HAHA!!! Passenger1 is not my wife...he's not even good looking! The Lightning is my new wife. Hehehe!

 

First... I am not going to get in on this driving debate. However, I too was a policeman in the 70s after I got out of the CORPS. Enough said on that.
However, I do have a bad attitude about the legality of wreckless endangerment "cell phone operations while operating a motor vehicle. 5 years ago now.... had just got my Crown Vic out of the body shop from hitting a deer (missed 3 of them, but couldn't miss the 4th without cleaning out the ditch LOL). Driving home in a leisurely fashion on a four lane undivided street, i eased into the left lane to pass a new Ford Expedtion was moving at least 10 mph below the speed limit. As the right front wheel pased the nose of the Expedition..... it turned hard left into me. I applied the brakes and the Expidition continued the left turn with my right front now locked in the fender of the Expidition. Acroos 2 lanes of trafiic into the curb I went locked up. When we stopped, I exited my car to see if anyone was hurt (could see 2 small children in the back of the Expidetion). Ran to the passengers side and knocked on the window.... it was rolled down and the person driving was ending the conservation stating to the other person on the line, they had just had an accident. No s..., police arrived... this person told them they were in the middle of a conversation on the cell phone and was about to miss a turn in and never saw me. ?????? Talking on a cell phone, making a left hand turn from the right hand lane on a 4 lane street.... I now endanger other peoples lives to get as far ahead of idiots talking on a cell phone while operating a motor vehicle. Don't want to be behind them and run into the wrecks they cause.
Long post... long winded.. as Bill said it is spring Watch out for those severe thunder storms because of "Lightning Strikes

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Ron B.
Kathleen, GA.
*Red 2000 Lightning
*ARE LSII
*Speed Liner (color matched)
*PSP Filter and Outer Ware ordered
*Bear Tracker
*Valentine Radar Detector
*Muffler up grade next-Flow Masters Delta 50s

 

I am nobody to talk here on this one based on my recent record with such things as *wreckless* driving, BUT>...I live in Denver and I think that it depends on where and when this happened. Okay, okay so it was not the brightest move, but I doubt that Atom is the only one to have made it, just because all of our kill stories don't include the parts where we went blazing ***** out through a 7 11 parking lot to cut the light, screeching out of the side drive at 65, cutting off that little old lady trying to see the road between the dash and steering wheel, putting the passenger side of the truck on the curb to avoid the huge a** pothole (if you live in Denver you know what I am talking about) and the unfortunate luck for that gound hog *again a Denver thing* who was misguided and trying to find food in the middle of our lane, doesn't mean that we haven't all done something stupid for the bragging rights of our trucks. Atom, people don't understand that power of our vehicles and there are a lot of innocent bystanders including kids on the roads, not to mention me and my lil girl, please continue to be careful. For everyone who is giving him a hard time, you're right, wreckless is bad and nobody needs to get hurt but please think, have you always been 100% safe with your truck? If you have then by all means...rant on.

WOOHOO I just read that and boy, can I be a bi*ch after 3 hours of sleep and a 10 hour day serving pancakes for 2.25 an hour LOL NO disrespect intended to anyone. Much love to my Lightning big brothers. MS especially you, who has an opposing opinion in general to my own. You are considered a friend to me and your advice in the past in priceless. Didn't mean to step on any toes.

Going to take a nap now hehe
CA


[This message has been edited by WhiteLightninSVTGirl (edited 04-15-2000).]

 

Mark,

At least you spell "reckless" correctly!

I don't feel that anyone is advocating reckless driving. One thing I do notice, though, everybody with complaints about AtomHeart's adventures lives in a state where there is very little lattitude given to drivers. I don't mean by specific Policemen, (or is it Policepersons), but rather as a general rule. In the West, (I consider California to be a foreign country), there seems to be a slightly different attitude about speed laws. With our wide open spaces, we are sometimes able to go a bit faster than, say, in Virginia. The danger in going 150 MPH on a deserted Nevada blacktop on a windless day can be less than a trip to the mall in Washington, DC.
I guess my point is this, presumably we are all adults, we don't need net nannys. So enjoy the stories, assume the best and get on with it.

Before the flames start, I have lived in California and I consider it the most opressive state with regard to personal freedom since the Revolutionary War.

Also, I am not anti-police. My nephew is a Police Officer in Colorado. I have ridden along with him many times. I have great admiration for the job they do and respect for the discretion that they show in most situations. In fact, I sometimes wonder how they can keep their mental balance when they have to deal with idiots most of the time.

This is a great board, even when we disagree, we do so in a restrained and dignified manner. I salute you all!

adp
#1530
Black '99

 

I know that I'll get flamed for this one, but another member mentioned that speeding was illegal, what was all that about??

Trying to justify your opinion about a subject because it is illegal?!?

I'm confused here, I tooled down the autobahn at 265kph day in and day out for 2 years and I only had one bad experience. I was passed on the right by a Tesarosa(sp) doing about 300kph. Totally my fault even had the car behind be flash vigorously (Voltswagon golf gt fast mothers), no accident, just the only mistake in 2 years. Boy did I get some looks from some of the other drivers when I gassed up.

So US is correct and Germany is incorrect?

Just because it's "illegal" doesn't mean that you're truly at fault, it's just a cop out for the judicial system. They make 80mph highways someone crashes the state/county gets sued and we all have to live with 55mph, oh that’s stupid "that took what 25 years" I mean 70mph WTF is that.

I would also like to compliment what Masterloggie said about passing as many drivers as possible to a point. I love to get in front of everyone to the light takeoff hard, place myself between the two packs and just do the speed limit, a nice buffer zone. I call it the no idiot zone.

I also think that if you're driving faster that everyone else you're in control of the situation better that if you're drive next to someone for 2 or 3 minutes, I call this exposure time. I learned this from driving motorcycles on the street, number one get a real loud exhaust and just keep passing people. I've lived and practiced this for 20 driving years now. The last time I checked, I've never had an accident with another driver, ever.

So Atomheart, drive it like you stole it, and drive the way that suites you best. If you loose your license or crash a lot, consider modifying your driving style. Until then stay away from Dodge r/t sport trucks, rice rockets and SUVs you'll do just fine.

 

Last night was INCREDIBLE fun! I was tooling along on the freeway when I came upon a Mustang Cobra circa 1995 vintage. Trying to contain my joy, I fought my way through HEAVY traffic to get next to him...then punched it at a 60mph roll a couple times until he took the bait. The third time was a charm, and it was on...I pulled one car length on him, then had to brake hard for cars in front of me. Hehe! He ROCKETED past me like he was being launched out of a cannon.I pulled into the far lane opposite of him and caught up slowly, fighting traffic...and now both of us were weaving and punching it, in and out of traffic, gaining, and losing on eachother. I could tell my truck was a bit faster than his car...I hope he could tell too! Then...about that time...some customed out Chevy truck who was spectating decided to join the frey...being totally outclassed was not such an issue in such heavy traffic...I would jet out ahead of him like I was hooked to a steam catapult when we would both would have openings and be able to punch it...but eventually I would have to slam the brakes for traffic, and he would catch up...and here came the Cobra again on my right...I was now in between the two cars I was racing, and having a blast...God only knows how many of those people were on thier cellphones calling the cops. At any rate...we would all be weaving and punching, and weaving and punching for about 6 miles or so...when we came up behind a 96 or so Chevy Camaro Z28...hehe. SO...he decides he has to join the frey too. Now we have 2 fords and 2 chevy's pack-hunting on the Denver freeways. Had the traffic not been completely attrocious, it would have been a VERY impressive show of muscle...with the possible exception of the Chevy truck. But it was the most fun I've had with all my clothes on, so far. I am so in LOVE with this truck. It's fast, it's big, and it handles like a dream in high speed traffic maneuvers! *sigh*

------------------
AtomHeart
2000 Silver Lightnin'
1969 Ford Fairlane Cobra R code w/ 3.91 dragpack
atomhart@cyberhighway.net

 

I'll bet you are right about how many of those people (whose lives you risked) were trying to call the police. Too bad one of them did not get through in time..........Just no reason for that type of horse play on a crowded freeway. Just my 2 cents worth, and I'm sure there are a few among us who would say your just trying to have fun.

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Mark Swaim
1999 Lightning (sold)
1997 Cobra (deceased)
1993 Cadillac Allante (Sold, Finally..)

 

I say give AtomHeart a break. This is the wrong forum to be judging someone for speeding. I live in So.California where most people can't even drive to the grocery store without causing a traffic jam. I love the power that I have with this truck to pass who I want when I want. I don't like the fact that the police around here seem to go for the easiest catch, not the most important one. For example I guarantee you will find more cops hiding in the TOLL ROADS, where there is more or less ZERO TRAFFIC and therefore minimal danger, as compared to the regular freeway where broken down hoopties are barely doing 55 in the fast lane, and almost get hit everytime they change lanes. And then you have the big rigs that think they should be in the fast lane too, or the ones that can't stay in their lane. All I'm really trying to say here is give AtomHeart a break, as a guy who drives a good 100 miles per day I think there are bigger concerns on the street than someone who has a short burst of WOT, especially in a truck that's more than capable of fast acceleration, fast turns and fast braking. Also it's true that BIG BROTHER is setting up cams at different lights, to catch ALL traffic offenders they can, they've already tested the system, problem is they found that this caused more accidents than before. We already got cameras at every street corner here. Don't know exactly what that's being used for though - I haven't received any tickets in the mail yet.

Mike

 

I don't think speeding is the problem. Never have. I wouldn't have a Lightning if I didn't want to go fast.

My chain gets yanked by drivers who think it's good sport to be "weaving and punching it, in and out of traffic" (which are AtomHeart's own words). Speed may not kill, but speed differentials do.

If one of those soccer moms on a cell phone decides to change lanes, how many people get hurt?

We've had two cases in the Detroit area in the last few years of idiots playing tag in rush hour freeway traffic, and getting deflected into oncoming lanes. Unfortunately, the idiots weren't the ones who died.

If AtomHeart was embellishing the story a little bit, then he brought this on himself. If he was doing what he first claimed to do, then he needs to rethink his driving habits. And not, as one suggested, after he gets arrested or wrecked. The first wreck might be the last one.

I am unapologetic for proposing common sense.

Drive fast, but drive safely.



------------------
Regards,
Gordon

99.5 Red Lightning
Only driven on Sundays (1/4 mile at a time)

 

The type of driving AtomHeart describes in his post, in my opinion, endangers the greatest number of potential innocent victims (some of whom may be excellent drivers themselves, and their passengers) and should not be tolerated.

Wilk

 

Hmmm. You would consider ME at fault if a "soccer mom on a cell phone" changed lanes into the side of me, just because I was going faster than her? That's a very interesting point of view, BadDog.

 

Agreed - inattentive bad drivers are more dangerous than a good, attentive driver.

 

AtomHeart,

It doesn't matter who you think is being more dangerous, or who you think is at fault.

A GOOD driver has to have situational awareness, drive appropriately for the conditions, and be able to compensate for miscues by other drivers and other surprises. In your little escapade, you seem to have screwed it on two out of three of these points.

From your comments and attitude, I'd say you have a long way to go before you become a good driver.

I don't mean to condescend, and rag on your ***, and I'll drop it here. You just drive like I used to, twenty years ago, and as an "old-timer" I'm trying to save you some unnecessary grief. I'm just rehearsing the speech I'll be giving my son next year

 

I sure wish folks would stop judging my driving skills and ability by my "comments here", and thier PERCEPTION of my attitude. This post was not intended to be a forum for critique of my judgement, and saftey on the road. Oh well. My fault.

[This message has been edited by AtomHeart (edited 04-16-2000).]

 

I spelled reckless wrong...SO-RRY
Eric don't worry. You're all good.

CA