than XR3is) commonly seen. Possibly because of it's size it seemed more obvious in Fraserburgh.
& then the speed cameras came because of it - iirc there was something daft like 12 in an 18 mile stretch?
& then the speed cameras came because of it - iirc there was something daft like 12 in an 18 mile stretch?
Agreed, I've heard the legend too. Along with the Cosworth shattering it's axles on doing a 100mph run down Union Street in Aberdeen, with bouley bashers blocking off the side streets. Anyway, I digress. Couple of points on the 9 minute club, doubt that an Escort XR3i would have had much of a chance, it's what, 20miles? In 9 minutes? Nah. Second, is that the only Gatso I know of in the 'shire, outside of the dualler to Dundee, is on that road. Coincidence?
Anyone hear of the Deeside equivalent, Banchory to Torphins? (I think!)
Anyone hear of the Deeside equivalent, Banchory to Torphins? (I think!)
The challenge certainly existed. I never met anyone who had actually joined. However the long estate wall which flanks a long stretch of the route had multiple holes in it caused by wayward vehicles. I seem to remember at one time there were are least two cameras on the route.
Given the amount of drug money and semi-exotic machinery around at the time there were certainly a lot of people trying.
Given the amount of drug money and semi-exotic machinery around at the time there were certainly a lot of people trying.
Heidfirst said:
I There was a lot of conspicuous wealth from the fisherfolk who were earning a lot of money but spent a lot of time at sea & there was all sorts of high value cars (much more than XR3is) commonly seen.
I saw saw my first ever Ferrari as a kid......in Macduff. It lived right on the edge of the town. 308 I think. That would have been mid 80's. Edited by Chuck328 on Wednesday 20th March 22:40
downthepub said:
Agreed, I've heard the legend too. Along with the Cosworth shattering it's axles on doing a 100mph run down Union Street in Aberdeen, with bouley bashers blocking off the side streets. Anyway, I digress. Couple of points on the 9 minute club, doubt that an Escort XR3i would have had much of a chance, it's what, 20miles? In 9 minutes? Nah. Second, is that the only Gatso I know of in the 'shire, outside of the dualler to Dundee, is on that road. Coincidence?
Anyone hear of the Deeside equivalent, Banchory to Torphins? (I think!)
It's about 14/15 miles but yeh I doubt an XR3i would hack it.Anyone hear of the Deeside equivalent, Banchory to Torphins? (I think!)
Agreed about the Gatso. I don't know of any others around. Mind you, I've been away from the area for a few years now.
Banchory/Torphins? Not heard about that but I did run the Slug road quite quickly in my Evo a few times. That is a very nice drive....
downthepub said:
Anyone hear of the Deeside equivalent, Banchory to Torphins? (I think!)
Can't be, 9 minutes between Banchory and Torphins is standard for the 6-7 mile stretch. Even google maps says it can be done in 11 minutes and GM is always conservative.The Deeside equivalent would be Banchory to Tarland (18 miles) which actually goes along the side of the Dee and would be a comparable distance to Peterhead/Fraserburgh.
There is a documentary coming out about the 9 minute club (although it won't be called that), which they were filming last year.
As to the likelihood of it being done...
The route was from the roundabout on the outskirts of Peterhead to the roundabout on the outskirts of Fraserburgh (15.3 miles). To do that in 9 minutes requires an average speed of 102mph.
Note: an AVERAGE speed of 102mph
Now whilst the cars of that era were quickish 0-60, most of them maxed out at 150mph and took a very long time to get there. Most took about 15 seconds to get to 100mph let alone 150, which took exponentially longer. So every corner would need to be taken at at least 50-60mph to maintain the 100+ average and all straights would need to be about 140-150mph to make up for this.
It would be possible for supercars nowadays without cameras, although a bit hairy in some places, but for 80s/90s sports cars?
As to the likelihood of it being done...
The route was from the roundabout on the outskirts of Peterhead to the roundabout on the outskirts of Fraserburgh (15.3 miles). To do that in 9 minutes requires an average speed of 102mph.
Note: an AVERAGE speed of 102mph
Now whilst the cars of that era were quickish 0-60, most of them maxed out at 150mph and took a very long time to get there. Most took about 15 seconds to get to 100mph let alone 150, which took exponentially longer. So every corner would need to be taken at at least 50-60mph to maintain the 100+ average and all straights would need to be about 140-150mph to make up for this.
It would be possible for supercars nowadays without cameras, although a bit hairy in some places, but for 80s/90s sports cars?
Chuck328 said:
I saw saw my first ever Ferrari as a kid......in Macduff. It lived right on the edge of the town. 308 I think. That would have been mid 80's.
Red one, sat at house on the right as you go out of Macduff before the golf course ?Edited by Chuck328 on Wednesday 20th March 22:40
tighnamara said:
Chuck328 said:
I saw saw my first ever Ferrari as a kid......in Macduff. It lived right on the edge of the town. 308 I think. That would have been mid 80's.
Red one, sat at house on the right as you go out of Macduff before the golf course ?Edited by Chuck328 on Wednesday 20th March 22:40
That's the one.
I think the only thing the 9 minute club really did was improve the overall IQ of the Broch and Peterhead (f
kwits now deceased) and get 6 Gatso's installed on the road, 3 in either direction...
There was quite a few accidents and fatalities back in the day when the club was going about. I never met anyone who actually did it, but recall the story where if they went from Phd to Fr they'd used the wrong side of the road at the junction just past Lonmay where the A90 merges with the A 952.
The last time I was in Fraserburgh they had a new boarding school. It was a school where joiners went to learn how to board windows...
kwits now deceased) and get 6 Gatso's installed on the road, 3 in either direction...There was quite a few accidents and fatalities back in the day when the club was going about. I never met anyone who actually did it, but recall the story where if they went from Phd to Fr they'd used the wrong side of the road at the junction just past Lonmay where the A90 merges with the A 952.
The last time I was in Fraserburgh they had a new boarding school. It was a school where joiners went to learn how to board windows...
I did Insch to Dundee pre awpr and pre average speed camera in 58 minutes a few years ago. Promply got 3 points near Glasgow though.
https://goo.gl/maps/8QGt8Yokf822
Only 90 miles but when you think getting across from the a96 to the then a90 through culter using the netherly road. Was very early on in the morning.
Interested in the banchory to torphins one.
https://goo.gl/maps/8QGt8Yokf822
Only 90 miles but when you think getting across from the a96 to the then a90 through culter using the netherly road. Was very early on in the morning.
Interested in the banchory to torphins one.
slipstream 1985 said:
I did Insch to Dundee pre awpr and pre average speed camera in 58 minutes a few years ago. Promply got 3 points near Glasgow though.
https://goo.gl/maps/8QGt8Yokf822
Only 90 miles but when you think getting across from the a96 to the then a90 through culter using the netherly road. Was very early on in the morning.
Interested in the banchory to torphins one.
Your average speed was 92mph. Still good going.https://goo.gl/maps/8QGt8Yokf822
Only 90 miles but when you think getting across from the a96 to the then a90 through culter using the netherly road. Was very early on in the morning.
Interested in the banchory to torphins one.
In order to do the "9 minute club" equivalent on the Banchory to Torphins run, you would need to do it in 4 minutes.
I remember an article in the Daily Record/Sunday Mail about the 9 minute club and the craze for young guys and performance cars in the north east.
This would have been around the mid to late 80s, the conclusion was young guys with large disposable incomes (fishing/oil and gas) with not alot else to do with themselves.
Saying that, i've never met anyone who has admitted being in the club or completing the 9 minute run though plenty have acknowledged it does exist.
Craig
This would have been around the mid to late 80s, the conclusion was young guys with large disposable incomes (fishing/oil and gas) with not alot else to do with themselves.
Saying that, i've never met anyone who has admitted being in the club or completing the 9 minute run though plenty have acknowledged it does exist.
Craig
I worked up there quite a bit in the late 90s, I do remember being passed (while trundling along in the works van) like I was stationary by what I think was probably a Supra turbo.
I had time to recognise the fact it was red, had a big wing and was buggering off at great speed.
I've certainly heard of the 9 minute club, apparently where the Frasrerburgh road meets the Peterhead one they used to switch off the lights to see if there were approaching cars as the junctions is unsighted. This was from lads that lived locally.
As per the others I've never actually met anyone that claimed to be in the club though, knowing the road it would take a special kind of mental to do it.
Maybe a fast bike would have managed, but again those were the days of GSXR1100s and the like, things that would try and kill you rather than help with the attempt.
I had time to recognise the fact it was red, had a big wing and was buggering off at great speed.
I've certainly heard of the 9 minute club, apparently where the Frasrerburgh road meets the Peterhead one they used to switch off the lights to see if there were approaching cars as the junctions is unsighted. This was from lads that lived locally.
As per the others I've never actually met anyone that claimed to be in the club though, knowing the road it would take a special kind of mental to do it.
Maybe a fast bike would have managed, but again those were the days of GSXR1100s and the like, things that would try and kill you rather than help with the attempt.
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