Crazy 944 drivers

Yargk · Yargk's Garage

A few friends and I were out tonight in my friend's older model grand-prix (or grand-am whatever, I don't know, nor care). We pull up at a stop light, a black 944 pre 85.5 idles to the left and a newer white one waits to the right. So as a joke my friend revs it. 3 cars, all 8+ seconds to sixty, it's not racing, it's just getting up to the speed limit in an acceptable amount of time. It's wet, however in a fwd we would have no problem and we didn't think the rwd four-bangers wouldn't do anything nuts. We were wrong. As we lull off the line at a normal not racing pace, the 944s floor it and are actually slower to start as a result. However, all still goes well until the guy in the white car slams into second, his rear slides to the right and his nose comes dangerously close to my friend's right rear fender. He saved it, and was embarrassed as he rightly should be. We let the 944s go far ahead. They have no traction in the wet, I would think he would realize this, but I guess he had too much to prove to a grand-prix(am) who wasn't racing in the first place.

BTW I have nothing against 944 drivers, nor am I biased against them, this just is one idiot driver.

Early_S_Man · 12-01-2001, 03:38 AM

Well, on SLICK STREETS ... maybe THREE idiot drivers!

Yargk · Yargk's Garage

With hindsight 20/20 yes, three, and we should have had the foresight, too, however we didn't actually race them, but we shouldn't have baited them either. I knew I'd get that response, because even though we didn't race, it was my friend's blip that incited the whole thing. However, I posted anyway, so show that even a joke is sometimes taken too seriously. Thanks for stating the obvious Warren

Come to think of it, they seemed to be racing each other afterward and I doubt it was chance that they were lined up against each other when we arrived. So the outcome could have been the same whether or not my friend's car's rpm rose, nevertheless our action didn't display intelligence in any shape or form. In that I agree.

Early_S_Man · 12-01-2001, 04:53 AM

Keith,

It wasn't really intended to brand your friend as an 'idiot' as much as it was to point out the obvious danger to all of the occupants in the Pontiac ... had one of the 944s gotten out of shape badly and clipped the rear end hard! Even at only moderate speeds of 30-40 mph, on slick streets ... that Pontiac would have been merely a ballistic object, and it COULD have ended badly, if the kinetic energy had been dissipated by collision with a tree, lamppost, or parked vehicle!

I'm sure you realize that there could have been serious injuries or death(s) as the result, but I AM glad there weren't!

Planter91C2 · 12-01-2001, 09:39 AM

don't forget, alot of 944 drivers are under 18 years old

JuiceMan · 12-01-2001, 09:52 AM

Wow I had an 86 944 when I was 16 and was a little smarter than that!

rscupper · 12-01-2001, 10:04 AM

Daryl's right. Take a look at the 944 Pelican board. Many, many 944 owners are very young and stupid (exactly like I was at that age).

The hoot is they want to drag race. They would get alot more bang for their buck buying rice or old U.S. muscle, but as we all know the Porsche mystique runs deep.

That said, it might be kinda fun to try one of their 951s with a nitrous system

- on the track.

Drago · Drago's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by rscupper
Daryl's right. Take a look at the 944 Pelican board. Many, many 944 owners are very young and stupid (exactly like I was at that age).

Also the reason some of the more mature 944 drivers troll over here. Come to think of it, when I was "that age" my car was brand new....

autobonrun · autobonrun's Garage

I recall the quote in Cool Hand Luke:

"A man has got to know his limitations"

This goes double for street driving. I never drive fast in residential neighborhoods, on wet streets, or heavy traffic.

Even when I was young and somewhat willing to take a challange, I picked my competition. A grand am would not have made the cut.

I did accept the challenge from a Ferrari, Jag XKE, and MB 560SL. If I raced every car that pulled up and challenged me, I'd be dead or in jail.
I even had a guy driving a woody stationwagon with his family in side pull up and rev his engine. Go figure.

JuiceMan · 12-01-2001, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by autobonrun
I even had a guy driving a woody stationwagon with his family in side pull up and rev his engine. Go figure.

Hey you never know whats under the hood of some Station Wagons! Now days it could be 502 (with quiet exhaust of course) people are making some real sleepers

And remember there was one Woodie Station wagon that came stock with an 454 LS6 (only one or two made)

Dave951M · 12-01-2001, 12:47 PM

As a "944" owner, I do have this to say- the 944 is still one of the most affordable Porsche cars for the younger driver. If natural selection allows this young person to live long enough, they will most likely acquire other Porsche models. Drag race with a 944? You have to be on some really hard drugs to even contemplate that one. I have a 951 and wouldn't even consider it. Maybe from 60 to 120. The best part about this model is its handling on the twisties. That said, I'm well into the wrong side of 40 and still like to tinker with cars, especially Porsches. I've driven 911, 928, 914, 944, 924 and I still feel like the factory engineer said- I like them all.

stray15 · stray15's Garage

I'm one of them dumb young 944 drivers, but I learned all the lessons that I needed to driving other cars. I don't mess around like that, I can't afford to.