TVRs are safe (plus eurobox rant)
Discussion
We had a works karting event last night and rather than drive the 30 odd miles in my car as I usually do, I accepted the offer of a lift from one of my workmates in order to save fuel.
She arrived in her Suzuki Perona (or some such sh*te) with 2 other people in the back hence cramming me in the front seat, inches from the windscreen/dashboard/deadly airbag. We careered wildely down the motorway sandwiched closely between two lorries and lacking enough power to pull into the fast lane to overtake. I am convinced that at least one wheel bearing was struggling to keep the wheel attached to the car and relatively small gusts of wind pushed us half way into the adjacent lane.
On the way back, I decided to try another workmate in his Nissan Micra. I'd seen him karting and he seemed fairly confident. He then proceeded down the A338 in the aforementioned 1 litre Micra at 108mph. 108
! Every bend involved the car swaying sideways on it's soft springs and I hate to think what the braking distance would be.
I'm used to be a bit of a boy racer in my youth but after two of the scariest drives of my life, I am convinced I am much safer driving at 150mph in my TVR.
She arrived in her Suzuki Perona (or some such sh*te) with 2 other people in the back hence cramming me in the front seat, inches from the windscreen/dashboard/deadly airbag. We careered wildely down the motorway sandwiched closely between two lorries and lacking enough power to pull into the fast lane to overtake. I am convinced that at least one wheel bearing was struggling to keep the wheel attached to the car and relatively small gusts of wind pushed us half way into the adjacent lane.
On the way back, I decided to try another workmate in his Nissan Micra. I'd seen him karting and he seemed fairly confident. He then proceeded down the A338 in the aforementioned 1 litre Micra at 108mph. 108
! Every bend involved the car swaying sideways on it's soft springs and I hate to think what the braking distance would be. I'm used to be a bit of a boy racer in my youth but after two of the scariest drives of my life, I am convinced I am much safer driving at 150mph in my TVR.
Saw a very sad incident once on the M6, just north of the Manchester ship canal bridge.
I was heading north, and the wind was pretty gusty, and saw an old couple in the southbound carraigeway in a Micra get blown off course. They ended up broadside on to the traffic, and with it being busy it was just a matter of time... Saw the car on my way back south about 1 hr later - it was on the hard shoulder, bent like a banana and I wouldn;t have been at all surprised if they weren't both killed.
Since then, I've seen numerous similar incidents of silly little town cars getting thrown around on m'ways. Don't know if it's due to car or driver, but I'm sure it can't be coincidence.
I was heading north, and the wind was pretty gusty, and saw an old couple in the southbound carraigeway in a Micra get blown off course. They ended up broadside on to the traffic, and with it being busy it was just a matter of time... Saw the car on my way back south about 1 hr later - it was on the hard shoulder, bent like a banana and I wouldn;t have been at all surprised if they weren't both killed.
Since then, I've seen numerous similar incidents of silly little town cars getting thrown around on m'ways. Don't know if it's due to car or driver, but I'm sure it can't be coincidence.
Its all too easy to remember how easy it is to have your car blown around in these current blustery / gale wind conditions. All it takes is a gap in the trees or countryside and a nice blast - ooppss. And thats in reasonable average cars....
I hate to think what it would be like in an MPV or 4x4?
Cheers,
Paul
I hate to think what it would be like in an MPV or 4x4?
Cheers,
Paul
nice one, IP. the thought of 100mph in a micra makes me squirm.
As regards the 4x4 issue, we have a discovery. fortunately this is so far removed from the chimaera that I don't forget that I am driving a breeze-block. I do wonder whether, in some of the more civilised 4x4s (X5s etc), is is easy to forget the vulnerability on corners, in wind and at speed of a high sided, high centre of gravity vehicle.
R
As regards the 4x4 issue, we have a discovery. fortunately this is so far removed from the chimaera that I don't forget that I am driving a breeze-block. I do wonder whether, in some of the more civilised 4x4s (X5s etc), is is easy to forget the vulnerability on corners, in wind and at speed of a high sided, high centre of gravity vehicle.
R
quote:
He then proceeded down the A338 in the aforementioned 1 litre Micra at 108mph. 108
Unfortunately speed limits are set for everyone on what it is safe to do in a Nissan Micra. My sis has a Nissan Micra and its absolutely fine for what it was designed to do...you just have to relax and say "yep, I can cruise at 50..thats OK..I'll get there later but thats OK..."
Bit galling when at XXXmph my sports car is rock-steady.
Same here yum, diesel Disco that I was well glad of with the snow over the feastive period and more recently the gales, Cerb would of had difficulty in both the first because of traction and amount of snow and with the gales the trees falling down all over the place and on top of the Disco, would have seen a grown man cry if those branches fell on my cerb.
As for euro boxes it is a sad fact but we tragically have a lot of under 25 year old fatalies in/about my area, many are in the small hatches not really souped up but in some cases driven to the limited with the braking or handling not up to the speed they go to, many RTAs with unfortunate results. I must admit with age comes a certain amount of retraint and as many try and entice you on in the Cerb I abstain from taking the challenges on.
However I do love speed (within the speed limits officer), I feel and have felt very safe in all my TVRs, you have the breaking power you have good handling and you have the rated tyres. Basic euro or far east boxes are built to get you from A to B economically, not built for speed however regardless of whether you drive a eurobox or a performance car if you don't respect it consider the conditions and drive it like a prat you end up either you or someone else in hospital.
>> Edited by AOVCERB on Thursday 7th February 17:22
As for euro boxes it is a sad fact but we tragically have a lot of under 25 year old fatalies in/about my area, many are in the small hatches not really souped up but in some cases driven to the limited with the braking or handling not up to the speed they go to, many RTAs with unfortunate results. I must admit with age comes a certain amount of retraint and as many try and entice you on in the Cerb I abstain from taking the challenges on.
However I do love speed (within the speed limits officer), I feel and have felt very safe in all my TVRs, you have the breaking power you have good handling and you have the rated tyres. Basic euro or far east boxes are built to get you from A to B economically, not built for speed however regardless of whether you drive a eurobox or a performance car if you don't respect it consider the conditions and drive it like a prat you end up either you or someone else in hospital.
>> Edited by AOVCERB on Thursday 7th February 17:22
quote:
The other thing about decent 4x4s is they are much heavier so the wind effect is less effective, still need to be careful though.
I was thinking of this on my drive home last night, because 4x4's generally (been driving various types for 10 yrs) don't suffer too badly in cross winds.
Not sure whether it's the fact that little (Micra etc.) cars are narrow or soggily sprung but they seem to be deflected with alarming ease.
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