Okay, all the safety Nazi’s should stop reading at this point as I’m going to talk about a not so safe topic – breaking the speed limit (feel free to come back tomorrow when I explain a few precautionary pointers if you must drive fast).
Yes, I admit it; I have driven faster than the posted speed limit. I have done so frequently and willingly.
If you’re anything like me, you probably drive fast in small spurts. You’re cruising along on the highway at 70 to 75 mph when traffic thins a little in front of you. Anticipating the opportunity, you downshift into a lower gear, step on the gas and get a quick blip on the speedometer up to 100mph or better. All the while the impish grin on your face is kept in check by the thought of explaining to your wife how your car was impounded on your commute home from the office.
Well, this past summer, I took a trip from Maine to Prince Edward Island (PEI) in my 1997 993 C4S. There are a number of different routes you can take to get there, but one of the best for driving is to go up 95 North to Bangor and then get on Rte 9 heading toward Calais and then TransCanda One (1) toward Saint John and Moncton. If any of you have ever driven this route, then you know that it offers some of the best driving roads (for speed) in the North East. In particular, Rte. 9 is basically a two lane, hundred mile long drag strip. Long, straight, well kept, no on or off ramps for miles and miles at a time, it just begs you to “put the pedal down”. I’m not suggesting you jump in your car and head for Canada, but the road is there if you decide to go take a look for yourself.
When we (my wife and I) set out on the trip I didn’t plan on driving super fast, or testing the limits of my car, it just turned out that way. Once we crossed the border into Canada the road really opened up and we were literally the only car for miles. At this point we were cruising at a constant speed of 85 to 90 Mph. The road was as straight as can be and we had just passed a sign that told us there would be no more ramps for the next 20 kilometers or so. Turning to my wife, I simply smiled and downshifted. She signaled her understanding and approval (one of the many reasons I love my wife) by rolling up her window (she had it cracked for some air) and grabbing hold of the door for stability. With that we were off. 100, 110, 120, 130, 140, 145, 150…. OH MY GOD, I’M DRIVING 150 Mph. If I hit anything bigger than a pebble we are both dead (more on this tomorrow)! GOD I LOVE THIS! The combination of the speed, my wife smiling in the passenger seat and my ignorance about how unsafe it is to drive at these speeds really allowed me to live in the moment and enjoy my Porsche. The scary thing is the car had more in it, a lot more.
When we first published this post years ago it included a poll. The poll is no longer running but here’s what you told us about how fast you’ve driven in your Porsche. Feel free to comment below if you want to be heard.
I love driving fast and do so when I feel it is safe. My next post is about some of the more precautionary things you should do if you too “feel the need for speed”.
View Comments (16)
If I had known you were going that fast I would have called the Mounties. I couldn't get your Mercedes to go over 120.
Oh come on!!! That's just because you weren't pushing the gas pedal down far enough!! E500 = 305hp. You could have kept up (just not in the turns :-)
Bobi...the skinny pedal on the right is for gas.
Had my 1980 SC up to almost 130 while racing a CTS through traffic. Also raced an Evo8mx on the interstate with over 120 before. What a rush those cars are, they beg to be driven harder
No comment on road(!) but on track I have done 179 in a porsche 911 GT3 (996mk2) -the speedo said 188, and 202 in a Ruf RT12 997 shape.
@S3am,
Were you driving or a passenger? Either way, that's fast! I don't think I could deal with it if I was a passenger. I would be way too nervous. Not enough control.
I was the one at the rolex with the yellow 996 with the tag that says stop mee. Is this the web site it will be on thanks. JON
I clocked in at 176 once on the Autobahn A96 in Southern Germany in a 2002 996 GT2 with 550BHP. The next day at 730am, my brother took it to 197 on a nearby highway, the A9 I believe, right outside of Munich on our way to the Ruf Factory in Pfaffenhausen. It was so early I actually slept through the whole thing on the passenger's side (if you can freakin believe that). Needless to say, I was head-bobbing.
@Gianpaolo,
Damn, that's fast. A bit too fast for us!!! Didn't think that was possible, but guess it is.. :-)
I like to drive fast too. You should, however, take some basic precautions. At high speeds proper tire inflation is critical. You should also check the lug bolts for proper torque. It's about managing risk not eliminating risk. BTW mine was 150 mph. (closed road professional driver, yadda yadda yada :-)