26 replies to this topic

[Strontium Dog]

Why is it that whenever any one mentions driving fast or having a 'moment' in there car they get flamed?

I don't advocate stupid driving practises or endangering kids by speeding past schools but come on, what is the hate thing about fast drivers. Mini's are like little sports cars and beg to be 'driven'. Knowing the limits of your car is a very good thing and is not a negative.

Some kid just got flamed for spinning his Mini and loads have said they would never spin their car or find it's limits except on a skid pan.
I take part in road racing and autotests. (These are legal for those who don't know with special insurances for the road racing.) Learning to control a skid on a pan is not worth a toss as it is not like a real skid. Come and do a few autotests if you want to learn some proper car control.

Mini's are dead easy to spin 'cause they are so short and as to under steer then you haven't set the car up for best handling. Under steer is designed in by the manufacturers to keep us safe in the sure knowledge that none of us can control our cars! We best all have speed limiters set at 40mph if most of the people who post on here are to be listened to. And as for Noble, and Porche and all the other scumbags that make sports cars well they should all be taken out and shot.

Or am I missing something and am I not the only person that enjoys a good blast. And by the way, although I don't want to tempt fate, I drive 25,000 miles a year art least and have a clean driving licence. It's not speed that kills, it's bad driving that is the problem. I.e speed at the wrong time or pulling out in front of the motorbike because your driving without concentrating on what you are doing.

Our speed limits were designed for morris Minors and the like. I drive something a little better so why should I not exploit some of my cars 155mph capability at 3.00am on a deserted dual cabbage way?

Anyway, rant over, I just wondered if there are any other spirited but hopefully conciousness drivers out there in Miniland?

[taffy1967]

Yes I'm sure we've all driven like 'Twunks' at least a few times in our lives, but hopefully we grow up enough to live a long and happy life.

Anyway you get a buzz from driving a Mini at most speeds, so you don't have to break the speed limits or spin and think it's really clever.

Not having a go mate, but it's best not to encourage this bad behaviour as it is sure to end in tears.

[rozzer!]

mine makes enough noise and bumps soo much that it FEELS like its going faster than it is! speedo even says i am going quicker than i am. dont have to speed to enjoy it!

[A KIRK]

I agree mate, although spirited driver is frowned upon, there is a time and a place, and yes sometimes its safe enough to be on the road, but it all depends on the circumstances.

I drive 70 000 miles a year, I drive like a granny in most my vehicles, but when in the mini, well its like I'm a differnt person. Gas pedel on and off, brakes on or off. Mind you I do enjoy a good track day or a hill climb

[taffy1967]

True, but my daughter will be 17 this year and to be honest I'm absolutely terrified.

I honestly don't want her to drive for lots of reasons, but apart from all that there's the cost of insurance for youngsters and the fact you risk loosing your driving licence within a certain amount of time after passing your test should you get done for dangerous driving.

So just think about it all for a minute and then drive safely as it's really the only way to get from A to B.

I'll just need to remind myself when I'm hurting across the mountains here in my Mini, but I've been driving for decades and I know my limits and the limits of my Mini.

[Strontium Dog]

I agree mate, although spirited driver is frowned upon, there is a time and a place, and yes sometimes its safe enough to be on the road, but it all depends on the circumstances.

I drive 70 000 miles a year, I drive like a granny in most my vehicles, but when in the mini, well its like I'm a differnt person. Gas pedel on and off, brakes on or off. Mind you I do enjoy a good track day or a hill climb

Thanks and well said. I don't want to encourage recklessness but ther IS a time and most definately a few places that I know of. Lol!

Thanks for the P.M's of support from those that don't want to be named and flamed!

For those of you that would like to see what your cars will do when pressed then I whole heartedly recommend you go and take part in a few autotests. For £15 or less you can do doughnuts and 'j' turns and spin your wheels like complete hooligans for an afternoon in a controlled environment and really gain some skills without the risk of hurting any one. Makes a better driver of you in the real world too so when you are driving in a spirited manner and something goes wrong you are equipped to deal with it. Or if you hit some diesel while doing 20mph round a roundabout, or doesn't that happen to any one but me? Lol!

[Ethel]

I think if someone starts a topic to tell us all about the antics they've been up to behind the wheel; we can, basically, respond in one of two ways and I'm not sure encouraging them is the better option.

[Strontium Dog]

True, but my daughter will be 17 this year and to be honest I'm absolutely terrified.

I honestly don't want her to drive for lots of reasons, but apart from all that there's the cost of insurance for youngsters and the fact you risk loosing your driving licence within a certain amount of time after passing your test should you get done for dangerous driving.

So just think about it all for a minute and then drive safely as it's really the only way to get from A to B.

I'll just need to remind myself when I'm hurting across the mountains here in my Mini, but I've been driving for decades and I know my limits and the limits of my Mini.

As in my post above Mate, you could do far worse than get her to an autotest. License is not necessary but YOU will have to sit beside her if she hasn't got one. Lol!

My daughter is gonna go this route for sure and she is really keen but to young yet. I bet you'd love it too and would probably be quite good at it at a guess! If you can find a grass event it is much kinder to your car as the tarmac events tend to eat transmissions and tyres for a pass time!

[Strontium Dog]

I think if someone starts a topic to tell us all about the antics they've been up to behind the wheel; we can, basically, respond in one of two ways and I'm not sure encouraging them is the better option.

If someone said they had been doing 90 sideways past the school while overtaking the Evo I'd agree completely. Please don't confuse what I am saying but it seems it is every time any one mentions going fast that they get flamed.

I recognise that there are many inexperienced drivers on here but lets not discourage them from getting that experience. Telling some one to go slower will achieve nothing. At least it didn't with me when I was 18. Lol! I feel some encouragement towards learning the appropriate skills would be a better way forward and would make peoples lives both more pleasurable and safer than just alienating them from the places they could gain some insight. Learning that to go fast sometimes means to go slower for instance!

Any way I'm sure you get the drift of what I am saying and I hope you don't think I wish to encourage hooligan behaviour.

Edited by Stronteum Dog, 10 September 2008 - 11:33 PM.

[taffy1967]

Well if it's spirited driving off road, like on a race track or autotest etc, then that's fine and under supervision their sure to learn to drive well.

But for so many reasons it's just asking for trouble on the main road.

I'd also feel terribly guilty for encouraging someone to drive fast or just badly and for them then to have a bad crash or die as a result.

I know I couldn't live with myself then.

[Strontium Dog]

Well if it's spirited driving off road, like on a race track or autotest etc, then that's fine and under supervision their sure to learn to drive well.

But for so many reasons it's just asking for trouble on the main road.

I'd also feel terribly guilty for encouraging someone to drive fast or just badly and for them then to have a bad crash or die as a result.

I know I couldn't live with myself then.

Yes Taffy but those that are gonna drive fast are gonna drive fast. The idea that telling them not too will help is just daft. It is what is repressed that will come to the fore. Just look at prohibition! The more we are told no, the more we do it. I feel that encouraging greater driving skills is better and more effective than pretending that because it is frowned upon by some it will not happen. I just wish I had discovered motor sports that are affordable when I was younger. I'm sure it would have saved me from some pain, suffering and repair bills not to mention one or two fines along the way. Lol!

For what it is worth I too have fears for my daughter who likes motorbikes. I no longer ride them, although I have had many and my thou is still in the garage, for fear or encouraging her. I want her to drive cars instead and she will if she wants (which she does) get to do lots of motor sports especially autotests to start. I want her to have all the control skill I and my competition buddies can impart to, and encourage her to learn.

[BoboGib]

I think the reason he got flamed wa the way he came across. The line that got me was when he said "I always do it in the wet" Thats just begging for an accident.


Don't get me wrong I'm all up for spirited driving as a few people could tell you but to do it around town where there were "grannies watching" is extremely dangerous.

I think there was a reason the other thread was closed and unfortualy I can see this one going the same way as the only way to safley drive spirited (by safe I mean putting no one at risk) Is to do it at a well marshalled event, such as a track day or as you yourself said, autotest.

[Strontium Dog]

I think the reason he got flamed wa the way he came across. The line that got me was when he said "I always do it in the wet" Thats just begging for an accident.


Don't get me wrong I'm all up for spirited driving as a few people could tell you but to do it around town where there were "grannies watching" is extremely dangerous.

I think there was a reason the other thread was closed and unfortualy I can see this one going the same way as the only way to safley drive spirited (by safe I mean putting no one at risk) Is to do it at a well marshalled event, such as a track day or as you yourself said, autotest.

That's not quite true ether! This year at the beginning of the season a car got rolled during a road rally organised by a club local to me. ( I was nether participating or present before any one starts) The event was well marshalled but the car still got rolled!

It is not just the lad that got flamed just now but just about every time some one mentions going quickly that they cop an earful from the 40mph set on here! This is my point and if you read my posts I am trying to put forward a more sensible approach to replying to these posts! I.e if your gonna do it gain the skills first so you don't have to pay the price when you get it wrong!

[BoboGib]

I think the reason he got flamed wa the way he came across. The line that got me was when he said "I always do it in the wet" Thats just begging for an accident.


Don't get me wrong I'm all up for spirited driving as a few people could tell you but to do it around town where there were "grannies watching" is extremely dangerous.

I think there was a reason the other thread was closed and unfortualy I can see this one going the same way as the only way to safley drive spirited (by safe I mean putting no one at risk) Is to do it at a well marshalled event, such as a track day or as you yourself said, autotest.

That's not quite true ether! This year at the beginning of the season a car got rolled during a road rally organised by a club local to me. ( I was nether participating or present before any one starts) The event was well marshalled but the car still got rolled!

It is not just the lad that got flamed just now but just about every time some one mentions going quickly that they cop an earful from the 40mph set on here! This is my point and if you read my posts I am trying to put forward a more sensible approach to replying to these posts! I.e if your gonna do it gain the skills first so you don't have to pay the price when you get it wrong!

I think if you read my reply properly I was agreing with you. Yes the car still rolled but it didn't roll into a bus stop full of school kids did it. Thats the point I was making. There is a time and place.