The on-ramp carnage continues...

[Moses]

An earlier thread talks about the rapidly increasing HP of production cars. Several models over 400HP stock.

A good friend who doed high-end body work says they are being deluged by middle-aged businessmen who are losing control of their new cars on on-ramps. These are not kids out there drag racing. This is Mr. 40-something who leans on the gas a bit to heavy and finds his butt in a spin.

The most notorious cars according to my friend: The Corvette Z06 and the Dodge Viper.

[Wayne 962]

Two cars that are very powerful, yet somewhat lack the balance of a mid-engined car...

-Wayne

[LeeH]

I wonder what kind of performance driving experience these guys have. Did they just decide to give up the Lexus for a 'Vette one day? The manufacturers ought to give a driving course to purchasers... like motorcycle manufacturers sponsor the Motorcycle Safety Foundation course.

Reminds me of when my wife was working at a multi-line motorcycle dealership while finishing up her masters degree. Some stud bought a big sport bike, but had never riden a motorcycle before. The salesman was trying desperately to convince the guy to take the MSF course before taking delivery. Studly refuses, hops on the bike and promptly dumps the bike and himself just trying to pull out of the parking lot.

[rstoll]

Just got back from the lake. Had a wrestling match with a 110 hp jet ski. I couldn't hurt it.

[Superman]

I have made the same findings with the jet skis I have tested. They'll do 360s at speed, go under water, whatever. Pretty fun!

[silverc4s]

I have a friend that sold his Viper a few years back - one of the early red roadsters, a really fun car to drive and/or ride in!!! Anyway, he is a sane & sober driver that (mostly) keeps his high speed urges to track.
When he was selling the car, he would take prospective buyers for a (spirited) demo ride, if requested, but would not allow them behind the wheel.
He sold the car to a guy that then came over with a friend, paid for the car, left driving for the first time, and did a 360 on the SECOND CORNER leaving Dave's house into a phone pole... Destroyed the entire rear section of the car and bent the frame at the rear suspension mounting area.... but it was his car at that point...

[Brian993]

I have a few interests and one of them is ATV's. I purchased a Polaris sportsmen 500 two years ago, they made me watch a 45 minute tape on safety as well as drive a safety course. It weighs roughly 800 lbs- imagine that flipping on top of you! While I have been into dirt bikes and quads a few decades now I thought this was a good idea, especially for the green horns. I purchased a skidoo skimobile last winter and they just show you how to fire it up and say call us for service, I guess it all depends on the corporate giants conscience.

And we are talking about HP and Torque mammoths with these cars- sign the paprework and screw!

[89911]

I got to drive a Viper the other day at the paint shop where my brothers car was. These cars are sublte as a hand grenade. I can easily see how they can get away from you. Just mash the pedal in midturn and you've just traded ends. Where as a 911 feels like a knife carving up turns and giving you the confidence to trust it and push for more, this Viper feels like a bulldozer plowing through turns. Its fast, no mistake, but I could see it actually taking longer to handle this amount of power as opposed to a 911. I read an article a few months ago comparing the GT3 to the Newest Viper. The drivers comment of the Viper was, and this in not a quote. "It seemed that all the components of the car were designed by people who had no interaction with each other" Interesting point.

[bell]

Originally posted by BigBpainta
I have a few interests and one of them is ATV's.

years ago i used to race 3-wheelers, i had a 150hp honda ATC-250r. it would do 140mph on dirt roads with the correct sprocket setup, in the many "crosscountry" events i did there was always someone there without the proper saftey knowledge of these machines who would get injured when they got past their limits, everything reverts back to seat time, seat time, seat time.
i've been bitten a few times but never got injured.

[Brian993]

I dont miss those three wheeler atc. I have had more than one incidents with my old big red. They were fun though. Nothing like four wheels under ya. Skimobiles are whole new story, you wanna fly - get on a sled.

[bell]

my father still has a "big-red" i found for him back in the day.
i've tried riding hp 4 wheelers but after racing 3wheelers for 6 years it's a goofy transition, to this day i'm not comfortable flying on a 4wheeler as to me the get up on 2 wheels easier where the 3 wheeler you can use throttle and drift through any corner at speed.
of course i AM getting older and don't need to go that fast through the woods anymore