 |
|
|
[Subscribe to Daily Digest] |
Members do not see ads below this line. - Help Keep This Site Online - Signup
The cars:
1997 900 Talladega Ed.; modified
1996 BMW M3; mildly modified
1988 SPG; modified
The location:
Western VA (not WV, though! ( : )
Basically it began as a hill climb. 40 or so minutes of hairpin turns. The road cuts back and forth up the mountain, climbing at about 30 degrees in slope (Jim help me out on the specifics of that!) Awesome turns in awesome cars. We averaged about 70 mph up the mountain, slowing when we encountered some minimal traffic. To put it in another perspective, we hit 80 degree turns (almost all of them were 70+ degree turns) in third or fourth gear at about 4K - 5K rpm.
Down the hill, we were behind a car towing a trailer (SLOW!) Lots of braking; more on that later.
Found the bottom of the hill, turned right around (bad idea) Back at it again, more of the same. Coming back down the mountain is VERY hard on the brakes. Mine were the first to start coasting. I think the rotors might have been NASCAR red from the heat, like they do at Bristol! We pulled over after I missed the M3s bumper by about 3" in a turn. My rear brakes were billowing smoke! Thank God for the drilled rotors up front and the super blue fluid (higher boiling point).
We eased down the hill after letting everyone's car cool off. We stopped in at Cooter's (of Dukes of Hazard fame; he was actually there) for some BBQ.
We then decided not to head straight back home, but instead to take some wicked back roads. Those were more fun than the hill climb, as speeds exceeded 110 mph. We were WOT the whole time, and I was in 3rd and 4th again most of the way. This run is harder to describe, but picture a small back road with almost no one on it. It is one of those country roads that is so small there are not even double yellow lines painted on it. Wicked turns, awesome views (tree lined roads, it was like something out of Germany) We ran wide open on these roads for the next hour or so. The BMW ran so hard that HIS brakes were coasting and smoking. I was gearing it more on this run, so my brakes came out ok.
In all, we covered well over 150 miles at break neck speeds. Everyone's car held up for the day, save the braking issues. Jim's tires are officially DONE!
The best part of the day was how evenly matched we all were. The M3 had me in second gear, but once I was in third I either passed him or stayed right with him. I did get to pass him at about 130 at one point. We got back to our staging point, had a beer, and talked about the adrenalin-filled run we just had.
My favorite part of the day: My "sorry" car gave an M3 a run for its $36,000 worth of money. I was not faster, but neither was he. Even match. Awesome.
Mike
, Sun, 3 Jun 2001 12:13:14
No Site Registration is Required to Post - Site Membership is optional (Member Features List), but helps to keep the site online
for all Saabers. If the site helps you, please consider helping the site by becoming a member.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
