Motorcyclist Clocked at 155 Mph Jailed

[pirana 0]

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What's wrong with racing on controlled courses and leaving public roads to those that obey the law? (we're not talking about going 70 in a 60, we're talking about asshats going 120+ just because they feel like it.

He didn't hurt anybody...just broke a stupid law. Can't believe you are in favour of a law that is in place to protect people from possible actions. There are quite a few people who are very capable of handling motorcycles at that speed quite safely.

Speeding laws are laws to create safety from possible negligent actions of others.

So you think we shouldn't even have speed limits? There's a mindset whose judgement is totally untrustworthy.

" . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

[billvon 3,096]

>if the cyclist's OPINION is also a clearly established FACT, would you
>concede that it's not endangering anyone but the person on the bike?

I would be fine with that. If his opinion is backed up by spotters along the road, for example, who will keep it clear of people coming the other way, or pulling off the shoulder or whatever. But just saying "I can't see anything; good to go!" doesn't really speak to the problem of someone coming from the other direction, or pulling onto the road from the side or something.

[SkyDekker 1,465]

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So you think we shouldn't even have speed limits? There's a mindset whose judgement is totally untrustworthy.

Why is it totally untrustworthy?

I have no use for speed limits. Speed doesn't kill, people kill.

[Gravitymaster 0]

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>if the cyclist's OPINION is also a clearly established FACT, would you
>concede that it's not endangering anyone but the person on the bike?

I would be fine with that. If his opinion is backed up by spotters along the road, for example, who will keep it clear of people coming the other way, or pulling off the shoulder or whatever. But just saying "I can't see anything; good to go!" doesn't really speak to the problem of someone coming from the other direction, or pulling onto the road from the side or something.

Yep. I've been an avid rider for years and you absolutely never know whats around the next curve or over the next hill until it's too late. If someone needs to ride their bike that fast, they need to be on a track.

[Opie 0]

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They exist rarely at best. Maybe the salt flats? And do you really expect the rest of the people on the road to entrust the person who wants to go that fast with the judgement to know when it is safe to do so? Quite simply is it a contradiction in terms

I did the superfast stuff a few times back in my 20's. Really not very well thought out now that I look back on it. I can only take consolation in the fact I never got killed or killed anybody else. Too bad there are a whole bunch of people who are not alive to be able to say the same thing.

I understand that not all people have the same skills, but skill-based licensing isn't reasonable. ("OK sir. you get the class A3/1-4CA.77C1/no tel-POL, which means you can drive a passenger car as fast as 180 MPH as long as you are alone in the car, on at least a 4 lane controlled access freeway, have a car equipped with the attached list of technologies, it's daylight, there are no cars within 1 mile, there's no precipitation, you're not on the phone, and you say please before you put the keys in the ignition).

If you want to race, go race. It's probably cheaper in the long run to go sportsman racing.

Don't get me wrong, I'll give you that by far and away most of the time it is done unsafely in the wrong place, the wrong time and conditions endangering others. My point is if you are in fact in a safe isolated place (we could argue all day about what that is) that I'd rather make the decision for myself, instead of some politicions that passed a law, how fast I choose to go if I'm endangering no one else. In those circumstacnces I'd prefer not to automatically be considered an asshat just for busting the speed limit

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[rehmwa 2]

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Why is it totally untrustworthy?.

because at some point we have to acknowledge that we aren't the only ones on the road and they judgement call of what's safe or not varies EXTREMELY from person to person - your example is exactly the kid that ignores speed limits and is dodging and cutting on a 3 lane highway at 95 mph - another example is the old man in a hat on a slushy road who spins out at 45 mph - they both put joe 'average' at risk by causes such uncontrolled conditions

it is untrustworthy, but it's really more so just inconsiderate and selfish - I can name 20 people I'd trust to drive without speed limit restrictions. I can name 100 that I wouldn't - I can't vouch at all for the 6 billion others.......



....and no one is around to hear it ......

...
Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

[rehmwa 2]

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....I'll give you that by far and away most of the time it is done unsafely in the wrong place, the wrong time and conditions endangering others. My point is if you are in fact in a safe isolated place (we could argue all day about what that is) that I'd rather make the decision for myself, instead of some politicions that passed a law, how fast I choose to go if I'm endangering no one else. In those circumstacnces I'd prefer not to automatically be considered an asshat just for busting the speed limit

this is a good discussion (particularly with the examples of controls BV posted), but going on a course achieves those goals without any uncertainty at all

here's a scenario - you go visit the folks in the country, and your daughter is riding her bike on the blacktop to visit the neighbor's kids and some asshats flies by at 120 mph and doesn't even have time to get all the way to the other lane - how does that make you feel?



....does it make any .....

...
Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

[Darius11 12]

Dude the danger is what makes it fun.
Getting caught by the cops crashing in to a tree, and yes getting killed. That’s the fun part or else I would just play need for speed on Xbox and never drive. Being a part of a full time race team is one expensive, time consuming, and many times just not possible.

I would love to take my car down a track it’s fun but I like to drive fast a little more then just on the weekends.


I am not saying what I like to do is right, I am not saying I am safe. The truth is when you are going above 70 if you hit any thing you will most likely not walk away let alone at a 155 mph you will be vacuumed up. I know the risks and I have no problem with it. The only part I hate is that I could kill someone else. If I could race, drive fast and have that risk eliminated I would but I can’t.

My choice is simple drive 55mph and have less risk to others or trust my skill and have fun. I choose to have fun and hope I will never hurt anyone with my actions.

Sorry I have never been PC so there it is at least my side of the story and how I see things.

I see more danger in distracted drivers then I see people who speed and tale speeding seriosly.
When you are focused on the road you make less mistakes and you react quicker. I wish I coupled say the same of the soccer moms who are talking to there kids, are on a the cell ,and the dvd player is on in the mini van. Now they scare me.

I'd rather be hated for who I am, than loved for who I am not." - Kurt Cobain

[billvon 3,096]

>I see more danger in distracted drivers . . .

You can use this argument to support any unsafe action. "Sure, I had four beers, but I'm still more aware than that woman on the cellphone." "Sure, I had four beers and was talking on the phone, but I'm still a better driver than that nearly-blind 96 year old woman." It really doesn't fly.

I think you should be able to drive however fast you want. But not when it risks the lives of others.

[rehmwa 2]

Honest quote of the day -
"The only part I hate is that I could kill someone else"...

Some of us hate that part enough that we'd either race on a course or not speed. And the points that the 'track' is too expensive or no convenient enough are sad to even use - maybe the government should provide race tracks for free for those that can't afford them?

{{were you serious? or just making a mocking pro-speeding argument}}

The distracted drivers also worry me, but in terms of a fender bender, not in terms of death.

...
Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

[Opie 0]

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here's a scenario - you go visit the folks in the country, and your daughter is riding her bike on the blacktop to visit the neighbor's kids and some asshats flies by at 120 mph and doesn't even have time to get all the way to the other lane - how does that make you feel?

well in my scenario she must of been on a long ass ride because I said the stretch was straight, flat, and had no intersections for 10 mile

I might have heartfailure on my next skydive, land on the windsheild of a van with a family of 8 in it that crashes and causes a 18 car pile up killing 4 people all together...... but I don't think I'll quit jumping just the same

.........no.............

[rehmwa 2]

pretty idealized road conditions - where'd you find it?


ise?....

...
Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

[pirana 0]

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Dude the danger is what makes it fun.
Getting caught by the cops crashing in to a tree, and yes getting killed. That’s the fun part or else I would just play need for speed on Xbox and never drive. Being a part of a full time race team is one expensive, time consuming, and many times just not possible.

I would love to take my car down a track it’s fun but I like to drive fast a little more then just on the weekends.


I am not saying what I like to do is right, I am not saying I am safe. The truth is when you are going above 70 if you hit any thing you will most likely not walk away let alone at a 155 mph you will be vacuumed up. I know the risks and I have no problem with it. The only part I hate is that I could kill someone else. If I could race, drive fast and have that risk eliminated I would but I can’t.

My choice is simple drive 55mph and have less risk to others or trust my skill and have fun. I choose to have fun and hope I will never hurt anyone with my actions.

Sorry I have never been PC so there it is at least my side of the story and how I see things.

I see more danger in distracted drivers then I see people who speed and tale speeding seriosly.
When you are focused on the road you make less mistakes and you react quicker. I wish I coupled say the same of the soccer moms who are talking to there kids, are on a the cell ,and the dvd player is on in the mini van. Now they scare me.

I'm about as non-PC as it gets, but this has nothing to do with PC. It's about responsibility and the consequences of behavior.

Using "I can't" also belies a victimhood mentality. If you do not race in a sanctioned environment, it is because you choose not to, not because you can not do it. If a person chooses to become a skydiving instructor or a computer programmer instead of a motorcycle racer, then they should live responsibly with that choice. Choosing not to become a racer in sanctioned events and then saying "I can't" is not taking ownership of personal choices.

" . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

[pirana 0]

Just one more comment. I'll bet almost every person that has caused an accident with this kind of behavior felt they were skilled enough not to.

It's tempting to say just remove all the rules and instructions and let natural selection take it's course, except for all the innocents that would also be taken out.

" . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

[mattjw916 2]

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pretty idealized road conditions - where'd you find it?


ise?....

There are plenty of places in Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and California where high speeds on divided highways with ZERO intersections are possible. There is zero risk to anyone but yourself.

NSCR-2376, SCR-15080

[billvon 3,096]

>There are plenty of places in Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and California
> where high speeds on divided highways with ZERO intersections are
>possible.

Definitely. Two people were killed in California on the 8 a few years back when they ran across the highway and could not avoid a car doing over 90. Car was totalled; driver survived (amazingly.)

> There is zero risk to anyone but yourself.

Patently untrue. Risk can be minimized by using spotters etc but is not zero.

[Darius11 12]

Ok. I get off work today at 6 pm.

Tell me where i can go to race around for a few hours. I'll even pay admission up to 50 bucks you tell me where?

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Just one more comment. I'll bet almost every person that has caused an accident with this kind of behavior felt they were skilled enough not to.

And every person who hook it and killed him/her self or broke a leg thought they had the skill to do the hook. Even some who have the skills and are very skilled and respected fuck up and get hurt or killed. Some have even killed otheres in canopy collisions.

Shit happens, a world that would be 100% safe is a borring one that i would not like to be in.

I'd rather be hated for who I am, than loved for who I am not." - Kurt Cobain

[kelpdiver 2]

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I am not saying what I like to do is right, I am not saying I am safe. The truth is when you are going above 70 if you hit any thing you will most likely not walk away let alone at a 155 mph you will be vacuumed up. I know the risks and I have no problem with it. The only part I hate is that I could kill someone else. If I could race, drive fast and have that risk eliminated I would but I can’t.

At 70mph your sight lines and braking distances still give you great opportunity to see the hazard, react, or at least brake to the point where the impact survival chances are plausible. And at 70mph, you're going a speed that the person ahead (who you failed to observe) can expect to see on a back country road. Even if you're a dumbass, he may save both of you by looking out. At 155, nope. Any hazard will come up before you even reach the brake level (else you would have already been deaccelerating) and you'd be wildly lucky to slow down to 100 before impact.

I can think fo a few spots where with spotters and radios, you could do some limited length track racing without great risk to the public. For the most part though, you're gamlbing with other people's lives. That's not really the same as wildly aggressive downsizing.

OTOH, I doubt the guy was really going that speed, and I'm discounting most of the triple digit claims here by 20-40mph.

[wmw999 2,573]

If it's that important to you, maybe you should get a job where you can do it more often. Kind of like how people who really want to be swoopers (and actually get good at it) devote whole jumps to swooping, and maybe don't do other stuff.

You can't have it all, you can't do it all. You have to give up some things to do others.

Wendy W.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

[billvon 3,096]

>Tell me where i can go to race around for a few hours. I'll even pay >admission up to 50 bucks you tell me where?

New England Dragway - Boston, MA 1/4 mile dragstrip

Seekonk Speedway - Seekonk, MA 1/3 mile slightly banked asphalt oval
Whip City Speedway - Westfield, MA 1/4 mile slightly banked clay oval

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From the website of the first one:

2006 Street Night Program
(updated 3/2/06)

New England Dragway's Street Night program is geared toward letting beginners enjoy the thrill of drag racing. It is also the perfect setting for the more experienced enthusiast who would like to test performance modifications. Newcomers should refer to the chapter about Drag Racing Basics for more detailed information about the structure of the quarter mile and preparing for that first run. Snowmobiles and Junior Dragsters may not compete on Wednesday Street Night, but may participate in the Friday Street Night program. Street Nights are open to both cars and motorcycles.
----------------------------

[DrewEckhardt 0]

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>Tell me where i can go to race around for a few hours. I'll even pay >admission up to 50 bucks you tell me where?

New England Dragway - Boston, MA 1/4 mile dragstrip

Seekonk Speedway - Seekonk, MA 1/3 mile slightly banked asphalt oval
Whip City Speedway - Westfield, MA 1/4 mile slightly banked clay oval

And if you look more you can probably find a longer road coarse. I went to one (Second Creek near DIA in Denver, 1.7 miles), got some coaching in my car from a car club instructor, and a ride in a 996 GT3 Porsche Cup car (370 HP, 2500 pounds) with a running commentary over helmet intercoms explaining how to drive. It was enlightening.

Probably $60; you provide the vehicle and helmet.

[Darius11 12]

Thank you and Bill.


If i can find a nice road course i am there

I'd rather be hated for who I am, than loved for who I am not." - Kurt Cobain

[OATSF14 0]

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My choice is simple drive 55mph and have less risk to others or trust my skill and have fun. I choose to have fun and hope I will never hurt anyone with my actions.

Agree totally. Ride as you wish to ride. If others do not like it fine. It is good to read your posts. PC be damned.

[kelpdiver 2]

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My choice is simple drive 55mph and have less risk to others or trust my skill and have fun. I choose to have fun and hope I will never hurt anyone with my actions.

Agree totally. Ride as you wish to ride. If others do not like it fine. It is good to read your posts. PC be damned.

When did it become PC to want people to not be a jackass on the road and 'hope to never hurt anyone else?'

The alternative is not to go 55. Most of us manage to do 70-80 on the freeways without problems. At those speeds, it's pretty hard for the biker to be a big threat to anyone, esp the SUV cagers. But when you want to go WFO on a bike, or triple digits on two lanes roads in general, there are racetracks available.

[OATSF14 0]

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But when you want to go WFO on a bike, or triple digits on two lanes roads in general, there are racetracks available.

There are many roads in my area where going triple digits under the correct conditions are fine. When I ride my bike I do so regularly. It amazes me that people who jump out of airplanes can turn into such self righteous whiney assed little babies when other people do something that has an aspect of danger involved. If you wish to go to the track then go. I do not and I will not. I look forward to seeing you on the grid beside Valentino in July. Monterey is great that time of year. You going? Darius how about you? First round on me.