Canyon Carving: Fun? or Dangerous?

stupenal · 07-26-2002, 03:44 PM

I know lots of people here share the same opinion regarding street racing. On the same note, I know many 944 owners love to take their cars into the local mountain twisties. While it is fun to take corners at double the speed limit, isnt this just like doing a straightaway at double the speed limit??

The reason i bring this question up is because last night, my friends and I decided to go into the local mountains for some driving fun. Unfortunately, my friend took a corner too fast in his Acura RSX and lost control, causing the car to flip several times. And for some weird twist of fate, one of the passengers in the rear seat was ejected from the car. Luckily, he just ended up with some cuts and major bruises.

Now here's the point I'm getting at. My friends and I all condone street racing because we think its stupid and dangerous. However, we all love to take our cars out once in awhile and hitting the twisties. The friend who crashed has had plenty of experience in the local mountains, yet just couldn't seem to control his car (which is totalled) this time. Is this sort of thing just as dangerous as street racing?

ae1969 · 07-26-2002, 04:15 PM

...........of course its just as dangerous!?!...............

Whenever you push your car on the street it is dangerous.

The street is an uncontrolled environment. We all take a risk once in a while......but a risk nonetheless....

twisties or straight lines either one will kill you.

All I ask, if you are going to do it...... try and do it when the roads are clear..........

I had three morons yesterday trying to drive the twisties in a Honda CRX, Pontiac Sunfire and a Jeep Grand CHerokee (stolen or stolen from dad).........in the straights the Cherokee pulled away... in the twisties the other 2 got closer........on a busy stretch of road!!!! (idiots)

AFJuvat · 07-26-2002, 08:34 PM

Yep, it is dangerous - then again, what isn't.

I'm sure your friend is an experienced driver, but it would seem that either he overestimated his ability to handle the car at that speed, or he wasn't giving the road his full attention - in this case, he got lucky that everyone walked away and the only thing trashed was the car.

AFJuvat

overkill · 07-26-2002, 10:29 PM

YO, i work in a hospital and you know what? That dude that got ejected is luck as hell! You know how many people get ejected and crushed from the car rolling over them? ALOT!!! Stupid asses. Save it for the tracks. Why didn't he have his seat belt on??? Geez!

scottmandue · 02:09 PM

Canyon carving:

Fun? Yes

Dangerous? Yes

Driving without seat belt? Stupid!

Twenty years ago I drove as if every minute behind the wheel was a race, I was constantly pushing the G limits of my car, acceleration, deceleration, lateral. This was before seat belt laws, people would get in my car, I would look at them and say "put on your seat belt" they would reply "aw I don't need it". After a few blocks in my Opal Kadet with the big fat tires squealing away they would be strapping in.

Is living in the city where there is a high crime rate dangerous?
Is breathing the crappy air in Los Angeles dangerous?
Is riding a motorcycle dangerous?

I have done all of the above... One fateful day years ago I was racing through the hills in your neighborhood about 1:00am, months of my abusive driving had worn the tires in my moms impala station wagon (that could hit 110mph going past Portuguese bend). I throw the big Chevy into a turn... It slid across the other lane... slapped the curb... stood up on two wheels... and fortunately came down right side up. Later I realize that if someone had been coming around that corner in the opposite direction everyone would have died.

The moral of this story: I may have the right to live recklessly and risk my life, but I don't have the right to risk the life of others.

Don't get me wrong, I'm no saint, I still drive too fast and drink too much (not at the same time!) but I try to keep my spirited driving to remote roads, and if I want to get a buzz I try to do it with my butt on the coach and the TV remote in my hand.

Oh $hit I'm getting old and resposable!

stupenal · 07-28-2002, 12:02 AM

ok, the guy had his seatbelt on, must've accidently pressed the release button while they were flipping. Now, I know a bunch of you guys go out there into the twisties when you think its safe. The main point that I was trying to bring out is that hey, its really fun, yet its totally just as illegal as doing 120 on the freeway, yet I would think people canyon carve quite frequently. I mean, great handling cars are built to hit up the twisties, but I think many people think it's OK to do that, just because they aren't going to be going at insane speed levels, yet it will be higher than the posted limit. Just my thought on "aggressive" driving in the mountains.

todwic · todwic's Garage

It's even more dangerous than straight out speeding. first of all you wipe out on a curve, and you have the stuff past the shoulders to deal with. this is usually trees, telephone poles, gravity wells (cliffs. see Bill Underwood's sight@Bill's 944 site)fences, houses, parked cars and such.You wipe out on the freeway and you mostly have walls to keep you in the pinball action.
I have taken driving cars to the maximum of stupidity. I've ramped train tracks only to notice someone was parked SIDEWAYS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD AT THE BOTTOM of what had become my landing ramp. I've spilled coffee going to work, pick up the cup just in time to see I was driving head on into a (empty, thank God) school bus. I've driven Fast as hell down a road that ended in a "T" just in time to find out only one wheel brake worked. The guy passing me as I did this said I looked like an airplane crashing. I've ramped motorcyleS(!) into stock ponds, Hit 3 deer, and skidded into a curb on wet pavement. Thank goodness I've settled down, and all these things I've done completely sober. The only reason I'm still walking is I've ALWAYS wore my seat belt.
I'm not bragging, these things I have done are very very stupid and I wish I could take all of them back, and I've never injured anyone but myself is the only reason I can still sleep at night. Think about that the next time you want to tear ass along a mountain road or see how fast your car will go on the straight a way. It only takes a split second to make a mistake you'll regret for the rest of your life.