161-mph, Route 93-north, Ashland, NH; orange Corvette

[XCR-700]

Looks to me like he got away with it and got turned loose with nothing more than a court date, well for now anyway.

I would have expected the car impounded, and a big fine to start and a hefty bail,,,

Just goes to show you never know how the legal system will respond.

[TheTimeTraveler]

I believe that the speed of 161 mph would be considered "reckless driving". As such it could end up being not only expensive but very inconvenient for the driver.

[XCR-700]

Originally Posted by TheTimeTraveler

I believe that the speed of 161 mph would be considered "reckless driving". As such it could end up being not only expensive but very inconvenient for the driver.

So far it looks like he got a short time out and released,,,

One might reasonable expect him to be held for something like this until he was in front of a judge.

Guess some people have better luck than others, or maybe better connections,,,

[ITD]

Originally Posted by XCR-700

So far it looks like he got a short time out and released,,,

One might reasonable expect him to be held for something like this until he was in front of a judge.

Guess some people have better luck than others, or maybe better connections,,,

I suspect if he had been drinking he would have been locked up. He probably will lose his license for a while and get fined.

[XCR-700]

Originally Posted by ITD

I suspect if he had been drinking he would have been locked up. He probably will lose his license for a while and get fined.

Agreed!

Not sure how this is a lessor offense,,,

[ITD]

Originally Posted by XCR-700

Agreed!

Not sure how this is a lessor offense,,,

It's speeding, reckless and dumb, but probably less dangerous to the public than driving drunk. Still, very dangerous, even a corvette can't out run the laws of physics. One poor slob, looks back, sees this moron a half mile back, changes lanes and gets demolished. Stupid thing to do, seems to be more of it now days.

[XCR-700]

Originally Posted by ITD

It's speeding, reckless and dumb, but probably less dangerous to the public than driving drunk. .

Are you kidding???

At 161 MPH on NH roadways, thats worse than any drunk driver!

At that speed, you could run into unexpected traffic and wipe out multiple cars, where as most drunk drivers have a hard time getting up to normal speed and tend to have lower speed accidents.

I am not in any way trying to downplay the impact of drunk driving, but going 160+ MPH on NH roads is insane. This guy should lose his license automatically and for at least as long as someone convicted of drunk driving.

We have all been conditioned to 80+ MPH on our interstate highways and you may well see someone even doing 100 MPH on occasion for a very short burst, but as a former racer I can tell you with no doubt in my mind that over 125 MPH is a game changer, and again over 150 MPH is a whole different realm. If he had hit a minivan filled with a family, not likely anyone would survive. And no telling just how many cars you could destroy at that speed.

This offense is much worse than any average drunk driver and should have a greater punishment.

There are plenty of places elsewhere you can do what he was doing, but NH highways are not one of them.

Even if he had enough control to pass someone at that speed (and thats questionable) he probably would have scared them so bad, it would not surprise me to see them crash without ever having made contact.

This is a very bad situation and the system needs to make an example of him.

[ITD]

Originally Posted by XCR-700

Are you kidding???

At 161 MPH on NH roadways, thats worse than any drunk driver!

At that speed, you could run into unexpected traffic and wipe out multiple cars, where as most drunk drivers have a hard time getting up to normal speed and tend to have lower speed accidents.

I am not in any way trying to downplay the impact of drunk driving, but going 160+ MPH on NH roads is insane. This guy should lose his license automatically and for at least as long as someone convicted of drunk driving.

We have all been conditioned to 80+ MPH on our interstate highways and you may well see someone even doing 100 MPH on occasion for a very short burst, but as a former racer I can tell you with no doubt in my mind that over 125 MPH is a game changer, and again over 150 MPH is a whole different realm. If he had hit a minivan filled with a family, not likely anyone would survive. And no telling just how many cars you could destroy at that speed.

This offense is much worse than any average drunk driver and should have a greater punishment.

There are plenty of places elsewhere you can do what he was doing, but NH highways are not one of them.

Even if he had enough control to pass someone at that speed (and thats questionable) he probably would have scared them so bad, it would not surprise me to see them crash without ever having made contact.

This is a very bad situation and the system needs to make an example of him.

Once again XCR, we disagree. I'm fine with him being charged, fined, whatever, but what he did, while a violation of trust and decency, is bad. Any moron who gets into a vehicle and drives drunk is much worse. Much worse.

[XCR-700]

Originally Posted by ITD

Once again XCR, we disagree. I'm fine with him being charged, fined, whatever, but what he did, while a violation of trust and decency, is bad. Any moron who gets into a vehicle and drives drunk is much worse. Much worse.

We will have to agree to disagree.

What he did is a exceedingly reckless and a blatant disregard for anyone elses safety, and the results of any accident at that speed would horrifying.

I can tell you if faced with the choice of having him on the highway with me or some drunk driver, either would be a bad situation, but I'll take the drunk driver ANY day. Not much chance of surviving a collision with a 160+ MPH vehicle.

If you have ever seen the crashes on the German autobahn, all thats left is a burned out circle where the crash scene occurred. Its nasty and tragic. And thats on roads designed for travel at such speeds, NH roads are NOT designed for such speeds,,,

Again, we are each entitled to our opinions, but mine is pretty solid on this, and I am a passionate performance car enthusiast and former auto racer. So I love these cars, just not driving that fast on public roads shared with families in regular vehicles.

ATB

[garysanfran]

ITD & XCR...Thought I'd put the two of you together on this...

Imagine driving drunk at 161 mph?

[XCR-700]

Originally Posted by garysanfran

ITD & XCR...Thought I'd put the two of you together on this...

Imagine driving drunk at 161 mph?

I think the drunk would have to be passed out and foot just pressed on the pedal, as most struggle to get up to speed,,,

[ITD]

Originally Posted by garysanfran

ITD & XCR...Thought I'd put the two of you together on this...

Imagine driving drunk at 161 mph?

I think that's how many drunks get caught, maybe not 161, but speeding still.

[XCR-700]

Originally Posted by ITD

I think that's how many drunks get caught, maybe not 161, but speeding still.

Funny, I was told it was the opposite, that they often get stopped for not keeping up with traffic/or driving slower than the posted speed for no apparent reason. Then thrown some swerving and other erratic maneuvers just to keep it interesting.

But then like most things I'm sure it varies.

[jbolty]

Originally Posted by garysanfran

ITD & XCR...Thought I'd put the two of you together on this...

Imagine driving drunk at 161 mph?

get home sooner, so less chance of an accident? drunk logic

[John Mercier]

I think the minimum-to-minimum punishment is on about 30 days loss of license difference. Of course, the difference between 100 mph and 161 mph may mean the minimum is not on the table.

[BroadHopper]

I travel through Connecticut often. Seems like they aren't serious about stopping speeders. I travel 70 mph down 91 and cars are whizzing by at twice the speed! The back roads to Lime Rock is insane! Bimmers, AMGs, and RS etc are blazing! Glad we are giving this guy a lesson. We may live free but safely!

[thinkxingu]

Originally Posted by BroadHopper

I travel through Connecticut often. Seems like they aren't serious about stopping speeders. I travel 70 mph down 91 and cars are whizzing by at twice the speed! The back roads to Lime Rock is insane! Bimmers, AMGs, and RS etc are blazing! Glad we are giving this guy a lesson. We may live free but safely!

I see vehicles at 80-90 on 3 every day I commute, but that is a HUGE difference between 161.

I'm with XCR on this one—161mph is in "I don't care if I kill anyone territory," and he should be anilhated by the law.

Sent from my SM-G990U1 using Tapatalk

[SAMIAM]

Most people that own performance cars know how to operate them.I'll take a 160mph car any time over a drunk driver.
He probably saw some empty highway and just wanted to have a little fun and ran into a speed trap to his bad luck.I really doubt if he was weaving in and out of traffic at that speed.

[XCR-700]

Originally Posted by SAMIAM

Most people that own performance cars know how to operate them.

Not in the real world, only in their mind. Having spent most of my career in the automotive industry and working for the US DOT, I can tell you with utmost confidence most people who buy off the shelf performance cars like Corvettes are NOT trained performance car drivers, they just have big egos and good credit. Now ego and confidence will carry you a long way, but once you break 125 MPH, its a different story and the same for 150 MPH, this is not safe territory for anyone who does not have lots of experience. And even for experienced performance car drivers, NH highways are not suited for such speed!

No 40 MPH accident with a drunk driver will ever compare to the total devastation that you will see when a car doing 160 MPH hits anything, and if its another car I assure you no one will survive! The car parts will be swept up and the body parts that can be recovered will be scraped into small bags. It is a horrifying sight to see. And for what purpose, literally a moments worth of thrill,,, Ok well then take a trip to Bonneville or your local dragstrip, but keep off public roads.

People were up in arms over going more than 50 MPH on Winnipesaukee, thats a Sunday drive by comparison to 161 MPH on RT 93,,,

I'm guessing most that are saying they are not too concerned about doing 161 MPH on RT 93 have never really been in a car that very high speeds and or seen the results of an accident on a public road at such speeds, or if so I am truly bewildered by the acceptance of this.

Go figure,,,

[ApS]

Originally Posted by XCR-700

Not in the real world, only in their mind. Having spent most of my career in the automotive industry and working for the US DOT, I can tell you with utmost confidence most people who buy off the shelf performance cars like Corvettes are NOT trained performance car drivers, they just have big egos and good credit. Now ego and confidence will carry you a long way, but once you break 125 MPH, its a different story and the same for 150 MPH, this is not safe territory for anyone who does not have lots of experience. And even for experienced performance car drivers, NH highways are not suited for such speed!

This is true. Even among sophisticated racing boats, these all suffer from the reality of going airborne. Notice how most misadventures occur when approaching another car or boat. Turbulent air affects not only the subject car, but the cars they're passing.

Real racers tune their suspensions for maximum grip to the airstream. So much so, that on race courses involving city streets the heavy manhole covers are welded shut!

It doesn't take much at 130-MPH to flip your car--or a nearby car--when encountering a dip or bump in the road. Our Interstates aren't Autobahns. Cars make lousy aircraft.

I was fortunate to train drivers to introduce--or improve--high speed driving skills. These were conducted on famous North American race courses and organized by the world's largest single-marque automobile club.

You could bring your own car to the race track, but Corvettes, Panoz and Vipers were rare. With the exception of an instructor's Corvette, I don't think I saw a single one!

In the 1980s, we were paid to instruct. In 1990, in an expense-reducing measure, we instructors were given an hour's track time (per day) instead in our own cars. Of course, we had expensive tires with commensurate high speed ratings.

This was much more rewarding, as we could demonstrate our discipline to anyone who had paid for the high speed driving course. (Although most of instructors' "seat time" was instructing as a passenger in the participant's car).

I was fortunate to instruct among with racing's luminaries like Sam Posey and Vic Elford.

Vic drove his Porsche 917 at 246-MPH at LeMans--at night! He has since sadly passed away last March.

[TiltonBB]

Chevrolet offers discounted high speed driving and handling courses to every purchaser of a new Corvette. The usual tuition is over $3,000 but it is $1,500 for Corvette buyers.

The program is at the Ron Fellows facility in Spring Mountain about 50 miles west of Las Vegas. It is highly regarded and all of the instructors are very experienced race drivers.

https://www.springmountainmotorsports.com/

[XCR-700]

Originally Posted by ApS

This is true. Even among sophisticated racing boats, these all suffer from the reality of going airborne. Notice how most misadventures occur when approaching another car or boat. Turbulent air affects not only the subject car, but the cars they're passing.

Real racers tune their suspensions for maximum grip to the airstream. So much so, that on race courses involving city streets the heavy manhole covers are welded shut!

It doesn't take much at 130-MPH to flip your car--or a nearby car--when encountering a dip or bump in the road. Our Interstates aren't Autobahns. Cars make lousy aircraft.

I was fortunate to train drivers to introduce--or improve--high speed driving skills. These were conducted on famous North American race courses and organized by the world's largest single-marque automobile club.

You could bring your own car to the race track, but Corvettes, Panoz and Vipers were rare. With the exception of an instructor's Corvette, I don't think I saw a single one!

In the 1980s, we were paid to instruct. In 1990, in an expense-reducing measure, we instructors were given an hour's track time (per day) instead in our own cars. Of course, we had expensive tires with commensurate high speed ratings.

This was much more rewarding, as we could demonstrate our discipline to anyone who had paid for the high speed driving course. (Although most of instructors' "seat time" was instructing as a passenger in the participant's car).

I was fortunate to instruct among with racing's luminaries like Sam Posey and Vic Elford.

Vic drove his Porsche 917 at 246-MPH at LeMans--at night! He has since sadly passed away last March.

OUTSTANDING post!

Did you compete yourself?

Myself, I'm a former drag racer, very different activity in many way, and at the same time many of the same challenges apply.

As is the case with most drag racers, we are also often our own builders and mechanics, and for me there is a duality to racing that I love the tuning and testing as much as the racing. Building the car, tuning the car and racing the car you eventually become one with the car and can sense how its running and reacting. Its all been a great joy to have participated in.

Sounds like you have some really interesting and fun seat time! Maybe some quiet summer day we can connect and you can share some of your experiences.

Thanks.

[fatlazyless]

Originally Posted by SAMIAM

Most people that own performance cars know how to operate them.I'll take a 160mph car any time over a drunk driver.
He probably saw some empty highway and just wanted to have a little fun and ran into a speed trap to his bad luck.I really doubt if he was weaving in and out of traffic at that speed.

In a case like this, the judge has some choice with the sentence punishment and will look at the past history record on the defendant.

Like, is this his first offense or his tenth offense, or what ..... exactly?

We here simply do not know, but the defendant, the prosecutor, the defense attorney, the judge, a jury, and the police ..... they all will know about a defendant's past history.

[XCR-700]

Tragic example; https://www.foxnews.com/us/los-angel...an-fiery-crash

[brk-lnt]

Originally Posted by SAMIAM

Most people that own performance cars know how to operate them.

IMO, it is the exact opposite. There are endless crash reels on Youtube of bad exits from Cars-n-coffee events, just as one example. High performance Mustang crashes are practically a meme now.

[XCR-700]

Originally Posted by brk-lnt

IMO, it is the exact opposite. There are endless crash reels on Youtube of bad exits from Cars-n-coffee events, just as one example. High performance Mustang crashes are practically a meme now.

I was particularly shocked by the clip of the Hellcat that tapped the full size pickup and put it on its roof. That truck went up and over in the blink of an eye. Clearly the Hellcat driver had no clue how to control his car. I read some claim that something like 15% of all Hellcats are wrecked on their way home the dealership the day they bought it,,,

Nope not buying the idea the most performance car drivers know how to handle their cars, are safe drivers and are less of a threat than a drunk driver when driving over 150 MPH, AND that anyone is reasonably safe driving on NH highways with anyone else on the road while doing 150+ MPH, that is simply ridiculous. This guy avoided a horrific tragedy by dumb luck alone.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0T1olfIGGE