Who's been a naughty boy then?

[Burnzybubbles]

Mate of mine was informing me of an A8 driver being done for 143-146mph on the m6 round southport way yesterday, none the less the fella is being banned along with his bmw chum who was racing behind him, it was packed out yesterday, lanes 1 and 2 where full of caravans, so it wasn't even appropriate, not that that speed ever is but if they are going to do it atleast do them speeds when it's empty, so if you do have an accident your only going to hurt yourself not innocent others

[Johnmed]

Wasn't me. I wouldn't dream of going above 142mph��

M58 late night, from switch island heading East would be the most appropriate place I can imagine, for those kinds of speeds��

But really, speeds of this kind have no place on UK roads. The people should be shot.

[Burnzybubbles]

I obviously drive at 70mph on the motorway, if it's empty and the conditions are right then I will push the boundrys and do 71mph, but 146mph with lanes 1 and 2 full of caravans and unpredictable drivers then your asking for trouble, at that speed they would make a right mess too.

[tc4332]

Just back home from Morecambe. I had six handicapped walkers and two wheelchair guys in the bus. They wanted to visit Chipping Steam Fair but that is definately not wheelchair friendly, especially with last nights rain.
Southbound on the M6 at Preston made to feel as though I was in reverse even though I was doing the Max 62MPH I'm allowed in the bus. Yes another dipstick driving an Audi. These folk are accidents looking for somewhere to happen.
I know, years ago when it was legal to do so we use to drive full size double decker coaches at over 100MPH but there was nowhere near the traffic then. My car back then was a Cresta PBD and it could tramp along at 120. Mind you the M6 was not long enough.

[Burnzybubbles]

Originally Posted by tc4332

Just back home from Morecambe. I had six handicapped walkers and two wheelchair guys in the bus. They wanted to visit Chipping Steam Fair but that is definately not wheelchair friendly, especially with last nights rain.
Southbound on the M6 at Preston made to feel as though I was in reverse even though I was doing the Max 62MPH I'm allowed in the bus. Yes another dipstick driving an Audi. These folk are accidents looking for somewhere to happen.
I know, years ago when it was legal to do so we use to drive full size double decker coaches at over 100MPH but there was nowhere near the traffic then. My car back then was a Cresta PBD and it could tramp along at 120. Mind you the M6 was not long enough.

My old man has always driven for a living, done the old stuff without syncro's or power steering, that's a whole new ball game to driving, I just can't fathom what it was like hurtling down the motorway at over 100mph with early 60's braking technology, and all that weight, wasn't it due to the fact there was a couple of bad crashes they governed the coaches? I know that the cobra was the final nail in the coffin for the national speed limit, either way, I have a lot of respect for people like yourself, the standard of driving is diabolical considering how much easier it is today compared to vehichles of old.

[tc4332]

Thanks for the very nice comment.
I am 75 now and have had a year or ten driving experience. I was in the Army for twelve years, nine of them in Germany. In civvy street I did a number of things, all included a lot of long distance driving.
Whilst involved in Motorway Signalling and Roadside telephones on 24/7 callout which often meant driving the length/width of the country under flashing lights and at busy times escorted through towns. That was high pressure.
Then to slow down a bit spent some years coach driving all over Europe.
Cut the story short I have driven a multitude of vehicles over a lot of miles. Loads of experiences and the tales I could tell would fill a few books.
The only place within a reasonable distance where it is legal and sort of safe to drive at high speed is of course Germany, and then only on certain stretches of the Autobahn.
Ask your Dad about "double declutching" and "using the handbrake whilst changing down"!!!!

[Burnzybubbles]

It's my pleasure, my dad has every licence apart from hazardous liquids like petrol tankers and a bike licence, the bike licence he could of had through grandfather rights but chose against it.

He taught people to drive cars, heavy goods class 1 and 2 and also PSV including teaching people to drive bendy buses in and around London, he never taught me to drive though but he did in a way as I learned most stuff and techniques from him through the years of growing up, I was reversing a landcruiser Amazon with a twin axel trailer before I was 15.

He also taught me the technique of double declutching, a technique that is slowly being lost, I'v never had the chance of putting into practice, not on a long term basis, think I'v used it on problematic gearboxes before but that's it.

The handbrake is a new one for me though, he never mentioned that, he did teach me cadence (sp) braking another skill lost to ABS, and to never wrap my thumbs round the steering wheel, plus other stuff I probably now do without thinking.

[tc4332]

I'll fine tune the handbrake bit.
The idea was to use the handbrake to stop the vehicle running away when travelling downhill and the need arose to change down. In those days, even with double declutching, it took so long to get the revs absolutely correct that the vehicle would be increasing speed hence making the gear change even more difficult. Using the handbrake did help and gave you a second chance if you muffed the first attempt.
Then of course when you were pulling a wheel on each corner four wheel drawbar trailer with steering, or it was pushing you, then you needed to use the trailer air brake, and that was another special skill all of it's own.
None of the above would be needed if you changed down to the appropiate gear before starting the descent.
Then again trucks were limited to 20MPH when I first started. That was the black circular plate with a white "20" on it that wagons had on the back of them.
I did a lot of driver training on PSVs (now PCVs) but then my knowledge of the European routes came to the fore. I always had trainees with me as second and even third drivers, quite nerve racking for the passengers. By then the guys were qualified, just lacked experience.
Talking passengers, I have carried some well known people and also very important ones. Quite awe inspiring driving through London under Police escort and taking full size 12 metre coaches into places like Kensington Gardens. Used to take two shunts to line up with the gateposts there and pull both mirrors in.
Then again, what about when your clutch failed. I have driven many miles with passengers and a broken clutch cable. The hard part is getting the vehicle moving, from then on dead easy. Just get the revs right and away you go. I still parctice this on the rare occasions that I have the "pleasure" of driving manual vehicles. But then I am just a "boring old fart"